Our remit

From 2009 the research we support will focus on child health to include problems affecting pregnancy, childbirth, babies, children and adolescents. It is likely that some research projects will help all age groups and these applications should state their relevance to children.

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.

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).

Project grants

For up to three years duration in support of one precisely formulated line of research. A one page outline of the proposed research is required before an application form can be issued.

Outlines

The next closing date for project grant outline applications is 7 November 2008 before 5pm. These outlines will need to follow our 2009 remit as above.

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 severe, we will inform you of our decision not to pursue a full application.

Successful applicants from the outline stage will be sent a full application form. Awards will be made following peer review. In 2007 16% of full grant applications were successful.

Support covers salary costs, consumables and items of dedicated equipment essential for carrying out the work. The average award we make is in the region of £110,000 and grants above £200,000 would be rarely given. The expectation is to fund 1 individual on the project for 1-3 years. Smaller grant requests are welcome.

Grants are made to those in tenured positions in a UK university or institution. 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.

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
• grants for research into drug abuse / alcohol abuse / obesity research/ smoking-related projects

Preliminary proposal

All would-be applicants should complete the one page outline form and send to the Director of Research, summarising the research proposal and giving an estimation of costs. Details should include the potential clinical application of the work and the number of people who stand to benefit from the results.

Please ensure that you have thoroughly read these guidelines before submitting.

A blank form is available to download at the end of these guidelines.

The purpose of the preliminary proposal is to establish that your proposed work clearly falls within our remit. At this stage there is no scientific assessment of your work, so there is no need to include scientific data.

If the outline proposal is acceptable, an application form will be forwarded to you and you will be advised of the likely timetable.

If your work is considered peripheral to our aims, or clearly falls within the remit of another funding organisation, and in cases where demand on our funds is exceptionally severe, we may be unable to pursue an application from you.

Full application

Applications are assessed by peer review, first by independent external referees and then by one of our two Advisory Panels.

The decision to approve a grant is made by our Council on the recommendations of these Panels and our Finance Committee.

Email address: research@action.org.uk

Postal address:

Research Manager
Action Medical Research
Vincent House
North Parade
West Sussex
RH12 2DP