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Discover details of major funders relevant to Life and Medical Sciences researchers and find out more about RESEARCHconnect, a specialist research funding database for the UK research community.
Major funders
Below are details of major funding bodies that are of relevance to Life and Medical Sciences researchers, broken down by funder type. The list includes details of relevant major funders and a brief description of their broad areas of focus. Funders vary by their remit, their portfolio of fellowships, and project grant schemes. For further information, including funding scheme details and deadlines, please refer to individual funder websites.
- UK Government-funded bodies
- British Academy
The British Academy provides funding for humanities and social sciences research.
Visit the British Academy websiteDepartment for International Development (DfID)
DfID offers funding for international development research, including technologies and products.
Visit the DfID websiteNational Institute for Health Research (NIHR)
The NIHR funds research for patient benefit including but not only, primary research generating evidence bases, pilot and feasibility studies, randomised controlled trials, and both quantitative and qualitative research.
Visit the NIHR websiteNC3Rs
NC3Rs offer funding to support the replacement, refinement, and reduction of the use of animals in research and testing.
Visit the NC3Rs websiteUK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
UKRI brings together the seven Research Councils, Innovate UK and Research England to offer funding and support across all academic disciplines and industrial areas from the medical and biological sciences to astronomy, physics, chemistry and engineering, social sciences, economics, environmental sciences, and the arts and humanities.
Visit the UKRI website - European Commission / Horizon2020
European Research Council (ERC)
The ERC provides funding for all disciplines with a focus on excellence, innovation, ground-breaking nature, international focus, 'high-risk high reward'.
Visit the ERC websiteMarie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
The MSCA scheme provides individual fellowships, with a focus on transnational, intersectional, and interdisciplinary mobility.
Visit the UCL European Research & Innovation Office (ERIO) website for more details- Charities, charitable trusts & learned societies
General biomedical and applied sciences:
Academy of Medical Sciences
The Academy of Medical Sciences funds research that advances biomedical health research and its translation into key benefits for society.
Visit the Academy of Medical Sciences websiteRoyal Society
The Royal Society provides funding for natural and applied sciences research, including engineering.
Visit the Royal Society websiteWellcome
Wellcome funds biomedical research, basic (human and animal health), clinical, translational, proof-of-concept research, and development for new healthcare products. It also funds humanities and social science research with a biomedical focus alongside public engagement.
Visit the Wellcome Trust websiteDisease/ subject area-focussed:
Action Medical Research
Action Medical Research provides funding for research into the prevention and treatment of disease and disability in children.
Visit the Action Medical Research websiteAlzheimer's Research UK (ARUK)
ARUK funds research aimed at improving our understanding of the cause of different dementias or improve diagnosis, prevention, and treatment.
Visit the ARUK websiteAXA Research Fund
The AXA Research Fund supports research into understanding and preventing risk.
Visit the AXA Research Fund websiteBill & Melinda Gates Foundation
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation provides global health research funding that will help people live healthier and more productive lives.
Visit the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation websiteBritish Heart Foundation (BHF)
The BHF funds research to improve the understanding and treatment of cardiovascular disease, including causes, prevention, diagnosis and treatment, and the promotion of cardiovascular health.
Visit the BHF websiteCancer Research UK (CRUK)
CRUK supports basic, clinical, translational, and population health research that provides a greater understanding of cancer biology, prevent and reduce the risk of developing cancer, aid diagnosis, and make cancer treatments more effective.
Visit the CRUK websiteDiabetes UK
Diabetes UK funds medical research that aims to improve the lives of people with all types of diabetes.
Visit the Diabetes UK websiteFight for Sight
Fight For Sight supports eye and vision research to help prevent sight loss and treat eye disease.
Visit the Fight for Sight websiteHealth Foundation
The Health Foundation provides funding for research into healthcare improvement through practice and policy.
Visit the Health Foundation websiteKidney Research UK
Kidney Research UK offers funding for research into improving our understanding of kidney disease, its causes, treatment, and management.
Visit the Kidney Research UK websiteLeverhulme Trust
The Leverhulme Trust offers a variety of research funding opportunities in the arts, humanities, sciences, and social sciences.
Visit the Leverhulme Trust websiteMQ: Mental Health Research
MQ offers funding for research to help enhance our understanding of mental health, improve treatments, and to help prevent mental illness.
Visit the MQ websiteNuffield Foundation
The Nuffield Foundation aims to improve social well-being by funding research and innovation projects in education and social policy, and building research capacity in science and social science.
Visit the Nuffield Foundation websiteThe Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID)
The RNID funds research that aims to find a cure for hearing loss and to drive the development of new technologies.
Visit the RNID websiteVersus Arthritis
Versus Arthritis offers funding for research into conditions that affect the musculoskeletal system: joints bones, tendons, ligaments, and muscles. This can be in aid of prevention, cure, and transforming the lives of those with arthritis.
Visit the Versus Arthritis website