We offer funding to UK-based researchers working in our three priority areas - headache and facial pain, neuro-oncology and acquired brain and spinal cord injury.
Grants are awarded in open competition through our two national funding schemes: project grants and post-doctoral fellowships (also incorporating clinical PhD studentships).
Both schemes are focused on funding research in our three priority areas:
Research may be pre-clinical or clinical, must be based on a mechanistic hypothesis, and must demonstrate a clear pathway to translation.
Additionally, we will fund the development of biological models of disease that enhance the three research themes and facilitate translation.
Brain Research UK project grants provide funding of up to £300,000 for projects lasting up to three years. We particularly encourage applications from early career researchers (up to 10 years post-doc), and applications for collaborative projects (including international collaborations, if led by a UK team).
The 2025 call for preliminary applications is now open, with a closing date of 5th March 2025.
Find out more: 2025 call for preliminary project grant applications
These new fellowships provide up to £300,000 for salary funding and research costs for post-doctoral candidates working towards independence, as well as prospective clinical academic PhD students.
The next deadline will be Autumn 2025, for Spring 2026 awards.
Fellowship call: further information
Our Research strategy, updated in 2023.
Our Conflict of interest policy sets out how we deal with potential conflicts of interest arising in the assessment of grant applications.
Our Policy on the Use of animals in scientific research sets out our approach to funding research involving animals.
Please email katie.martin@brainresearchuk.org.uk if you have any queries concerning our research funding or if you would like to be notified of future funding opportunities.
