Apply for funding

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 studentship applications in 2023, see planned deadlines 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 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.

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 hope to accept further project grant applications in 2023, please see planned deadlines below.

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 research.grants@mndassociation.org.

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.

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 next deadline date is for 2023 round two : 5 April 2023
The deadline date for 2023 round three is 6 September 2023
The deadline date for 2024 round one is 11 January 2024

Clinical Scientist Fellowships
The next deadline date is for 2023 round two: 5 April 2023
The deadline date for 2023 round three is 6 September 2023
The deadline date for 2024 round one is 10 January 2024

Senior Clinical Fellowships
There is usually only one annual round for this scheme.
The next deadline 5 April 2023

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.

The Pre-Fellowship scheme is designed to attract and retain early career researchers wanting to establish a career in MND translational research and become MND research leaders of the future. The intention is to bridge the pre-fellowship funding gap by providing the opportunity to obtain the pilot data required for securing a fellowship.

Application Process and Deadlines

Applications are now open for the MND Pre-Fellowship scheme. Find out more information about the Pre-Fellowships and how to apply here. 

Deadline: 31 March 2023

If you have any questions please email prefellowships@mndscotland.org.uk. 

Please note: While MND Association are providing the funding for these Pre-Fellowships, MND Scotland will be administering this funding call.

Duration

The Pre-Fellowships will offer 12-18 months of "pump priming" funds to non-clinical and clinical researchers. 

Eligibility 

This funding call is open to all MND researchers in the UK but the applicant must be a Principal Investigator at a UK research institute. The Pre-Fellowship fellow can be named on the application but this not mandatory, and the fellowships can be advertised locally once awarded. Find out more about the full eligibility criteria for this funding call here. 

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 applications in 2023, see planned deadlines 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.

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 Healthcare applications in 2023, see planned deadlines 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 research.grants@mndassociation.org.