Research Project Grants

For researchers based at universities, institutions of higher education or registered charities with university-equivalent research capacity, to undertake an innovative and original research project

Value

The maximum grant value is £500,000.

Duration

Research Project Grants may be held for up to five years. Before beginning your application, please read the information below.

Institutions:

The following institutions are eligible to apply:

• UK universities and other institution of higher education in the UK
• National museums and galleries and registered charities in the UK which have a research capacity equivalent to that of a UK university

The applicant, or Principal Investigator

The applicant (Principal Investigator) must take responsibility for directing the grant, and his/her employing institution must also agree to administer the grant. Eligible applicants will already be employed by the eligible institution or be an academic who has maintained close links with that institution following retirement. Applications can be submitted by those holding contract research posts provided that their appointment continues for a period at least equal to the span of the requested award. Up to 3 co-applicants from the same or different UK institutions may also be included. Overseas co-applicants are allowable.

Fields of study

Applications will be considered in all subject areas except:

• studies of disease, illness and disabilities in humans and animals
• research that is intended to inform clinical practice or the development of medical applications

We exclude these areas because substantial funding is available from other sources for applied medical research; the Trust’s priority is to support investigations of a fundamental nature. Similarly, because of the availability of alternative sources of funding, the following types of research are also ineligible:

• research of which advocacy forms an explicit component
• policy-driven research where the principal objective is to assemble an evidence base for immediate -policy initiatives
• research which is aimed principally at an immediate commercial application
• projects in which the balance between assembling a data bank or database and the related subsequent research is heavily inclined to the former
• projects in which the main focus is on capacity building, networking, or the development of the skills of those involved

If applicants are uncertain about eligibility, they are encouraged to telephone or email the Trust before submitting an application.