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 supports five different types of grants. Find out more about each scheme and how and when you can apply for funding below. The next grant round for Biomedical Projects will open on 4 September 2020 and close on 30 October 2020.
PhD Studentships
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 excellence and greatest relevance to MND.
Deadline
The deadline date for receipt of summary applications is 1 May 2020. This round will open on 6 March 2020.
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 years 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.
Deadline
The deadline date for receipt of summary applications is 30 October 2020. This will open on 4 September 2020.
To apply please register and complete our Online Summary Application Form. Before completing the form, 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 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 round one is 9 January 2020
The deadline date for round two is 1 April 2020
The deadline date for round three is 2 September 2020
Clinical Scientist Fellowships
The deadline date for round one is 9 January 2019
The deadline date for round two is 1 April 2020
The deadline date for round three is 2 September 2020
Senior Clinical Fellowships
The deadline date for round one is 1 April 2020
How to apply
The Lady Edith Wolfson Fellowships are administered by the MRC. Application forms can be found in the ‘Guidance for applicants’ section on the MRC website.
For more information please read our Clinical Research Fellows document or see 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
The Association is proud to announce our newly launched non-clinical fellowships in MND. These fellowships will aim to foster and nurture post-doctoral researchers into the MND research leaders of tomorrow.
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
The deadline date for receipt of summary applications is 1 May 2020. This round will open on 6 March 2020.
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 – 5 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.
Healthcare Research Projects
The MND Association is a leading authority in commissioning and funding healthcare research. Our goal is that healthcare research we fund will lead to better symptom management and support for people with MND, their families and carers and help strengthen the case for public funding of high-quality MND care.
Our recent funding has focused on improving understanding of Nutritional and Respiratory Management. We continue to invest in research that fills knowledge gaps in clinical management of MND, adding to the evidence base and driving improvements in care.
One current priority is the creation of a population-based MND register to obtain better information on the demographics and natural history of MND, and help to assess the impact of co-ordinated care provision through our Care Centre network.
Other funding is focused on translational research, such as the MIROCALS study.
We are working in collaboration with Marie Curie to fund research into improved care for those living with MND. For more information, please see Marie Curie website.
Enquiries about Healthcare research can be directed to the Research Grants Team at research.grants@mndassociation.org. Read about our Terms and Conditions and our Healthcare Research Governance Overview.
Grant deadlines
See below for upcoming grant opening and deadline dates.
Grant type | Applications accepted from | Deadline for applications |
| Biomedical Research Projects | 4 September 2020 | 30 October 2020 |
| PhD Studentships | 6 March 2020 | 1 May 2020 |
| Non-Clinical Research Fellowships | 6 March 2020 | 1 May 2020 |
| MRC Clinical Research Training Fellowships | 4 November 2019 13 February 2020 23 July 2020 | 9 January 2020 1 April 2020 2 September 2020 |
| MRC Clinical Scientist Fellowships | 4 November 2019 13 February 2020 23 July 2020 | 9 January 2020 1 April 2020 2 September 2020 |
| MRC Senior Clinical Fellowships | 13 February 2020 | 1 April 2020 |
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 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 and discussion by the Healthcare Research Advisory Panel (HRAP) and Board of Trustees. Please also see the Healthcare Governance Overview 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.
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 research.grants@mndassociation.org or phone on 01604 611873.