As of 2009 the research we support focuses on child health to include problems affecting pregnancy, childbirth, babies, children and young people.There are ongoing projects described on our website from our previous wider remit that have several years to run but all new applications must focus on child health.
Within child health, we support a broad spectrum of research with the objective of:
- preventing disease and disability and
- alleviating physical disability
Please note that our emphasis is on clinical research or research at the interface between clinical and basic science. We pride ourselves that our research is both innovative and of a high standard as judged by rigorous peer review.
Within the above criteria, we also support research and development of equipment and techniques to improve diagnosis, therapy and assistive technology (including orthoses, prostheses and aids to daily living) and we encourage applications in the field of medical engineering.
Exclusions
Please note that we do not provide:
- grants towards service provision or audit studies
- grants purely for higher education, e.g. BSc/MSc course fees and subsistence costs
- grants for medical or dental electives
- grants specifically for studentships (although researchers are encouraged to independently register for a higher degree such as a PhD)
- grants for work undertaken outside the UK
- any indirect costs such as administrative or other overheads imposed by the University or other Institution
- costs associated with advertising and recruitment
- ‘top up’ funding for work supported by other funding bodies
- costs to attend conferences (current Action Medical Research grantholders may apply separately)
- grants to MRC Units, other than RTF awards where the training/facilities cannot be offered elsewhere
- grants to other charities
- grants for research into complementary / alternative medicine
The principal investigator (PI) for a project grant is normally employed in a permanent position in a UK university or institution. Fixed term employees on a long term contract may be eligible to be a PI, providing the term of employment extends at least six months beyond the duration of the proposed research project and the host research institution is prepared to give all the necessary support to the individual and the project. We would not pay the salary of a PI.
Research workers who require personal support from a project grant, and who have made a substantial intellectual contribution to the grant proposal, may be named as co-applicants with an established member of staff as the principal applicant.
Grants are provided for up to three years duration in support of one precisely formulated line of research. A two page outline of the proposed research is required before a full application can be invited. Successful applicants from the outline stage will be sent a link to our application form. Awards will be made following peer review.
Applications should be of the highest quality as the scheme is very competitive.
The average award we make is in the region of £125,000 and grants above £200,000 would rarely be given. We are happy to consider grant requests at a lower level of funding (below £50,000).
Support covers salary costs, consumables and items of dedicated equipment essential for carrying out the work. We would expect the university or research institute to provide standard laboratory equipment and standard office computers. The application should not include any indirect costs such as administrative or other overheads imposed by the university or other institutions and we would not normally pay salary costs for those already employed on salaried positions.
A research team can only apply for one grant per grant round.
Please note that there will be a limit to the number of full application forms that we can send out. Where the work is considered peripheral to our aims or in cases where demand on our funds is high, we will inform you of our decision not to request a full application.
Please note that we do not provide:
- grants towards service provision or audit studies
- grants purely for higher education, e.g. BSc/MSc/PhD course fees and subsistence costs
- grants for medical or dental electives
- grants specifically for PhD studentships (although researchers may independently register for a higher degree)
- grants for work undertaken outside the UK
- any indirect costs such as administrative or other overheads imposed by the University or other Institution
- costs associated with advertising and recruitment
- ‘top up’ funding for work supported by other funding bodies
- costs to attend conferences and meetings (current Action Medical Research grantholders may apply separately)
- grants to MRC Units, other than RTF awards where the training/facilities cannot be offered elsewhere
- grants to other charities
- grants for research into complementary / alternative medicine
All applicants should complete the two page outline proposal form and email it to the Research Department. The details on the outline form should include the potential clinical application of the work, how it fits the remit of the charity and a description of the work in sufficient detail that our scientific advisors can understand what is proposed.
The purpose of the outline is to establish that your proposed work clearly falls within our remit and priorities. The work should also be of sufficient quality to be recommended for further assessment.
If your work is considered peripheral to our aims and in cases where demand on our funds is high, we may be unable to request an application from you.
A blank form is available to download at the end of these guidelines.
If the outline proposal is acceptable, you will be invited to complete a full application form online and you will be advised of the timetable.
Applications are assessed by peer review, first by independent external referees and then by our Scientific Advisory Panel.
The decision to approve a grant is made by the Council on the recommendations of the Scientific Advisory Panel.
The success rate for full applications in the first project grant round of 2010 was 22%.
| Deadline for submitting outline | Deadline for submitting full proposal | Date outcome expected to be announced | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project grant round (Summer) | 23 November 2010 by 5pm | 1 March 2011 by 5pm | July 2011 |
| Project grant round (Autumn) | 30 March 2010 by 5pm CLOSED | June 2010 by 5pm CLOSED | November 2010 |
Action Medical Research also make special funding awards called Research Training Fellowships for medical (and sometimes non-medical) graduates to train in research techniques and methodology. Apply for a Research Training Fellowship with Action Medical Research