The North Staffordshire Medical Institute Limited

Quick Stats

• Annual Income: £360,000 (2024)
• Success Rate: ~15% (approximately 3 awards from ~20 applications)
• Decision Time: Notified as soon as possible after committee meeting
• Grant Range: £10,000 - £25,000
• Geographic Focus: North Staffordshire
• Application Deadline: Annual (June 5, 2025 for current round)

Contact Details

Address: Hartshill Road, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 7NY

Website: www.nsmedicalinstitute.co.uk

Phone: 01782 714888

Email: jeanette@nsmedicalinstitute.co.uk

Research Awards Committee Chair: Dr. Abigail V Roberts

Email: a.v.rutter@keele.ac.uk

Administrative Support: Mrs. Jeanette Forrester

Email: jeanette@nsmedicalinstitute.co.uk

Overview

The North Staffordshire Medical Institute (NSMI) was established in 1961 as an independent charity to provide funds for medical and surgical research and to facilitate medical education. Opened in 1965, it was the first purpose-built postgraduate medical centre in Britain, following a public appeal that raised £100,000 under the guidance of Sir George Wade. With an annual income of £360,000 (2024), the Institute funds local medical research through a combination of public donations, bequests, and income from conference centre room hire at their Hartshill Road base. The Institute partners with UHNM Charity to offer grants supporting potentially life-saving research across diverse medical fields including cancer, renal, respiratory, surgical, and diabetes research. Beyond grant-making, NSMI supports medical education through partnerships with the Wellcome Foundation on the Inspire scholarship scheme and awards annual £100 prizes to top-performing medical students through the Bicentennial Fund.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Main Research Grants: £20,000 - £25,000 per project

• Offered in partnership with UHNM Charity
• Up to £25,000 for healthcare-related research projects
• Annual application deadline (June 5, 2025 for current round)
• Applications scored by Research Awards Committee, with highest scoring funded first if funds are limited
• Online application portal

Firelighter Awards: Up to £10,000

• Invitation-based "Dragon's Den" style panel presentation
• Primarily for UHNM staff
• Applications open shortly after main research awards close

INSPIRE Scholarships:

• Partnership with Wellcome Foundation
• Eight-week summer research introduction for medical students
• Designed to encourage students to research in the North Staffordshire area

Student Prizes: £100 per award

• Annual awards for best-performing medical students
• Funded through Bicentennial Fund (established by Dr Alun Davies in 2000)

Priority Areas

The Institute's policy is to encourage pilot studies and new researchers/early career researchers. Research is welcomed from all areas that aim to assist in medical/healthcare where work impacts patient care, both directly and indirectly.

Recent funded research areas include:

• Cancer and treatment-resistant cancers
• Cardiovascular conditions (including Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy)
• Muscle wasting and frailty in elderly populations
• Diabetes
• Renal disease
• Respiratory illness
• Cystic Fibrosis
• Glaucoma treatment safety
• Brain injuries and blood vessels
• Premature birth

What They Don't Fund

The Research Awards Committee explicitly does NOT fund:

• Audits
• Clinical trials
• Salary components for permanent contract holders
• Overhead costs

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees and Council Members

Key Officers:

• Bryan Carne MBE - President
• Professor Murray Brunt - Chairman
• Mark Barnish - Treasurer

Research Awards Committee Chair:

• Dr. Abigail V Roberts - Contact: a.v.rutter@keele.ac.uk

Additional Trustees/Council Members:

• Jeremy George Wade
• Peter Blood
• Dr Pensee Wu
• Dr Katie Maddock
• Dr Clare Banks
• Dr Nicholas Robert Forsyth
• Richard Winston Farmiloe
• Mr John David Muir
• Professor June Keeling
• Dr Dominic de Takats
• Professor Nachiappan Chockalingam
• Ian Cotterill
• Dr Mary McCarthy

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are submitted through an online portal available on the NSMI website at nsmedicalinstitute.co.uk/grant-applications/

Key Requirements:

• One application per Lead or Co-applicant
• Research projects must have already gone through an independent peer review process
• Projects involving patients must have approval from a local ethics committee
• Applicants should read Annex 1 for assessment guidance
• Review assessment criteria carefully before submitting

Contact for Queries:

• Dr. Abigail V Roberts (Research Awards Committee Chair): a.v.rutter@keele.ac.uk
• Mrs. Jeanette Forrester (Submission Support): jeanette@nsmedicalinstitute.co.uk

Membership:

Becoming an NSMI member is optional but recommended for applicants.

Decision Timeline

• Application Deadline: 5pm, Thursday June 5, 2025 (for current round)
• Committee Review: Applications reviewed by Research Awards Committee
• Notification: "Applicants will be notified of the Committee's decision as soon as possible after the meeting"
• Feedback: Limited feedback available on request

Success Rates

The Institute receives approximately 20 applications annually and typically funds 3 projects, suggesting a success rate of approximately 15%. Applications conforming to guidelines are scored by the Research Awards Committee, with the highest-scoring applications funded first if insufficient funds are available to support all worthy projects.

Examples of recent funding rounds:

• £58,000 distributed across 3 projects (£18,450, £20,000, and £19,985)
• Over £100,000 distributed at annual awards evening (previous year)

Reapplication Policy

The search did not reveal specific reapplication policies. Contact the Research Awards Committee for guidance on unsuccessful reapplications.

Application Success Factors

Institute's Stated Priorities:

“The policy of the North Staffordshire Medical Institute is to encourage pilot studies and new researchers/early career researchers, which should be borne in mind by potential applicants.”

Eligibility Focus:

Research projects must demonstrate impact on patient care, either directly or indirectly. The Institute welcomes applications “from all areas that aim to assist in medical/health care.”

Application Requirements that Strengthen Success:

• Already completed independent peer review process
• Ethics committee approval (if patients involved)
• Clear impact on patient care
• Strong alignment with pilot study/early career researcher focus
• Well-scored according to assessment criteria in Annex 1

Examples of Recently Funded Research:

1. Dr Alan Richardson (Keele's Institute of Science and Technology in Medicine): £18,450 for treatment-resistant cancer research
2. Dr Vinoj George (Keele ISTM): £20,000 for Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy research
3. Dr Adam Sharples (Keele ISTM): £19,985 for gene therapy research into preventing frailty in elderly populations

These examples demonstrate the Institute's commitment to funding innovative medical research that addresses serious health conditions in the local area.

Application Review Process:

The Institute “sifts through up to 20 applications each year” using “strict criteria,” emphasizing the competitive nature and importance of meeting all stated requirements.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Focus on early career researchers and pilot studies - This is explicitly stated as the Institute's policy priority
• Ensure independent peer review is completed before applying - This is a mandatory requirement that strengthens applications
• Demonstrate clear patient care impact - Applications must show how research will benefit patients, directly or indirectly
• Target North Staffordshire connections - The Institute specifically supports local healthcare projects and research based at Keele University and UHNM
• Avoid restricted categories - Do not apply for audits, clinical trials, permanent salary costs, or overhead expenses
• Plan for competitive process - With ~15% success rate (3 awards from ~20 applications), applications must be exceptionally strong
• Consider NSMI membership - While optional, membership is recommended and may demonstrate commitment to the Institute's mission
• Contact the committee with questions - Dr. Abigail V Roberts and Mrs. Jeanette Forrester are available to support applicants with queries

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• THE EVELYN TRUST
• THE HOPE FOUNDATION FOR CANCER RESEARCH
• Community Foundation for Staffordshire and Shropshire
• THE JGW PATTERSON FOUNDATION
• THE CLIVE RICHARDS FOUNDATION
• UKH Foundation
• William Adlington Cadbury Charitable Trust
• Consolidated Charity of Burton upon Trent
• The Rosemere Cancer Foundation
• Peter Coates Foundation

References

• North Staffordshire Medical Institute official website: https://nsmedicalinstitute.co.uk/
• NSMI Grant Applications page: https://nsmedicalinstitute.co.uk/grant-applications/
• NSMI Trustees and Council Members: https://nsmedicalinstitute.co.uk/trustees-and-institute-council-members/
• NSMI History page: https://nsmedicalinstitute.co.uk/our-history/
• Charity Commission Register: THE NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE MEDICAL INSTITUTE LIMITED - 200843, https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/200843
• Wade Conference Centre - North Staffordshire Medical Institute: https://wadeconferencecentre.co.uk/institute/
• Find that Charity: GB-CHC-200843, https://findthatcharity.uk/orgid/GB-CHC-200843