The Thackray Medical Research Trust

Charity Number: 1181361

Annual Expenditure: £0.2M

Stay updated on changes from The Thackray Medical Research Trust and other funders

Get daily notifications about new funding opportunities, deadline changes, and programme updates from UK funders.

Free Email Updates

Quick Stats

  • Registered Charity: 1181361
  • Annual Giving: £240,000-£270,000
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Not specified
  • Grant Range: Not publicly specified - varies by project
  • Geographic Focus: Leeds (museum support), UK research, and international development (particularly sub-Saharan Africa and developing countries)
  • Application Method: Pre-application contact strongly encouraged

Contact Details

  • Website: www.tmrt.co.uk
  • Email: chair@tmrt.co.uk
  • Phone: 0113 244 4343
  • Registered Office: Bradford, Leeds, and surrounding areas

Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to read the Guide to Applicants and/or contact the Trust before making an application.

Overview

The Thackray Medical Research Trust was established on 12 April 1990 by Charles Paul Thackray (grandson of Charles Frederick Thackray, founder of the medical instruments company Chas. F. Thackray Ltd). In April 2019, the Trust converted to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). With annual expenditure of approximately £240,000-£540,000, the Trust focuses on three main areas: supporting the Thackray Museum of Medicine in Leeds, funding research and publication on the history of medical products and supplies, and supporting international medical supply organizations working in developing countries. The Trust emphasizes “value for money projects” that develop sustainable medical supply chains and make medical equipment more accessible in underserved regions.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Trust awards grants annually across several distinct programs:

Museum Support Programme

  • Provides revenue and capital funding to Thackray Museum of Medicine
  • Supports specific projects (e.g., collections management system migration)
  • Part of museum's seven established income streams
  • No public application process - awarded at trustee discretion

Medical Supply Chain Development

  • Supports establishing sustainable supply chains for medical equipment in poorly supplied areas
  • Focus on “value for money projects”
  • Preference for projects repurposing medical equipment between regions
  • International focus, particularly sub-Saharan Africa

Medical History Research

  • Grants for research and publication on history of medical products and supplies
  • Funding for lectureships and essay competitions on medical supplies topics

International Medical Organizations

  • Support for charitable international medical supply organizations
  • Particularly the Joint Missions Hospital Equipping Board (ECHO International Health Services)
  • Funding for exceptional expenditure in developing countries

Priority Areas

  1. Museum Education and Access: Supporting public awareness of advances in medical treatment, science, research and development, particularly related to medical supply trade history
  1. Sustainable Medical Supply Chains: Value-for-money projects developing ongoing supplies of medical equipment in underserved areas
  1. Disease Prevention in Developing Countries: Research and manufacture of medical products to relieve and prevent disease in under-developed or third-world countries (note: applications for this objective will next be considered in 2027)
  1. Medical Product Evaluation: Research for public benefit in evaluation of medical procedures and products
  1. Health Service Investment Research: Research into health service investment decisions and medical product regulation

What They Don't Fund

  • Direct medicine or equipment purchases are unlikely to be funded
  • The Trust had limited grant availability from 2018-2020 due to museum redevelopment commitments
  • Research for disease prevention objectives (Object 3) will not be considered again until 2027
Helpful Hinchilla

Ready to write a winning application for The Thackray Medical Research Trust?

Our AI helps you craft proposals that match their exact priorities. Save 10+ hours and increase your success rate.

Get Free Beta Access

Governance and Leadership

The Trust is governed by eight trustees:

  • Professor Barry Michael Devlin Doyle - Professor of Health History at University of Huddersfield (now at University of Manchester). Specialist in pre-NHS hospital provision in Yorkshire with close links to Leeds Museums and Galleries and Thackray Medical Museum.
  • David Stewart Tompkins
  • Charles Haken Lindstad Thackray - Family connection to founder
  • Edward Podesta
  • John Campbell
  • Helen Jennifer Fryers
  • Dr. Ian Hugh Cameron
  • Ian Mallinson

The Trust operates with no paid employees, and trustees receive no remuneration.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Trust operates on a mixed application model. While they accept external applications, they strongly encourage pre-application contact.

Pre-Application Stage (Highly Recommended):

  • Review the “Guide to Applicants” document on the Trust's website
  • Contact the Trust via email (chair@tmrt.co.uk) or phone (0113 244 4343) before submitting
  • Discuss your project's alignment with Trust objectives

Application Submission:

  • Specific application procedures detailed in the Guide to Applicants document
  • More detailed information on funding areas available on the Objects page of the website
  • No online portal mentioned - likely paper/email applications

Important Notes:

  • The Trust awards some grants through trustee discretion (particularly to the Thackray Museum)
  • External organizations can apply but pre-application contact is strongly advised
  • Grant availability may be limited in some years due to major commitments

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly specified. Prospective applicants should inquire about current timelines when making pre-application contact.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. The Trust typically awards “a number of grants each year” but does not publish application numbers or success percentages.

Reapplication Policy

The Trust's reapplication policy is not publicly documented. However, note that research applications under Object 3 (disease prevention in developing countries) will not be considered again until 2027, indicating cyclical consideration for some funding areas.

Application Success Factors

Based on the Trust's stated priorities and approach:

Strong Value for Money Proposition: The Trust explicitly states preference for “value for money projects.” Applications should clearly demonstrate cost-effectiveness and sustainable impact rather than one-time interventions.

Sustainable Supply Chain Focus: Projects that establish ongoing, sustainable medical equipment supply chains will be prioritized over short-term or one-off supply needs. The Trust is interested in systemic solutions.

Alignment with Founder's Legacy: The Trust was founded by the grandson of Charles F. Thackray, whose company was a pioneer in medical instruments and hip replacement manufacturing. Projects that honor this legacy of medical supply innovation may resonate with trustees.

Geographic Targeting: For international projects, focus on sub-Saharan Africa and under-developed regions where medical equipment access is severely limited. For UK projects, connection to Leeds or Yorkshire may be advantageous given trustee expertise.

Equipment Repurposing: The Trust has expressed interest in “repurposing medical equipment from one region to another,” suggesting applications involving refurbishment or redistribution of equipment could be well-received.

Pre-Application Engagement: The Trust strongly encourages pre-application contact, suggesting they value dialogue and relationship-building before formal submissions. Do not skip this step.

Avoid Direct Supply Requests: The Trust explicitly states they are “unlikely to fund direct medicine or equipment purchases.” Frame applications around research, evaluation, supply chain development, or organizational capacity building rather than direct procurement.

Historical Connection: For history-focused projects, demonstrate how research will advance public understanding of medical supply trade history, particularly with connection to the museum's educational mission.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Pre-application contact is essential - The Trust explicitly encourages applicants to contact them before submitting. This is not optional for competitive applications.
  • Value for money is the watchword - Frame your application around cost-effectiveness, sustainability, and systemic impact rather than short-term needs.
  • Think supply chains, not supplies - The Trust funds sustainable medical equipment distribution systems, not direct purchases of medicines or equipment.
  • Consider the timing - Research applications for disease prevention (Object 3) won't be considered until 2027. Plan accordingly.
  • Connect to Leeds and the museum mission - Understanding the Trust's relationship to Thackray Museum and its founder's legacy in medical instruments can inform how you position your project.
  • Target developing world projects carefully - International work should focus on under-resourced areas (particularly sub-Saharan Africa) and involve reputable medical supply organizations or established research institutions.
  • Read the Guide to Applicants - This document, available on their website, contains essential application details not publicly indexed online.

🎯 You've done the research. Now write an application they can't refuse.

Hinchilla combines funder's specific priorities with your organisation's past successful grants and AI analysis of what reviewers want to see.

✓

Data privacy and security by default

✓

Your organisation's past successful grants and experience

✓

AI analysis of what reviewers want to see

✓

A compelling draft application in 10 minutes instead of 10 hours

Get Beta Access NowLearn More

References