Invest in ME Research

Registered charity 1153730 · since 2013investinme.org·England, Wales·Updated 31 October 2026

At a glance

Open to applications

Rolling, no deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

If your organisation does biomedical research into ME, or can build a project that does, this funder's stated priorities fit, and it accepts applications on a rolling basis.
Neither the annual report nor the register gave a usable grants figure or grant range, so keep your request tied to what the project costs, since cost is one of the criteria.
Read the research strategy before you apply, because applications are peer reviewed for quality, relevance, scientific merit, timescale and cost, and priority goes to work with the greatest potential to identify causality or improve outcomes.
The funder prefers long-term partnerships and involving EMERG members, and it prefers collaborations with UK and European organisations, though it welcomes applicants from outside the UK.
Work that is not biomedical research into ME falls outside its stated research priorities.

Overview

Invest in ME Research is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 1153730).

Invest in ME Research is a charity registered in England and Wales with the purpose of promoting and protecting the physical and mental health of people with myalgic encephalomyelitis, through support, education and practical advice. Its Biomedical Research Fund makes grants for research projects, with the aim of initiating more biomedical research into ME. Applications for these grants go through a peer review process.

What they fund

Priority Areas

Invest in ME Research funds and facilitates high-quality biomedical research into ME, with an emphasis on understanding mechanisms and causality, developing treatments and improving diagnosis. Its research priorities include translational biomedical work, accurate diagnosis, telemedicine for people with ME and their physicians, education of healthcare professionals, and raising awareness among the public, media and academia. It welcomes applications for biomedical research projects from anyone wishing to undertake such research, including applicants outside the UK, while preferring collaborations with UK and European organisations and researchers. The charity prioritises strategic, long-term partnerships as well as innovative pilot studies that might otherwise struggle to secure funding. Applications are peer reviewed externally and assessed for quality, relevance, usefulness, scientific merit, timescale and cost against its research priorities. Priority goes to work with the greatest potential to identify causality or improve outcomes for people with ME.

Themes

Causality research
Translational ME treatments
ME diagnosis
Healthcare professional education
ME telemedicine
ME awareness

How to apply

Applicants should first appraise the research strategy, then apply using the forms provided under How to Apply for Funding.

Application success factors

What the charity says:

The charity gives priority to research with the greatest potential to find causality for ME or improve outcomes for people with ME.
Applications are assessed for research quality, relevance, usefulness, scientific merit, timescale and cost against the charity’s research priorities.
The charity prefers to involve EMERG members in all the research it funds or supports.

Where they fund

Registered area of operation (Charity Commission)

Similar funders

Funders supporting work similar to Invest in ME Research.

Action for MENo public processGave £33,366 Sir Samuel Scott of Yews TrustInvitation onlyGave £304k Alan Davidson FoundationNo public processGave £2.3M MND AssociationFixed deadlinesGave £10.4M Pushpa S Chopra TrustInvitation onlyGave £79,000 Humanimal TrustFixed deadlinesGave £4,000 The Bascule Charitable TrustInvitation onlyGave £114k Santa Barbara Heights Charitable TrustFixed deadlinesGave £134k The Astor FoundationFixed deadlinesGave £99,500 The Reginald M Phillips Charitable FoundationRollingGave £646k

Five years of accounts

Financial year	Income	Expenditure	Grants paid	Accounts document
year to 30 September 2021	£161,990	£208,529	—	Accounts for year to 30 September 2021
year to 30 September 2022	£363,811	£21,228	—	Accounts for year to 30 September 2022
year to 30 September 2023	£65,248	£95,918	—	Accounts for year to 30 September 2023
year to 30 September 2024	£112,945	£131,695	—	Accounts for year to 30 September 2024
year to 30 September 2025	£121,119	£251,889	—	Accounts for year to 30 September 2025

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.