Association of Breast Surgery
At a glance
Key takeaways
- If your work is breast surgical research, breast cancer screening, early diagnosis, prevention, or breast education and training, it fits the Association's themes, and proposals should advance its aims and offer clear value to the NHS.
- Research Development Grants go up to £10,000 and educational bursaries up to £2,000, £1,000 or £500 depending on type, and the annual report shows £98,000 awarded in total, so a request should be sized to that scale and justified against its value.
- Research applications come from individuals working within institutions in the UK and Ireland, so an organisation needs such an individual to lead the bid; the research round closes on 20 October and bursaries on 2 October, and clinical-trial applications aiming for NIHR portfolio status must include the Schedule of Events Cost Attribution Tool.
- Research grants do not cover overheads, infrastructure or medical staff salaries, bursaries do not cover examination or degree courses, and UK-based members may not use bursaries to attend ABS events, so organisations seeking those costs should look elsewhere.
Overview
Association of Breast Surgery is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 1135699).
The Association of Breast Surgery is a registered charity whose objects are to advance the practice of breast surgery and to advance education, research and training in relation to breast conditions and breast surgery for the benefit of the public. It was established in its own right, having started as the British Association of Surgical Oncology Breast Group. Its Research Development Grants support initial development of clinical trials, systematic reviews, audits, fellowships, trainee collaboratives and basic science, and its educational bursaries support members' education and training. The annual report gives £98,000 awarded in the latest year.
What they fund
Priority Areas
Through its Research Development Grants, the Association supports development of breast surgical research, including clinical-trial development, systematic reviews, audits that inform study design or future research, fellowships and pump priming, trainee collaboratives and basic science with demonstrable clinical relevance. It also supports projects in breast cancer screening, early diagnosis and prevention. Its educational bursaries support members’ education and training, including fellowships or observerships and attendance at recognised breast-focused meetings and courses. Research applications come from individuals working within institutions in the UK and Ireland. Awards are assessed for quality, relevance and value, and proposals should advance ABS aims and offer clear value to the NHS; multidisciplinary projects are encouraged.
Themes
- Breast surgical research
- Breast cancer screening
- Early diagnosis
- Breast cancer prevention
- Clinical trial development
- Systematic reviews
- Breast education and training
Geographic Focus
UK; Ireland.
What they don't fund
- ABS Research Development Grants only:
- overheads
- infrastructure costs
- medical staff salary costs
- ABS Breast Cancer Research Development Grants and ABS Prevent Breast Cancer Research Development Grants only: fees for open access publications
- Educational bursaries only:
- examination courses
- degree courses
- UK based members may not apply to attend an ABS event with these bursaries
How to apply
For organisations, the relevant route is the ABS Research Development Grants: applicants use the programme’s downloadable application form.
Deadlines: The research-grant round recurs annually.
Application windows:
- ABS Research Grants: Applications are open; deadline is 20 October.
- Educational bursaries: One deadline is 2 October.
What to send:
- ABS Research Development Grants: For clinical trials applications, where the intention is to apply for NIHR portfolio status, the completed Schedule of Events Cost Attribution Tool should be submitted alongside the application.
- Educational bursaries
- A completed application form and supporting documents
- Clear evidence of a breast special interest/ practice
- Educational projects and courses NOT otherwise funded through the usual routes (Trust stay leave allocation/ industry grants/ Deanery funding etc)
Application success factors
What the charity says:
- Applications should further the ABS’s aims and offer clear value to the NHS, taking its priorities, needs and realities into account.
- Multidisciplinary research teams are highly encouraged.
- Awards depend on the quality, relevance and value of submissions.
- Basic science proposals should demonstrate a clear, justifiable surgical aim.
- Award holders are expected to report to the Academic and Research Committee within three months of project completion.
Where they fund
Where it says it funds
- Ireland
- United Kingdom
Similar funders
Funders supporting work similar to Association of Breast Surgery.
Five years of accounts
| Financial year | Income | Expenditure | Grants paid | Accounts document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| year to 31 December 2021 | £496,779 | £396,969 | — | Accounts for year to 31 December 2021 |
| year to 31 December 2022 | £946,033 | £788,967 | £17,936 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2022 |
| year to 31 December 2023 | £964,455 | £983,704 | £22,863 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2023 |
| year to 31 December 2024 | £1,146,045 | £1,144,292 | £98,000 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2024 |
| year to 31 December 2025 | £1,250,358 | £1,408,653 | £98,000 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2025 |
Income vs grants paid
IncomeGrants paid
Total value each financial year
Grants paid stayed within income across the 4 years shown.
- Grants paid, year to 31 December 2022; year to 31 December 2023; year to 31 December 2024: grants to institutions, as reported on the charity register (Part B).
- Grants paid, year to 31 December 2025: grants awarded in the year, as reported in the accounts.
Figures from the charity’s filed accounts and its register entry. The document icon links to the charity’s entry on the Charity Commission register, where its filed accounts can be found.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
- associationofbreastsurgery.org.uk
- associationofbreastsurgery.org.uk/professionals/research/research-grants · read on 30 October 2026
- associationofbreastsurgery.org.uk/professionals/research/grants-application-process · read on 30 October 2026
- associationofbreastsurgery.org.uk/professionals/education-training/educational-bursaries-funding · read on 30 October 2026
- associationofbreastsurgery.org.uk/about-us/about-abs · read on 30 October 2026
- Annual report (year to 31 December 2025)
This profile draws on the funder’s own website as well as its filed accounts.
Sources last checked on 30 October 2026.
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At a glance
Applying to Association of Breast Surgery?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
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Applying to Association of Breast Surgery?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required