Stoke Mandeville Spinal Research

Quick Stats

• Annual Income: £134,127 (2024)
• Annual Expenditure: £199,853 (2024)
• Success Rate: 17% overall (2019-2025); 9% for January 2025 call
• Grant Range: Small feasibility studies - £150,000
• Maximum Award: £150,000 over 3 years
• Total Committed: £400,000+ since 2019
• Geographic Focus: International applications accepted (UK centre involvement required)

Contact Details

Website: www.lifeafterparalysis.com

Email: derek.cutler@smsr.org.uk

Phone: 01296 315255

Research Grants Manager: Derek Cutler

Overview

Founded in 2006 and restructured as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation in November 2019, Stoke Mandeville Spinal Research (SMSR, Charity 1183744) is a national medical research charity dedicated to funding research that improves quality of life for people living with spinal cord injury (SCI). The charity focuses specifically on preventing or improving the management of medical complications of non-progressive SCI. Since launching their research grants programme in 2019, they have committed over £400,000 to life-changing research across nine funded projects. SMSR is a proud member of the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) and follows best practice standards for peer review. The charity is supported by a voluntary Board of Trustees and evaluates applications through an independent Scientific Advisory Board led by international experts in spinal cord injury.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• Research Grants: Up to £150,000 for projects lasting up to 3 years
• Feasibility Studies: Smaller pilot projects welcomed
• Application Method: Annual grant call with fixed deadline (typically February)
• Funding Cycle: Applications assessed once per year
• PhD Funding: Available (contact Derek Cutler for details)

Priority Areas

SMSR's research priorities were established through research conducted by Dr. Joost van Middendorp and the James Lind Alliance, involving people with SCI, carers, and clinicians. The charity now supports proposals across seven key areas affecting spinal cord injury quality of life:

1. Bladder Management - Treatment and prevention of urinary tract infections (UTIs)
2. Bowel Management - Improving bowel care and management
3. Pressure Ulcers - Prevention and treatment
4. Respiratory Care - Supporting respiratory function
5. Neuropathic Pain - Managing chronic pain
6. Upper Limb Function - Assistive technology for upper limb rehabilitation
7. Psychological Health - Mental health and wellbeing support

The charity places strong emphasis on proposals that will have short-to-medium term clinical impact and a demonstrable impact on quality of life for people with SCI. The emphasis is on treatment and management of people with non-progressive spinal cord injuries.

What They Don't Fund

• Animal research (SMSR adheres to AMRC's position statement supporting animal research only when no alternatives exist, but currently does not fund it)
• Basic research without clear clinical application
• Research focused on progressive spinal conditions rather than injury

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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

Richard Tolkien, Chair - Brings 30+ years of financial sector experience and serves as non-executive director and independent expert witness. His brother David was rehabilitated at the National Spinal Injuries Centre following a spinal cord injury, driving Richard's commitment to the cause.

Nigel Henderson, Honorary Board Secretary - Consultant orthopaedic and spinal surgeon since 1986 who served as Clinical Director of NSIC for five years. He leads the NHS England Spinal Services Group and brings deep expertise in surgical management and service commissioning for spinal cord injuries.

Philippe Vienot, Treasurer - Brings over 20 years of financial sector experience in corporate and real estate. Following a 2011 motorbike accident that left him paralyzed from the chest down, Philippe is passionate about improving quality of life and workplace accessibility for spinal cord injury patients.

Zoe McDougall - Joined Oxford Nanopore Technologies in 2008 and currently leads Corporate Affairs. Zoe states: “Passionate about the role that research can play in improving the lives of people with spinal cord injury.”

Jamie Polk - Became paralyzed from the chest down following a 2000 diving accident and went on to establish the Animal Art Fair. As a passionate SMSR supporter, Jamie raises awareness through the charity's Ambassador programme.

Professor Sue Barnett - Professor of Cellular Neuroscience at University of Glasgow with extensive research experience in CNS repair and regenerative medicine. Her expertise includes heparin mimetics and stem cell research. Joined the Board in October 2022.

Scientific Advisory Board

The Scientific Advisory Board advises the Board of Trustees on SMSR's research strategy and evaluates all grant applications, making recommendations to Trustees about which projects to fund (final funding decisions rest with Trustees).

Dr Giorgio Scivoletto (Chairman) - Neurologist and rehabilitation specialist from Foundation Santa Lucia, Rome, who chairs the International Spinal Cord Society's Scientific Committee. Expert in spinal cord injury outcomes and evaluation scales.

Dr Joost van Middendorp - Medical Research Liaison at argenx (Belgium biotech) and former research director of SMSR. Previously held research positions at University of Oxford with background in clinical spinal trauma research and epidemiology.

John Clegg (Patient Representative) - Person with spinal cord injury (C6/7 complete lesion) with a Physics PhD who brings lived experience perspective to grant reviews.

Dr Mariel Purcell - Consultant in Spinal Injuries at Queen Elizabeth National Spinal Injuries Unit, Glasgow, serving as Lead Clinician and research director for the Scottish Centre for Innovation.

Mr Pradeep Thumbikat - Consultant in Spinal Injuries at Princess Royal Centre, Sheffield, specializing in tetraplegic care and pediatric spinal cord injury.

Sue Paddison - Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist at London Spinal Cord Injury Centre with expertise in functional electrical stimulation.

Ellen-Marete Hagen - Consultant in Spinal Cord Medicine at Aarhus University, Denmark.

Office Team

Derek Cutler, Research Grants Manager - Oversees SMSR's research grants programme and general charity management. Previously worked at Imperial College London and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), where he project managed international research and policy advice projects related to value for money in healthcare spending.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are submitted through an annual grant call with a two-stage process:

1. Preliminary Application - Complete and submit the preliminary application form available on the SMSR website by the annual deadline (typically mid-February, 5:00pm UK time)

1. Full Proposal - Successful preliminary applicants are notified and invited to submit full proposals (based on historical timelines, approximately 6-8 weeks after preliminary deadline, with full applications due approximately 6 weeks later)

Required Documentation (available for download on website):

• Preliminary application form
• Applicant guidance
• Terms and conditions
• Appeals policy

Eligibility Requirements:

• At least one UK-based clinical or academic centre must be involved in the work
• Applications accepted from institutions worldwide
• Projects must focus on non-progressive spinal cord injuries
• Research must address one or more of SMSR's seven priority areas

Decision Timeline

• Grant Call Opens: Typically November/December
• Preliminary Application Deadline: Mid-February (5:00pm UK time)
• Notification of Preliminary Results: Approximately 6-8 weeks after deadline
• Full Proposal Deadline: Approximately 6 weeks after preliminary notification
• Final Decision: Timeline not publicly specified, but decisions are made by the Board of Trustees following Scientific Advisory Board review

Applications are assessed by the independent Scientific Advisory Board based on:

1. Scientific quality
2. Clinical impact
3. Feasibility

The charity follows AMRC best practice standards, ensuring decisions on research funding are made in a fair and transparent way.

Success Rates

Overall Success Rate (2019-2025): 17% (9 grants awarded from 54 applications)

January 2025 Grant Call: 9% (2 grants awarded from 23 applications)

The charity has funded five supported projects from their annual grant rounds since 2019, with nine total grants awarded by early 2025.

Reapplication Policy

SMSR welcomes reapplications from unsuccessful applicants. The charity has stated: “Stoke Mandeville Spinal Research is hopeful that projects which came close to their high standards will reapply in a future call and be successful following improvements to the proposals.”

This indicates:

• No restriction on reapplying in subsequent grant calls
• Unsuccessful applicants are encouraged to improve and resubmit
• Feedback is likely available to support strengthened applications

For specific guidance on reapplication, contact Derek Cutler at derek.cutler@smsr.org.uk.

Application Success Factors

Based on SMSR's stated priorities, governance structure, and funded projects, successful applications demonstrate:

1. Clear Clinical Impact

The charity places “strong emphasis on proposals that will have short-to-medium term clinical impact and a demonstrable impact on quality of life for people with SCI.” Applications should clearly articulate how findings will translate into practical improvements for patients within a reasonable timeframe.

2. Alignment with Priority Areas

Projects must address at least one of the seven priority areas (bladder management, bowel management, pressure ulcers, respiratory care, neuropathic pain, upper limb function, or psychological health). These priorities were established through rigorous consultation with people with SCI, carers, and clinicians via the James Lind Alliance.

3. Scientific Rigor with Clinical Feasibility

The Scientific Advisory Board—composed of leading international clinicians, researchers, and a patient representative—evaluates on three criteria equally: scientific quality, clinical impact, and feasibility. Applications must be methodologically sound while remaining practical to implement.

4. UK Centre Involvement

While international applications are accepted, at least one UK-based clinical or academic centre must be involved. This ensures connection to the UK spinal cord injury community and facilitates potential implementation in NHS settings.

5. Focus on Non-Progressive SCI

Applications are “expected to have this as their primary focus”—research on progressive spinal conditions is outside scope.

Examples of Recently Funded Research:

• UTI Vaccine Study (Royal Berkshire Hospital, 3 years) - Testing Uromune vaccine for the first time in SCI population; spray used daily under tongue for three months
• Catheter Re-use Study (University Hospital Basel, 2 years) - International study examining whether catheter re-use affects UTI rates in people with SCI across India, Canada, and UK
• Neuropathic Pain Prediction (University of Glasgow with National Spinal Injuries Centre collaborators, 2 years) - Examining 'cingulotomy' effectiveness and identifying which patients will develop chronic neuropathic pain to enable preventative treatment
• £300k UTI Prevention Projects (announced 2023) - Two major projects exploring UTI prevention and treatment

Language and Approach:

The charity uses patient-centered language focused on “quality of life,” “life-changing research,” and “improving the lives of those suffering from spinal cord injury.” Applications should demonstrate understanding of patient priorities (as established through the James Lind Alliance consultation) and emphasize practical benefits to daily living.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Highly competitive funding: With only 9-17% success rates, applications must be exceptional across all three evaluation criteria (scientific quality, clinical impact, feasibility)

• Patient-centered priorities matter: The seven priority areas were established through direct consultation with people with SCI—ensure your research addresses real-world challenges they face

• Clinical translation is critical: SMSR specifically seeks “short-to-medium term clinical impact”—clearly articulate how findings will improve patient care within a reasonable timeframe, not just advance scientific knowledge

• Budget appropriately: Grants up to £150,000 over 3 years means average annual budgets around £50,000—smaller feasibility studies are welcomed and may be strategic for early-career researchers

• UK connection required: International collaborations are welcomed but must include at least one UK-based clinical or academic centre

• Reapplication is encouraged: With strong feedback culture and explicit encouragement to reapply with improvements, unsuccessful applicants should view this as a development opportunity

• Engage Derek Cutler early: As Research Grants Manager, Derek can provide guidance on eligibility and suitability before investing significant time in application development

• Follow AMRC standards: The charity adheres to best practice peer review standards—expect a rigorous, fair, and transparent process with clear conflict of interest management

References

• STOKE MANDEVILLE SPINAL RESEARCH - Charity Commission Register
• Stoke Mandeville Spinal Research Official Website
• Grant Applications - SMSR
• Research Policy - SMSR
• Trustees - SMSR
• Scientific Advisory Board - SMSR
• Office Team - SMSR
• Stoke Mandeville Spinal Research - SIA Partnership
• Stoke Mandeville charity announces £300k funding - Bucks Herald
• Funding the SCI research to improve quality of life - NR Times
• 2025 Research Grant call now open - MASCIP
• Stoke Mandeville Spinal Research: Four key areas of research - Clyde & Co

All web sources.