Early-career doctors can get involved in research through the various options available, such as foundation posts with research time, taster programs or audit department projects. There are structured schemes, such as the National Institute for Health and Care Research's (NIHR) Integrated Academic Training Programme, which awards traineeships to academic doctors and clinical fellows. According to Academy of Medical Sciences Vice President Rosalind Smyth, there is no single prescribed path – the important thing is to find opportunities that align with your interests and develop them systematically. Funding organizations such as NIHR, Wellcome and the Medical Research Council (MRC) offer clinical fellowships at all different stages of the research journey. One way to start is to talk to clinical academics in your specialty and consider getting involved in relevant events and projects.