The Borne Foundation

Charity Number: 1167073

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: ??5 million invested since inception
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: 6 months (biannual review)
  • Grant Range: ??50,000 - ??250,000
  • Geographic Focus: UK-based institutions, international collaboration encouraged

Contact Details

Website: www.borne.org.uk

Email: hello@borne.org.uk

Phone: 07821 681 058

Research Enquiries: research@borne.org.uk

Overview

THE BORNE FOUNDATION (Charity Number: 1167073) is a medical research charity founded in 2013 by Professor Mark Johnson, an obstetrician at Imperial College. Initially established as a research appeal, Borne became an independent charity in 2016, based within Imperial College School of Medicine's facilities at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. The foundation's mission is to prevent premature birth and improve outcomes for mothers and babies through funding research that strengthens the early-stage research base, builds capacity in the field, and fosters collaboration between different areas of scientific focus. Since inception, Borne has invested ??5 million into medical research. The charity is a member of the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) and follows their guidelines for best practice in peer review.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Pilot Project Grants: ??50,000 maximum over 12-18 months

  • Applications reviewed biannually (April and October)
  • Focus on early-stage, promising research ideas

Project Grants: Up to ??250,000 over 24-36 months

  • For established research projects with clear objectives
  • Applications reviewed by Scientific Advisory Board twice yearly

Career Development Awards

  • Support researchers building careers in pregnancy and childbirth research
  • Amounts vary by scheme

Clinical Research Training Fellowships

  • Build capacity in the field
  • Support clinicians developing research expertise

Joint Funding Opportunities

  • Co-funded awards with organizations like Action Medical Research
  • Recent joint award offered up to ??500,000 for translational research

Priority Areas

  • Timing and mechanisms of labour onset
  • Maternal immune system in pregnancy
  • Fetal membranes and placenta function
  • Hormonal influences on pregnancy
  • Myometrial contractility and ion channels
  • Identifying women at risk of preterm birth
  • Prevention of infection-related preterm birth
  • Immunotherapy approaches to prevention
  • Risks for cancer treatment survivors in pregnancy
  • Fatty acids and clinical studies

Strategic Focus: BUMP Initiative

Borne's flagship initiative, the Uterine Mapping Project (BUMP), seeks to foster collaboration between clinicians and scientific disciplines across institutions. BUMP aims to create an open-source “cell atlas of the uterus” through systematic study of biological interactions across different cells and tissues. The foundation funded two research groups in early 2022, involving researchers from Imperial College, Cambridge, UCL, Sanger Institute, King's College, and Newcastle. Initial funding of up to ??500,000 supports feasibility studies over 18-24 months before a multi-million pound effort launches the full project.

What They Don't Fund

Not explicitly stated, but focus is exclusively on research related to pregnancy, labour, and preterm birth prevention.

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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees (meets quarterly):

  • Julian Mylchreest (Chairman): Executive Vice Chairman at Bank of America; parent to five premature children
  • Professor Mark Johnson (Founder and Trustee): Clinical Chair in Obstetrics at Imperial College; initiated Borne in 2013
  • Charlotte Moffat: Managing Partner of Albyns; chairs Borne's Events Committee
  • Hetty Pye (Henriette Mary Pye): Leads Global Industrial practice at Russell Reynolds Associates
  • Francesco Vanni d'Archirafi: Chairman of Euroclear group; extensive financial background
  • Razan Jafar: Director at Crescent Group of companies
  • Professor Lucilla Poston CBE: Professor of Maternal & Fetal Health at King's College London
  • Robert Cope (newly appointed)
  • Lady Philippa Cadogan (newly appointed)
  • Stephanie Eltz (newly appointed)

All trustees serve voluntarily without remuneration. The Board collectively offers expertise from finance, business, and science to provide vision, challenge, and leadership. According to the foundation, trustees ensure the charity “delivers charitable aims and purpose whilst overseeing the strategic direction of the charity.”

Key Quote from Leadership: Professor Steve Lye noted regarding the BUMP initiative: “We are all doing fantastic research... The hardest thing is seeing the whole picture.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

  • Applications accepted in response to unsolicited research proposals relevant to Borne's mission
  • Contact research@borne.org.uk for research enquiries
  • Applicants must meet specific eligibility criteria (available at borne.org.uk/research/for-researchers/eligibility-criteria/)
  • Terms and conditions differ for each grant scheme
  • Contracts drawn up individually once grants awarded

Decision Timeline

  • Scientific Advisory Board meetings: Twice yearly (April and October)
  • Review process: Applications evaluated according to eligibility criteria and scientific merit
  • Typical timeframe: Approximately 6 months from submission to decision (depending on which review cycle)
  • Notification: Successful awards typically announced December/Spring following the review
  • Peer review: Follows AMRC best practice guidelines

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. Applications are evaluated on quality and scientific merit in relation to Borne's research strategy through open competition.

Reapplication Policy

Not explicitly stated in public materials. Contact research@borne.org.uk for guidance on reapplication.

Application Success Factors

Quality and Scientific Merit: “The quality of the application and applicants [is] the key determinant of outcome.” Grants are awarded on scientific merit in relation to Borne's research strategy.

Alignment with Strategy: Applications must align with Borne's mission to prevent preterm birth. The foundation invests in “high-quality projects with best chance of success.”

Career Development Focus: Borne aims to “take the most promising ideas forward and support career development,” indicating they value both the research proposal and the researcher's potential.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration: The BUMP initiative demonstrates Borne's commitment to research that “brings scientists and medical teams together” across institutions and disciplines. Applications showing collaborative potential are valued.

Translational Potential: Research should aim to “identify the causes of premature birth to save lives, prevent disability and create lifelong health for mothers and babies.” Applications should demonstrate potential real-world impact.

Examples of Funded Research:

  • Antonia Cuff's PhD examining immunology of early pregnancy (funded by Borne)
  • Professor Rachel Tribe at King's College London developing tests to identify women at risk of premature birth (co-funded with Action Medical Research)
  • Imperial Borne Uterine Mapping Project determining how the uterus changes as a woman approaches labour

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Timing is critical: Submit well before April or October Scientific Advisory Board meetings to ensure review in the desired cycle
  • Research quality trumps all: The foundation explicitly states that quality of application and applicants is the key determinant???invest time in a rigorous, well-written proposal
  • Think interdisciplinary: Borne values collaboration across scientific disciplines and institutions; proposals that bridge traditional silos align with their strategic approach
  • Career development matters: Particularly for early-career researchers, demonstrate how the grant will advance your career in pregnancy and childbirth research
  • Contact them early: Email research@borne.org.uk with enquiries before submitting???building relationships with funders is valuable
  • Review AMRC standards: As an AMRC member, Borne follows their peer review guidelines???familiarize yourself with these standards
  • Consider joint funding: Borne collaborates with other research charities; explore whether your project might be suitable for co-funded opportunities

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