Academy Of Medical Sciences

Charity Number: 1185329

Annual Expenditure: £18.9M
Throughout England And Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland

Contact Info

Website: https://acmedsci.ac.uk/

Phone: 020 3141 3200

Email: -

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £24.6 million (in grants and charitable activities)
  • Total Income: £27 million
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: 3-5 months (varies by scheme)
  • Grant Range: £4,000 - £500,000
  • Geographic Focus: UK-based with international partnerships (30+ countries)

Contact Details

Website: https://acmedsci.ac.uk/

Email:

  • General inquiries: info@acmedsci.ac.uk
  • Grant inquiries: grants@acmedsci.ac.uk

Phone: 020 3141 3200

Address: 41 Portland Place, London W1B 1QH

Application Portal: Flexi-Grant system at https://acmedsci.flexigrant.com/

Overview

Founded in 1998 following recommendations chaired by Sir Michael Atiyah, the Academy of Medical Sciences is one of the UK's four national academies (alongside the British Academy, Royal Academy of Engineering, and Royal Society). With an annual income of £27 million and charitable expenditure of £24.2 million, the Academy supports biomedical and health researchers across the career spectrum. The organization comprises approximately 1,400 Fellows elected from biomedical science fields and employs 96 staff members. Following a merger with the Novartis Foundation in 2008, the Academy operates from its headquarters at 41 Portland Place, which also serves as a central London conference venue. The Academy works in partnership with major funders including Wellcome, the British Heart Foundation, UK Government departments, the Medical Research Council, Diabetes UK, and others to deliver its grant programmes. Professor Andrew Morris CBE FRSE PMedSci has served as President since April 2024, with Rosalind Campion appointed as Chief Executive Officer from October 2025.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Springboard Awards: £100,000 - £125,000 over two years

  • For biomedical researchers at the start of their first independent post
  • Includes access to Academy mentoring and career development programme
  • One annual funding round (Selection Panel meets November/December)
  • Institutional nomination required (up to 4 applications per institution)
  • Since 2015, £43.8 million invested in the programme
  • 2025 round: £7.6 million awarded to 62 researchers across 41 UK institutions

Starter Grants for Clinical Lecturers: Up to £30,000 over 1-2 years

  • For research-active Clinical Lecturers
  • Covers directly incurred research costs (consumables, access charges, datasets, software, equipment, technical support)
  • Two funding rounds annually: March (panel in June) and September (panel in December)
  • Decision within 5 months of submission
  • No interview required
  • Not intended for those with substantial prior funding (Clinician Scientist Fellowships, New Investigator Awards, large project grants)

Academy of Medical Sciences Professorship Scheme: Up to £500,000 over 5 years

  • Academy support: £225,000 (Year 1), £175,000 (Year 2), £100,000 (Year 3)
  • Two competitions per annum
  • Interview required

Clinician Scientist Fellowships: 5 years' salary and consumables

  • For talented clinicians pursuing academic research alongside clinical practice
  • Focus on disciplines with national expertise shortages: anaesthesia, paediatric disciplines, pathology, psychiatry, radiology, surgery
  • Includes mentoring from an Academy Fellow
  • Partnership with the Health Foundation
  • Currently closed for applications

Networking Grants: Up to £25,000 over one year

  • Supports collaborations between UK and international researchers
  • Networking events to strengthen global research capacity
  • Different streams for developed countries and DAC-listed countries
  • Rolling/fixed deadlines depending on stream

Daniel Turnberg Travel Fellowships: Up to £4,000 per fellowship

  • For biomedical researchers from UK and Middle East (Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestinian Territories)
  • Covers airfare (up to £750) and subsistence for up to 4 weeks
  • Aimed at early- and mid-career scientists

Newton International Fellowships: 2 years' funding

  • Partnership with Royal Society and British Academy
  • For early career post-doctoral researchers from partner countries
  • To carry out research in the UK
  • Currently closed

Newton Advanced Fellowships: Up to 3 years' funding

  • Partnership with Royal Society and British Academy
  • For early career group/network leaders in partner countries
  • Currently closed

SUSTAIN Programme: One-year programme (no grant amount specified)

  • Supports 24 women researchers annually
  • Leadership and career development training
  • Only available to award holders from partner organisations

Cross-Sector Experience Awards: Details vary

Springboard - Health of the Public 2040: Variation of main Springboard scheme

Global Challenges Research Fund Networking Grants: Specific to international development

Hamied Foundation UK-India AMR Visiting Fellowships: UK-India antimicrobial resistance research

Priority Areas

The Academy focuses on:

  • Supporting early to mid-career researchers - particularly those writing their first grant or in their first independent position
  • Clinical academic pathways - enabling practicing clinicians to pursue research
  • Disciplines with national expertise shortages - anaesthesia, paediatrics, pathology, psychiatry, radiology, surgery
  • International research collaboration - partnerships across 30+ countries
  • Leadership development - particularly for women in research through SUSTAIN
  • Biomedical and health research - basic science and clinical applications
  • Interdisciplinary research - encouraging collaboration across sectors and disciplines
  • Global health impact - working with low- and middle-income countries

What They Don't Fund

Explicit exclusions include:

  • Personal salary costs (for most schemes like Springboard)
  • Researchers who have already secured substantial funding (e.g., Clinician Scientist Fellowships, New Investigator Awards, large project grants - for Starter Grants scheme)
  • Researchers who hold Cancer Research UK Career Development Fellowship or equivalent (for Springboard)
  • Those beyond the specified career stage for each scheme
  • Applications outside institutional nomination limits (Springboard has 4-application cap per institution)

Governance and Leadership

President: Professor Andrew Morris CBE FRSE PMedSci (since April 2024)

  • Also Director of Health Data Research UK and Professor of Medicine at the University of Edinburgh

Chief Executive Officer: Rosalind Campion (from October 2025)

  • Succeeds interim CEO Jill Lockett (May 2025 onwards)

Council: Governed by a Council of Fellows serving as trustees, including six Honorary Officers (President, Registrar, Treasurer, three Vice-Presidents - Clinical, Non-clinical, and International)

Trustees: 19 trustees, none receiving remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity

Staff: 96 employees, some earning over £60,000 (highest bracket £130,000-£140,000)

Volunteers: 439 volunteers contribute to the Academy's work

Key Quotes from Leadership

Professor Andrew Morris on funding priorities:

  • “Stable, sustained funding is crucial for fostering productive partnerships between academia, industry and the NHS”
  • "The Government's commitment to 10-year R&D funding budgets represents a positive and strategic shift that the Academy has long advocated for. The principles of this approach can provide the stability needed for breakthrough health research and innovation"
  • On the Life Sciences Sector Plan: “A coordinated and people-centred approach is essential to secure a sustainable future for life sciences research”

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Application System: All applications submitted through Flexi-Grant, the Academy's online application portal at https://acmedsci.flexigrant.com/

Pre-Application Requirements:

  1. Download template application form from scheme webpage when round is open
  2. Check eligibility criteria carefully
  3. For Springboard: secure institutional nomination first (institutions limited to 4 applications)
  4. Allow plenty of time to complete application and gather approvals
  5. Applications must be approved and signed off by Host Institution (and Visit Institution if applicable) before submission
  6. If research involves animal experiments, consult NC3Rs Experimental Design Assistant

Eligibility Check: The Academy performs an eligibility check on all applications and verifies the application form provides complete information for the Selection Panel

Support Resources:

  • User guide available for Flexi-Grant system
  • “Top tips” series for preparing grant applications and panel interviews
  • Examples of great lay summaries from successful awardees
  • Contact grants@acmedsci.ac.uk for specific questions

Decision Timeline

Starter Grants for Clinical Lecturers:

  • Two rounds annually: March deadline (panel June), September deadline (panel December)
  • Decision notification within 5 months of deadline
  • No interview required

Springboard:

  • One round annually
  • Selection Panel meets November/December
  • Updates provided at end of each assessment stage
  • No interview required
  • Review by Academy Fellows and field experts

Academy of Medical Sciences Professorship Scheme:

  • Two competitions per annum
  • Interview required
  • Example: Round 13 interviews held October 14, 2025

General Process:

  • Applications reviewed by Academy Fellows and field experts
  • Updates provided at key assessment stages
  • Notification methods vary by scheme

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed by the Academy. However, context from 2025 Springboard round:

  • 62 awards made from eligible institutions (institutional cap of 4 applications each)
  • Indicates high level of competition

Reapplication Policy

Springboard: Unsuccessful applicants may make one resubmission, provided they:

  • Are shortlisted by their institution again
  • Continue to meet all eligibility criteria (including time constraints)

Professorship Scheme: Unsuccessful candidates may reapply in one subsequent round, provided they still meet eligibility criteria. Candidates should seek advice from the Office before reapplying.

Fellowship Election: After five unsuccessful elections, candidates lapse for 2 years before re-nomination is possible (this applies to Fellowship election, not grant schemes)

Application Success Factors

Direct Advice from the Funder

The Academy recognizes that many applicants are writing their first grant and has created specific support resources:

  • Top tips series for grant applications and panel interviews
  • Examples from successful applications, particularly lay summaries
  • User guides for the Flexi-Grant system

Key Success Factors

For First-Time Grant Writers:

  • Take advantage of the Academy's support resources designed specifically for early-career researchers
  • Study examples of successful lay summaries
  • Allow adequate time for institutional approval processes

Application Quality:

  • Ensure applications provide complete information for Selection Panels
  • Work closely with Host Institution to secure required approvals
  • For research involving animal experiments, demonstrate use of NC3Rs Experimental Design Assistant

Career Stage Alignment:

  • Ensure you haven't already secured substantial funding that would make you ineligible
  • Match your career stage precisely to scheme requirements
  • For Springboard: position yourself as early in your first independent post
  • For Starter Grants: demonstrate you are research-active but haven't yet obtained major funding

Strategic Positioning:

  • Emphasize disciplines with national expertise shortages (particularly for clinical schemes)
  • Demonstrate commitment to career in research
  • Show how funding will enable transition to independence or establish research programme

Institutional Support:

  • For Springboard: secure institutional nomination is essential (competitive internal process)
  • Ensure strong backing from Host Institution
  • Demonstrate institutional commitment to your development

Language and Terminology:

  • Frame applications around “advancing medical science and improving health”
  • Emphasize “open and progressive research”
  • Highlight patient and public involvement
  • Demonstrate contribution to “good health for all supported by best research and evidence”

Recent Investment Trends

The Academy has significantly increased investment in early-career researchers:

  • 2025 Springboard round: £7.6 million (largest-ever funding initiative)
  • Total Springboard investment since 2015: £43.8 million
  • Trend toward supporting more researchers across more institutions

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Career Stage is Critical: The Academy specifically targets early to mid-career researchers. Do not apply if you have already secured substantial funding (Clinician Scientist Fellowships, large project grants, etc.) as you will be ineligible for most schemes.
  1. Institutional Relationships Matter: For Springboard, you must secure institutional nomination before applying. Build strong relationships with your research office early. Only 4 applications per institution are allowed, making internal competition significant.
  1. First-Time Grant Writers Welcome: The Academy explicitly recognizes many applicants are writing their first grant and provides extensive support resources. Use these - they exist for a reason.
  1. Partnership Model: The Academy works with other major funders (Wellcome, BHF, MRC, etc.). Understanding partner priorities may strengthen applications, as selection panels often include representatives from funding partners.
  1. Be Patient but Realistic: Decision timelines range from 3-5 months depending on scheme. Limited reapplication opportunities (typically one resubmission) mean getting it right first time is important.
  1. International Collaboration Valued: With partnerships across 30+ countries, demonstrating international dimension or potential for global health impact aligns with strategic priorities.
  1. Diversity and Inclusion: The Academy values diversity (reflected in SUSTAIN programme for women, 439 volunteers, diverse Fellowship). Demonstrating commitment to inclusive research strengthens applications.

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

References

  1. Academy of Medical Sciences - Grant Schemes webpage. https://acmedsci.ac.uk/grants-and-schemes/grant-schemes
  1. Academy of Medical Sciences - Springboard scheme page. https://acmedsci.ac.uk/grants-and-schemes/grant-schemes/springboard
  1. Academy of Medical Sciences - Starter Grants for Clinical Lecturers. https://acmedsci.ac.uk/grants-and-schemes/grant-schemes/starter-grants
  1. Academy of Medical Sciences - About Us. https://acmedsci.ac.uk/about
  1. “Groundbreaking health research gets £7.6m boost as Academy funds emerging scientific leaders.” Academy of Medical Sciences press release, 2025. https://acmedsci.ac.uk/more/news/springboard-2025
  1. “Academy of Medical Sciences appoints new Chief Executive Officer.” Academy of Medical Sciences, 2025. https://acmedsci.ac.uk/more/news/academy-of-medical-sciences-appoints-new-chief-executive-officer
  1. “Academy of Medical Sciences elects new President.” Academy of Medical Sciences, 2024. https://acmedsci.ac.uk/more/news/newpresident2024
  1. "Autumn Budget 2024: Academy President's Response." Academy of Medical Sciences, 2024. https://acmedsci.ac.uk/more/news/autumn-budget-2024-academy-presidents-response
  1. “Formation of the Academy of Medical Sciences.” Academy of Medical Sciences - History. https://acmedsci.ac.uk/about/history/formation-of-the-Academy-of-Medical-Sciences
  1. Charity Commission Register - Academy of Medical Sciences (Charity No. 1185329). https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regId=1185329
  1. Academy of Medical Sciences - Networking Grants. https://acmedsci.ac.uk/networking-grants
  1. Academy of Medical Sciences - Daniel Turnberg Travel Fellowships. https://acmedsci.ac.uk/grants-and-schemes/grant-schemes/daniel-turnberg-travel-fellowship
  1. Academy of Medical Sciences - How we make awards. https://acmedsci.ac.uk/grants-and-schemes/grant-schemes/information-for-applicants/how-we-make-awards
  1. Academy of Medical Sciences - Start your application. https://acmedsci.ac.uk/grants-and-schemes/grant-schemes/information-for-applicants/start-your-application
  1. “Academy of Medical Sciences backs international research with 64 global partnerships.” Academy of Medical Sciences. https://acmedsci.ac.uk/more/news/-academy-international-research