DAWN FRESHWATER is Professor of Mental Health and Primary Care at the Institute of Health and Community Studies at Bournemouth University, and is leading the development of an Academic Research Centre in Practice with North and South West Dorset NHS Trusts. VERONICA BISHOP is Editor of Nursing Times Research, and is a board member of the Hong Kong nurses' journal. She recently retired as Professor of Nursing at De Montfort University, but maintains her links with the NHS through consultancy work.

• PrefaceSECTION ONE: POLICY AND PROFESSIONAL CONSIDERATIONSThe Context of Clinical Research: Policy and ProfessionalismResearch and Development: Policy and Capacity BuildingInternational Perspectives: Collaborative ConversationsThe Appreciation and Critique of Research Findings: Skills DevelopmentConducting Research in a Clinical Environment: Research Questions, Methods and SupportSECTION TWO: PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR CAREERS IN RESEARCHDoctoral Processes: The Scholarly PractitionerIntroduction to Careers in Nursing Research: Case Studies and OpportunitiesDeveloping a Research Portfolio: Building a Professional ProfileFunding Research: Writing Grant ApplicationsKnocking Down Ivory Towers: Publish and be DamnedLooking Ahead: Options for the Way Forward.