Brain Research Uk

Charity Number: 1137560

Annual Expenditure: £2.0M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £2.04 million (charitable activities, 2024-2025)
  • Success Rate: 6% (project grants), 12% (fellowships)
  • Decision Time: Approximately 4-5 months
  • Grant Range: Up to £300,000
  • Geographic Focus: UK-based researchers
  • Total Income: £3.3 million (2024-2025)

Contact Details

Website: https://www.brainresearchuk.org.uk

Email: info@brainresearchuk.org.uk

Phone: 020 7404 9982

Research Funding Queries: katie.martin@brainresearchuk.org.uk

Overview

Brain Research UK (operating name of Brain Research Trust, charity number 1137560) has funded neurological research since 1971, investing over £58 million in vital research into diseases affecting one in five people in the UK. With an annual income of £3.3 million and charitable expenditure of £2.04 million (year ending March 2025), the organization focuses exclusively on three priority research areas: brain tumours (neuro-oncology), brain and spinal cord injury, and headache and facial pain. These priorities reflect areas where significant unmet patient need exists that is not reflected in current research funding levels. Brain Research UK awards grants through rigorous peer review processes overseen by their Scientific Advisory Panel, particularly encouraging early career researchers and collaborative projects. The organization operates as a member of the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC).

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Project Grants: Up to £300,000 for projects lasting up to three years (rolling annual call, Spring deadline for preliminary applications)

  • Two-stage application process via online portal
  • Supports pre-clinical or clinical research based on mechanistic hypotheses
  • Includes development of biological disease models
  • Particularly encourages early career researchers (up to 10 years post-doctoral)
  • Next call launches late 2025 with Spring 2026 deadline

Post-doctoral Fellowships: Up to £300,000 for 3 years (or part-time equivalent)

  • Single-stage application with two review stages
  • Deadline: 14th January 2026, awards announced May 2026
  • For researchers with PhD, prior research experience, no existing independent lab
  • Requires mentor support and UK work permissions

Clinical PhD Fellowships: Up to £300,000 for 2-4 years

  • For medical graduates with postgraduate experience
  • Allows up to 2 clinical sessions per week
  • Requires supervisor support

In 2024, Brain Research UK received 63 project grant applications (4 funded, 6% success rate) and 17 fellowship applications (2 funded, 12% success rate).

Priority Areas

1. Headache and Facial Pain

Research improving management and treatment of headache or facial pain disorders, addressing fundamental causes, mechanisms, diagnosis, or treatment. Represents 75% of neurological disability years.

2. Neuro-oncology (Brain Tumours)

Research improving clinical outcomes for patients with primary brain or spinal cord tumours, addressing causes, mechanisms, diagnosis, treatment, and associated neurological complications. Over 12,000 UK diagnoses annually; more people under 40 die from brain tumours than any other cancer.

3. Acquired Brain and Spinal Cord Injury

Research protecting or restoring function following brain or spinal cord injury (traumatic or non-traumatic), addressing injury mechanisms, recovery processes, and outcome determinants. Affects 2.6 million people in the UK.

All research must demonstrate clear pathway to translation.

What They Don't Fund

  • Contribution to other salaries (fellowships only)
  • Equipment funding over £20,000 (fellowships only)
  • Institutional overhead costs (fellowships only)
  • Publication costs (fellowships only)
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Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

  • Jim Gollan (Chair) - 25+ years financial services board experience
  • Jonathan Kropman (Vice Chair) - Partner at Trowers and Hamlins LLP, expert in governance
  • Jerry Storrs (Treasurer) - Chartered Accountant and independent advisor
  • Vijay Jassal - Assistant Director of Policy & Strategic Partnerships at National Emergencies Trust
  • Dr. Aoife Regan - Head of Experimental Cancer Medicine at Cancer Research UK, PhD in Developmental Neuroscience
  • Professor Kevin Talbot MBBS, DPhil, FRCP - Professor of Motor Neuron Biology, University of Oxford
  • Professor Joanna Wardlaw CBE, MD, FRSE, FMedSci - Professor of Applied Neuroimaging, University of Edinburgh, Foundation Chair at UK Dementia Research Institute
  • Paul Wright - Non-executive director of tech-enabled businesses, 40 years as Finance Director/CFO

Scientific Advisory Panel Chair: Professor William Gray

Leadership Team:

  • Caroline Blakely - Chief Executive
  • Katie Martin - Research Manager
  • Snezana Bjelogrlic - Head of Finance

Caroline Blakely states: “I use my role as CEO to champion fundraising and communications and ensure that we maintain our current focus on building our strengths and ensuring that supporters feel valued and recognised.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Project Grants (Two-Stage Process):

  1. Submit short preliminary application via online portal (https://brainresearchuk.flexigrant.com/)
  2. Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP) reviews and shortlists based on project feasibility and research team capacity
  3. Shortlisted applicants invited to submit detailed proposal
  4. Detailed proposals undergo external peer review
  5. Proposals return to SAP for final discussion and decision

Fellowships (Single-Stage Application):

  1. Submit application via online portal by deadline (14th January 2026)
  2. Two stages of review/assessment
  3. Shortlisted proposals undergo external peer review
  4. Judged on scientific merit, originality, and potential for impact

Decision Timeline

Fellowships: Approximately 4 months (deadline 14th January 2026, awards announced May 2026)

Project Grants: Timeline not explicitly stated, but follows similar rigorous peer review process

Lead applicants must have their own salary in place at time of application.

Success Rates

2024 Statistics:

  • Project Grants: 63 applications received, 4 funded = 6% success rate
  • Fellowships: 17 applications received, 2 funded = 12% success rate

The fellowship scheme was new in 2024; Brain Research UK expects application numbers to increase as the scheme becomes more established.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy details are publicly available. Contact katie.martin@brainresearchuk.org.uk for guidance on unsuccessful applications and resubmissions.

Application Success Factors

Recently Funded Projects

2024 Awards:

  • Dr Harry Bulstrode (University of Cambridge) - glioblastoma research
  • Professor Petra Hamerlik (University of Manchester) - device using tear fluid to detect genetic mutations in low-grade gliomas
  • Professor Stuart Allan (University of Manchester) - reducing inflammation after stroke
  • Dr Phil Holland (King's College London) - pathways responsible for fatigue and pain in migraine

2023 Awards:

  • Dr Dan Williamson and Dr Debbie Hicks (Newcastle University) - improving quality of life for childhood brain tumour survivors
  • Dr Natividad Gomez-Roman (University of Strathclyde) - cholesterol's role in glioblastoma growth
  • Professor Rob Brownstone (UCL) - neural circuits controlling bladder function after spinal cord injury

Key Criteria

Project Grants:

  • Research must be based on mechanistic hypothesis
  • Clear pathway to translation required
  • Demonstrates research team capacity to successfully carry out the research
  • Pre-clinical or clinical approaches both acceptable

Fellowships:

  • Scientific merit is paramount
  • Originality of research approach
  • Potential for impact on patient outcomes
  • Strong mentor/supervisor support

Strategic Advice

  • Brain Research UK particularly encourages early career researchers (up to 10 years post-doctoral)
  • Collaborative projects welcomed, including international collaborations if led by UK team
  • Two-stage process for project grants minimizes burden on applicants - invest effort in strong preliminary application to reach second stage
  • Applications judged in competition with each other, not against absolute standard
  • Research priorities regularly reviewed for continued relevance

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Highly competitive: Only 6% of project grant applications succeed - ensure exceptional quality and clear alignment with one of the three priority areas
  • Mechanistic focus required: Applications must demonstrate mechanistic hypothesis and clear translation pathway, not purely descriptive research
  • Early career advantage: The funder actively encourages applications from researchers up to 10 years post-doctoral
  • Team capacity critical: First-stage shortlisting heavily weighs the research team's demonstrated capacity to successfully execute the proposed work
  • Strategic fit essential: Focus exclusively on brain tumours, brain/spinal cord injury, or headache/facial pain - areas with large unmet patient need
  • Collaborative approaches valued: International collaborations welcome if UK-led; consider multi-disciplinary partnerships
  • Rigorous peer review: External peer review follows shortlisting - ensure scientific excellence and robust methodology throughout

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References