Types of grant

Deadline: 13:00 Wednesday 13th September 2023

Costs: Up to £15,000

Duration: Up to 12 months

Contact: grants@fightforsight.org.uk

Small Grant Awards are intended to be used to collect preliminary/pilot data to make research ideas more competitive when developing larger follow-on funding applications. These awards offer funding for early career clinical or research scientists to conduct stand-alone research projects.

This scheme is focussed on research addressing arthritis and visual impairment. This includes, but is not limited to Bechet’s Syndrome, Giant Cell Arthritis, and Sjögren's syndrome. Any research relevant to inflammation and uveitis are also welcomed. The strategic area of focus for Fight for Sight is:

• Prevention: prevent eye diseases and conditions occurring.
• Understanding: enhance understanding of eye diseases and their underlying causes.
• Diagnosis: enable eye diseases and conditions to be detected earlier.
• Treatment: develop new and improved treatments for eye diseases and conditions.

To apply and for further information, please visit the Fight for Sight website.

Deadline: 16:00 Wednesday 27th September 2023

Costs: Between £100,000 to £1,200,000

Duration: Up to 60 months Funding

Decision: March 2024

Contact: awards@versusarthritis.org

Focus

We want to bring about more accurate and faster diagnosis and more timely, effective and targeted treatments, tailored to individuals, taking into consideration not just their genes but also the environment they live in.

This call for applications for research funding focusses on two of the research priority areas from our Better Lives Today, Better Lives Tomorrow Research Strategy 2022-2026:

• Early detection and prevention: spotting the biological signatures of arthritis early to maximise the opportunities for timely intervention and preventing it from getting worse
• Targeted treatments: taking the guesswork out of treatment by increasing effective, reliable and timely drug and non-drug solutions to reduce, manage or cure disease

We particularly welcome applications addressing areas of unmet need in Early Detection and Targetted Treatments that have been identified by our Research Advisory Groups and Clinical Studies Group.

The Groups cover Adult Inflammatory Arthritis, Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases, Musculoskeletal Disorders and Paediatric Rheumatology and their research prioritisation work can be found in our “Gaps and Opportunities for Arthritis Research” reference.

Explicit research prioritisation exercises have been undertaken by two of the Groups and these outputs and methods are published in Lancet Rheumatology:

• From the Paediatric Clinical Studies Group Research priority setting for paediatric rheumatology in the UK (thelancet.com)
• From the Musculoskeletal Disorders Group Research priorities to reduce the impact of musculoskeletal disorders: a priority setting exercise with the child health and nutrition research initiative method (thelancet.com)

What are we looking for?

The impacts sought from this investment are progress toward:

• better understanding and tools to identify markers of risk to enable proactive screening and early detection (secondary prevention) approaches
• better tools and biomarkers to diagnose arthritis accurately and as rapidly as possible after symptoms begin
• clinical and care pathways applying a precision medicine and holistic approach
• accounting for individual variability in genes, environment and lifestyle and the management of pain, mental health and fatigue
• more effective, safer treatments and ultimately cures, that work for more people
• better tools to help decide the most appropriate treatments
• better understanding of how different diseases can be most effectively tackled together

Who can apply?

• The lead applicant must be based at an eligible UK institution.
• One applicant must have a tenured position within the lead institute.

For further information see the associated guidance document (PDF 272.2 KB).

What you can apply for

• Costs for salaries, expenses and small items of essential equipment can be requested.
• Awards of up to 60 months duration, between £100,000-£1,200,000 in value are available.
• We plan to invest around £5 million in different sized projects. We intend to run this call on an annual basis for the next 3 years, aligning to our Research Strategy.
  For further details on what you can apply for, please see the associated guidance document (PDF 272.2 KB)

How to apply

Applicants are invited to submit applications through Grant Tracker, where the form is available.

There is a single stage application process for all applications.

Applicants must carefully read the call document (PDF 229.2 KB), application form and guidance documentation (PDF 272.2KB) before starting an application.

Please ensure that the most appropriate language is being used in each section of the form and that the correct sections are completed.

The deadline for the receipt of applications in 16:00 on Wednesday the 27th September, 2023. Please allow time for management of appropriate reviewers and signatories to access the Grant Tracker system and provide their approvals. Submissions after 16:00 will not be accepted.

If you have any questions about the call, please email: awards@versusarthritis.org.

Maximum duration: One to two years

Deadline: Wednesday 6th September at 16:00pm.

Contact: Academy of Medical Sciences grants team at clinicallecturers@acmedsci.ac.uk

This scheme is a partnership between the Academy of Medical Sciences and Versus Arthritis. Other partners in this scheme include the Wellcome Trust, the British Heart Foundation, the Medical Research Council and Diabetes UK.

What do starter grants for clinical lecturers provide?

The starter grants for clinical lecturers scheme provides modest starter funds of up to £30,000 over one to two years to enable research active clinical lecturers to pursue their research work, gather preliminary data and so further strengthen their applications for longer term fellowships and funding.

Who can apply for a starter grant for clinical lecturer?

The grants are intended as start-up funding and as such are not intended for applicants who have already obtained substantial funding through, for example, Clinician Scientist Fellowships, New Investigator Awards or large project grants.

All eligible applicants must:

• Have a PhD or MD 
• hold a medical, dental or veterinary undergraduate degree and be registered with the General Medical Council, General Dental Council or Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons 
• hold a clinical contract.

What can you apply for?

The maximum grant available is £30,000. This can be spread over one to two years to contribute towards directly incurred research costs such as consumables and equipment.

Grants cannot be used to pay for your personal salary costs or to employ research assistants, PhD students or postdoctoral staff.

How to apply

These grants are administered by the Academy of Medical Sciences, more information and details on how to apply can be found at acmedsci.ac.uk.

During the review process, prior career breaks will be taken into account when evaluating a candidate’s research output and progress.

Successful applicants cannot reapply. Unsuccessful applicants are limited to one resubmission.

Orthopaedic Research UK and Versus Arthritis are seeking to co-fund a 2-year research fellowship of up to £100,000, with the aim of transforming Musculoskeletal (MSK) health outcomes through the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

This research fellowship is intended to support the research and development of AI solutions to improve operational efficiencies and clinical outcomes in people with poor MSK health.

The areas of focus should fall into any of the following areas:

• Diagnosis
• Self-management
• Treatment optimisation
• Monitoring
• Risk stratification
• Health economics

Applicants need to demonstrate:

• The novelty of the AI solution.
• What the unmet need is that the proposed AI solution addresses?
• How will project outcomes lead to improved MSK care and offer significant added?
  value over current or alternative solutions?
• How will they ensure the acceptability of the technology to people with musculoskeletal
  conditions, their families, healthcare professionals and providers?
• How will the proposed AI solution could impact or integrate into patients’ daily lives and NHS care pathways?
• Consideration of potential commercialisation routes for the AI solution which will inform the clinical and health economic evidence that needs to be generated.

Closing date for applications is Tuesday 5 September 2023 at 17:00

Apply through this link

For any queries, please contact info@oruk.org

Deadline: Wednesday 26th July 2023, 16:00pm

Funding decision: December 2023

Maximum duration: Two years

Contact: Julie Marsden at awards@versusarthritis.org

This scheme has two funding rounds a year: one with a submission deadline in January with a decision in May and one with a submission deadline in July with a decision in November.

What does the bridging fellowship provide?

The new bridging fellowship will provide up to 2 years funding for current Versus Arthritis fellowship holders who are in the final year of their fellowship. The aim of the fellowship is to provide fellows with additional financial support to bridge them to their next fellowship application or academic post, providing them with the opportunity to continue the development of an independent research career and progression towards higher-level appointments.

Who can apply for a bridging fellowship?

Current Versus Arthritis Fellows who are in the final year of their fellowship. Applicants will need to need provide a strong case for why the additional financial support is needed and clear plans for what the fellowship will be bridging the applicants towards, such as specific funding schemes or academic positions.

The current Versus Arthritis fellowships are eligible for this scheme:

• Clinical Research Fellowships
• Foundation Fellowships
• Career Development Fellowships.

What can you apply for?

Up to 2 years funding for the applicant’s salary, expenses and animal costs can be requested.

There are two funding options:

1. Up to 1 year of funding with no host institution buy-in required. A maximum of £80,000 can be requested by foundation and clinical research fellowship holders and £100,000 for career development fellows.
2. Up to 2 years of funding with the host institution contributing 50% of salary costs. A maximum of £100,000 can be requested by foundation and clinical research fellows and £150,000 for career development fellows.

Expenses

You are permitted to apply for reasonable research expenses directly related to your proposal, including:

• consumables
• small pieces of equipment (up to £30,000 in value)
• purchase and maintenance of laboratory animals (see below)
• travel to a collaborating institution
• costs related to public and patient involvement or engagement activities.

Studies involving animals must provide adequate details on the number, species, strain and associated costs of animals to be used in the study. Justification for the use of animals and why a suitable alternative cannot be used must also be provided. Versus Arthritis is a signatory to the Concordat on Openness on Animal Research and supports the principle of the 3Rs.

Detailed justification of costs requested should be provided in the fellowship application. Please read our costing your fellowship page for more information about eligible and ineligible costs.

How to apply

All applications must be submitted through our grants management system, Grant Tracker.
Applications should be submitted jointly by the candidate with his/her sponsor, outlining the proposed programme of research.

The fellowship application is a one-stage process, a full application should be submitted by the deadline.

Please read the Bridging fellowship guidance document (PDF, 256.8 KB) and the applying for a fellowship webpages prior to beginning your application.

How are they funded?

These Fellowships are awarded by the Fellowship Expert Committee following external scientific and lay review. Applicants will have the opportunity to provide a written response to external scientific and lay review, ahead of the Fellowship Expert Committee panel.

If you have any questions about the scheme please e-mail awards@versusarthritis.org

Deadline: 16:00 Wednesday 26th July 2023

Funding decision: March 2024

Maximum duration: Five years

Contact: Sydney Ambrose and Julie Marsden at awards@versusarthritis.org

What do career development fellowships provide?

Our enhanced career development fellowship aims 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 and provide them with the opportunity to develop an independent research career and progress towards higher-level appointments.

Who can apply for career development fellowships?

Applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria to apply for the Career Development Fellowship:

• have a PhD (or equivalent) 
• not hold an established (tenured) academic post
• Be based and associated with an established sponsor in a UK university, hospital, or research institute 
• be able to demonstrate that their skills and experience match those of the transition to independence career stage by: 
  • showing productivity across past appointments through a track record of challenging, original, and productive research in their area, as well as an upward trajectory  
  • demonstrate clear plans to establish their own research niche 
• be able to describe how a fellowship will help the applicant move to the next level in their career through a change in their current role 
• be able to demonstrate a commitment from their host institution towards supporting their future trajectory.

Some of the types of commitment that we will accept are the following:

• A financial contribution towards the fellow’s salary costs, equipment, expenses or animal costs
• provide an additional member of staff or PhD studentship

a commitment that the fellow will move into a tenure track post either during or at the conclusion of the fellowship.

Projects must demonstrate a clear relevance to the aims of Versus Arthritis. Our Research Strategy can be found here: https://www.versusarthritis.org/research/introducing-our-research-strategy/

What can you apply for?

The scheme will offer up to 5 years full-time funding. Costs for a PhD student, research technician or research assistant may also be requested depending on the funding model requested. The overall costs must not exceed £750,000.

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

Salaries

For basic science graduates, veterinary, nurse and allied health professionals up to 100% of the applicant’s salary costs can be requested according to experience on the appropriate scientific or clinical salary scale, including London weighting if relevant. However, we will only allow for up to 20% of the fellow’s time to be spent on non-research activities such as teaching or clinical activities.

For medically or surgically qualified individuals that are practicing medicine, two models of funding are available:  

• 60% of the applicant’s salary costs can be requested according to experience on the appropriate clinical salary scale, including London weighting if relevant. The applicant would only be expected to work on the fellowship at 0.6FTE.  
• up to 100% of the applicant’s salary costs can be requested according to experience on the appropriate clinical salary scale, including London weighting if relevant. However, the costs for a PhD student or research technician or assistant cannot be requested and we will only allow for up to 20% of the fellow’s time to spent on non-research activities such as teaching or clinical activities.

PhD studentships up to 4 years in duration and the following costs can be requested: 

• UK Tuition fees 
• Tax-free incremental stipend at Versus Arthritis rates 
• Running costs of £10,000 per year for the first 3 years and £7,500 in year 4 

Expenses

You are permitted to apply for reasonable research expenses directly related to your proposal, including:

• Consumables
• small pieces of equipment (up to £30,000 in value)
• purchase and maintenance of laboratory animals (see below)
• travel to a collaborating institution.

How to apply

All applications must be submitted through our grants management system, Grant Tracker.

The fellowship application is a one-stage process, a full application should be submitted by the deadline.

As part of the application you will be asked to complete a short scientific summary which will be used by the fellowship funding panel for the purposes of triage.

If you are applying for a fellowship with a PhD studentship rather than a research technician or assistant, you will need to provide details of an independent PhD project proposal and training plan which complements the fellowship project. Information on completing the PhD student section can be found within the online application form.

How career development fellowships are awarded

There are four stages to the assessment process:

• Triage: Only the scientific summary, applicant CV and lay summary of each application are assessed by the fellowship funding panel. Applicants will be informed at an early stage if their proposal has been triaged and all other applications will undergo full peer review.
• Peer review: the applications of those successful at triage are sent for lay review and external peer review by experts in the field of the proposal.
• Shortlisting: all sections of the applications including the peer reviews are assessed by the fellowship funding panel. Shortlisted applicants are invited to attend interview.
• Interview: the fellowship awarding panel interview the shortlisted applicants and make recommendations for funding.

Successful applicants to this scheme requiring a visa are eligible to apply for a Global Talent visa under the fast-track process of endorsement.

The deadline for submission of applications is 16:00 – this deadline relates to the time Versus Arthritis receives the application NOT to the time you press submit. When you press submit an automated email will be sent firstly to your finance officer for approval and once they have approved the application a second email will be sent to your Head of Department. It is only upon your Head of Department’s approval that the application is finally submitted to Versus Arthritis

Helpful Links

1. Our career development fellowship guidance document
2. Our applying for a fellowship webpages which includes details on costing your Fellowship and our flexible working policy

Deadline for submission: 12:00 Wednesday 5 April 2023

Shortlisting notification: July 2023

Interview: 27 September 2023

Funding decision: October 2023

Contact: research@medicalresearchfoundation.org.uk Tel: 020 7395 2420.

Versus Arthritis in partnership with the Medical Research Foundation are pleased to announce the launch of a call for two schemes in the field of child and adolescent musculoskeletal pain.

Catalyst Fellowships are available for early career researchers who are seeking to broaden their research experience and develop their own distinct research ideas. Applicants may apply for up to £150,000 to support their research, over a maximum of a 2-year period.

Career Development Fellowships are available for mid-career researchers who are seeking to make a transition to research independence and establish their own research niche. Applicants may apply for up to £400,000 to support their research, over a maximum of a 4-year period.

The Medical Research Foundation and Versus Arthritis will make a total of £2,200,000 available for these competitions, which will be split flexibly between both funding schemes.

For full information on how to apply for this funding, please see www.medicalresearchfoundation.org.uk