The Crohn’s in Childhood Research Association (CICRA)
At a glance
Key takeaways
- CICRA suits a small nonprofit only if its work is research into childhood inflammatory bowel disease, particularly Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, since its research streams fund clinical and scientific training and projects into IBD, including its causes and treatment.
- Eligibility is narrow: fellowships go to UK institutions able to supervise training, PhD studentships to UK departments or supervisors with suitable laboratory facilities, and project grants to qualified people based in the UK, so a charity without that research capacity should not apply.
- The named awards are small, with bursaries of up to £400 for UK-based health professionals in IBD research and a £1,000 annual bursary for trainee paediatric gastroenterologists, so a modest request fits best, though the research funding level depends on available funds and the Advisory Panel's recommendations and no grant range is stated.
- The three main research streams are advertised annually, so watch for that advertisement even though the register records applications as rolling, and expect strict peer review by the Advisory Panel and external referees, with trustees making the final decision.
- Because the process turns on research quality, make the case on the science and the applicant's qualifications rather than on existing contact with the charity.
Overview
The Crohn’s in Childhood Research Association (CICRA) is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 278212).
CICRA exists to advance knowledge of childhood inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), in particular Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Its research funding streams are Research Fellowships, PhD Studentships, Project Grants and educational bursaries. Its annual report gives annual giving of £123,893, though the register does not confirm that scale. Its smallest awards are bursaries of up to £400 for UK-based health professionals in IBD research, and an annual £1,000 bursary for trainee paediatric gastroenterologists.
What they fund
Priority Areas
CICRA funds high-quality, peer-reviewed medical research to advance knowledge of childhood inflammatory bowel disease, particularly Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Its research streams include clinical and research fellowships, PhD studentships and project grants, alongside bursaries for education and training. Research awards support clinical and scientific training and projects into IBD, including its causes and treatment. Fellowship applications are invited from UK institutions with the infrastructure and qualified staff to supervise training; PhD studentship applications from UK departments or supervisors with suitable laboratory facilities; and project grants from qualified UK-based people undertaking specific IBD research. The Advisory Panel and external referees assess applications, and trustees make the final funding decision.
Themes
- Childhood IBD research
Geographic Focus
The UK.
How to apply
Applications for the three main research funding streams are advertised annually. CICRA says the level of research funded depends on the funds available and the Advisory Panel’s recommendations.
Who can apply:
- Fellowships: Applications are invited from any institution in the UK that has the infrastructure, ability and qualified staff to supervise the training in both clinical and scientific training in childhood IBD.
- PhD Studentships: Applications are invited from any department / supervisor in the UK with suitable laboratory facilities and qualified to supervise the three year PhD student in paediatric IBD.
- Project Grants: Open to any UK based qualified person carrying out, or wishing to carry out, a specific line of research into IBD.
Application success factors
What the charity says:
- The main research applications undergo strict peer review by CICRA’s Advisory Panel and external referees.
- The research is intended to be high-quality, peer-reviewed medical research.
- Award holders must provide annual written reports.
Where they fund
Where it says it funds
- United Kingdom
Similar funders
Funders supporting work similar to The Crohn’s in Childhood Research Association (CICRA).
Five years of accounts
| Financial year | Income | Expenditure | Grants paid | Accounts document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| year to 31 December 2021 | £276,268 | £227,285 | — | Accounts for year to 31 December 2021 |
| year to 31 December 2022 | £239,067 | £216,921 | — | Accounts for year to 31 December 2022 |
| year to 31 December 2023 | £307,615 | £250,919 | — | Accounts for year to 31 December 2023 |
| year to 31 December 2024 | £295,138 | £245,962 | — | Accounts for year to 31 December 2024 |
| year to 31 December 2025 | £338,419 | £317,542 | £123,893 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2025 |
- Grants paid, year to 31 December 2025: the accounts do not say whether this is grants awarded or paid.
Figures from the charity’s filed accounts and its register entry. The document icon links to the charity’s entry on the Charity Commission register, where its filed accounts can be found.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
- cicra.org
- cicra.org/our-research/research-strategy · read on 30 October 2026
- Annual report (year to 31 December 2025)
This profile draws on the funder’s own website as well as its filed accounts.
Sources last checked on 30 October 2026.
🎯 You've done the research. Now write an application they can't refuse.
Hinchilla combines funder's specific priorities with your organisation's past successful grants and AI analysis of what reviewers want to see.
Data privacy and security by default
Your organisation's past successful grants and experience
AI analysis of what reviewers want to see
A compelling draft application in 10 minutes instead of 10 hours
Spotted something that needs correcting? Let us know
At a glance
Stay Updated
Get updates on The Crohn’s in Childhood Research Association (CICRA) and other funders
Subscribe
Applying to The Crohn’s in Childhood Research Association (CICRA)?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- cicra.org
- Charity Commission register entryContact details as held by the Charity Commission
Stay Updated
Get updates on The Crohn’s in Childhood Research Association (CICRA) and other funders
SubscribeApplying to The Crohn’s in Childhood Research Association (CICRA)?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- cicra.org
- Charity Commission register entryContact details as held by the Charity Commission