College Research Medals

The College’s Trainees' Research Medals are awarded annually for outstanding research work undertaken by pathologists or scientists in training. Medals are awarded for research published in the specialties (listed below) in the relevant year (1 July 2024–30 June 2025).

A Gold Research Medal is awarded for the best research published.
Specialty Research Medals are awarded to the best candidates in each of the major specialties of the College.

Medals are assessed for:

potential benefits to the public and patients
impact on the field
contribution of the individual to the paper.

Who can apply?

The awards are open to all trainees, scientists, oral pathologists or veterinary pathologists employed in a suitable specialty training or appropriate research/academic post during the year the submitted paper was published. The research paper must either have been either published or accepted for publication by a peer-reviewed journal.

Eligibility criteria

The research for the submitted paper needs to have been undertaken whilst the applicant was in a suitable specialty training or appropriate research/academic post.
Work undertaken during a period of specialty training, including out of programme, would be eligible.

Aims

The aims of the Royal College of Pathologists’ Research Medals scheme are:

to enhance the status of the research of pathology trainees, both within and outside the College
to help identify the future research stars that will provide the next generation of leadership in research
to recognise and reward the best of the excellent science that College trainees publish, encouraging them in their research careers
to enhance the curricula vitae of the successful individuals improves their chances of external research awards
to generate positive publicity and the value trainees gain from the College
ultimately, to increase research activity within pathology.

Application and supporting documentation

To apply for the award medal, you must submit the following:

A completed application form and a photograph (for publication alongside the article)
A single research paper. The research paper must either have been either published or accepted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal and have been written during the year then applicant was in a suitable specialty training or appropriate research/academic post.

You are asked to provide the following on the application form:

Key details of your CV to allow conflicts of interest to be identified
A description in lay terms of why your submitted paper is so important (max. 100 words)
A short summary of the main research findings and why they are important to the pathological and wider community (max. 500 words) which may be used for publication on the College website
Written confirmation from your research supervisor regarding your research role/duties. The research supervisor must comment on the applicant’s contribution to the research and the importance of the contribution.

Further information on the guidance can be found below.

Application submission instructions

You must complete the application form provided below.
You are advised to read the guidance carefully before completing your application.
The application form, along with all supporting documents, must be emailed to [email protected].
Deadline for submission: 19 September 2025.