The E P A Cephalosporin Fund

Charity Number: 309698

Annual Expenditure: £4.7M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £4,720,000 (2024/25)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
  • Decision Time: Not applicable (trustee discretion)
  • Grant Range: Varies by institution
  • Geographic Focus: Institutional partnerships (Oxford University, The Royal Society, King Edward VI School Southampton)
  • Total Assets: Over £194 million (combined with sister fund, as of 2016)

Contact Details

Registered Office:

Sir William Dunn School of Pathology

University of Oxford

South Parks Road

Oxford

OX1 3RE

Charity Number: 309698

Note: This fund does not maintain a public website or published contact details for grant applications.

Overview

The E P A Cephalosporin Fund was established in 1970 following the registration of patents on cephalosporin antibiotics by Sir Edward Penley Abraham. The fund represents one of the most significant private endowments supporting biomedical research in the UK, with a combined endowment exceeding £194 million (as of 2016) when considered alongside its sister fund, the Edward Penley Abraham Research Fund. By the end of the twentieth century, these charitable funds had donated more than £30 million to research and education. The fund's charitable expenditure in the most recent financial year (ending April 2025) was £4.72 million, primarily from investment income of £4.4 million. The fund operates as a perpetual endowment established by Sir Edward Abraham to support specific institutions in medical, biological, and chemical sciences.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The fund operates through institutional grants awarded at trustee discretion to three specified beneficiaries:

  • University of Oxford (and its departments and colleges): The primary beneficiary, receiving the majority of funds, particularly the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology and Lincoln College
  • The Royal Society: Receives periodic grants for scientific research
  • King Edward VI School Southampton: Receives support for science education and facilities (supported since the late 1970s)

Priority Areas

The fund exclusively supports:

  • Medical, biological, and chemical research: Particularly in pathology and related biomedical sciences
  • Research infrastructure: Building projects, laboratory facilities, and equipment
  • Doctoral scholarships: Including the Oxford-E P Abraham Research Fund Graduate Scholarship and the Oxford-EPA Cephalosporin Graduate Scholarship
  • Scientific education: Particularly at King Edward VI School Southampton, including their science building

What They Don't Fund

  • Organizations outside the three specified beneficiaries
  • Individual researchers not affiliated with the beneficiary institutions
  • Projects outside medical, biological, and chemical sciences
  • General charitable causes unrelated to scientific research and education
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Governance and Leadership

The fund is governed by 6 trustees, all of whom serve without remuneration or financial benefits. The trust operates from the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology at the University of Oxford, reflecting its close relationship with the institution where Sir Edward Abraham conducted his groundbreaking research on antibiotics.

The fund has no employees and operates through trustee governance, making grant decisions based on the original trust deed established by Sir Edward Abraham.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The E P A Cephalosporin Fund operates as a private trust making grants solely to three specified institutions: the University of Oxford (and its departments and colleges), The Royal Society, and King Edward VI School Southampton.

Grants are awarded through:

  • Trustee discretion based on the trust deed
  • Institutional relationships with the three named beneficiaries
  • Internal governance processes rather than competitive application procedures

Individual researchers or organizations outside these three institutions cannot apply for funding.

For Researchers at Beneficiary Institutions

If you are affiliated with the University of Oxford, The Royal Society, or King Edward VI School Southampton:

  • Oxford researchers: Contact the Development Office or your department (particularly the Dunn School of Pathology) to inquire about available EPA Cephalosporin-funded opportunities
  • Doctoral students at Oxford: Investigate the Oxford-E P Abraham Research Fund Graduate Scholarship and Oxford-EPA Cephalosporin Graduate Scholarship programs through graduate admissions
  • Royal Society members: The Royal Society coordinates internally regarding EPA Cephalosporin Fund support
  • King Edward VI School: Contact the school's development office regarding science education funding

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made at trustee discretion based on ongoing institutional relationships rather than application cycles.

Success Rates

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - funding is institutional rather than application-based.

Application Success Factors

For researchers at the three beneficiary institutions, the following factors are relevant:

  • Alignment with biomedical sciences: The fund's origins in cephalosporin research mean it strongly favours medical, biological, and chemical research projects
  • Connection to the Dunn School of Pathology: Historically, this has been the primary beneficiary within Oxford
  • Long-term research infrastructure: The fund has supported major building projects and facilities, not just individual research grants
  • Doctoral research excellence: The fund supports competitive scholarship programs for doctoral students
  • Institutional priorities: Grants align with strategic priorities of the beneficiary institutions

Quote from historical context: Sir Edward Abraham “devoted almost all of the income [from cephalosporin patents] to establish two charitable trusts for the support of biomedical research” - this philanthropic vision continues to guide the fund's support for cutting-edge scientific research.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Not open to public applications: This fund cannot be approached by external organizations or individual researchers outside the three named institutions
  • Institutional funding only: Only the University of Oxford (and its departments/colleges), The Royal Society, and King Edward VI School Southampton receive grants
  • Significant endowment: With over £194 million in combined assets, this represents one of the UK's most substantial private research endowments
  • Annual giving of £4.72 million: Substantial annual charitable expenditure demonstrates ongoing active grant-making
  • Oxford-focused: The majority of funding goes to Oxford University, particularly the Dunn School of Pathology and Lincoln College
  • Research infrastructure and scholarships: Beyond direct research grants, supports buildings, facilities, and doctoral programs
  • For Oxford researchers: Contact your department or the Development Office to learn about EPA Cephalosporin-funded opportunities within the university

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