Versus Arthritis Career Development Fellowships 2025

We're excited to announce that our Career Development Fellowships 2025 are open for applications.

What are our Career Development Fellowships?

We’re offering up to £750,000 to support excellent mid-career researchers in the field of arthritis and related musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders for five years. In total, we will invest around £3 million in our Career Development Fellowships.

Versus Arthritis is committed to strengthening the future of arthritis research by supporting research careers and building skills within the UK arthritis research community.  

Our enhanced Career Development Fellowships aim to attract and retain talented medical, veterinary, nurse and allied health professional or science graduates committed to a research career in any discipline relevant to arthritis and related musculoskeletal diseases. 

We aim to build the capacity and numbers of researchers in mid-career stages by supporting talented researchers, providing them with the opportunity to develop an independent research career and progress towards higher-level appointments.

Who can apply?

Applicants must be able to show: 

• A PhD (or equivalent).  
• That their skills and experience match those of the transition to an independent career stage. 
• How a fellowship will help them move to the next level in their career. 
• A commitment from their host institution towards supporting their future career trajectory. 

The overall costs can include funding for additional research staff such as a PhD student, research technician or research assistant who can support their research. 

The Fellowship can be held on a part-time basis. 

How can I apply?

Career Development Fellowships are an important part of our Better Lives Today, Better Lives Tomorrow Research Strategy (2022-2026).

Fellowship projects must demonstrate a clear relevance to the aims of Versus Arthritis. 

The fellowship application is a one-stage process: 

• A full application should be submitted by the deadline of Wednesday 3 July 2024. 
• All applications must be submitted through our grants management system, Grant Tracker. 

Meet our 2023 Career Development Fellows

We invested £2.25 million in Career Development Fellowships last year.

Find out more about our2023 Career Development Fellows and their research into osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia and juvenile idiopathic arthritis.