Association Of Physicians Of Great Britain And Ireland

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £240,828 income (2023); specific grant allocation not publicly disclosed
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: 2 months from application deadline
• Grant Range: £2,000 - £10,000
• Geographic Focus: UK and Ireland
• Application Cycle: Twice yearly (May 31 and November 24 deadlines)

Contact Details

Website: https://aopgbi.org/

Email: susan.hayden@associationsltd.co.uk

Phone: 02071291261

Address: C/o Association Services Ltd, 33 St James's Square, London SW1Y 4JS

Overview

The Association of Physicians of Great Britain and Ireland (AoPGBI) was founded in 1907 by Sir William Osler to advance medicine “in a manner that promotes friendship amongst Physicians.” Over 117 years, it has evolved into the premier learned society representing interdisciplinary translational clinical research. Registered as charity number 207530, the organization has over 400 fellows who are leading clinician academics and researchers. With an annual income of £240,828 (2023), AoPGBI focuses on supporting Emerging Clinical Researchers through seed funding grants, summer studentships, and partnership with the Academy of Medical Sciences Starter Grant Programme (since 2020). The organization hosts an annual meeting (APAM) bringing together physicians at the cutting edge of research to share the latest translational medicine discoveries.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Clinician Scientist Research Awards (Emerging Clinical Researchers Awards)

• Amount: Up to £10,000
• Purpose: Seed funding to generate pilot data and facilitate fellowship applications in translational medicine
• Application Method: Online submission, rolling basis with two annual deadlines (31 May and 24 November)
• Decision Timeline: Within 2 months of application deadline
• Deadlines: 31st May and 24th November (applications considered on or after 1st June and 1st December)

Summer Studentship Awards

• Amount: £2,000 per award
• Purpose: Support undergraduate medical students exploring careers in academic medicine
• Application Method: Online submission
• Next Deadline: 31 March 2026 (for studentships starting June 2026)
• Requirements: Supervisor must be AoPGBI member; recipients present poster at AoP Meeting

Academy of Medical Sciences Starter Grants

• Amount: Up to £30,000 (spread over 1-2 years)
• Purpose: Support Clinical Lecturers in developing research careers
• Note: AoPGBI has been a funder of this programme since 2020, working alongside Wellcome Trust, British Heart Foundation, and others
• Administered by: Academy of Medical Sciences (applications considered twice yearly)

Priority Areas

AoPGBI focuses exclusively on interdisciplinary translational medicine with emphasis on:

• Research that advances internal medicine
• Projects that directly benefit patients
• Studies bridging multiple disciplines
• Support for Emerging Clinical Researchers (ECRs)
• Clinical research generating pilot data for larger fellowship applications
• Work leading to competitive fellowship applications

The organization invites scholarship around interdisciplinary collaboration, reaching new audiences, promoting new ways of working, and encouraging translational research.

What They Don't Fund

Ineligible Applicants:

• Previously successful applicants to the same scheme (cannot reapply)
• Individuals who have already achieved substantive fellowship or independent research funding
• Those in receipt of an AMS Starter Grant (for ECR Awards)
• Researchers not based at UK or Irish universities
• Non-members (or those without member sponsorship)
• Those with less than 20% designated research time (for ECR Awards)
• Senior researchers holding Professorial or equivalent positions

Eligible Expenditure: Funds can cover salaries, consumables, equipment, and travel. Applications involving animals must follow RCUK guidelines with appropriate ethical approvals.

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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees:

• David Lomas (Chair) - Respiratory, University College London
• Claire Shovlin (President) - Respiratory, Imperial College London
• Chris Day (Past President) - Hepatology, Newcastle
• Liz Sapey (President Elect) - Respiratory, University of Birmingham
• Julian Knight (Honorary Treasurer) - Genomics, Oxford
• Sinéad Langan (Honorary Secretary) - Epidemiology, London
• Sharon Peacock - Cambridge
• Richard Trembath - London

The Board of Trustees is responsible for managing the Association's business in line with its core purpose: “the advancement of internal medicine.” Trustees serve elected terms and receive no remuneration, though may be reimbursed for expenses. The Executive Committee includes the President, Honorary Treasurer, and Honorary Secretary.

Notable Award Recipients:

• 2024: Professor Sir Adrian Hill (Outstanding Contribution to Translational Medicine); Professor Mary M. Reilly (Osler Medal); Dr Faye Cooles (Osler Prize)
• 2023: Professor Sir Stephen O'Rahilly (Outstanding Contribution to Translational Medicine)

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

For Clinician Scientist Research Awards:

1. Applicants must be AoPGBI members or sponsored by a member
2. Submit online application form via AoPGBI website
3. Include CV (maximum 2 pages)
4. Applications accepted on rolling basis with two annual deadlines

For Summer Studentships:

1. Supervisor must be current AoPGBI member
2. Submit online application form
3. Application deadline: 31 March (for following summer)

Membership Requirement: Most grants require AoPGBI membership. Annual membership fees start at £75 for Emerging Clinical Researchers or £125 for Ordinary Members.

Decision Timeline

• Applications submitted by 31 May are considered on or after 1 June
• Applications submitted by 24 November are considered on or after 1 December
• Decision communicated within 2 months of application closing date
• Notification method not specified in available materials

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. However, competitiveness is suggested by:

• Prohibition on reapplication for previous recipients (limited funding pool)
• Two-tier application review by Executive Committee
• Fellowship election limited to maximum 10 Fellows annually
• Rigorous eligibility criteria requiring MD/PhD qualification

Reapplication Policy

• Previously successful applicants: NOT eligible to reapply to the same scheme
• Unsuccessful applicants: Policy not explicitly stated; appears no restriction on reapplication in subsequent rounds
• Grants used within 18 months of award

Post-Award Requirements:

• Recipients must register for annual APAM meeting
• Submit poster presentation of their work
• Produce final report detailing fund usage and follow-on funding sources

Application Success Factors

Based on AoPGBI's stated priorities and eligibility criteria, successful applications demonstrate:

Career Stage Alignment: Applicants must be at the precise career stage - clinically qualified with MD/PhD but not yet holding substantive fellowship funding. The organization specifically targets emerging researchers needing seed funding to become competitive for larger fellowships.

Translational Medicine Focus: Projects must align with translational research advancing internal medicine. The organization emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches and direct patient benefit. Generic medical research without clear translational pathway is less likely to succeed.

Fellowship Development Pathway: For ECR Awards, applications should clearly demonstrate how the £10,000 will generate pilot data facilitating a competitive fellowship application. Include specific fellowship targets (e.g., MRC, Wellcome Trust) and timeline.

Research Time Commitment: Minimum 20% designated research time with maintained clinical activity demonstrates serious commitment to academic medicine career path.

Member Engagement: While membership is required, active engagement with the association (attending APAM, presenting posters, participating in ECR networks) may strengthen applications through visibility and sponsor relationships.

Institutional Support: Applications from UK or Irish universities with strong track records in translational medicine. Supervisor support (for studentships) from established AoPGBI members signals quality mentorship.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration: The organization's emphasis on bringing together physicians from different disciplines suggests projects spanning multiple specialties may be favored. The core principle of “reaching new audiences and promoting new ways of working” indicates preference for innovative collaborative approaches.

Clear Budget Justification: While funds can cover salaries, consumables, equipment, and travel, applications should justify how each element contributes to generating compelling pilot data within the 18-month timeframe.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Membership is essential: Join AoPGBI (£75 ECR or £125 Ordinary) before applying; alternatively, secure member sponsorship
• Target precise career stage: Only apply if you have MD/PhD but haven't yet received substantive fellowship funding - this is strictly enforced
• Frame as fellowship development: Position your £10,000 request as generating pilot data for specific, named fellowship applications
• Emphasize translational impact: Clearly articulate how research advances internal medicine and benefits patients, not just scientific discovery
• Plan for 18-month completion: Demonstrate realistic timeline for using funds and generating results within required timeframe
• Commit to APAM engagement: Budget time and resources for mandatory annual meeting attendance and poster presentation
• One chance only: Previously successful applicants cannot reapply, so ensure your first application is competitive
• Two annual opportunities: With May and November deadlines, unsuccessful applicants can potentially reapply within same year if they strengthen their proposal

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• ANATOMICAL SOCIETY
• The Douglas Bomford Trust
• The Guarantors of Brain
• The Lister Institute of Preventive Medicine
• WELLBEING OF WOMEN
• The Genetics Society
• British Society for Cell Biology
• The Lord Leonard and Lady Estelle Wolfson Foundation
• The Williams Charitable Trust
• Azaylia Foundation

References

• Association of Physicians of Great Britain and Ireland official website. Grant Schemes and Awards. https://aopgbi.org/grant-schemes-and-awards/
• Association of Physicians of Great Britain and Ireland. About Us. https://aopgbi.org/about-us/
• Association of Physicians of Great Britain and Ireland. Governance and Structure. https://aopgbi.org/governance-and-structure/
• Association of Physicians of Great Britain and Ireland. Membership Categories and Types. https://aopgbi.org/membership-categories/
• Association of Physicians of Great Britain and Ireland. Emerging Clinical Researchers Award 2025. https://aopgbi.org/emerging-clinical-researchers-award-2025/
• Charity Commission for England and Wales. Association of Physicians of Great Britain and Ireland, Charity Number 207530. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=207530
• The Academy of Medical Sciences. Starter Grants for Clinical Lecturers. https://acmedsci.ac.uk/grants-and-schemes/grant-schemes/starter-grants
• Association of Physicians of Great Britain and Ireland (AoPGBI) 118th Annual Conference at Royal College of Physicians, London: April 3rd–4th 2025. QJM: An International Journal of Medicine, Volume 118, Issue 2. https://academic.oup.com/qjmed/article/118/2/75/8088384