The Co Research Trust

Charity Number: 1110624

Annual Expenditure: £0.4M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £363,276 (charitable expenditure 2023-24)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Varies - typically includes committee review and board approval within weeks of board meeting
  • Grant Range: Small grants (up to £10,000) and main grants (amounts vary)
  • Geographic Focus: UK-wide (requires UK-based Principal Investigator)

Contact Details

Website: www.coresearchtrust.org

Email: info@coresearchtrust.org (general) / gerarda@coresearchtrust.org (grants enquiries)

Phone: 01264 351133

Pre-application support: Contact Gerarda Kendrick at gerarda@coresearchtrust.org before applying to ensure project ideas are within scope

Overview

The CO Research Trust (formerly the Gas Safety Trust) is a registered charity established in 2005 with the objective of reducing incidents of death and serious injury from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. With an annual income of £842,733 (2023-24), the Trust provides grant funding, advice, and support to organisations conducting research and evidence gathering relating to CO safety. The Trust's strategic approach focuses on research as the key to making the greatest difference, supporting awareness, campaigning, and educational activities to save lives and improve quality of life for those affected by CO exposure. Since 2013, the organization has awarded almost £2 million to a range of gas safety programmes and projects. The Trust collaborates with over 30 institutions including leading universities, emergency services, and healthcare providers to advance CO safety research.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

  • Small Grants: Up to £10,000 for smaller-scale CO research projects
  • Main Grants: Larger awards for substantial research programmes (specific amounts determined case-by-case)
  • Application method: Periodic funding rounds (next round opens in 2026, following 2023/24 cycle)
  • Flexibility: Grants considered for any length of programme/project, including one-off funding

Priority Areas

The Trust's 2021-25 strategy focuses on five key areas:

  1. Reducing CO exposure incidence - Prevention and awareness initiatives
  2. Improving healthcare diagnosis capabilities - Finding new biomarkers for CO poisoning
  3. Supporting new treatment development - Understanding the mechanics of CO poisoning
  4. Understanding low-level CO exposure - Research on co-morbidities in vulnerable groups
  5. Improving CO detection - Where risks remain

Research disciplines supported: Healthcare, biochemistry, engineering, indoor air quality, behavioral science, toxicology, and clinical medicine

Eligible applicants: Charities, voluntary groups, associations, social housing associations, local authorities, statutory organisations, and academic bodies with UK-based Principal Investigators

What They Don't Fund

The Trust explicitly does not support:

  • Unspecified activities or general operational costs
  • Capital equipment purchases
  • Sponsorships or individual study funding
  • Professional conferences or fundraising events
  • Projects lacking clear positive impact definition
  • Projects without UK-based Principal Investigators
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Governance and Leadership

Honorary President

Prof. Baroness Finlay of Llandaff - Palliative medicine consultant with extensive healthcare leadership experience, including past BMA presidency

Chair & Deputy Chair

  • Prof. Andy Shaw (Chair) - Director of the Built Environment and Sustainable Technology Research Institute at Liverpool John Moores University
  • Paul Everall CBE (Deputy Chair) - Former head of Building Regulations; previously CEO of LABC

Chief Executive

Adrian McConnell - Managing the Trust since 2013, previously served in parliamentary roles including manager of the All-Party Parliamentary Carbon Monoxide Group

Key Staff

  • Gerarda Kendrick - Grants Lead & Board Secretary
  • Kimberly Allen - Head of Marketing Communications
  • Lauren Holmes - Communications & Events Officer
  • Heather Thorpe - Administration Officer

Board of Trustees (13 independent trustees)

Notable trustees include:

  • Julian Allsopp (Treasurer) - Financial controller background from energy sector
  • Dr. Susan Bews - Medical doctor with pharmaceutical research experience
  • Prof. Shirley Price - Toxicology expertise; President of British Toxicology Society
  • Karen Gillespie - Senior consultant solicitor specializing in health and safety
  • Adrian Hutt - 27-year West Midlands Fire Service veteran
  • Roland Wessling - Forensic archaeology lecturer; CO research survivor-advocate

The Trust describes itself as “an independent organisation, free from the influence of external stakeholders” with trustees holding overall responsibility. Adrian McConnell notes that the Trust's vision is “a world where people are not exposed to carbon monoxide” with research as the key focus area.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Pre-application consultation strongly encouraged:

The Trust prefers to speak with potential applicants first to ensure project ideas are within scope before they download application forms.

Application steps:

  1. Initial contact: Email gerarda@coresearchtrust.org to discuss your research ideas and ensure alignment with Trust priorities
  2. Download application forms: Available from the Trust website when funding rounds are open
  3. Submit application: Email completed application forms with all supporting documentation to gerarda@coresearchtrust.org
  4. Confirmation: Receive acknowledgment of receipt; application sent to Grants Committee
  5. Review: Committee may require further information or clarification
  6. Presentation: May be invited to present proposal to Grant Committee (e.g., presentations held in February for the 2023/24 cycle)
  7. Board decision: Application presented to Trustees at Board meeting
  8. Notification: Decision communicated in writing within one week of Board meeting

Decision Timeline

  • Review period varies depending on committee meeting schedules
  • Presentations to Grant Committee typically held mid-cycle (e.g., February)
  • Final trustee decisions made at Board meetings
  • Applicants notified within one week of Board meeting
  • Total timeline: Typically several months from submission to final decision

Reporting requirements: Grant Award Review reports required on a regular basis, defined at the time of approved funding

Success Rates

Specific success rate data is not publicly available. The Trust awarded £363,276 in charitable activities during 2023-24.

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants are not detailed in publicly available documents. The Trust's advice article encourages persistence: "Don't be discouraged by rejection; request feedback and reapply." Applicants are advised to contact the Trust directly for guidance on reapplication.

Application Success Factors

Trust's Direct Advice for Applicants

From the Trust's blog post “Applying for Research Funding – The Key to Making a Successful Application”:

Targeting the right funder:

  • “Target organizations aligned with your specific field rather than large entities with loose connections”
  • Research the funder's history of supporting similar projects
  • Understand timelines and build your schedule accordingly

Clarity and communication:

  • “Clarity in your proposal is essential” to explain what you need and outcomes desired
  • Use straightforward language and minimize jargon for diverse reviewer audiences
  • Explain how your project fits within broader research initiatives
  • Be realistic and transparent about time and costs involved

Thoroughness:

  • Answer every question completely and provide all requested information
  • Anticipate potential questions and seek feedback from colleagues outside your field
  • Balance innovation with sufficient supporting data to demonstrate feasibility
  • Contact the funding body beforehand for clarification on detail levels

Presentation quality:

  • Have mentors or colleagues review your work before submission
  • Avoid typos and presentation issues that suggest carelessness
  • Prepare thoroughly for in-person presentations if shortlisted
  • Communicate your passion and team's unique qualifications

Impact planning:

  • Plan to publicize findings through media, presentations, or conferences
  • Share results to maximize project impact and awareness

Example Research Areas Funded

  • UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology: Unravelling the mechanism of CO toxicity through studying reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative stress in neuronal cell death
  • University of Hertfordshire: Developing pupillometry as a new biomarker for CO exposure
  • Various institutions: Research on pathophysiological effects of environmental CO exposure on cardiovascular development during pregnancy
  • Clinical research: Studies on carbon monoxide's role in clotting mechanisms

Standing Out

  • Pre-application engagement: The Trust explicitly states they prefer to speak with applicants before formal submission - take advantage of this
  • Research community involvement: The Trust hosts annual research conferences (e.g., June 2024) bringing together the CO research community - attendance demonstrates commitment
  • Collaboration: With 30+ research partners, the Trust values collaborative approaches
  • UK focus: Ensure your project has a UK-based Principal Investigator and UK relevance
  • Clear impact: Define positive impact explicitly - projects without clear impact definitions are explicitly excluded

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Pre-application contact is essential: The Trust explicitly encourages discussion before formal application. Contact Gerarda Kendrick to ensure your project aligns with their 2021-25 strategy priorities.
  1. Focus on the three strategic pillars: Successful applications will address improving CO diagnosis (biomarkers), understanding CO poisoning mechanics (treatment development), or understanding co-morbidities in vulnerable groups.
  1. UK connection is mandatory: Projects must have a UK-based Principal Investigator, regardless of institutional location.
  1. Clarity over complexity: The Trust explicitly values straightforward language and clear explanations over jargon - reviewers come from diverse backgrounds.
  1. Research is paramount: The Trust's key focus is research that will “make the greatest difference” - demonstrate how your work advances scientific understanding rather than just awareness or education.
  1. Engage with the research community: Consider attending the annual CO Research Conference and engaging with the Trust's network of 30+ research partners to understand current priorities and gaps.
  1. Be prepared for a multi-stage process: Applications may involve presentations to the Grant Committee, so prepare for potential in-person advocacy of your research.

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