Apply for funding
The MND Association is a world leader in funding cutting-edge MND research and facilitating international research collaboration. Find out about the research grants we offer and how these are selected below.
Types of grants
The MND Association offers a variety of grants. Find out more about each scheme and how and when you can apply for funding below.
PhD Studentships (Biomedical and Healthcare)
Through our successful PhD studentship programme we have a track record of attracting and funding promising young scientists to develop their careers in MND research. We only fund research of the highest scientific/clinical excellence and greatest relevance to MND.
Deadline
We hope to accept further grant applications in 2025, please see planned details below.
Please read our Guidelines, Terms and Conditions and our Guide to Completing the Online Summary Application Form. It is also recommended that you read the MND Association Research Strategy and Research Governance Overview.
Duration
Awards will be offered for three and a half years (42 months) to allow registered students to undertake full-time research for a PhD.
Eligibility
Studentship applications are invited from prospective supervisors, based in UK and Ireland laboratories. Collaborative projects between departments are welcomed, provided the relative roles of the supervisors and departments are addressed. Supervisors should recruit and nominate the student of their choice (subject to MND Association approval). Students should hold, or expect to obtain, a first or upper second class honours degree.
Assessment and Budget
Please see our Guidelines for more information on assessment criteria and budget information.
Biomedical Research Projects
We are committed to playing a key role in ending MND. Our biomedical research programme is delivering significant and measurable advances in understanding and treating the disease. We only fund research of the highest scientific excellence and greatest relevance to MND.
Application Process and Deadlines
We are now accepting applications for Project Grants. Please complete our Online Summary Application Form. The deadline for receipt of summary applications is 1 November 2024.
Please read our Guidelines, Terms and Conditions and our Guide to Completing the Online Summary Application Form. It is also recommend that you read the MND Association Research Strategy and Research Governance Overview.
If you need further information please email [email protected].
Duration
Grants will be offered for up to three years duration. Applications for less than two years should include a named researcher with the relevant expertise, familiar with the laboratory.
Eligibility
Applicants can be based outside the UK and Ireland, provided the project is unique in concept or design (i.e. no similar research is being performed in the UK) and involves a significant aspect of collaboration with a UK institute.
Assessment and Budget
Please see our guidelines for more information on assessment criteria and budget information.
Clinical Research Fellowships
Our Lady Edith Wolfson Fellowship programme, in partnership with the Medical Research Council (MRC), is attracting and developing outstanding young clinicians in MND research in order to create future scientific leaders in this field.
Central to the MND Association’s research strategy is the need to develop opportunities for the scientific training of young clinicians, to strengthen the links between the laboratory and the clinic.
The MRC/MND Association Lady Edith Wolfson Fellowships aim to support clinicians wishing to pursue research into the pathogenesis and treatment of motor neurone disease. Awards under this scheme are available at three levels:
Clinical Research Training Fellowships
The deadline date for 2024 round one is 10 January 2024
Clinical Scientist Fellowships
The deadline date for 2024 round one is 10 January 2024
Senior Clinical Fellowships
The next deadline April 2024
Please check all deadlines on the MRC's website. The application systems are usually open about two months before the deadline.
How to apply
The Lady Edith Wolfson Fellowships are administered by the MRC. Further information can be found on the MRC website.
If you wish to discuss your proposed research area in advance of submission, please contact Dr Brian Dickie, our Director of Research Development.
Non-Clinical Research Fellowships
Since 2015 the MND Association has awarded non-clinical fellowships to nurture the best post-doctoral researchers and develop the MND research leaders of the future.
The fellowships will be awarded at two levels, depending on the experience of the applicant: Junior Non-Clinical fellowships or Senior Non-Clinical fellowships.
Deadline
We hope to accept further grant applications in 2025, please see planned details below.
Please read our Guidelines, Terms and Conditions and our Guide to Completing the Online Summary Application Form. It is also recommended that you read the MND Association Research Strategy and Research Governance Overview.
Duration
Grants will be offered for up to three or four years duration.
- Junior Non-Clinical – awards will be offered for 2 – 3 years
- Senior Non-Clinical – awards will be offered for 3 – 4 years
Eligibility
Fellowship awards may only be held at an institute in the UK and Ireland. At the time of application the prospective fellow may be based elsewhere
- Junior Non-Clinical – applicants must have 2 – 6 years post-doctoral experience at the time of commencement of the award. Exceptional final year PhD students may apply but should consult the Association prior to submitting a summary application.
- Senior Non-Clinical – applicants must have 4 – 10 years post-doctoral experience at the time of commencement of the award.
Assessment and Budget
Please see our guidelines for more information on assessment criteria and budget information.
NIHR Doctoral and Advanced Fellowships
The Doctoral and Advanced Fellowships, in partnership with the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), aim to support individuals on their trajectories to become future leaders in health and social care research. This new partnership will build research capacity in MND and help researchers receive valuable input from public and patient MND groups along with greater research exposure.
Awards under this scheme are available at two levels:
Doctoral Fellowships - aimed at those wishing to undertake a PhD
Advanced Fellowships - aimed at those wishing to continue their career in research after a PhD
Duration
Awards will be offered for 3 years for the Doctoral Fellowships.
Awards will be offered for 2-5 years for the Advanced Fellowships.
How to apply
These Fellowships are administered by the NIHR. Further information will be available on the NIHR website when the funding calls open.
Healthcare Research
The MND Association has a longstanding record in commissioning and funding healthcare research. Our goal is that healthcare research we fund will lead to better symptom management and quality of life for people with MND, their families and carers and help strengthen the case for public funding of high-quality MND care.
We hope to accept further grant applications in 2025, please see planned details below.
Researchers should be able to demonstrate their proposed study will inform and expand the NICE Guideline: Motor Neurone Disease: Assessment and Management through identification of knowledge gaps and/or generation of more robust base, strengthening the case for statutory funding of high-quality MND care.
Please read our Project Grant Guidelines and PhD Studentship Guidelines, Terms and Conditions and our Guide to Completing the Online Summary Application Form. It is also recommended that you read the MND Association Research Strategy and Research Governance Overview with Supporting Document.
We also have a longstanding record of supporting studies in co-operation with other agencies, such as Marie Curie to fund research into improved care for those living with MND. We will be keen to discuss opportunities for jointly funded initiatives at any time.
Enquiries about Healthcare research can be directed to the Research Grants Team at [email protected].
Grant deadlines
See below for upcoming grant opening and deadline dates.
Grant type | Applications accepted | Deadline for applications | |
Biomedical Research projects | mid-September 2024 | 1 November 2024 | Apply Here |
Biomedical PhD Studentships | mid-March 2025 | 25 April 2025 | |
Non-Clinical Research Fellowships | mid-March 2025 | 25 April 2025 | |
Healthcare Project Grants and Studentships | mid-March 2025 | 25 April 2025 | |
NIHR Doctoral Fellowships | TBC | TBC | |
NIHR Advanced Fellowships | TBC | TBC | |
MRC Clinical Research Training Fellowships | 14 October 2023 | See MRC Website | |
MRC Clinical Scientist Fellowships | 14 October 2023 | See MRC Website | |
MRC Senior Clinical Fellowships | February 2024 | April 2024 |
How do we fund research?
Funding for biomedical research is awarded by way of three types of grant: Biomedical project grants, PhD studentships and Non-Clinical Fellowships. All interested applicants are first required to submit a summary application, and successful candidates are then invited to submit a full application. This is reviewed by external peer reviewers (see guidance) and internally by the Biomedical Research Advisory Panel (BRAP). The highest scoring applications are then recommended to the Board of Trustees for a final decision. For a more detailed explanation of the process read our Biomedical Research Governance Overview.
Applications for Healthcare Project Grants are also subject to external peer review (see guidance) and discussion by the Healthcare Research Advisory Panel (HRAP) and Board of Trustees. Please also see the Healthcare Governance Overview and Supporting Document for more information.
Statements and policies on research
Research funded by the MND Association is guided by our terms and conditions. Terms and conditions of each type of grant can be found within their dedicated section.
We also have a number of statements on research including research involving animals, stem cells, unproven treatments and our research knowledge strategy.
Find out more about our research policies
Open access
Grantees of awards are mandated to make their peer reviewed papers directly arising from the grant available through open access. We work with Europe PMC in making our research papers available open-access. To apply for open-access funding, please see below.
For more information please email us at [email protected] or phone on 01604 611873.