Northern Counties Kidney Research Fund

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £250,000 (approximately)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed (pump-priming grants)
• Geographic Focus: North of England (Northumberland, Cumbria, County Durham, Tyne & Wear, Tees Valley, North Yorkshire)
• Charity Number: 700037

Contact Details

Website: www.nckrf.org.uk

Email: Neil.Sheerin@newcastle.ac.uk

Phone: 0191 2227146

Address: The Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne

For Grant Applications: Contact the organization directly through their website or email to submit funding proposals

Overview

The Northern Counties Kidney Research Fund (NCKRF) is a well-established regional charity that has been supporting kidney research since 1970. Originally founded as a regional branch of the National Kidney Federation (now Kidney Research UK), NCKRF became an independent registered charity in 1988. Over the past decade (2010-2019), the organization has raised over £1.7 million towards research into kidney disease and transplantation. Each year, NCKRF awards research grants totalling approximately £250,000. The charity is entirely volunteer-run, meaning all donations go directly to supporting research. Since its inception, NCKRF has endowed seven tenured research posts at Newcastle University in nephrology, transplant surgery, urology, dialysis, renal physiology, transplant immunology, and transplant genetics. The organization is dedicated to pioneering innovative world-class research, enabling scientists and clinicians to develop and improve patient outcomes, with a vision of creating “lives free from kidney disease.”

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Pump-Priming Research Grants

• Amount: Not publicly specified (applications considered on individual merit)
• Purpose: Provides initial “seed funding” to generate preliminary scientific data
• Enables researchers to develop competitive proposals for larger national funding bodies
• Application Method: Direct contact with the organization; rolling basis

Priority Areas

NCKRF funds research across all aspects of:

• Kidney disease (in both children and adults)
• Kidney transplantation and related complications
• Treatment modalities for renal conditions
• Renal physiology and underlying mechanisms
• Transplant immunology and rejection prevention
• Genetic aspects of kidney disorders

The fund particularly focuses on supporting research that will enable future competitive applications to major funders, filling the critical gap that allows researchers to generate the preliminary data needed for larger grants.

What They Don't Fund

Not explicitly stated, but the focus is clearly on kidney-related research in the North of England region. The charity appears to fund academic and clinical research rather than service provision or patient support activities.

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees (5 members)

• Anna-Maria Steel
• Sally Johnson
• Professor Neil Sheerin (Chair of Scientific Committee)
• Nigel Channon
• Professor John Kirby (Chair of Main Committee)

Main Committee

Chaired by Professor John Kirby (Emeritus Professor of Immunobiology at Newcastle University), the Main Committee has 14 members and is responsible for the overall activities of the Fund, including final funding decisions.

Key Quote from Leadership:

“NCKRF provides key start-up money that enables new projects to get off the ground.” - Professor John Sayer, Professor of Renal Medicine, Newcastle University

Scientific Committee

Chaired by Professor Neil Sheerin (Professor of Nephrology at Newcastle University and Consultant Nephrologist at the Freeman Hospital), the Scientific Committee has 10 members and is responsible for peer-reviewing grant applications and advising the Main Committee on the scientific merit of proposals.

Key Quote:

Research funding was “vital to provide continuity” between national grants - Dr Sally Johnson (Trustee)

Auditors

Ryecroft Glenton Chartered Accountants, Newcastle upon Tyne

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

NCKRF operates a direct contact application system rather than fixed deadline cycles. Interested researchers should:

1. Initial Contact: Contact the organization directly through their website (www.nckrf.org.uk/contact-us) or via email to discuss their proposal
2. Proposal Submission: Submit a formal funding proposal outlining the research project
3. Peer Review: Proposals are peer-reviewed by the Scientific Committee
4. Evaluation: Applications go through “strict scientific and ethical protocols”
5. Recommendation: The Scientific Committee recommends successful applicants to the Main Committee
6. Final Decision: The Main Committee makes final funding decisions

There is no mention of an online application portal or standardized application forms on the website, suggesting a more personalized approach to grant applications.

Decision Timeline

Specific timelines for application review and decision-making are not publicly disclosed. Given the committee-based review structure, applicants should expect multiple stages of evaluation.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly published. The organization distributes approximately £250,000 annually in grants, but the number of applications received is not disclosed.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is stated on the website. Given the pump-priming nature of the grants and the requirement to contact the organization directly, unsuccessful applicants should discuss reapplication possibilities with NCKRF staff or committee members.

Application Success Factors

Based on the organization's mission and structure, successful applications are likely to demonstrate:

Research Quality and Scientific Merit

• Strong scientific rationale evaluated by the Scientific Committee
• Clear methodology and feasibility
• Compliance with ethical protocols
• Peer-reviewable quality

Strategic Positioning

• Critical “Pump-Priming” Potential: Applications that clearly demonstrate how NCKRF funding will enable larger grant applications to major funders (MRC, Wellcome Trust, NIHR, etc.)
• Evidence of how preliminary data will strengthen future competitive bids
• Quote from funded researcher: “Thanks to the pump priming I received from NCKRF, I was awarded three external grants”

Regional Relevance

• Connection to the North of England research community
• Links to Newcastle University or Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• Potential to retain research talent in the region (explicitly stated as an organizational goal)
• Support for PhD students in nephrology

Career Development

• NCKRF specifically aims to support PhD students and early-career researchers
• Funding that enables continuity between larger national grants
• Projects that help develop the next generation of kidney researchers

Translational Impact

• Research that can potentially improve patient outcomes
• Clear pathway from basic science to clinical application
• Alignment with the mission to develop and improve treatments

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Pump-priming focus: Emphasize how NCKRF funding will generate the preliminary data needed to secure larger grants from major national funders
• Regional connections: Highlight links to North East research institutions, particularly Newcastle University and the Freeman Hospital
• Contact early: There's no formal application deadline system - contact the organization directly to discuss your project before submitting a full proposal
• Scientific excellence: Applications undergo rigorous peer review by a specialized Scientific Committee with expertise in nephrology and transplantation
• Continuity funding: NCKRF can provide critical funding between major grants or to support PhD completion
• Career development: Early-career researchers and PhD students are explicitly encouraged
• Volunteer-run efficiency: All donations go directly to research, so the fund values efficient use of limited resources

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• Kidney Research Yorkshire
• KIDNEY RESEARCH UK
• KIDSCAN LIMITED
• THE HOPE FOUNDATION FOR CANCER RESEARCH
• THE JGW PATTERSON FOUNDATION
• ACTION MEDICAL RESEARCH
• NORTH WEST CANCER RESEARCH (INCORPORATING CLATTERBRIDGE CANCER RESEARCH CCR)
• The Astor Foundation
• The Tony Bramall Charitable Trust
• Sir Samuel Scott of Yews Trust

References

1. Northern Counties Kidney Research Fund Official Website - www.nckrf.org.uk - Accessed 27 January 2026
2. NCKRF About Us Page - https://www.nckrf.org.uk/about-us - Accessed 27 January 2026
3. NCKRF Grants Page - https://nckrf.enigmahost.net/donate/grants - Accessed 27 January 2026
4. NCKRF Governance Page - https://nckrf.enigmahost.net/governance - Accessed 27 January 2026
5. Charity Choice - Northern Counties Kidney Research Fund Profile - https://www.charitychoice.co.uk/northern-counties-kidney-research-fund-4553 - Accessed 27 January 2026
6. Professor Neil S Sheerin Profile - Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust - https://www.newcastle-hospitals.nhs.uk/consultants/professor-neil-s-sheerin/ - Accessed 27 January 2026
7. Emeritus Professor John Kirby - Newcastle University Staff Profile - https://www.ncl.ac.uk/medical-sciences/people/profile/johnkirby.html - Accessed 27 January 2026
8. SABBATICAL REPORT - Professor John Sayer - https://www.nckrf.org.uk/donate/grants/active-grants/sabbatical-report-professor-john-sayer - Accessed 27 January 2026