Academic clinical fellowships in diabetes and endocrinology

World-Class Research & Training Environment
Sheffield has an outstanding track record of developing future leaders in academic diabetes and endocrinology, with nine trainees progressing from ACFs to independent clinical academics, NHS leadership positions, and national policy-making roles. Our training environment offers world-class mentorship and research opportunities, supported by over ten internationally renowned researchers, including five Professors (one current and one Emeritus NIHR Senior Investigator), three Senior Lecturers, and an NIHR Clinical Lecturer. Trainees benefit from a multidisciplinary ecosystem integrating clinical academics, social scientists, data scientists, health economists, statisticians, and the clinical trials unit, delivering major NIH, UKRI, INNOVATE-UK, and NIHR-funded evaluations. Over the past five years, we have secured more than £5M in competitive research funding, contributing to REF impact case studies shaping national and international care.

Unique National & International Research Network
Sheffield offers a distinctive training experience through partnerships with other BRC institutions, forming a national network of excellence in diabetes research. This provides trainees with unique access to cutting-edge diabetes technology and structured education models, positioning Sheffield as one of only a few centres offering this unique training environment. We are also a  European Neuroendocrine Tumour Centre of Excellence (ENETS) providing trainees with specialist MDT exposure and translational research opportunities.

We are global leaders in:
• Structured education & diabetes technology, shaping NICE guidance and international care models.
• Hypoglycaemia research, informing prevention and management strategies.
• Diabetic complications, particularly neuropathy, driving clinical guideline changes.
• Advanced imaging research, developing innovative in silico and AI-based diagnostic models for diabetic neuropathy and kidney disease.
• One-stop multidisciplinary screening services for early detection and management of diabetic complications.
• Endocrinology breakthroughs, including novel adrenal insufficiency diagnostics – now NHS adopted.
• MRC-funded research on mild cortisol excess, pioneering interventions for ageing populations.

Unrivalled Research Opportunities for Trainees
The unit has a strong translational research focus, bridging laboratory discovery with clinical application. Trainees are embedded in an internationally recognised research environment with opportunities across a range of key themes, led by experienced academic clinicians:

• Adrenal and Pituitary Disease – Novel diagnostics and new treatments for adrenal insufficiency and mild cortisol excess (Prof John Newell-Price, Prof Miguel Debono, Dr O’Toole; Paediatric endocrinology: Prof Nils Krone, Dr Charlotte Elder).
• Neuroendocrine Tumours – Translational and clinical research in a European Centre of Excellence (Prof John Newell-Price, Dr Alia Munir).
• Hypoglycaemia – Mechanistic studies and intervention trials to reduce cardiovascular risk and improve hypoglycaemia awareness (Prof Simon Heller, Dr Ahmed Iqbal), including NIH-funded CLEAR trial ancillary studies comparing psycho-education with diabetes technology.
• Service Innovation in Diabetes Care – Projects evaluating and implementing one-stop screening services for early detection and management of diabetic complications.  Service redesign via data-led prioritisation thereby helping those in most clinical need and reduces inequalities in patient outcomes (Prof Solomon Tesfaye, Dr Jackie Elliott).
• Artificial Intelligence and In-sillico medicine – Development of AI-driven and imaging-based in silico models, investigating mechanisms and validating diagnostic tools in diabetic neuropathy and kidney disease (Dr Dinesh Selvarajah).

Our Endocrinology services are primarily delivered through the Royal Hallamshire Hospital, which houses a dedicated Endocrine Investigation Unit, staffed by 6 specialist endocrine and neuroendocrine tumour nurse specialists. Diabetes services span both the Royal Hallamshire and Northern General Hospital sites, offering comprehensive inpatient and outpatient care.

The Academic Clinical Fellowship (ACF) programme offers integrated training in diabetes and endocrinology, coupled with a structured, generic research training curriculum. Fellows benefit from protected research time across the training period, with a clear pathway towards a research training fellowship application. The programme fosters the development of both core clinical competencies and advanced academic skills.  Our Investigators are world-renowned in their fields holding multiple external positions including for the NIHR, NHS England, NICE, Endocrine Society, Society for Endocrinology, NEURODiab, Diabetes UK, Diabetes Technology Network, National Diabetes Audit, DAFNE, International Association for the Study of Pain. 

NHS Diabetes and Endocrinology Services

Endocrinology
The NHS Endocrinology Service offers outstanding training in endocrinology, and has been rated by external peer review (GIRFT) as ‘world-leading, with seamless joined up care and MDTs between endocrine medicine and endocrine surgery / neurosurgery. We are the regional centre and run speciality clinics and MDTs in all these areas.

• Pituitary
• Adrenal
• Thyroid
• Complex Metabolic Bone
• Genetically-driven endocrine disease
• Neuroendocrine tumours
• Transition
• Late Effects

In addition, we are a European Neuroendocrine Tumour Centre of Excellence, and are the National Centre for Stereotactic Radiosurgery (gamma knife) with an established joint pituitary clinic that has run for over two decades.

Diabetes
Integrated, Innovation-Led Tertiary Diabetes Care with Translational Research Impact

Our NHS Diabetes Department delivers a high-quality, comprehensive service to Sheffield and the surrounding areas, offering both general and specialist diabetes clinics across two hospital sites, in close collaboration with community care providers. Sheffield also acts as a forward-thinking, tertiary referral centre for diabetes, uniquely combining state-of-the-art diagnostics, multidisciplinary expertise, and translational research to provide advanced, patient-centred care. The unit pioneered the DAFNE structured education programme for Type 1 diabetes and remains a key centre for training. Additionally, team members contribute to the development and rollout of the DESMOND programme for Type 2 diabetes self-management in the community.  Our transition service for 16 to 25 year olds is the national leader in terms of glycaemic outcomes.

Key strengths include:

Multispecialty Expertise in Complex Diabetes Subtypes

• Internationally recognised leadership in diabetic foot disease, neuropathy, structured education, diabetes technology, and hypoglycaemia.
• Access to integrated care pathways involving neurologists, nephrologists, cardiologists, and vascular specialists.

Translational Research Embedded in Clinical Practice

• A thriving portfolio of experimental medicine and clinical trials, providing patients with access to novel therapies not available elsewhere.
• Strong collaborations with the NIHR and industry partners via the Sheffield Clinical Trials Research Unit.
• Innovative use of point-of-care diagnostics to support early detection of diabetic complications.

One-Stop, Integrated Screening for Diabetic Complications

• Streamlined clinics offering same-day, multi-complication assessments (e.g., retinal, renal, neurological), enabling timely diagnosis and intervention.

Excellence in Training and Knowledge Translation

• A strong track record of developing future clinical leaders and shaping national care models (e.g., structured education, NICE guidance on diabetes technology).
• Active involvement in high-impact research influencing national and international policy.

Regional and National Leadership

• Sheffield serves as a regional hub for complex diabetes referrals, with strong links across the Yorkshire & Humber and North East Diabetes Network.