The Scar Free Foundation

Charity Number: 1078666

Annual Expenditure: £1.3M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £1,281,414 (2022-23)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly available
  • Grant Range: £1,200 - £50,000
  • Geographic Focus: UK national, with focus on research at UK universities and medical centres
  • Total Investment Since 1999: £50 million

Contact Details

Website: www.scarfree.org.uk

Email: INFO@scarfree.org.uk

Phone: 020 3958 5800

Application Email: applications@scarfree.org.uk (for Electives and specific funding calls)

Overview

The Scar Free Foundation (registered charity 1078666) was founded in 1999 by plastic surgeon Michael Brough following his work with survivors of the King's Cross Fire. Initially known as The Healing Foundation, it was relaunched as The Scar Free Foundation in 2016. Since its founding, the charity has invested over £50 million in pioneering research into wound healing, scar treatment and prevention, mental health support, and awareness. The foundation's mission is ambitious: to achieve “scar free healing within a generation” and transform the lives of those affected by disfiguring conditions. HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh has served as Royal Patron since 2002. The foundation's annual research expenditure in 2022-23 was £1,281,414, funding work at major UK research centres including the University of Bristol, University of Birmingham, Swansea University, and the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Amber Young Burns Research Fellowship

  • Amount: £20,000
  • Target: Early career researchers in paediatric burns research
  • Purpose: Pump-priming, feasibility studies, and proof of principle projects
  • Application method: Rolling basis when call is open
  • Focus: Projects addressing the 10 research priorities published in The Lancet Global Health
  • Multidisciplinary: Open to all fields that improve quality of care for paediatric burns patients

Student Electives

  • Amount: Up to £1,200 per award
  • Duration: 4-8 week supervised research projects
  • Eligible students: Medical, paramedic, nursing, therapy, dietetics, psychology and pharmacy students
  • Focus areas: Scarring, wound healing and visible difference-causing conditions
  • Application deadline: Annual (March deadline for 2025)
  • Application method: Email PDF application to applications@scarfree.org.uk

Conflict Wound Research Pilot Studies (when available)

  • Amount: Up to £50,000 per project
  • Number: Typically 3 projects funded per call
  • Focus: Military and civilian conflict wound research

Major Research Centre Funding

  • The foundation has historically invested £3-5 million in establishing dedicated research centres
  • Examples: Centre for Conflict Wound Research (£4.8 million over three years, including £3 million LIBOR funds)

Priority Areas

The foundation's research strategy encompasses three interconnected themes:

1. IDENTIFY: Understanding the Biology of Scarring

  • Genetic influences on scarring susceptibility
  • Why some people scar more than others
  • Wound healing mechanisms and timelines
  • Factors controlling healing speed and efficiency

2. CHANGE: Developing New Treatments

  • Accelerating wound healing
  • Controlling inflammation
  • Drug repurposing for healing
  • Innovative drug delivery methods
  • Personalized scarring treatments

3. SUPPORT: Improving Quality of Life

  • Physical limitations from scarring
  • Aesthetic solutions for scar appearance
  • Psychological impacts of scarring
  • Interventions to help people accept and overcome scar-related trauma

Specific Research Areas Funded:

  • Paediatric burns research
  • Conflict and blast wound healing
  • Cleft lip and palate (world's largest research programme with 10,000+ participants)
  • Psychology of disfigurement
  • Wound infection detection
  • 3D bioprinting for facial reconstruction
  • Scar revision and rehabilitation

What They Don't Fund

The foundation focuses exclusively on scarring, wound healing, and visible difference-causing conditions. While not explicitly stated, research outside these areas or applications from organisations not aligned with their three-theme research strategy are unlikely to be funded. The foundation only supports research that directly addresses their research strategy priorities.

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Governance and Leadership

Royal Patron: HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh GCVO (since 2002)

President: The Lord Rose of Monewden (elected 2011, former CEO of Marks & Spencer)

Chairman: Professor Sir Bruce Keogh, former National Medical Director of NHS England (appointed 2017)

Chief Executive: Lieutenant General (retired) Richard Nugee CB CVO CBE (joined April 2023). Previously served as Chief of Defence People in the British Army. Nugee has stated his focus on “delivering the Scar Free Foundation Mission to achieve scar free healing within a generation and transform the lives of those affected by scarring.”

Research Council Chairman: Professor Peter Weissberg CBE, MD, DSc, FRCP, FMedSci, cardiovascular physician and former Medical Director of the British Heart Foundation

Key Trustees with Lived Experience:

  • Dr Hemani Modasia-Shah: Burn injury survivor and qualified GP who provides patient perspective
  • Mr Timothy Streatfeild MBE: Paddington train crash survivor, trustee since 2006

Lead Ambassador: Mr Simon Weston CBE, Falklands War veteran and burns survivor

Senior Staff:

  • Charlotte Coates (Deputy Chief Executive)
  • Robert Dickinson (Head of Fundraising)
  • Catherine Attwood (Head of Finance and Operations)

The foundation's governance structure emphasizes medical expertise combined with lived experience of scarring, ensuring research priorities reflect both clinical needs and patient perspectives.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Current Status: The foundation operates on a mixed application schedule. There are currently no open calls for major research grants, but specific programmes like the Amber Young Burns Research Fellowship and Student Electives open periodically.

For Researchers: Monitor the “For Researchers” page at scarfree.org.uk/research/for-researchers/ for funding calls, or sign up for their newsletter for updates.

Student Electives Application Process:

  1. Contact potential supervisors as early as possible (last-minute approaches are not favourably reviewed)
  2. Ensure supervisor agrees to support the project and signs off on application
  3. Obtain supervisor's CV detailing academic experience
  4. Email PDF application to applications@scarfree.org.uk by deadline (5pm on deadline day)
  5. Ensure application is complete and signed - late, incomplete or unsigned applications will not be processed
  6. Allow time to contact the foundation with queries before the deadline (they cannot respond to questions on the deadline day due to volume)

Application Requirements:

  • Projects must align with one of the three research strategy themes
  • Applications undergo competitive external expert review
  • Reviewers assess: rigour in research, quality supervision, potential impact
  • Patient and public involvement in review process

Decision Timeline

Specific timelines: Not publicly disclosed for most funding streams. Applicants are notified directly of decisions.

Review Process: All applications are externally assessed by expert reviewers, people with lived experience of scarring, and patient/public representatives.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. The foundation funded 65 Student Electives since 1999, alongside 25 PhD Studentships and 9 Post-Doctoral Fellowships, indicating selective but sustained funding across different career stages.

Reapplication Policy

Not explicitly stated. However, given the rolling nature of some calls and the foundation's emphasis on researcher development, unsuccessful applicants likely can reapply when new funding rounds open. For specific guidance, contact the foundation directly.

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Research Strategy is Critical:

The foundation only supports research that addresses their three-theme research strategy (Identify, Change, Support). Applications must demonstrate clear alignment with at least one theme.

Early Engagement with Supervisors:

For Electives, the foundation explicitly states that “last minute approaches are generally not favourably reviewed.” Approach supervisors early to develop strong proposals with their input.

Demonstrate Impact on Patient Care:

The Amber Young Burns Research Fellowship guidance emphasizes projects must “improve the quality of care for paediatric burns patients.” All applications should clearly articulate patient benefit.

Address Published Research Priorities:

For burns research, applicants are encouraged to address the “10 questions” from research priorities published in The Lancet Global Health.

Multidisciplinary Innovation Welcome:

The foundation explicitly encourages “innovation from all fields” with no strict disciplinary requirements. Novel approaches from unexpected disciplines are valued.

Quality Supervision Matters:

External reviewers specifically assess “quality supervision” and supervisors must submit CVs detailing academic experience. Partner with established researchers with strong track records.

Complete, Professional Applications:

The foundation will not process late, incomplete, or unsigned applications. Ensure all documentation is submitted correctly and on time.

Rigorous Research Design:

Expert reviewers assess “rigour in research.” Applications must demonstrate sound methodology, realistic timelines, and appropriate resource allocation.

Patient and Public Involvement:

Given that people with lived experience of scarring participate in reviews, applications that demonstrate understanding of patient perspectives and lived experience may be viewed favourably.

Recent Funded Research Examples:

  • PhD research on Bioglass for wound healing and bone repair (partnered with Defence Medical Services)
  • 3D BioFace project at Swansea University using 3D bioprinting for facial cartilage reconstruction
  • Bristol wound healing research using population cohort studies and zebrafish models
  • Global Burns Core Outcome Set involving 700 people from 77 countries
  • Research on conflict-related genital and intimate scarring (£300,000 from Armed Forces Covenant Trust Fund)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Strict alignment required: Your research must clearly address the foundation's three-theme strategy (Identify, Change, Support). Generic wound healing research without this framing will not succeed.
  • Strategic timing: Major research grants are not continuously open. Build relationships now and monitor funding calls closely. For students, plan elective applications months in advance with supervisor engagement.
  • Career stage matters: The foundation has distinct funding streams for students (£1,200), early career researchers (£20,000), and established centres (£50,000+). Apply to the appropriate tier.
  • Patient perspective is valued: With trustees who are survivors and patient representatives on review panels, applications that demonstrate genuine understanding of lived experience of scarring will resonate strongly.
  • Think beyond traditional burns/plastics: The foundation actively welcomes multidisciplinary innovation. If you're in materials science, psychology, drug delivery, or another field with scarring applications, don't self-exclude.
  • Partnership opportunities: The foundation has co-funded major initiatives (e.g., LIBOR funds, Armed Forces Covenant Trust). If your project aligns with military, government, or other funder priorities, highlight potential partnership opportunities.
  • Quality over quantity: With £1.28 million annual research spend supporting selective numbers of awards, this is a highly competitive funder seeking transformational research rather than incremental studies.

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