The Guarantors Of Brain

Charity Number: 1197319

Annual Expenditure: £2.5M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: ??2,490,000 (charitable activities expenditure 2023-24)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: ~4 weeks for travel grants; 3 months for fellowships
  • Grant Range: ??500 - ??70,000 per year (depending on program)
  • Geographic Focus: United Kingdom (UK-based applicants/institutions)

Contact Details

Website: https://www.guarantorsofbrain.org/

Email: webadmin@guarantorsofbrain.org

Phone: 7940563216

Application Portal: mezzapps.guarantorsofbrain.org

Overview

The Guarantors of Brain was founded in 1955 by leading British neurologists, psychiatrists, neurosurgeons, neurophysiologists, and neuroscientists. The charity promotes teaching, education, and research into the science of neurology and related clinical-academic disciplines. Funded primarily by the journals Brain and Brain Communications, the organization had a total income of ??1.87 million and distributed ??2.49 million in grants during 2023-24. The charity is governed by 30-41 Guarantors (trustees) who are academic or clinical neuroscientists based in the UK. In 2025, the charity launched the Guarantors of Brain Prize for Excellence in Translational Neuroscience, a biennial ??25,000 prize recognizing sustained contributions to the field.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Post Doctoral & Brain Entry Fellowships

  • Entry Clinical Fellowships: Up to 12 months (full basic clinical salary)
  • Post-Doctoral Clinical Fellowships: Up to 12 months (full basic clinical salary)
  • Non-Clinical Post-Doctoral Fellowships: Up to 36 months (maximum ??70,000 per year)
  • Application deadline: October 27, 2025 (17:00) for 2026 fellowships
  • Interviews: January 23, 2026 (in person)
  • Start date: On or after April 1, 2026

Travel Grants

  • UK meetings: Up to ??500
  • European meetings (outside UK): Up to ??800
  • International meetings: Up to ??1,200
  • Rolling basis; apply 9 weeks before meeting, submit 8 weeks before
  • Maximum 3 awards total; only one per 12-month period

Conference Support

  • ??500 - ??3,000 (typically “seed” money)
  • Deadlines: February 20 (for conferences after May 1); September 20 (for conferences after December 1)

Newsom-Davis Visiting Fellowships

  • Up to ??2,000 per month for up to 3 months
  • For clinicians from Eastern Europe or low-income countries
  • Deadlines: February 20 and September 20

Visiting Lecturer Bursary Scheme

  • Up to ??5,000 (includes airfare, lodging, ??1,000 honorarium)
  • Up to 2 bursaries per year

Brain Global Neurology

  • Up to ??5,000 for travel and accommodation

Public Understanding of Neurology

  • Up to ??5,000 for collaborations between neuroscientists and creative/media sectors

ABN Clinical Research Fellowship

  • Administered with Association of British Neurologists
  • Apply through ABN website

Priority Areas

  • Neurology and related clinical-academic disciplines
  • Translational neuroscience
  • Brain diseases and mechanisms
  • Clinical and non-clinical research in neuroscience
  • Trainee development and education
  • Public engagement with neuroscience

What They Don't Fund

  • Non-clinicians (Newsom-Davis fellowships only)
  • Overseas researchers already in the UK (Newsom-Davis)
  • Student electives or undergraduate projects (travel grants)
  • Small local meetings or grant-funded consortia meetings (conference support)
  • Indirect costs or university administrative overheads
  • First-class or business-class travel
  • Research outside neurology/neuroscience scope
  • Audit presentations (travel grants)
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Governance and Leadership

Board of Management:

  • Prof Mary Reilly - Chair
  • Dr Emma Tallantyre - Secretary & Treasurer
  • Prof Masud Husain - Editor, BRAIN journal
  • Prof Tara Spires-Jones - Editor, Brain Communications
  • Prof James Rowe - Board Member
  • Prof Elizabeth Fisher - Board Member
  • Prof Kevin Talbot - Board Member

The charity is governed by 30-41 Guarantors (trustees) elected for five-year renewable terms. Trustees are academic or clinical neuroscientists based in the UK who advise on policy, review papers for Brain journal, represent trustees at quarterly Board meetings, and mentor fellows.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Travel Grants:

  • Apply online via mezzapps.guarantorsofbrain.org
  • Initiate application at least 9 weeks before meeting
  • Fully submit at least 8 weeks before meeting date
  • Upload abstract (jpg, png, or pdf format - NOT .doc/.docx)
  • Include brief CV (1-2 pages, jpg or pdf)
  • Obtain supporting statement from Head of Department

Fellowships:

  • Apply online via application portal
  • Submit CV (2 pages maximum)
  • Research outline (2 pages maximum including timeline/Gantt chart, figures, references)
  • Career intentions statement
  • Letters of support from supervisor and Head of Department
  • Financial summary

Conference Support/Other Grants:

  • Submit PDF documents via online system
  • Include covering letter, program outline, budget, and explanation of trainee benefits

Decision Timeline

Travel Grants:

  • Notification: ~4 weeks before travel date
  • Decisions based on meeting date, not submission date

Fellowships:

  • Application closes: Late October
  • Interviews: Late January (in person)
  • Notification: Following interviews (approximately 3 months from submission)
  • Start date: April 1 or later

Conference Support:

  • Apply by February 20 for May 1+ conferences
  • Apply by September 20 for December 1+ conferences

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed. Applications are competitive; meeting criteria does not guarantee funding.

Reapplication Policy

Travel Grants: Applicants can receive maximum of 3 awards total, with only one award per 12-month period. No information provided about reapplying after rejection.

Fellowships: No explicit reapplication policy stated.

Application Success Factors

Critical Requirements

Travel Grants:

The charity emphasizes: “A common reason for rejection is simply that [applicants] have not followed the instructions.” Specific issues include:

  • Missing submitted abstract (email confirmation of acceptance is NOT sufficient)
  • Wrong document format (Word files cannot be read by the system)
  • Supporting letter from junior faculty instead of Head of Department or Director
  • Not meeting essential eligibility criteria

Fellowship Guidance

From research interviews with successful applicants:

  • “Applicants need to be quite pithy in the two-page project report, and should include a Gantt chart to demonstrate a clear plan for the three-year project”
  • “It needs to be feasible and have clear deliverables”
  • “Start thinking about your niche and passion two years before you apply”
  • “Applicants should not start late, as there is a lot of thinking and preparing necessary beyond just the writing”

Application Tips

  • Follow instructions precisely - this is the most common reason for rejection
  • Check document formats - use jpg, png, or pdf only (NOT Word documents)
  • Ensure eligibility - ineligible applicants include junior ACFs (before ST3), MSc students, research nurses, and undergraduates for travel grants
  • Research relevance - ensure presentation topic falls within the charity's neurology/neuroscience scope
  • Timing matters - travel grant decisions based on meeting date, not submission date
  • Department support - obtain letters from senior faculty (Head of Department level)
  • Post-award obligations - be prepared to submit report within 3 months

Recent Initiatives

The charity recently launched the biennial Guarantors of Brain Prize for Excellence in Translational Neuroscience (??25,000), demonstrating strategic focus on translational research. The charity also partners with the Association of British Neurologists for the ABN Clinical Research Fellowship.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Timing is critical: Travel grants require 9-week advance notice; fellowships have annual deadlines in late October
  • Format matters: Use only jpg, png, or pdf formats for uploads - Word documents will cause rejection
  • Senior support required: Letters must come from Head of Department level, not junior faculty
  • Trainee focus: Many programs prioritize early career researchers and doctoral students at UK institutions
  • Feasibility over ambition: Fellowship proposals should be concise (2 pages), include Gantt charts, and demonstrate clear deliverables
  • UK-centric: Nearly all programs require UK-based applicants or institutions, with limited exceptions for international visiting fellowships
  • No indirect costs: The charity explicitly will not cover university administrative overheads or indirect costs

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References