Funding type: Fellowship, 24-36 months duration
Number of awards: Up to 3 in 2027
Opening Date: 14 April 2026
Outline applications: 7 July 2026 5pm
Decision: February 2027
Award: March 2027
Start from: April 2027

Overview
Background
Who can apply
Scope
Opportunities
What we expect in proposals
Funding and resources available
How to apply
How we will assess your application
Success rates for this scheme
Award conditions
Key Dates
Information documents
Contact details

Overview

The Research Training Fellowship (RTF) scheme aims to train research leaders of the future in child health. The fellowship provides the opportunity to undertake a period of research training which will be relevant to applicants’ future careers, developing their skills in research techniques and methodology in subjects relevant to Action’s remit. Applications are invited from medical graduates, clinicians, bioengineers, research nurses, physiotherapists and allied health professionals who wish to develop a long-term career in academic medicine in the UK in areas relevant to child health.

As part of this year’s open competition, Action Medical Research, Duchenne UK and Muscular Dystrophy UK and are working together to offer joint fellowship awards in areas relevant to neuromuscular conditions (including Duchenne muscular dystrophy) in childhood. 

Fellowships should be 24-36 months in duration. The upper limit of funding for a fellowship is £300,000. 

Applicants should complete an outline form by 7 July 2026 at 5pm. The form is available on Action’s grant management system (GMS) https://actionmedicalresearch.flexigrant.com/.

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Background

Action Medical Research is the leading UK-wide charity dedicated to funding vital research to help sick babies, children and young people. Action funds medical research in hospitals or research institutions across the UK aimed at preventing and treating disease and disability.

Action’s remit focuses on child health to include problems affecting pregnancy, childbirth, babies, children and young people. Within child health, we support a broad spectrum of biomedical research including medical engineering.

Our emphasis is on biomedical 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. 

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Who can apply

Fellowships should be hosted in University departments, teaching hospitals or other recognised research centres within the UK.The scheme is open to:

• medical graduates
• clinicians
• research nurses
• physiotherapists
• allied health professionals
• bioengineers/biomedical engineers 

The scheme is not intended for basic biological scientists or social scientists. 

Clinical applicants

Candidates are expected to have at least some experience of research following their first degree. They should have had limited research training and wish to develop a long-term career in academic medicine in the UK in areas relevant to child health. They should be registered with the appropriate body e.g GMC, NMC, HCPC.

Medical graduates should not have completed their specialist training and usually should not have more than 6 years’ experience post-MRCP (or equivalent). Graduates in other health professions will normally have a Master’s degree with some research component and at least 5 years’ professional experience.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to independently register for a higher degree such as a PhD.

Bioengineers/ biomedical engineers

Postdoctoral researchers can only apply if they are bioengineers/biomedical engineers. They should be towards the beginning of their research career. We would normally expect bioengineers to have an engineering background/qualification and the fellowship should provide significant new training to pivot into child health research.

All applicants must comply with Home Office requirements and, where appropriate, hold a valid work permit to cover the period of the Research Training Fellowship. Preference will be given to candidates resident in the UK.

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Scope

The fellowship should provide an opportunity for training in research techniques and methodology in an area within Action’s remit. Action’s remit focuses on child health research with the objective of preventing and treating disease and disability including:

• pregnancy and childbirth in the context of the health of the child
• babies (including unborn babies), children and young people
• biomedical clinical research or research at the interface between clinical and basic science
• medical engineering and research and development of equipment and techniques to improve diagnosis, therapy and assistive technology (including orthoses, prostheses and aids to daily living).
• conditions diagnosed and treated in the UK.

Examples of the research we fund can be found in our Research we fund section.

Limitations and exclusions

• These awards should not be viewed as project grant applications to simply extend current research as candidates will be expected to demonstrate a significant training element to their project.
• We will not normally consider projects that are similar to projects already under consideration by Action through another grant scheme.
• Applicants and supervisors can only be named on one application per fellowship round.

Please note that we do not provide:

• grants for very basic research with little likelihood of clinical impact within the short to medium term
• grants on social research, family relationships or socioeconomic research
• grants towards service provision or audit studies
• grants for research into complementary / alternative medicine
• grants purely for higher education courses, although Research Training Fellows are strongly encouraged to independently register for a PhD
• grants on how best to train clinical staff
• grants for medical or dental electives
• grants for work undertaken outside the UK
• any indirect costs such as administrative or other overheads imposed by the University or other Institution
• course fees for degrees or subsistence costs
• costs associated with advertising and recruitment of staff and visa costs
• apprenticeship levy
• 'top up' funding for work already supported by other funding bodies
• costs to attend conferences (Action Medical Research grantholders may apply separately as the need arises during the grant)
• general appeals from other charities. Applications would normally come directly from research teams and projects need to be passed through our scientific peer review system
• applicants based in core funded units can apply but need to demonstrate added value

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Opportunities for joint awards with Duchenne UK and Muscular Dystrophy UK

As part of this year’s Research Training Fellowship round, Action Medical Research, Duchenne UK and Muscular Dystrophy UK are working together to offer opportunities for joint fellowship awards to increase clinical academic expertise in areas relevant to Muscular Dystrophy. 

For the joint award with Duchenne UK the proposed research must focus on Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy in paediatric populations. More information on Duchenne UK’s areas of interest can be found Duchenne UK - Research we fund. It is expected that applicants will have had some experience of work in a related area and expect to develop their clinical academic career in areas relevant to Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). If you are not currently working in DMD, but in an area relevant to DMD, please email applications@action.org.uk to confirm your eligibility to apply for the joint award. This award is being supported by Duchenne UK in loving memory of Shiv Thakrar and his family charity, Smile with Shiv.

For the joint award with Muscular Dystrophy UK (MDUK) the proposed research must focus on paediatric muscle wasting conditions within MDUK’s remit. Information on MDUK’s areas and conditions of interest can be found at Muscular Dystrophy UK - Our research strategy and Muscular Dystrophy UK Conditions Archive. It is expected that applicants will have had some experience of work in a related area and expect to develop their clinical academic career in areas relevant to neuromuscular conditions. If you are working in an area relevant to neuromuscular conditions but it is not listed on these sites please email applications@action.org.uk to confirm your eligibility to apply for the joint award.

Both the proposed project and fellowship applicant must meet the charities’ charitable aims to be considered for funding.

Applications for these joint awards will be considered in open competition through the Action Medical Research peer review system as part of this response mode Research Training Fellowship round.

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What we expect in proposals

Applicants should demonstrate that they have the necessary ability, enthusiasm and commitment to follow through any training and demonstrate how it will support their career goals. Applicants should consider how their application meets the assessment criteria – see How we will assess your application (below).

Supervisors should have discussed the basis of the application with the applicant thoroughly to ensure that a sensible programme of training is pursued and to advise on additional experience which may be needed. It should be clear the proposed fellow has played a significant role in the design of the project and the project is a discrete piece of research that will be driven by the fellow.

Applicants should provide evidence that they will be given guidance/training in appropriate research techniques and methodology (which may include experimental design, statistics, computing, writing scientific papers/grant applications). The plan should be ambitious but realistic for the time and skill level.

Applicants should be provided with an adequate and specific work area for both research and writing and given an opportunity for oral presentations of their work, and the encouragement to join journal clubs etc. as available.

In the full application, fellowship activities should be summarised in the form of a timetable drawn up in conjunction with the supervisor. 

Please note, these awards should not be viewed as project grant applications to simply extend current research as candidates will be expected to demonstrate a significant training element to their project.

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Funding and resources available

Fellowships should be 24-36 months in duration. Action does not fund one-year fellowships.

The upper limit for a fellowship is £300,000. 

Fellowship funding can be used to cover the direct costs of the research including the fellow’s salary and research consumables. 

Please note the awards are not studentships and we cover a salary rather than a stipend and do not cover higher education fees.

Research costs:  We only support the directly incurred costs of research and do not pay indirect or directly allocated costs such as shared resources based on estimates, administrative or other overheads (including any depreciation or maintenance costs) or percentages of salaries for those already employed in permanent/long term positions such as supervisor time. 

Salary costs: Costs can include a salary for the Research Training Fellow. The starting salary will be dependent on qualifications and experience. No other salaries should be included.

Consumables: You can include research expenses such as consumables directly incurred by the project which must be fully justified. VAT on consumables should not be included. 

Travel, patient and public involvement and publication costs (within consumable costs): Costs of travel may be included in an application provided they form a necessary and integral part of the research proposed but not an allowance for attendance at meetings and conferences. Patient and public involvement (PPI) costs can be applied for up to a maximum of £1,000 per grant: this is in addition to any patient costs (e.g. patient recruitment costs) required to deliver the project. Publication costs are limited to £3,000 per grant.

Equipment: including computers, cannot be considered in Research Training Fellowship applications. The host laboratory or unit selected, should have the equipment and facilities required for the proposed research and must be available to the candidate.

It is anticipated that up to three fellowships will be awarded in this round. Please note that competition for these awards is intense.

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How to apply

Stage 1: Outline application

Discuss the basis of the application with your proposed supervisor thoroughly to ensure that a sensible programme of training is pursued and to advise on additional experience which may be needed. 

Complete the outline form by the deadline 7 July 2026 5pm. The form is available on Action’s grants management system (GMS) https://actionmedicalresearch.flexigrant.com/. New users will need to register on the GMS before starting an outline form.

The application form should be completed by the Research Training Fellowship applicant and NOT their supervisor.

Late applications will not be considered. Please ensure you are aware of and comply with any internal institutional deadlines that may be in place. 

Please contact Action for further guidance on completing your application at applications@action.org.uk. Your host organisation will also be able to provide advice and support on completing your application. 

Stage 2: Full proposal 

Applicants selected to submit a full proposal will be informed in early September and the full application form and guidance will be available to successful applicants on the GMS.

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How we will assess your application

Assessment process

Outline proposals will be subject to internal checks at Action to ensure compliance with call requirements and fit to remit of the call. Applicants will be notified if their proposal has been rejected at this stage.

Outlines will be reviewed by our Scientific Advisory Panel and those that best match the aim of the fellowship and Action’s and, where applicable, co-funders’ remit will be invited to submit a full application. 

Full applications will be externally peer reviewed and shortlisted by our Scientific Advisory Panel. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview. The final selection will be made on the advice of the interviewing panel drawn from the relevant scientific and medical advisers.

In the event of this funding opportunity being substantially oversubscribed, Action reserves the right to modify or extend the assessment process.

Assessment criteria

Proposals submitted to this funding opportunity will be considered using the following criteria.

Suitability of the applicant for the fellowship:

• Track record and achievements to date.
• Expertise and skill set.
• Current research standing.
• Research outputs.
• Does the applicant have adequate research experience to undertake this work?
• Is the applicant at the appropriate career stage for this fellowship?
• Has the applicant played a significant role in the design of the project?

Potential for the future:

• Does their experience to date and career goals indicate the applicant is committed to a career in research/academic medicine in areas relevant Action’s and any co-funder's remit?
• Is there evidence of leadership potential?

The value of the proposed training: 

• Will the fellowship support their long term scientific, clinical and career goals?
• Will there be opportunities for training and career development and development of leadership potential.

The suitability of the host research centre and research group:

• Scientific impact in the field
• Level of commitment from supervisors and host institution

The importance of the problem which this work seeks to overcome:

• Clinical relevance
• Is it close to clinical application?
• The likelihood of scientific and/or medical advances in the short and long term relevant to relieving disease/disability burden and/or improving quality of life of children and fit to co-funder remit where applicable.

The scientific merits of the project:

• Strength of medical or scientific case including summary of previous research work that has been conducted in this area
• Level of innovation and whether this is likely to lead to significant new understanding
• Are the aims and objectives understandable and unambiguous, hypotheses are clearly defined.

The feasibility of the project:

• Is the plan ambitious but realistic for the time and skill level?
• Has a clearly written and transparent methodology been provided?
• Has preliminary data been provided?
• Has the applicant clearly set out and justified the following (these will be considered in detail at the full application stage):
  • Measures for avoidance of bias (e.g. blinding, randomisation)
  • Number of experimental and control groups and sample size per group
  • Is it clear how the number of study subjects required for the project will be recruited?
  • How the sample size was calculated, showing power calculations and including justification of effect size
  • Overview of the planned statistical analyses in relation to the primary outcomes to be assessed
  • Frequency of measurements/interventions to be used
  • Circumstances in which power calculations are not appropriate to determine sample size
• Have diversity and inclusion been considered in the study population? If not, is there a clear justification?
• Has the applicant considered any risks or difficulties associated with the project and has a risk mitigation plan?
• Is the plan to involve patients or members of the public appropriate to the planned research (more involvement being expected where the research is nearer to clinical application)?
• Is the support fully justified? Are there sufficient resources in place to support the fellowship?
• If the application involves the use of animals or animal tissue, is this (and the species proposed) justified in terms of the likely outcomes of the research and conforms to guidelines?
• Is the proposed research ethically acceptable?
• Are there any ethical issues that need separate consideration?

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Success rates for this scheme

We received 29 outline applications for the 2026 RTF scheme, 9 were invited to submit a full application. Two awards were made following the interviews.

We received 33 outline applications for the 2025 RTF scheme, 13 were invited to submit a full application. Three awards were made following interviews.

We received 22 outline applications for the 2024 RTF scheme, 14 were invited to submit a full application. Three awards were made following interviews.

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Award conditions

Grants are awarded under the terms of Action’s grant agreement. 

Fellowships must be taken up within one year of the award.

We recommend that awardees arrange to have a mentor. The mentor should be someone different to their supervisors, be able to offer a different perspective and help with personal and professional development.

Reporting Requirements

If you are successful in securing funding, you will need to provide yearly reports endorsed by your supervisor. Research Training Fellows are treated as all grantholders within the Charity and are expected to speak on their work at fundraising events or scientific meetings if required.

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Key Dates

Applications open: 14 April 2026

Outline application deadline: 7 July 2026 5pm

Full applications invited: Early September 2026   

Full application deadline: 13 October 2026 5pm 

Interviews: February 2027

Awards: March 2027 to start from April 2027

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Information documents

Outline application guidance (PDF insert link)

Example Outline application form (PDF insert link)

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Contact details

For help and advice on costings and writing your proposal please contact your research office in the first instance, allowing sufficient time for your organisation’s submission process.

Questions regarding the grant round should be directed to Action Medical Research by contacting applications@action.org.uk well ahead of the deadline. 

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