Kidney Research Uk

Charity Number: 252892

Annual Expenditure: £14.4M
Throughout England And Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland

Contact Info

Website: www.kidneyresearchuk.org

Phone: 0300 303 1100

Email: enquiries@kidneyresearchuk.org

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £11 million (research investment 2023/24)
  • Success Rate: 30-50% (varies by grant round)
  • Decision Time: Varies by program (two-stage review process)
  • Grant Range: £40,000 - £250,000 (project grants)
  • Geographic Focus: UK-wide (must be UK resident, research in UK establishment)

Contact Details

Website: www.kidneyresearchuk.org

Email: enquiries@kidneyresearchuk.org

Phone: 0300 303 1100

Research Operations Team: Grants@kidneyresearchuk.org

Online Grant Management System: research.kidneyresearchuk.org

Overview

Kidney Research UK (charity number 252892) is the leading kidney disease charity in the UK, funding research to free lives from kidney disease. In their 2023/24 financial year, the charity invested almost £11 million in research, contributing to over £71 million in research funding over the past decade. Under CEO Sandra Currie OBE's leadership for 12+ years, the charity has developed a Research Strategy to 2030 titled “Leading transformation in kidney health.” The organization aims to be “a catalyst that ignites kidney research with new investment, new capacity, new ideas and new energy,” focusing on three strategic priorities: transforming treatments, health inequalities, and multiple health conditions. Recent recognition includes CEO Sandra Currie receiving an OBE in the King's 2025 New Year Honours list for Services to People Affected by Kidney Disease.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Research Project Grants: £40,000 - £250,000 over 2-3 years

  • Maximum £250,000 for innovative standalone research projects
  • Maximum £40,000 for start-up grants investigating new hypotheses
  • Two-stage application process (expression of interest, then full application)
  • Expression of interest deadline: 11 August 2025

Fellowships and PhD Studentships (Annual Hybrid Grants Programme):

  • PhD Studentships: 3.5 years funding (MRC scale stipend + £3,500 consumables)
  • Clinical Training Fellowships: 3 years (salary + fees + £15,000 consumables)
  • Intermediate Non-clinical Fellowships: 3 years (salary + £15,000 consumables)
  • Senior Non-clinical Fellowships: 5 years (salary + £24,000 consumables)
  • Allied Health Professional Fellowships: 3 years (salary + £8,000 consumables)

Professor Michael Nicholson Awards (Transplant Science):

  • Single-stage application, deadline 29 September 2025
  • Supports transplant surgeon PhD fellowships, project grants, and non-clinical studentships

Andy Cole Fund Grant Awards:

  • Deadline 29 September 2025
  • Supports research into kidney transplant failure and rejection prevention

Pharmacy-led Research Grants:

  • Opens 23 July 2025, single-stage application
  • Dedicated funding for UK-based renal pharmacists

Allied Health Professional and Psychologists-led Research Grants:

  • Expression of interest deadline 11 August 2025
  • Includes Master of Research (MRes) grants (applications open 8 September - 15 October 2025)

Specialist Programs:

  • Paediatric and rare kidney diseases grants (dedicated funding)
  • Nursing research awards (in partnership with ANNUK)
  • Translational MedTech grants

Priority Areas

The Research Strategy to 2030 identifies three strategic priorities:

  1. Transforming Treatments: Advancing knowledge of kidney disease, refining current treatments, and developing new ones
  2. Health Inequalities: Addressing disparities in kidney disease outcomes
  3. Multiple Health Conditions: Focusing on kidney-cancer interactions and comorbidities

Additional priority areas:

  • Kidney transplant science and reducing rejection
  • Prevention and early detection of kidney disease
  • Protecting kidney function
  • Improving quality of life for people with kidney disease
  • Mental health in kidney disease
  • Paediatric and rare kidney conditions

What They Don't Fund

  • Lead applicants holding three or more concurrent active Kidney Research UK awards (excluding PhD Studentships and Start-up awards)
  • Research conducted outside UK establishments
  • Applications from non-UK residents
  • More than one grant type application per lead applicant in any 12-month period

Governance and Leadership

Chief Executive

Sandra Currie OBE has been CEO for more than 12 years and was honoured in the King's 2025 New Year Honours list for Services to People Affected by Kidney Disease.

Key Quotes from Sandra Currie:

  • "For patients, their families and anyone working in the field, the devastation that kidney disease causes to people's lives is well known. Yet, despite it affecting around ten per cent of the UK population, there is still a long way to go to make recognising, preventing and treating kidney disease a real priority."
  • “Everyone who has told me of the devastation kidney disease has brought to them and their families, every researcher who has shared their passion and innovation as they search for answers to end kidney disease... They remind me daily of the great need for our work and keep me focused on the urgency for the charity to do more.”
  • “I am focused on building the kidney community by galvanising support and significantly increasing our income to accelerate research discoveries and make research count for those affected by kidney disease.”

Board of Trustees

Chair: Matt Newcombe-Ellis (took over March 2024, breaking tradition of the chair always being a senior academic nephrologist)

Composition: The board includes patients and carers, nephrologists, paediatricians, nurses, and professionals with expertise in financial management, investment, and audit. One trustee is always a paediatric nephrologist.

Recent Appointments (2023-2024):

  • Professor Claire Sharpe and John E. Milad (joined December 2023)
  • Professor Moin Saleem and Tejal Amin (joined June 2024)

The board endorses all research funding recommendations and completed a Trustee board effectiveness review with implemented recommendations.

Research Grants Committee

The committee provides external, independent scientific expert review of funding applications with 19 members from renal backgrounds, co-chaired by Dr Andy Lewington and Dr Bettina Wilm. Members use their experience, expertise, and skills to review grant applications and make funding recommendations.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

  1. Expression of Interest Phase: Initial submission through online grants management system
  2. Shortlisting: Strategic panel assessment of expressions of interest
  3. Full Application: Shortlisted applicants invited to submit detailed application
  4. Review Process: Applications reviewed through online system with external peer review
  5. Rebuttal Stage: Applicants respond to reviewer comments before funding decisions
  6. Final Decision: Research Grants Committee makes recommendations, endorsed by Board of Trustees

Important Notes:

  • All applications must be submitted through the online grants management system at research.kidneyresearchuk.org
  • Hard-copy paper applications are not accepted
  • User guide available once logged into the system
  • Applicants can suggest potential reviewers, especially those based outside UK
  • Contact Grants@kidneyresearchuk.org with questions before applying

Decision Timeline

Specific timelines vary by grant program. The process includes multiple stages:

  • Expression of interest review and strategic panel assessment
  • Invitation to full application (no guarantee of funding)
  • External peer review
  • Rebuttal stage
  • Final committee review and trustee endorsement
  • Applicant notification

Outcomes from each grant round are publicly available after completion, with verbatim feedback provided to all applicants regardless of outcome.

Success Rates

Recent grant rounds show varying success rates:

  • Alport Research Hub: 50% success rate
  • Hybrid Grants Round: 30% success rate
  • Hybrid Grants Round: 65 expressions of interest received, 45 invited for full applications

Success rates vary by program and round, ranging from 30-50% based on recent data.

Reapplication Policy

While the charity provides verbatim feedback to unsuccessful applicants, specific reapplication policies or waiting periods are not detailed in public materials. Lead applicants are restricted to submitting one grant type application per 12-month period. For detailed reapplication guidance, consult the “Regulations and Conditions for Applicants” document or contact the Research Operations Team.

Application Success Factors

Key Advice from the Funder

Clear Communication: “Clear and succinct preparation is important, as the Research Grants Committee members are drawn from a wide range of clinical and scientific backgrounds.”

Patient Input: “Attention to patient input and avoiding excessive jargon language is important.”

Strong Evidence Base: “Your background description should make clear the extent of support for the feasibility of the planned approach and reference to published work, or provide pilot data.”

Strategic Alignment: “Both scientific and lay summaries will be used to assess each submission, with consideration given to how closely the proposal matches their immediate research priorities. All submissions will be ranked according to their potential to deliver against these priorities.”

Pre-Application Engagement: “If you have any questions, get in touch before you apply so they can provide advice that may be helpful.”

Recent Funded Projects (2024 Examples)

  • Dr Emma Poole, University of Cambridge - £238k - Developing 'block and lock' strategy to treat CMV infection in kidney transplants
  • Professor Alan Salama, UCL - £214k - Biological and therapeutic stratification for post-transplant disease recurrence
  • Dr Mark Devonald, Liverpool - £183k - Novel urinary biomarkers for early detection of acute kidney injury after chemotherapy
  • LifeArc-Kidney Research UK Centre for Rare Kidney Diseases - £9.4m over 5 years - UK Kidney Ecosystem for rare kidney disease treatments

Language and Terminology

The charity emphasizes:

  • Patient-focused research
  • Innovation and new hypotheses
  • Transforming treatments
  • Advancing knowledge
  • Quality of life improvements
  • Evidence-based approaches with pilot data

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Strategic Alignment is Critical: Proposals must clearly align with one or more of the three strategic priorities (transforming treatments, health inequalities, multiple health conditions). Rank according to potential to deliver against these priorities.
  1. Two Audiences: Write for both scientific experts and lay reviewers. Clear, jargon-free summaries are essential, as the Research Grants Committee has diverse clinical backgrounds.
  1. Evidence Matters: Include pilot data or published work supporting feasibility. Start-up grants exist specifically for new hypotheses lacking existing evidence.
  1. Patient Involvement: Demonstrate patient input and focus on patient-centered outcomes and quality of life improvements.
  1. Engage Early: Contact the grants team before applying for helpful advice. The charity actively encourages pre-application queries.
  1. Competitive Process: With success rates of 30-50%, expect rigorous review. Use the rebuttal stage strategically to address reviewer concerns.
  1. UK Focus Required: All applicants must be UK residents conducting research in UK establishments. International collaborations are welcome but lead must be UK-based.

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References