Funding opportunities

This call aims to identify molecular targets for the treatment of fatigue in immune-mediated  inflammatory diseases (IMIDs). 
Fatigue is the most common feature of IMIDs and greatly impacts on quality of life, yet research into its causes has been sorely neglected. Our current understanding of the biological mechanisms remains poor. 
The Lorna & Yuti Chernajovsky Biomedical Research Foundation is therefore investing an initial £1 million into research projects that will identify molecular mechanisms of fatigue in IMIDs with the aim of developing novel targeted therapies.
Successful projects from this initial phase of funding will be eligible for more substantive funding in the second phase.
They will fund 5 project grants for 2 years (up to £200,000 each) in this initial phase focussing on discovery of potential targeted therapies for fatigue (including proof of concept).

Application forms can be obtained from: https://www.chernajovskyfoundation.org.uk/grants

Breakthrough T1D UK Small Grant Awards offer competitive funding to support excellent proposals which meet the following:

• supports the development of early career researchers (basic scientists, clinicians or healthcare professionals including allied health professionals)
• supports new research or innovation with a clear impact pathway that has the potential to deliver significant contribution to the understanding or management of type 1 diabetes
• leads on to further research or clinical practice change
• gathers critical data and resources to make novel research ideas more competitive for larger follow-on funding in the field of type 1 diabetes
• takes into consideration the views and needs of individuals living with type 1 diabetes

The next call for applications will open on 5 January 2026

Funding: up to £20,000 for basic research and £30,000 for clinical research

Project length: up to 12 months

The Francis Crick Institute in central London offers postdoctoral fellowships for clinicians to pursue cutting-edge biomedical research. Fellowships provide 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time funded research experience within a Crick research group, with additional opportunities for those who bring their own salary support (e.g. NIHR, universities, or external schemes).

These fellowships aim to:

• Build long-term clinical and research collaborations.
• Extend clinical researchers’ postdoctoral experience with training, networking, and career development.
• Provide a platform for securing external fellowships at the Crick or beyond.

Eligibility: Applicants must hold a medical degree (or equivalent clinical qualification) and a research PhD.

Applications:

• Fully funded fellowships: 1 March – 30 April 2026
• Self-funded fellows: Applications welcome year-round

Supports short-term (up to 6 months) clinical immunology initiatives between Newcastle (UK) and Serbia. Awards of up to £3,000 are available to fund exchange visits, collaborative projects, and capacity-building activities. Limited equipment/reagent support in Serbia is available (up to £1,500).

Eligibility:

• Medical staff, clinical scientists, academics, researchers, technicians, nurses
• Serbian or UK nationals/residents working in Serbia or Newcastle
• Proposals must involve a host institution in the alternate location
• Preference for established candidates and for projects in primary immune deficiencies, but all areas of clinical immunology included
• No age restriction

Activities supported:

• Serbia to Newcastle: clinical observerships, diagnostic lab training, participation in research, attending Newcastle-based educational events, limited reagent/equipment support
• Newcastle to Serbia: organising workshops/training, supporting standardisation and accreditation of labs and services, contributing to Serbian-based research projects

Closing date: annually in the last week of May

EFIS and Immunology Letters (IL) award short-term fellowships for up to 3 months of support for purposes of transnational scientific collaboration. The EFIS-IL Short-term Fellowship allowance is € 1.925/month and is awarded directly to the fellowship holder. In addition, EFIS will reimburse travel costs up to € 500. 

Eligibility:

• Member of an EFIS-affiliated society (exceptions possible for countries without a national society)
• At least a Master’s degree; PhD holders with  less than 7 years postdoc experience (excluding career breaks) welcome
• Host institution must be in a different European country from current residence
• Not for attending courses, meetings, or conferences
• One applicant per host lab per year; award can be held only once and is not renewable
• Not retroactive and cannot be combined with other funding sources

Closing date: TBA 

Please note applications are reviewed every 3–4 months; decision within 3 weeks after submission deadline

Postdoctoral career development fellowships provide an opportunity for exceptional postdoctoral clinicians to consolidate their research experience.

Postdoctoral clinicians may apply for Crick funding to spend one year full-time or two years part-time working in a Crick research group, on a project agreed between the fellow and the Crick group leader.

This scheme aims to:

• Foster long-term clinical links and collaborations.
• Provide clinicians with a postdoctoral extension of their research experience, and with scientific networking, training and career development opportunities.
• Provide a platform from which fellows may apply for external funding, e.g. clinician scientist fellowships, to be held at the Crick or elsewhere.

Fellows at the Crick will be embedded in a vibrant multidisciplinary research community of more than 1000 scientists carrying out research to improve our understanding of health and disease. 

This opportunity would suit talented and motivated postdoctoral clinicians who are passionate about research and show outstanding potential for continuing a career in academic medicine and research. Applicants should have completed a medical degree, or equivalent clinical professional qualification, and hold, or be about to hold, a research PhD. 

The application submission window for Crick fully funded fellowships (route 1) is open from early March 2025 to end of April 2025. 

Applications from fellows with funding for their own salary support (route 2) are welcome all year round.