British Society For Developmental Biology

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £67,500 (from The Company of Biologists partnership)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Applications reviewed monthly; apply at least 2 months before funding needed
• Grant Range: £250 - £2,720 (depending on program)
• Geographic Focus: UK (must have UK link, though can fund travel internationally)
• Membership: Over 1,000 members required for grant eligibility

Contact Details

Website: http://www.bsdb.org/

Email: treasurer@bsdb.org

Phone: 01133438614

Grant Applications: grants@bsdb.org

Secretary: secretary@bsdb.org

Overview

The British Society for Developmental Biology (BSDB), registered charity number 270363, has been operating since 1978 with sustained support from The Company of Biologists. The Society's mission is to advance research, teaching, and public education in developmental biology throughout the United Kingdom. The BSDB receives £67,500 annually from The Company of Biologists: £35,000 as a block grant for general operations and £32,500 specifically for travel grants supporting early-career researchers. With over 1,000 members including researchers at all career stages, lecturers, and students, the BSDB provides various grant programs exclusively to its members. The society administers prestigious awards including the Waddington Medal (their most prestigious prize), the Cheryll Tickle Medal for mid-career female scientists, and the Beddington Medal for best PhD thesis. In 2024, Sally Lowell from the University of Edinburgh won the Wolpert Medal for contributions to teaching and communicating developmental biology, having initiated the BSDB childcare and disability travel awards.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

BSDB Conference Grants: £300 + registration fee

• Covers early-bird registration fee plus £300 towards accommodation and travel for BSDB-sponsored meetings
• Open to all BSDB members
• Priority given to graduate students presenting posters if demand exceeds funds
• Application method: Rolling basis, reviewed monthly

Company of Biologists Travel Grants: Up to £600

• Supports attendance at meetings and courses outside the UK
• Pays proportion of total costs, maximum £600
• For UK-based researchers travelling internationally
• Application method: Rolling basis, reviewed monthly

Practical Course Grants: Up to £1,000

• Supports attendance at courses like Woods Hole, Cold Spring Harbor, and EMBO lab management courses
• Application method: Rolling basis, reviewed monthly

Group Leader Travel Grants: £600-£1,000

• For PIs without sufficient grant funding to attend international meetings
• £1,000 maximum for USA and Asia; £600 maximum for Europe
• Application method: Rolling basis, reviewed monthly

Gurdon/Company of Biologists Summer Studentships: £2,720

• £340 per week for 8 weeks for undergraduate research projects
• Consumable costs not provided
• Students must be UK or Republic of Ireland undergraduates
• Application method: Fixed deadline (March 31st annually)

BSDB Childcare Grants: Up to £250

• For participants or speakers at BSDB Spring or Autumn meetings
• Covers childcare fees, travel costs for caregivers, or costs for bringing children
• Also considers other caring responsibilities
• Application method: Rolling basis

BSDB Disability Support Grants: Up to £250

• Offsets additional costs for disabled participants at BSDB meetings
• May include travel costs for support person/companion
• Flexible consideration of all support needs
• Application method: Rolling basis

Priority Areas

• Early-career researcher development and conference attendance
• International collaboration and skills development
• Undergraduate research experience in developmental biology
• Accessibility and inclusivity at scientific meetings
• Professional development for group leaders without adequate travel funding

What They Don't Fund

• Non-members (membership is mandatory for all grant programs)
• Members paying incorrect subscription fees will not receive awards
• Typically only one award per member per year unless demand is low
• Consumable costs for summer studentships

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Governance and Leadership

Key Officers:

• Chair: Marysia Placzek (Sheffield University)
• Secretary: Tristan Rodriguez (Imperial College London)
• Treasurer: Tom Bennett (Leeds University)
• Meetings Officer: Shankar Srinivas (University of Oxford)
• Communications Officer: Raman Das (University of Manchester)
• Awards Officer: Abigail Tucker (King's College London)

Committee Members (5-year elected terms):

• Jeremy Green (London; 2021-2026) – morphogen action, Turing patterning, physical morphogenesis
• Timothy Saunders (Warwick; 2024-29) – organogenesis in zebrafish, fly and organoid systems
• Aida Rodrigo Albors (Edinburgh; 2024-29) – spinal cord regeneration in axolotls and mice

Student Representatives:

• Graduate Representative: Tamina Lebek (PhD, University of Edinburgh)
• Postdoc Representative: Anahi Binagui-Casas (Post-Doc, University of Edinburgh)

Committee members are elected by the membership at the Annual General Meeting. No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Membership Requirement: All applicants must first be BSDB members. Membership costs £45/year (ordinary members) or £20/year (students, maximum 4 years). Two current BSDB members must endorse your membership application. Apply at: https://hg3.co.uk/bsdb/membersregistration.aspx

Grant Applications:

• Submit completed application forms to grants@bsdb.org
• Download application form: https://bsdb.org/wp-content/uploads/BSDB-grant-form-Nov2024.pdf
• Ensure membership is current and correct subscription fee is paid before applying
• For Gurdon Studentships: separate application process with March 31st deadline

Decision Timeline

• Applications reviewed monthly at the end of each month
• Recommended to apply at least 2 months before funding is needed
• No specific information on notification methods available

Success Rates

Not publicly available. The Society has over 1,000 members competing for limited funds, with preference given to graduate students for conference grants when demand exceeds availability.

Reapplication Policy

For Company of Biologists Travelling Fellowships (a related program): unsuccessful applicants may reapply for a revised project 12 months from the original application date, but cannot submit a new application within two years of their initial application. Specific BSDB grant reapplication policies are not publicly documented; contact grants@bsdb.org for clarification.

Application Success Factors

Membership Status is Critical:

The BSDB explicitly states “NO AWARDS WILL BE MADE TO MEMBERS PAYING AN INCORRECT SUBSCRIPTION.” Ensure your membership type and payment are correct before applying.

Timing Matters:

Since applications are reviewed monthly, strategic timing is important. Apply at least 2 months before you need the funds, particularly for time-sensitive opportunities like conference registration deadlines.

One Award Per Year Norm:

The Society states that “normally, unless demand is low, a member will only receive a single award per year.” Plan your applications strategically if you have multiple opportunities.

Priority for Student Presenters:

For BSDB Conference Grants, when demand exceeds funds, “preference will be given to graduate students presenting posters.” If you're a graduate student, emphasize your presentation role.

Flexibility of Disability and Childcare Grants:

The Society emphasizes the flexibility of these grants. For childcare grants, “this fund is not strictly restricted to childcare – requests for costs related to other caring responsibilities will also be considered.” For disability grants, “all requests for financial support will be considered.”

Demonstrate UK Connection:

The BSDB welcomes members “with a link to the UK that have an interest in Developmental Biology (professional or amateur, research or teaching).” Your UK connection should be clear in your application.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Membership is mandatory: You must be a fully paid-up BSDB member with the correct subscription fee before applying; no exceptions are made
• Apply early and strategically: With monthly review cycles, submit at least 2 months before you need funds, and remember most members receive only one award per year
• Graduate students have an edge: If you're a graduate student presenting at BSDB meetings, you'll have priority when conference grant demand is high
• The partnership with Company of Biologists is key: Understanding this relationship explains the funding structure and the emphasis on early-career researcher support
• Inclusive funding options available: The childcare and disability support grants (up to £250 each) show the Society's commitment to accessibility; applications are considered flexibly
• International opportunities supported: Despite being UK-focused, most grants specifically support international travel and collaboration, particularly for early-career researchers
• Two endorsers required for membership: Plan ahead when joining, as you'll need two current BSDB members to endorse your membership application before you can access grant programs

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The British Mass Spectrometry Society
• Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour Limited
• British Society for Geomorphology
• The Genetics Society
• British Society for Research on Ageing
• The British Academy for the Promotion of Historical Philosophical and Philological Studies
• British Society for Cell Biology
• Experimental Psychology Society
• The Jean Shanks Foundation
• Foundation for the Sociology of Health and Illness

References

• BSDB Official Website - Grants Page: https://bsdb.org/membership/
• BSDB About Us Page: https://bsdb.org/about-us/
• BSDB Awards Page: https://bsdb.org/awards/
• BSDB Childcare Grants: http://bsdb.org/2019/12/11/bsdb-childcare-grants/
• BSDB Grant Application Form: https://bsdb.org/wp-content/uploads/BSDB-grant-form-Nov2024.pdf
• UK Charity Commission - BSDB Charity Overview: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/270363/charity-overview
• “The Company of Biologists and the British Society for Developmental Biology: a model partnership,” Development Journal, 2025, https://journals.biologists.com/dev/article/152/17/dev205152/369104/
• “2024 Wolpert Medal Winner: Sally Lowell,” BSDB News, April 15, 2024: https://bsdb.org/2024/04/15/2024-wolpert-medal-winner-sally-lowell/
• The Node - BSDB Gurdon Studentships: http://thenode.biologists.com/bsdb-gurdon-studentships-for-summer-vacation-work/funding/