MRC collaborates with royal colleges and charity funders to offer jointly funded clinical research training fellowships.
These awards offer the prestige of having the relevant organisation co-fund your fellowship and may offer additional opportunities to report on your project, present your work at meetings and take part in professional networking.
The Borne Foundation supports research into pregnancy and the factors and conditions that may lead to preterm birth. We fund research programmes and projects that examine the biological processes of pregnancy and childbirth to understand changes in the maternal environment and their significance, and the mechanisms involved in normal and abnormal labour. To encourage the development of the best scientific ideas and new projects from the field, we jointly fund project grants for scientists with Action Medical Research.
We offer joint funding opportunities with MRC administered through the Clinical Research Training Fellowship and Career Development Award schemes. These support bright clinicians looking to develop their academic careers in the area of obstetrics and postdoctoral academics with their transition to independence.
For further information regarding Borne and its work, please visit the Borne Foundation website.
Each year, one clinical research training fellowship will be awarded jointly by MRC and the British Association of Dermatologists and the British Skin Foundation.
The British Association of Dermatologists and the British Skin Foundation support and promote all aspects of dermatology research to improve the understanding, diagnosis and management of skin disease.
Up to four fellowships will be awarded each year under this new scheme, jointly funded by MRC and British Journal of Anaesthesia. The fellowships are aimed at trainee anaesthetists who wish to pursue research into understanding and improving any aspects of anaesthesia, peri-operative care, critical care and pain.
The British Journal of Anaesthesia is the oldest and largest independent journal of anaesthesia and is the highest ranked journal in anaesthesia in Europe.
If you have any queries about the fellowship or your proposed research area, please email h.f.galley@abdn.ac.uk
One clinical research training fellowship will be awarded jointly by MRC, British Lung Foundation (BLF) and Mick Knighton Mesothelioma Fund (MKMF).
The BLF is the only UK charity working for everyone affected by lung disease. The BLF focuses its resources on providing support for people affected by lung disease today. It works in a variety of ways, including funding world-class research, to bring about positive change to improve treatment, care and support for people affected by lung disease.
The MKMF aims to raise awareness of mesothelioma, fund crucial research projects, and improve diagnosis, treatment and care for mesothelioma sufferers. Applicants must focus their work on mesothelioma.
The BLF’s research strategy, which details its research priorities, can be found on their Best Lungs website.
The purpose of this fellowship is to provide an opportunity for the scientific training of a young clinician who wishes to pursue research into the pathogenesis and treatment of Cystic Fibrosis (CF).
The Cystic Fibrosis Trust funds a broad and dynamic portfolio of world-class innovative research that ensures that every person with CF in the UK can live a long and full life. Through this co-funded clinical training fellowship, the trust particularly wishes to support translational research that is likely to have an impact on the clinical care of people with cystic fibrosis in the near future.
Please visit the Cystic Fibrosis Trust website for further information or email any specific questions to: researchgrants@cftrust.org.uk
Each year, one clinical research training fellowship will be awarded jointly by MRC and DEBRA UK, the national charity and patient support organisation for people living with the genetic skin blistering condition, epidermolysis bullosa (EB).
The 2023 fellowship will be entitled the Oliver Thomas MRC EB Fellowship, in memory of Oliver Thomas, who sadly passed away from dystrophic EB in December 2021.
Through this fellowship, funding will be made available to support the continued growth of EB research, and to build a strong community of highly trained, innovative researchers with a clear career pathway into and through EB research.
DEBRA, the largest UK funder of EB research, will be there to provide support at every stage: to attract, retain and support existing researchers and to bring new researchers into the field. This will ensure we inspire the next generation of EB researchers to become leaders of a future where no one suffers with the pain of EB.
Our new strategy puts patient outputs front and centre, with a focus on translational research that will have a positive impact on those with EB today. Our ambition is to find and fund treatments that lessen the day-to-day impact of EB and improve overall quality of life.
If you wish to discuss the fellowship or your proposed research area, please contact Dr Sagair Hussain, Director of Research at DEBRA: sagair.hussain@debra.org.uk
Diabetes UK is leading the fight against the UK’s biggest and growing health crisis. Our vision is a world where diabetes can do no harm and we fight diabetes through support, information, campaigning and research. As part of our research ambitions, we’re committed to attracting new research talent and retaining expertise so that we are growing the next generation of the future leaders.
We are partnering with MRC on a suite of research training fellowships to help grow investment in diabetes research careers. These include:
We will jointly fund up to one fellowship annually across these funding schemes. We will consider high quality applications into any aspect of diabetes and its related complications.
For further information regarding the charity’s work, including the research strategy, please visit the Diabetes UK website.
Encephalitis is an often devastating disease of brain inflammation which can be due to infectious, autoimmune, or yet undefined causes.
The Encephalitis Society is dedicated to driving forward support, awareness, and research across the translational spectrum, from basic science and disease modelling, through to epidemiological, clinical descriptive, and outcomes-based investigations.
The Encephalitis Society will support one clinical research training fellowship to undertake UK-based research that contributes to improving the detection, diagnosis, treatment, and, or, rehabilitation of patients. Suitable applicants will be in clinical training in neurology, infectious diseases, neurorehabilitation, or allied specialities.
The successful fellowship candidate will be expected to:
Epilepsy Research UK (ERUK) is dedicated to funding UK-based research into the causes, treatment, prevention and psychosocial aspects of epilepsy. Here we invite clinicians to submit high-quality applications that have real potential to benefit people who are affected by the condition.
As part of this jointly-funded award, fellows are required to submit annual and end-of-grant reports to ERUK, and we encourage them to submit at least one abstract from their work to the ILAE UK chapter annual scientific meeting. We also ask that they attend a supporter engagement reception soon after their grant is awarded. Fellows sometimes have the opportunity to represent ERUK at local fundraising events during the course of their grants, and they are very welcome to take part in or support our sporting events.
For information about ERUK’s other funding opportunities, please visit the ERUK website’s apply for funding page.
You can also view ERUK’s research portfolio.
A clinical research training fellowship will be awarded jointly by MRC and Fight for Sight, the UK’s leading charity dedicated to funding research into the prevention and treatment of blindness and eye disease.
Applications for this joint award are invited from clinicians wishing to pursue a clinical scientist career in any area of vision research relevant to the charity’s aims. Nursing and allied health professional graduates (including optometrists and orthoptists) are also eligible to apply. Please visit the Fight for Sight website for further information or email any specific questions to grants@fightforsight.org.uk
See also Royal College of Ophthalmologists/Novartis and Royal College of Ophthalmologists John Lee Fellowship.
The purpose of this fellowship is to support trainee pathologists, who have undertaken a PhD at some point before the start of their clinical pathology training, to reacquire and update their research skills.
This opportunity is only open to trainee members of the Pathological Society, based in Great Britain or Ireland, in a recognised specialist trainee one to six post in histopathology, veterinary or oral pathology.
Applicants must have completed a PhD prior to start of pathology training. Applicants should have been a member of the Pathological Society for at least 12 months.
As part of this jointly-funded award, fellows are required to:
Find out more about this opportunity at Pathological Society.
The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) is the type one diabetes charity, improving lives until we find the cure. We’re completely focused on type one diabetes, and are run by people with type one diabetes, for people with type one diabetes.
We fund research to cure, treat and prevent type one diabetes. Internationally, we are the world’s leading charitable funder of type one diabetes research. We work with academia, industry and governments to make sure that the research we fund has the greatest possible impact on the lives of people with type one diabetes – now and in the future.
We welcome applications from clinicians whose research will address one of our priority areas. As part of a jointly funded award, fellows would be required to submit annual and end-of-grant reports to the charity. We would invite fellows to present their research at JDRF scientific meetings and at events for people affected by type one diabetes. We can also offer interested fellows opportunities to enhance their communication skills by working with our dedicated research communication team.
For current opportunities and further information on our other funding schemes, please refer to the JDRF website.
Kidney Research UK is the leading medical research charity that funds research dedicated to deliver change for people affected by kidney disease.
Clinical research training fellowships under this joint funding initiative awards will be for those who wish to pursue research that will help us drive forward our research strategy.
Applications that include an element of industry collaboration are welcomed, and Kidney Research UK may be able to assist potential applicants in establishing industrial contacts.
Kidney Research UK supports a wide range of research projects and career awards through open calls to UK academic clinicians and scientists.
We offer joint funding opportunities with MRC administered through the clinical research training fellowship, clinician scientist fellowship, and career development award schemes.
Additional benefits provided to successful applicants will include attendance at Kidney Research UK’s annual Driving Discoveries event
For further information on our work, please visit the Kidney Research UK website or email grants@kidneyresearchuk.org
MRC and Leukaemia UK will jointly award up to two clinical training fellowships each year.
Leukaemia UK is a leading UK charity dedicated to promoting life saving research into leukaemia and related disorders. Our founder the late John Goldman was a renowned haematologist and a pioneer into the treatment of leukaemia for over 30 years and was associated with many major developments in the field.
Leukaemia UK continues to have a clear mission to accelerate progress to beat blood cancer through substantial, targeted investment in research. We work with doctors, scientists and clinicians whom we support in order to build the capacity vital to the advancement of new treatments and cures.
To help build critical mass in this field, applications are welcome for high quality research into haemato-oncology and related areas.
For more details about the charity and our priorities visit the Leukaemia UK website.
One clinical research training fellowship will be jointly awarded in the area of skin disorders relevant to adolescents.
Two clinical research training fellowships will be jointly awarded in the area of cancer pain.
The Medical Research Foundation is the charity of MRC, and aims to support research on the conditions and diseases that devastate lives where there is unmet need for new research, but a low research investment. We provide opportunities for emerging research leaders who will address the biomedical research questions of the future by supporting their cutting-edge research today.
As a Medical Research Foundation fellow, you will also have access to our package of support for fellows, including an annual meeting, mentoring support, and access to additional funding schemes focused on research dissemination.
To find out more about us or this opportunity, please visit the Medical Research Foundation website.
MNDA’s Lady Edith Wolfson fellowships aim to support clinicians wishing to pursue research into the pathogenesis and treatment of motor neuron disease. Awards under this scheme are available for clinical research training fellowships, senior clinical fellowships and clinician scientists fellowships. If you have any questions about the fellowship or your proposed research area, please contact our director of research development Dr Brian Dickie at brian.dickie@mndassociation.org You can also visit the MNDA website for further information.
One fellowship is awarded each year under this scheme, aimed at researchers who are involved in treating patients and who wish to pursue research into understanding and treatment of multiple sclerosis.
For more information about the charity visit the Multiple Sclerosis Society website.
Pancreatic Cancer UK is the only national charity fighting pancreatic cancer on all fronts: support, information, campaigning and research. We’re committed to attracting new research talent and retaining expertise within the field, in order to build a critical mass of research expertise in the UK and support the research leaders of the future.
We welcome applications for clinical research training fellowships to be jointly funded between Pancreatic Cancer UK and MRC. We will consider high quality applications into any aspect of pancreatic cancer.
For more information, first visit Pancreatic Cancer UK. If you then have any questions email research@pancreaticcancer.org.uk
Parkinson’s UK is working hard to support and nurture a flourishing Parkinson’s research community in the UK. Up to two clinical research training fellowships will be awarded under this scheme, jointly funded by Parkinson’s UK and MRC.
We are focused on finding new and better treatments for Parkinson’s, and one day a cure. We’re also keen to fund research that improves quality of life in the shorter term.
As part of a jointly funded award, fellows would be required to submit annual and final reports to the charity and to submit grant evaluation data to Researchfish annually. Grant holders are also asked to host up to two engagement activities with people affected by Parkinson’s.
Please read our policies affecting grants before making an application.
Prostate Cancer UK aims to stop prostate cancer from being a killer. They invest in the most innovative research to transform our understanding of prostate cancer and develop better treatments and more effective approaches to diagnose this disease.
Their research strategy sets out three priority areas for funding:
Men deserve a future where they do not have to fear being harmed by treatments, not being diagnosed in time, or having their cancer return. They deserve a future where their lives are not limited by prostate cancer.
We invite clinical research training fellowship proposals that target at least one of these priorities. These jointly funded projects by Prostate Cancer UK and MRC intend to support high calibre clinical scientists in their early career development.
For further information regarding the charity’s work, including the research strategy, visit the Prostate Cancer UK website.
If you have any questions email research@prostatecanceruk.org
One joint clinical research training fellowship (CRTF) is offered in each calendar year. This is open to clinical radiologists who are members or fellows of the Royal College of Radiologists, and who also meet the eligibility criteria for CRTFs set out by MRC. More information is available on the Royal College of Radiologists website.
Scleroderma & Raynaud’s UK (SRUK) is the only national charity dedicated to improving the lives of people affected by these conditions. We do this by investing in research, increasing awareness and providing information and support to all those affected.
We are committed to attracting new talent to support a flourishing Scleroderma research community in the UK and support the research leaders of the future
We welcome applications for a clinical research training fellowship to be jointly funded between SRUK and MRC. We will consider high quality applications that will help deliver progress in one of the four key areas identified in our research strategy. These are early diagnosis, precision medicine, quality of life and understanding the cause.
For further information, visit the SRUK website. If you have questions email grants@sruk.co.uk
Up to two clinical research training fellowships will be awarded jointly between MRC and the Stroke Association, the only national charity solely concerned with helping everyone affected by stroke. Our vision is to have a world where there are fewer strokes, and all those touched by stroke get the help they need.
The Stroke Association’s research strategy aims to increase the UK funding base and capacity for clinical stroke research across the full stroke care pathway. Applications from individuals wishing to pursue a career in clinical stroke research are welcomed.
For further information, please visit the Stroke Association website or email research@stroke.org.uk
One clinical research training fellowship will be awarded jointly by MRC and Target Ovarian Cancer.
Target Ovarian Cancer is the national charity dedicated to achieving a long and good life for every woman with ovarian cancer. Established in 2008, we have a clear mission to accelerate progress to beat this disease through substantial, targeted investment in research, education and advocacy throughout the UK.
In order to build critical mass in this field, applications will be welcome for high quality research aimed at improving the treatment of ovarian cancer. For more details of our research priorities visit the research page on the Target Ovarian Cancer website.
MRC Royal College training fellowships have additional eligibility criteria relating to college membership and clinical training. If you wish to apply for one of these jointly funded fellowships, contact the relevant college to discuss your application and eligibility before applying to us.
The application process and closing date for jointly funded clinical research training fellowships is the same as the standard competition for clinical research training fellowships (CRTF).
To apply for joint funding, you must indicate this in the joint funders section of your application. Joint funding does not alter the assessment process. We will offer all jointly funded fellowships under standard MRC terms and conditions, except where the co-funder has specified extra terms and conditions. If you apply for a jointly funded fellowship which is not available for any reason, we will automatically consider you for a standard MRC fellowship instead.
Last updated: 8 April 2024
