Msd Uk

Charity Number: CUSTOM_62171FF3

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: Not publicly disclosed
  • Success Rate: Competitive (receives record number of applications; approximately 8-12 grants per window)
  • Decision Time: Applications reviewed following window closure; decisions communicated shortly thereafter
  • Grant Range: £5,000 - £25,000 (depends on organisation type)
  • Geographic Focus: UK-wide

Contact Details

Website: https://www.msd-uk.com/partnerships/grants/

Email: Grantscommittee@msd.com

Application Portal: MSD Proposal Management System (online)

For enquiries or if confirmation email not received within 7 working days of submission, contact the Grants Committee.

Overview

MSD (Merck Sharp & Dohme) UK is the UK subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., a global pharmaceutical company with over 130 years of history bringing medicines and vaccines to improve lives worldwide. MSD UK's Grants Programme provides arm's length financial grants to eligible UK organisations to support educational initiatives, local community support, and patient advocacy projects. The programme operates through two application windows annually, focusing specifically on innovative projects that tackle health inequalities and drive improvements in patient outcomes. In 2025, the programme received a record number of applications from organisations dedicated to addressing UK health disparities. MSD UK is led by Managing Director Ben Lucas, who oversees the company's commitment to saving and improving lives through innovative healthcare solutions and community investment.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

MSD UK Grants Programme (operates in two annual windows; reopening in 2026)

  • Healthcare Organisations: £15,000 - £25,000
  • Patient Organisations: £5,000 - £15,000
  • Application method: Online portal with fixed windows
  • Each window awards approximately 8-12 grants
  • Projects must be completed within 12 months

Solutions for Healthy Communities (Global programme with UK participation)

  • Deadline: 28th February 2025 (for projects running January 2026 - December 2027)
  • Aims to advance access to healthcare for underserved communities through innovative, community-led solutions

Priority Areas

While open to all disease areas, priority is given to projects addressing:

Oncology

  • Improving cancer care access and outcomes
  • Cancer prevention and early diagnosis initiatives

Public Health

  • Enhancing vaccine uptake
  • Improving HIV care and access

Pulmonary Hypertension

  • Supporting early diagnosis
  • Better disease management

Core Focus Areas (all applications):

  • Tackling UK health inequalities
  • Community health and wellbeing
  • Healthcare professional, patient, and public empowerment
  • Delivering measurable patient or population impact
  • Identifying and acting on health disparities
  • Culturally tailored health education
  • Improving screening uptake
  • Reducing treatment outcome disparities

What They Don't Fund

Explicit Exclusions:

  • Promotional activities (all projects must be non-promotional)
  • Projects outside the UK
  • Wages or hiring new staff (noted in COVID-19 programme)
  • Payment of financial debt (noted in COVID-19 programme)
  • Applications where MSD would be the sole funder (organisations must have additional income sources)
  • Projects extending beyond 12 months
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Governance and Leadership

Managing Director, MSD UK and Ireland: Ben Lucas (appointed early 2022)

  • Member of ABPI Board and UK Government's Trade Advisory Group
  • Oversees MSD's UK inward investment including discovery research labs and London HQ

Review Body: Grants and Donations Committee

  • Rigorously reviews all applications for alignment to programme goals and eligibility
  • Specific committee members not publicly disclosed

Global Leadership: Robert M. Davis, CEO and President of MSD

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

  • Application Portal: MSD Proposal Management System (online)
  • Application Windows: Two per year (typically one closing end of April, one closing end of August)
  • 2026 Programme: Will open in 2026; full information and guidance will be published on MSD UK website following launch
  • Confirmation: Applicants should receive confirmation email within 7 working days of submission
  • Enquiries: Contact Grantscommittee@msd.com

Eligibility

  • UK-based, legally registered organisations
  • Healthcare Organisations (e.g., NHS Trusts, Primary Care Networks)
  • Patient Organisations (e.g., not-for-profit groups supporting patients)
  • Must have additional sources of income beyond MSD funding
  • Projects must be non-promotional, UK-based, and completable within 12 months

Decision Timeline

  • Applications reviewed following closure of each window
  • “Rigorous review” by Grants and Donations Committee
  • Outcomes communicated “shortly” after review completion
  • Specific timeframes not publicly disclosed but decisions appear to be made within weeks/months of window closure

Success Rates

  • 2025 programme received a “record number of applications”
  • Approximately 8-12 grants awarded per application window
  • Specific success rate percentages not disclosed
  • Described as competitive programme

Reapplication Policy

Not explicitly stated in public materials. Contact Grantscommittee@msd.com for clarification on reapplication eligibility for unsuccessful applicants.

Application Success Factors

Funded Project Examples

Melanoma Focus (2023 funding)

  • Health economics report evaluating how VAT elimination could affect affordability of factor 30+ sunscreen products
  • Report published August 2024
  • Demonstrates policy-focused, evidence-based approach

World Cancer Research Fund

  • Ran 10 workshops attended by 337 health professionals (oncology nurses, dietitians, health improvement practitioners)
  • Focused on empowering professionals to discuss lifestyle factors and cancer links
  • Result: 100% of attendees felt more confident about role of lifestyle and dietary factors in cancer prevention
  • All attendees would attend another workshop
  • Demonstrates measurable impact and professional education focus

Key Success Indicators

Alignment with Strategic Priorities

  • Projects directly addressing health inequalities
  • Clear focus on underserved or disadvantaged populations
  • Innovation in approach or delivery

Measurable Impact

  • Projects with clear patient or population impact metrics
  • Demonstrable outcomes that can be evaluated
  • Completion within 12-month timeframe

Non-Promotional Nature

  • Educational rather than product-promotional
  • Independent research or policy work
  • Arm's length relationship with MSD products

Community and Professional Empowerment

  • Building capacity in healthcare professionals
  • Patient advocacy and empowerment
  • Community-led solutions

Financial Sustainability

  • Evidence of other funding sources
  • MSD grant as part of broader funding strategy
  • Clear project budget and resource plan

Language and Terminology Used

MSD emphasizes:

  • “Tackling health inequalities”
  • “Innovative projects”
  • “Patient or population impact”
  • “Community health and wellbeing”
  • “Healthcare professional, patient, and public empowerment”
  • “Non-promotional”
  • "Arm's length"
  • “Educational initiatives”

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Health Inequalities Focus is Critical: Every application must demonstrate how it addresses UK health disparities. Use concrete examples of underserved populations or communities facing barriers to healthcare access.
  1. Demonstrate Additional Funding Sources: MSD cannot be your sole funder. Show evidence of financial sustainability and other income streams to strengthen your application.
  1. Be Specific About Impact Metrics: Applications should include clear, measurable outcomes that can be evaluated within the 12-month project timeframe. The World Cancer Research Fund example showed 100% of participants gained confidence—this level of specificity matters.
  1. Priority Disease Areas Advantage: While open to all areas, applications addressing oncology, public health (vaccines/HIV), or pulmonary hypertension receive priority consideration. If your work touches these areas, emphasize it.
  1. Non-Promotional is Non-Negotiable: Ensure your project has educational, policy, or advocacy focus rather than anything that could be construed as promoting MSD products. Frame work as independent and evidence-based.
  1. 12-Month Completion Required: Projects must be completable within one year. Be realistic in project design and demonstrate clear timeline with deliverables.
  1. Plan Application Timing: With only two windows per year (typically April and August deadlines) and the next round opening in 2026, start preparation early and target the appropriate window for your project timeline.

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References