The Novo Nordisk Uk Research Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £285,290 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Approximately 3-4 months (applications December, decisions by end March/early April)
• Grant Range: £5,000 - £300,000
• Geographic Focus: UK only

Contact Details

Website: www.nnukrf.org.uk

Email: ukresearchfoundation@novonordisk.com

Phone: 7808915925

Overview

The Novo Nordisk UK Research Foundation (NNUKRF) is a corporate charity founded in 1996 as an independent registered charity (No. 1056410). Solely funded by Novo Nordisk Ltd but operating with full independence through its Board of Trustees, the foundation has contributed over £6.25 million to diabetes research and education since its inception. The foundation has supported 36 Research Fellows, awarded 83 research grants, and provided 235 Fund awards for clinical projects and professional training. The foundation is a member of the Association of Medical Research Charities and focuses exclusively on advancing diabetes research, developing early-career researchers, and supporting education within the UK diabetes healthcare professional community. Strategic priorities include investigating causes, prevention, and treatment of diabetes and related metabolic disorders.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Research Fellowships: £50,000-£300,000

• Standard Fellowship: Up to 3 years full-time, 4 years with MSc year 1, or 5 years part-time
• ABCD/NNUKRF Joint Fellowship: £300,000 over 3 years (£50,000 per year from each organization)
• Includes salary, consumables, PhD fees, travel, and publication fees
• Must be registered for a higher degree at a UK institution
• Open to all healthcare professionals (doctors, nurses, podiatrists, dieticians, pharmacists)
• Applications reviewed in two stages with shortlisting
• Deadline: Early January (typically January 7th)

Research Grants: Up to £12,000

• For clinical research or clinically relevant pilot projects
• Open to all applicants living and working in the UK
• Two-stage preliminary and full application process
• Deadline: Mid-December (typically December 12th)

Clinical Project Awards: Up to £5,000

• For nurses and allied healthcare professionals in diabetes care
• Supports clinical projects that advance diabetes care
• Deadline: Late January (typically January 23rd)

Educational Awards: Up to £5,000

• For training, course funding, and professional development
• Target: Non-medical healthcare professionals in diabetes
• Deadline: Late January (typically January 23rd)

Meeting Awards: Up to £5,000

• Supports attendance at national or international conferences
• For diabetes nurses and healthcare professionals allied to medicine
• Deadline: Late January (typically January 23rd)

Priority Areas

• Diabetes mellitus research (Type 1 and Type 2)
• Gestational diabetes care
• Diabetes technology (hybrid closed loop systems, continuous glucose monitoring)
• Diabetes in diverse populations and cultural tailoring
• Metabolic and endocrine research related to diabetes
• Diabetes complications (cardiovascular disease, retinopathy, oral health)
• Early career healthcare professional development in diabetes research

What They Don't Fund

• Projects involving animals
• Retrospective awards (funding must be for future work after March of the award year)
• Research not based in the UK
• Research not related to diabetes or metabolic disorders
• Non-healthcare professionals (all applicants must be UK-licensed or formally qualified healthcare professionals)
• Projects not taking place in the UK

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Governance and Leadership

Chair of Trustees: Professor Shareen Forbes

Trustees include:

• Professor Pratik Choudhary (Chair of Research Selection Committee) - Professor and Honorary Consultant in Diabetes with special interest in Type 1 diabetes and technology
• Mr Nick Cahm - Type 1 Diabetes advocate with expertise in data analytics
• Dr Avideh Nazeri
• Dr Danijela Tatovic
• Plus 4 additional trustees (10 total)

The foundation operates through two selection committees:

• Research Selection Committee
• Nurses & Allied Healthcare Professional Selection Committee

All trustees serve voluntarily with no remuneration. The foundation employs 20 volunteers total.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are submitted online through the foundation's website when funding rounds open. Application periods typically open in late September each year.

Research Fellowships:

• Two-stage application process
• Stage 1: Preliminary application reviewed by independent Research Selection Committee
• Shortlisted candidates invited to submit Stage 2: Full Application
• Applications must be supported by head of department and host academic institution
• Funding must be approved by host academic institution
• Applicants advised to contact local AcoRD specialist early in the process for support with SoECAT completion

Research Grants:

• Two-stage process: preliminary applications followed by full applications for shortlisted candidates
• Applications reviewed for diabetes relevance, methodology clarity, potential for publication, and project feasibility

Fund Awards (Clinical/Educational/Meeting):

• Single-stage application process
• Application forms completed in line with guidance notes

General Requirements:

• All applicants must be UK-based healthcare professionals
• Research must take place in the UK
• Research must be diabetes-related
• Cannot be retrospective
• Final report required at project completion
• Applications must be submitted by 23:59 on the closing date

Decision Timeline

• Applications open: Late September
• Research Grant preliminary deadline: Mid-December
• Fellowship deadline: Early January
• Fund Award deadline: Late January
• Decisions announced: End of March/early April
• Total timeline: Approximately 3-4 months from submission to decision

Success Rates

The foundation states that it publishes the number of applications received and successful applications on its website annually, though specific percentages are not provided in public materials. Given the competitive nature and the limited number of awards made annually (typically 2-5 fellowships, 3-5 research grants, and several fund awards), success rates are likely to be relatively low, making this a competitive funding opportunity.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is publicly documented. Fellowship applicants receive feedback from both the Research Selection Committee and external reviewers. However, applicants for Grant awards and Fund Clinical and Educational Awards do not receive feedback due to resource constraints.

Application Success Factors

For Research Fellowships:

• Strong academic institution support is essential
• Early engagement with local AcoRD specialist for technical support
• Clear plan for PhD registration at UK institution
• Demonstrated commitment to diabetes research career
• Applications from new and aspiring diabetes researchers are particularly encouraged

For Research Grants:

• Clear demonstration of diabetes relevance
• Well-defined methodology
• Realistic publication potential
• Practical project feasibility within £12,000 budget
• Strong alignment with clinical or clinically relevant research

For Fund Awards:

• Focus on practical impact on diabetes care
• Clear benefit to professional development
• Alignment with advancing diabetes healthcare in the UK

Recent Funded Projects (2024-2025) as Examples:

• Hybrid closed loop pump initiation and diabetic retinopathy (Dr Matthew Anson)
• Gestational diabetes care pathways with medical app development (Dr Sophie Mackay)
• Impact of bariatric surgery on oral health in Type 2 diabetes (Aylin Baysan, Queen Mary University)
• Cultural tailoring of diabetes education for African and Caribbean heritage populations (Drusus Johnson, University of Leicester)
• Digital integration bridging primary and secondary care for children with diabetes (Salma Mehar, Northwick Park Hospital)

Key Language and Terminology:

• Emphasis on “healthcare professional community” rather than just medical professionals
• Focus on “early career” researchers
• Interest in “patient-facing” research and healthcare professionals
• Value placed on “education” alongside research
• Commitment to UK diabetes care and research specifically

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• UK-specific focus is absolute: All applicants must be UK-based, research must occur in the UK, and the foundation only funds diabetes-related work
• Healthcare professional requirement: You must be a licensed or formally qualified healthcare professional to apply
• Early career emphasis: The foundation particularly welcomes applications from new and aspiring diabetes researchers
• No animal research: This is an absolute exclusion
• Institutional support matters: Research Fellowships require head of department and host institution approval
• Two-stage process for major awards: Plan ahead for preliminary applications for Fellowships and Research Grants
• Limited feedback available: Only Fellowship applicants receive detailed feedback; Grant and Fund Award applicants do not
• Prestigious but competitive: With 27 years of impact and over £6.25 million distributed, awards from NNUKRF carry significant weight in the diabetes research community

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851
• The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge
• British Association for Cancer Research
• The Green Hall Foundation
• KIDNEY RESEARCH UK
• ACTION MEDICAL RESEARCH
• The Leverhulme Trust
• Sir Jules Thorn Charitable Trust
• British Heart Foundation
• Academy of Medical Sciences

References

1. The Novo Nordisk UK Research Foundation official website - Homepage. Available at: https://nnukrf.org.uk/ (Accessed: 8 December 2024)

1. The Novo Nordisk UK Research Foundation - How To Apply page. Available at: https://nnukrf.org.uk/how-to-apply (Accessed: 8 December 2024)

1. The Novo Nordisk UK Research Foundation - About Us page. Available at: https://nnukrf.org.uk/about-us (Accessed: 8 December 2024)

1. The Novo Nordisk UK Research Foundation - Grants page. Available at: https://nnukrf.org.uk/grants (Accessed: 8 December 2024)

1. The Novo Nordisk UK Research Foundation - Recipients of Awards. Available at: https://nnukrf.org.uk/projects (Accessed: 8 December 2024)

1. The Novo Nordisk UK Research Foundation - Strategy page. Available at: https://nnukrf.org.uk/strategy (Accessed: 8 December 2024)

1. UK Charity Commission - THE NOVO NORDISK UK RESEARCH FOUNDATION (Charity No. 1056410). Available at: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/1056410/charity-overview (Accessed: 8 December 2024)

1. Association of British Clinical Diabetologists - Call for applications 2023, Novo Nordisk UK Research Foundation. Available at: https://abcd.care/announcement/call-applications-2023-novo-nordisk-uk-research-foundation (Accessed: 8 December 2024)

1. Association of Medical Research Charities - Novo Nordisk UK Research Foundation profile. Available at: https://www.amrc.org.uk/novo-nordisk-uk-research-foundation (Accessed: 8 December 2024)