Ataxia UK
At a glance
Key takeaways
- Ataxia UK funds research on the ataxias, so your project must be research in which ataxia is the principal symptom and likely to be progressive.
- Do not apply with research into multiple sclerosis, ataxic cerebral palsy, ataxia from stroke, head injury or toxicity, or ataxia telangiectasia, as these are not normally funded.
- Its research grants go to academic institutions, private-sector research companies, suitably qualified individuals or collaborative groups, so a charity applying alone would need to fit one of those, and the stated sizes are £5,000 to £30,000 for research grants and up to £5,000 for small and pilot grants.
- Start by discussing your idea with its Head of Research, which the charity strongly encourages, then send a one-page preliminary proposal in one of its two rounds a year, as only invited applicants complete the full form.
- Researchers based outside the UK may apply if the work is relevant to people with ataxia in the UK, and the charity prefers relatively short projects and encourages joint funding.
Overview
Ataxia UK is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 1102391).
Ataxia UK supports people affected by ataxia by funding medical and other research, providing information, distributing welfare grants, campaigning for better treatment and services, facilitating self-help groups and piloting new service delivery models. Its mission is to find treatments and cures for the ataxias. It considers research projects, PhD studentships, research fellowships, travel awards, satellite meetings, small research grants and pilot scheme grants. It awarded £67,923 according to its annual report.
What they fund
Priority Areas
Ataxia UK funds innovative and relevant research on the ataxias, focusing on conditions in which ataxia is the principal symptom and likely to be progressive. Its aims are to improve understanding and diagnosis, develop treatments available to people with ataxia, and improve their physical and mental quality of life. It considers research projects, PhD studentships and fellowships, as well as smaller and pilot grants, conference contributions, satellite meetings and travel awards. Applicants may be academic institutions, private-sector research companies, suitably qualified individuals or collaborative groups. They may be based in any country if the research is relevant to people affected by ataxia in the UK. Ataxia UK prefers a variety of relatively short projects and encourages collaborative funding.
Themes
- Ataxia research
Geographic Focus
Any country. Priority: Within the UK.
What they don't fund
- Research Grants only:
- research into conditions such as multiple sclerosis, ataxic cerebral palsy, or other conditions in which ataxic symptoms are present as the result of another underlying condition
- Research into ataxia due to traumas such as stroke, head injury and due to toxicity (e.g. from alcohol) are also not normally considered for funding
- research into ataxia telangiectasia
How to apply
Researchers submit a one-page preliminary proposal. The Scientific Advisory Committee reviews proposals and selects applicants to submit a full application; selected applicants complete the application form.
Deadlines: Two preliminary application rounds are held each year.
Who can apply:
- Research grants: Proposals will be accepted from: academic institutions; private sector research companies; suitably qualified individuals; collaborative groups formed from a combination of the above.
What to send:
- Research grants (projects, studentships, fellowships)
- Applicants should submit a preliminary application.
- Applicants invited to submit a full application should submit a full application form.
- Research grants: Any outputs from generative AI tools used in funding applications must be acknowledged.
Applying again: Research grants: Ataxia UK will sometimes invite researchers to resubmit a proposal. Invited resubmissions for the same project as was originally submitted normally need to be made within six months of the Committee’s decision. In exceptional circumstances uninvited resubmissions may be considered. Resubmissions will not be accepted for projects deemed insufficiently focused on ataxia or of low scientific quality.
Application success factors
What the charity says:
- Applicants are strongly encouraged to discuss their applications with the Head of Research before submitting.
- The Scientific Advisory Committee considers scientific quality, likelihood of success and potential benefit to people with ataxia.
- Projects need strong preliminary evidence and a clear pathway to maximise the impact of their outputs.
- Innovative projects with promising new ideas and projects close to a potential treatment are encouraged.
- The charity values projects addressing needs identified by people with ataxia and knowledge gaps identified by healthcare professionals.
- Projects involving joint funding and collaboration between research groups are looked on favourably.
- Funded projects are monitored through annual reports and occasional site visits.
Where they fund
Where it says it funds
- United Kingdom
- International
Similar funders
Funders supporting work similar to Ataxia UK.
Grants
The largest grants to organisations in this funder’s latest annual report:
- DRPLA research (University of Girona grant)£7,781year to 31 March 2025
Grant examples taken from the funder’s filed accounts. Not included above: 6 with no named recipient; 1 with no amount stated.
Five years of accounts
| Financial year | Income | Expenditure | Grants paid | Accounts document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| year to 31 March 2021 | £1,905,504 | £3,006,956 | £1,995,851 | Accounts for year to 31 March 2021 |
| year to 31 March 2022 | £1,574,508 | £1,340,687 | £248,753 | Accounts for year to 31 March 2022 |
| year to 31 March 2023 | £1,450,152 | £1,283,318 | £186,249 | Accounts for year to 31 March 2023 |
| year to 31 March 2024 | £1,813,777 | £1,325,472 | £101,361 | Accounts for year to 31 March 2024 |
| year to 31 March 2025 | £1,783,693 | £1,796,854 | £67,923 | Accounts for year to 31 March 2025 |
Income vs grants paid
IncomeGrants paid
Total value each financial year
In 1 of the 5 years shown, grants paid exceeded income.
- Grants paid, year to 31 March 2021; year to 31 March 2022; year to 31 March 2023; year to 31 March 2024: grants to institutions, as reported on the charity register (Part B).
- Grants paid, year to 31 March 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
- ataxia.org.uk
- ataxia.org.uk/ataxia-research/research-grants · read on 30 October 2026
- ataxia.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Guidance-for-researchers_updated-June-2026-1.pdf · read on 30 October 2026
- ataxia.org.uk/contact · read on 30 October 2026
- Annual report (year to 31 March 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 Ataxia UK?
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Applying to Ataxia UK?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required