Society For Endocrinology

Quick Stats

• Founded: 1946
• Charity Number: 266813
• Success Rate: ~30-40% (varies by grant type)
• Decision Time: 3-4 months (marking from late January, decisions in spring)
• Grant Range: £750 - £10,000+
• Geographic Focus: UK-based with international membership
• Application Deadlines: Bi-annual (May and October)

Contact Details

Website: www.endocrinology.org

Email: grants@endocrinology.org

Phone: 01454 642200

General Email: public@endocrinology.org

For grant queries and clarification before applying, contact grants@endocrinology.org

Overview

Founded in 1946, the Society for Endocrinology is a UK-based international membership organisation and registered charity (266813) representing scientists, clinicians, and nurses who work with hormones. Since its establishment by pioneers including Sir Charles Dodds, Sir Frank Young, Sir Alan Parkes, and Lord Zuckerman, the Society has been a leading voice of endocrinology worldwide. The Society's grants portfolio is designed to support all career stages and recognise excellence in endocrinology, providing seed funding for research, essential equipment, practical training, and outreach activities. The Society follows Association of Medical Research Charities guidelines for best practice management of research grants. In recent years, the Society has relaunched its grants portfolio to remove barriers and ensure all members can access funding opportunities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Society offers a refreshed portfolio of grants with bi-annual deadlines (May and October):

• Research Grants: Small grants and grants-in-aid supporting any aspect of research and audit costs including consumables, equipment, service provision, data analysis, facility access, and seed funding for pilot studies. Equipment grants up to £10,000 available. (Applications via email to grants@endocrinology.org)

• Teaching Grants: Support for teaching in endocrinology at all stages, including undergraduate Summer Studentships (£185/week up to £1,850 plus £1,000 for consumables) and initiatives to inspire the next generation. Also supports SfE-Oxford Brookes Masters Module in Endocrine Nursing. (Applications via email)

• Outreach Grants: Funding for members and patient support groups for outreach activities aimed at patients or the public, including public engagement activities, resource development, patient engagement and support, PPI scoping, and Endocrine Ambassador speaker travel. (Applications via email)

• Meeting Grants: Support for members to organise meetings and events. (Applications via email)

• Travel Grants: Support for members' travel to conferences and meetings. Applicants for international travel expected to have attended Society's annual conference at least once in past three years. (Applications via email)

• Clinical Endocrinology Journal Foundation (CEJF) Research Grants: Research grants administered on behalf of CEJF for endocrine research. (Applications via email)

Note: For May deadlines, certain grants may be restricted to specific fields (e.g., Pituitary and Adrenal research funded by the Marjorie Robinson Fund).

Priority Areas

• Scientific and clinical education and research in endocrinology for public benefit
• Research addressing problems of endocrine significance (clinical, basic science, or translational)
• Projects with clear benefit to researcher's career development
• Public engagement and patient education in endocrinology
• Professional development for endocrinologists at all career stages
• Teaching and training initiatives in endocrinology

What They Don't Fund

• Salaries - Grant funds cannot be used for researcher salaries
• Institutional overheads - Administrative costs, building costs, or institutional overhead expenses are excluded
• Departmental overheads for CEJF grants - As CEJF is a charity
• Travel to present CEJF-funded research findings
• Retrospective grants - Grants are not awarded for work already completed
• Non-members - Only Society members are eligible (with minimum membership duration requirements)

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Governance and Leadership

Council (Officers and Trustees)

Officers:

• Professor Márta Korbonits - President
• Professor Mark Gurnell - Treasurer
• Professor Aled Rees - General Secretary
• Professor Kevin Murphy - Events and Training Officer
• Professor Kristien Boelaert - President-Elect

Committee Members:

• Professor Tim Cole
• Professor Alex Comninos
• Mr Sherwin Criseno
• Professor Miles Levy
• Professor Onyebuchi Okosieme
• Professor Michael O'Reilly
• Dr Vicki Smith
• Dr Mark Turner

Ex Officio Members:

• Professor Kristien Boelaert
• Mrs Louise Breen
• Professor Niamh Martin
• Dr Zoi Michailidou
• Professor Jeremy Turner
• Professor Jeremy Tomlinson

Leadership Team

• Kate Sargent - Chief Executive
• Laura Udakis - Director of Community & Professional Development
• Jessica Davis - Director of Clinical Programmes
• Laura Dudley - Head of Society Management & Membership

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

1. Membership Requirement: Primary applicants must be Society members for at least one year prior to the grant deadline, or 6 months for Early Career members. Student Members cannot be primary applicants but can be co-applicants.

1. Application Submission: View the guidance for applicants for indicative grant values and requirements. Submit completed application forms as Word documents to grants@endocrinology.org by the appropriate deadline.

1. Eligibility: ALL members are eligible to apply for ALL grants. Single and multiple co-applicant applications are welcome.

1. Deadlines: Bi-annual schedule with deadlines typically in early May (11:59 BST) and early October (11:59 BST).

Decision Timeline

• Submission: Applications submitted by May or October deadlines
• Initial Review: Committee members carry out marking from end of January (for previous cycle)
• Evaluation: Research Grants typically marked by five Committee members (those with conflicts of interest abstain)
• Committee Meeting: Applications discussed at full Committee meeting in spring
• Decision Period: Approximately 3-4 months from deadline to decision
• Notification: Successful applicants receive an award letter with timeline details
• Reporting: Awardees required to submit reports as detailed in award letter

Success Rates

The Society's grant success rates are notably higher than typical UKRI schemes:

• Early Career Grant: ~30% funding rate
• Summer Studentships: ~40% funding rate
• All grants are highly competitive: Number of fundable applications may exceed available funding in particular rounds

Reapplication Policy

Unsuccessful applicants are encouraged to revise and resubmit to future rounds. The Society does not have restrictions on resubmissions. Applicants are advised to use feedback to reshape, repackage, and improve applications to maximize chances of success in subsequent rounds.

Application Success Factors

Direct Advice from the Funder

From Society Guidance:

• “All grants are highly competitive and so applicants are encouraged to read the guidance carefully in advance, to be specific and detailed when answering questions on the application form and to seek advice and feedback from colleagues before submitting the final application.”

Key Success Principles:

1. Seek Feedback Early and Often: "Testing your ideas on trusted colleagues and mentors who will give honest feedback is probably the most important tip of all. Speak with them during the embryonic stages of your idea, before you have put pen to paper, to help streamline your ideas and know that you're on the right track."

1. Use Non-Expert Reviewers: “When you have written a draft of your case for support, ask non-subject experts as well as subject experts to read it. The rationale is that non-expert colleagues are more likely to reflect the scientific background of panel members who will be communicating your grant applications and arguing for you at the panel meetings.”

1. Be Specific and Detailed: Applications should clearly articulate the scientific quality, benefit to applicant's career, and benefit to endocrine science/medicine/nursing practice.

Assessment Criteria

Applications are evaluated on:

• Scientific quality of the proposed work
• Benefit to applicant's career development
• Benefit to endocrine science/medicine/nursing practice
• Problem should be of clear endocrine significance (clinical, basic science, or translational importance)

Example Use Cases

Research Grants can support:

• Consumables for pilot studies
• Equipment for laboratory work
• Service provision and data analysis
• Facility access fees
• Seed funding to complete projects

Teaching Grants can support:

• Undergraduate Summer Studentships (10 weeks)
• Teaching initiatives at all stages
• Postgraduate nursing education

Outreach Grants can support:

• Public engagement activities
• Resource development for patients
• Patient support group activities
• Endocrine Ambassador programs

What Makes Applications Stand Out

• Clear demonstration of endocrine significance
• Well-articulated career development benefits
• Evidence of preliminary feedback from colleagues
• Accessible writing for non-specialist panel members
• Specific, detailed methodology and budgets
• Strong alignment with Society's mission to advance endocrinology

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. Membership is Essential: Ensure you meet the membership duration requirement (1 year for most members, 6 months for Early Career). Plan ahead as grants are only open to members.

1. Higher Success Rates Than UKRI: At 30-40% success rates, Society grants are significantly more accessible than research council funding, making them excellent opportunities for early-career researchers and pilot studies.

1. Feedback is Paramount: The Society explicitly emphasizes getting colleague feedback at multiple stages. Use both expert and non-expert reviewers before submission.

1. Resubmission is Welcome: Unlike some funders, the Society encourages unsuccessful applicants to revise and resubmit, making persistence valuable.

1. Career Development Focus: Applications should clearly articulate how the grant will benefit your career progression, not just the scientific merit of the work.

1. Seed Funding Philosophy: These grants are designed as seed funding and pilot study support, not major research projects. Frame proposals accordingly.

1. Plan for Bi-Annual Cycles: With only two deadlines per year (May and October), plan submissions well in advance and use missed deadlines as opportunities to strengthen applications with feedback.

References

1. Society for Endocrinology - Grants and Awards. https://www.endocrinology.org/grants-and-awards/

1. Society for Endocrinology - Grants Strategy and Process. https://www.endocrinology.org/grants-and-awards/grants-strategy-and-process/

1. Society for Endocrinology - Research Grant. https://www.endocrinology.org/grants-and-awards/grants/research-grant/

1. Society for Endocrinology - About Us. https://www.endocrinology.org/about-us/

1. Society for Endocrinology - History of the Society. https://www.endocrinology.org/about-us/history-of-the-society/

1. Society for Endocrinology - Who's Who. https://www.endocrinology.org/about-us/whos-who/

1. Society for Endocrinology - Council. https://www.endocrinology.org/about-us/governance/society-for-endocrinology-council/

1. “On the quest for research grant funding” - The Endocrinologist, Issue 133, Autumn 2019. https://www.endocrinology.org/endocrinologist/133-autumn19/opinion/on-the-quest-for-research-grant-funding/

1. Charity Commission - Society for Endocrinology (266813). https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/266813

1. Society for Endocrinology - Teaching Grant. https://www.endocrinology.org/grants-and-awards/grants/teaching-grant/

1. Society for Endocrinology - Outreach Grant. https://www.endocrinology.org/grants-and-awards/grants/outreach-grant/

1. Society for Endocrinology - Travel Grant. https://www.endocrinology.org/grants-and-awards/grants/travel-grant/