Sources of funding for research

Organisations are listed alphabetically

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Tables showing organisations and the type of research and grants available.

British Academy
Research Grants Department, 10 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5AH, UK.
Tel: +44 20 7969 5200
Fax: +44 20 7969 5300
Email: grants@britac.ac.uk
Web: www.britac.ac.uk
Scope: The British Academy receives grant-in-aid from the Office of Science and Innovation (OSI) to fund research at postdoctoral level in all branches of enquiry within the humanities and social sciences. The Academy’s research funding strategy is focused on providing small-scale support. Its aim is to foster high-quality research and to help develop research capacity through a framework of responsive-mode programmes.
Types of awards available: The Academy provides a range of schemes to support the intellectual activity of UK-based scholars, including research appointments, research grants for individual and joint projects, conferences, and bilateral agreements to promote international collaboration.
Restrictions: Most awards are made to staff employed in universities and other institutions of higher education, but applicants are not restricted by either academic or employment status. Rather, they must show that they are seeking support for advanced research at postdoctoral level (or equivalent). PhD candidates are not eligible to apply, whether or not the project is related to the topic of their thesis. Awards are not available for the support of courses of study leading to professional qualifications. Grants are offered for the support of scholars who are normally resident in the UK, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands, except for the programmes for visiting scholars.
Method of research fund allocation: The general procedure is that proposals are assessed by subject specialists in the light of references and any external evaluations. Assessors’ comments and recommendations are forwarded to a final award committee, which considers the applications and decides on awards to be made in the light of the quality of the competition and the budget available. There may be an interim stage where applications are reviewed by a selection panel.
Submission of applications: Application forms and further guidance can be downloaded from the website.
Last updated: 21/02/2007

British Contact Lens Association
Walmar House, 288/292 Regent Street, London W1B 3AL, UK.
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7580 6661
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7580 6669
Email: vfreeman@bcla.org.uk
Web: www.bcla.org.uk/home.asp
Scope: Research into contact lenses and the anterior eye.
Types of awards available: Dallos Award: The BCLA will fund a research project which is likely to further the scientific communities understanding of a topic related to contact lenses or the anterior eye. Da Vinci Award: This is aimed at recognising work or an idea from any member of the contact lens industry in its widest sense. It is intended that this award should recognise work by those who are not established contact lens researchers.
Restrictions: Applicants for the Da Vinci Award should not have published more than 5 papers related to the field of contact lenses
Method of research fund allocation: All applications will be assessed by the council of the BCLA.
Submission of applications: Dallos Award applicants should submit five typewritten applications to The Secretary General. Da Vinci Award applicants need to obtain an application form from the BCLA which is submitted with a 200 word summary or abstract to The Secretary General.
Last updated: 14/12/2006

British Council for Prevention of Blindness
59-60 Russell Square, London WC1B 4HP, UK.
Tel: +44 20 7953 3777
Email: info@bcpb.org
Web: www.bcpb.org
Contact: Jackie Webber
Scope: Focus on funding research, which has the potential to make breakthroughs in understanding and treating currently incurable eye diseases, and on operational research to determine the best methods of preventing blindness.
Types of awards available: Prevention of Blindness Fellowships: The Barrie Jones Fellowship for UK based Fellows who will carry out research in a developing country. The Sir John Wilson Fellowship awarded to students from developing countries who come to the UK to carry out research.
Restrictions: Candidates for such Fellowships must be clinicians or scientists from the UK or overseas. Overseas candidates must be nationals of low-income countries. Clinicians must be specialising in ophthalmology and intending to pursue a career that includes academic research or teaching or both. Except in exceptional circumstances, clinicians will be required to register for an MD or a PhD.
Method of research fund allocation: Peer review process by an advisory panel. Shortlisted candidates invited for an interview.
Submission of applications: Completed application forms posted to Jackie Webber and emailed to info@bcpb.org.
Example of current research activities: New treatments for AMD; Can screening at-risk people using ultrasound and laser treatment prevent glaucoma?
Last updated: 14/12/2006

British Retinitis Pigmentosa Society
PO Box 350, Buckingham MK18 1GZ, UK.
Tel: +44 1280 821334
Fax: +44 1280 815900
Email: lynda@brps.org.uk
Web: www.brps.org.uk
Contact: Prof. John Marshall, Chairman of the Medical Advisory Board
Scope: To fund research leading to the development of treatments for retinitis pigmentosa, which will cover such areas as: 1 Identification of genetic faults; 2 Investigation and analysis of gene products; 3 Investigation into delivery systems for corrective genetic material.
Types of awards available: Research grants.
Restrictions: Subject to peer review and related to the causes and treatment of Retinitis Pigmentosa.
Method of research fund allocation: Recommendations by the Medical Advisory Board are submitted to the Board of Trustees.
Submission of applications: Candidates should submit, by email, a one-page outline of the intended research to the Chairman of the Medical Advisory Board prior to making a full application.
Last updated: 19/12/2006