A university has been awarded £10,000 to nurture the next generation of medical researchers.
The Inspire award, from the Academy of Medical Sciences and Wellcome Trust, will fund activities for medical students at the University of Leicester to encourage an enthusiasm for research.
The high point will be an annual East Midlands Medical Student Research Training Conference. The first will be held in Leicester in November, when students from the Leicester, Nottingham and Norwich medical schools will reveal the results of their research projects.
The University of Leicester student Medical Research Society will be supported in its activities to link students with researchers in the university and NHS trusts.
Dr Bob Norman, who is leading the initiative for the medical school, said he was delighted with the award.
Professor Sir John Tooke, president of the Academy of Medical Sciences, said: "Inspiring students to pursue research is crucial for the future of medicine in the UK.
"By nurturing talent from an early stage, we can ensure future patients will benefit from the latest breakthroughs in medical science.
Dr John Williams, head of clinical activities at the Wellcome Trust, said: "If we are to drive forward the translation of research findings into patient benefit, we need to attract more medical and dental students into research.
"Inspire offers this crucial group a series of creative programmes we hope will inspire them to develop a research interest and go on to make use of research findings in clinical practice."
