Pain Relief Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £350,000-£370,000 (estimated based on recent expenditure)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: £10,000 - £85,000 (depending on grant type)
• Geographic Focus: UK-wide, particularly universities and research institutes

Contact Details

Address: Clinical Sciences Centre, University Hospital Aintree, Lower Lane, Liverpool, L9 7AL

Email:

• General enquiries: lorraine.roberts@painrelieffoundation.org.uk
• Grant applications: julie.williams@painrelieffoundation.org.uk

Phone: 0151 529 5820

Website: www.painrelieffoundation.org.uk

Overview

The Pain Relief Foundation is a registered charity (No. 1156227) established in 1979 by Dr. Sampson Lipton, Professor John Miles, and Dr. David Bowsher with the specific aim of creating the Pain Research Institute for teaching and research. The Foundation funds specialized research into the causes and treatment of human chronic pain. Uniquely, it receives no official funding from the NHS or any other government body, relying entirely on charitable contributions and fundraising. The Foundation is closely associated with the Pain Clinic at the Walton Centre for Neurology and Neurosurgery NHS Foundation Trust, one of the UK's largest pain clinics serving over 3,000 patients annually. With annual expenditure of approximately £370,000, the Foundation supports cutting-edge research across a range of chronic pain conditions, from basic laboratory research to randomized controlled trials.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Small Research Grants: £10,000 - £30,000

• Fund research on mechanisms and/or relief of human chronic pain
• Cover projects and salaries
• Equipment costs explicitly excluded
• Can be held at Pain Research Institute in Liverpool or other approved centres
• Applications particularly welcomed from early-career researchers

Professor John Miles Prize PhD Studentship: £85,000 over 3 years

• Tax-free stipend: £20,780 per year
• Tuition fees: £5,006 per year
• Small budget for consumables (excluding equipment)
• Applications invited from Universities, Academic Institutes, and potential Project Supervisors
• Enables graduates to embark on research careers in human chronic pain

Priority Areas

The Foundation funds research into:

• Mechanisms of chronic pain conditions
• Treatment and relief methods for chronic pain
• Neuropathic pain (e.g., post-stroke pain, diabetic neuropathy)
• Migraine and headache disorders
• Inflammatory pain conditions (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis)
• Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
• Novel therapeutic approaches including drug development, device-based interventions, and biologics
• Pain perception and social/psychological aspects of chronic pain
• Autoimmune aspects of pain conditions

Recent funded projects span from AI-driven transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation for abdominal pain to novel botulinum-based constructs for chronic pain, demonstrating the Foundation's support for both innovative technologies and fundamental pain mechanisms research.

What They Don't Fund

• Equipment purchases - explicitly excluded from both small grants and PhD studentships
• Research not focused on human chronic pain
• Non-research activities

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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

Chairman: Mr. David Cain - Former NHS Chief Executive and management consultant

Deputy Chairman: Mr. Peter Fell - Community volunteer involved with arts and education organizations

Trustees:

• Miss Judith Daley (LLB Hons)
• Geraldine Thompson - Senior Management at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (Services Lead for Clinical Photography and Medical Illustration)
• Professor Michelle Briggs - Florence Nightingale Foundation Chair in Clinical Nursing
• Professor Paul Eldridge - Retired Neurosurgeon, former Clinical Director at Walton Centre
• Professor Francis McGlone - Neuroscience Professor at Liverpool John Moores University
• Dr. Turo Nash - Consultant in Anaesthesia and Pain Medicine
• Dr. Manohar Sharma - Clinical Lead of Pain Medicine at The Walton Centre, Chairman of Education Committee
• Dr. John Robert Wiles - Former Clinical Director of Walton Pain Service
• Dr. John Christopher Wells - Retired Pain Medicine Consultant

Management Team

• Julie Williams - Charity Manager
• Hayley McCullough - Administrator
• Jo Stephens - Fundraising
• Dr. Caroline Staunton - Chairman of Scientific Committee

Patrons

• Dame Lorna Muirhead
• Mr. R.N.S. Bigland

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications for 2026 are currently open with a closing date of 14th February 2025.

To apply:

1. Submit both electronic and hard copy applications

The Foundation does not publish detailed assessment criteria publicly, but applications are reviewed by their Scientific Committee chaired by Dr. Caroline Staunton.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. Applicants should contact the Foundation directly for information about when decisions will be communicated.

Success Rates

Success rates and application statistics are not publicly disclosed by the Foundation.

Reapplication Policy

The Foundation does not publicly disclose their policy on reapplications from unsuccessful applicants. Prospective reapplicants should contact Julie Williams at the email above for guidance.

Application Success Factors

Based on analysis of recent grants awarded, successful applications typically demonstrate:

Focus on Human Chronic Pain: The Foundation's mission is explicitly focused on human chronic pain research. All funded projects from 2022-2026 address chronic pain conditions including migraine, neuropathic pain, stroke-related pain, inflammatory joint pain, and Complex Regional Pain Syndrome.

Innovation in Mechanisms or Treatment: Successful projects explore either novel mechanisms underlying chronic pain or new approaches to pain relief. Recent awards include AI-driven neuromodulation (Dr. Qasim Aziz, £29,969), novel biologics approaches (Dr. Maria Maiarú, £29,769), and inhibiting metalloproteinases for post-stroke pain (Dr. Milena De Felice, £29,644).

Early-Career Researchers Welcome: The Foundation explicitly encourages applications from early-career researchers. Recent small grant recipients have included doctoral candidates and early-stage researchers across multiple UK institutions.

Diverse Institutional Base: While closely associated with Liverpool institutions, the Foundation funds research across the UK. Recent grants (2022-2026) have been awarded to researchers at University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University, Queen Mary University of London, University of Sheffield, University of Reading, University of Birmingham, University of Cambridge, University College London, and University of Oxford.

Interdisciplinary Approaches: Funded projects demonstrate diverse methodological approaches including basic laboratory science, clinical trials, biomarker validation, neuroscience, immunology, technology development, and social/psychological research.

Realistic Budgets: Small grants typically range £10,000-£30,000, with most recent awards clustering between £16,000-£30,000. Budget requests should align with project scope and specifically exclude equipment costs.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Equipment exclusion is absolute: Do not include equipment costs in your budget. Focus funding requests on salaries, project costs, and consumables only.
• Human chronic pain is the singular focus: Ensure your research explicitly addresses chronic pain in humans. Animal models or acute pain studies appear outside their remit.
• Early-career researchers are actively encouraged: If you are in the early stages of your research career, this is an advantage rather than a barrier.
• Geographic flexibility: While based in Liverpool and associated with the Pain Research Institute, the Foundation funds quality research across UK institutions.
• Diverse methodologies accepted: Recent awards span from AI and technology to basic biological mechanisms, clinical trials, and social research—demonstrate methodological rigor relevant to your approach.
• Contact for application forms and guidance: The Foundation requires you to request application forms via email, providing an opportunity for early dialogue with Julie Williams (Charity Manager).
• Two academic referees required: Plan ahead to identify and approach appropriate referees who can speak to your research capability.

References

1. Pain Relief Foundation official website, “Applying for PRF Research Grants” - https://painrelieffoundation.org.uk/research/research-grants/ (Accessed 2 December 2025)

1. Pain Relief Foundation official website, “Pain Relief Foundation” - https://painrelieffoundation.org.uk/about/pain-relief-foundation/ (Accessed 2 December 2025)

1. Pain Relief Foundation official website, “Research Grants Awarded by the Foundation” - https://painrelieffoundation.org.uk/research/research-funded-by-the-foundation/ (Accessed 2 December 2025)

1. Pain Relief Foundation official website, “The People” - https://painrelieffoundation.org.uk/about/the-people/ (Accessed 2 December 2025)

1. UK Charity Commission, “Pain Relief Foundation - Charity 1156227” - https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/5043718 (Accessed 2 December 2025)

1. ResearchConnect, “Pain Relief Foundation Small Grant and PhD Studentship Open for Applications” - https://myresearchconnect.com/pain-relief-foundation-small-grant-and-phd-studentship-open-for-applications/ (Accessed 2 December 2025)

1. Pain UK, “Pain Relief Foundation - UK Charity” - https://painuk.org/members/charities/pain-relief-foundation/ (Accessed 2 December 2025)