Vasculitis Uk

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £226,253 (2023-24 income)
• Success Rate: 36% (based on recent funding round: 4 grants from 11 applications)
• Decision Time: Approximately 20-24 weeks (submission in November, decisions in Spring)
• Grant Range: £2,000 - £50,000
• Typical Grant: £50,000
• Number of Grants: 3-4 projects annually
• Geographic Focus: UK-based research institutions
• Charity Number: 1180473

Contact Details

Website: www.vasculitis.org.uk

Email: Zoi@vasculitis.org.uk (Director of Operations: Zoi Anastasa)

Phone: 0300 365 0075 (Helpline available weekdays 10:00-18:00, Saturdays 10:00-14:00)

Postal Address: Susan Mills, West Bank House, West Bank, Winster, Derbyshire DE4 2DQ

Research Applications: Application forms and guidelines available at www.vasculitis.org.uk/research/grant-call-application-guidance

Overview

Vasculitis UK (registered charity 1180473) has been supporting vasculitis patients and funding research since 1992. In December 2023, the charity absorbed The UK Vasculitis Trust (charity 1019983), consolidating resources to maximize impact. With 2023-24 income of £226,253 and expenditure of £220,944, the charity commits at least 50% of annual income to research funding—a remarkable dedication for a small charity dependent entirely on voluntary donations from members, supporters, fundraising events, and bequests.

The organization is run by eight unpaid trustees with one paid employee (Director of Operations), ensuring maximum resources reach research activities. Over recent years, Vasculitis UK has provided grants exceeding £200,000 to institutions including Birmingham University and Addenbrooke's Hospital Cambridge, funding cutting-edge research into vasculitis causes, treatments, and diagnostic methods. The charity's research strategy for 2023-2028 guides funding priorities, emphasizing patient benefit, novel therapeutic approaches, and biomarker development for this group of rare autoimmune conditions affecting blood vessels.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Annual Research Grant Call (£50,000 per project, typically 3-4 projects annually)

• Standard research grants: up to £50,000 per year
• Small bursaries/educational grants: £2,000-£12,500
• Application method: Annual competitive call with fixed deadline (typically early November)
• Decisions announced: Spring (approximately 20-24 weeks after deadline)

2025 Grant Call Timeline:

• Opens: September 1, 2025
• Deadline: October 15, 2025
• Decisions: Spring 2026

Priority Areas

Applications must align with the charity's 2023-2028 Research Strategy. Recent funded projects demonstrate priorities in:

Therapeutic Development:

• Novel treatment approaches for ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV)
• Drug efficacy studies (e.g., Avacopan, Alemtuzumab, Rituximab)
• Peptide immunotherapy and gene therapy approaches
• Glucocorticoid minimization strategies

Biomarker Research:

• Relapse prediction in AAV patients
• Fc-glycosylation patterns and antibody analysis
• Cell-free DNA as diagnostic tools
• LRG1 protein role in disease activity

Disease Understanding:

• Genetic and environmental triggers
• Immune mechanisms and inflammatory pathways
• Frailty impacts on treatment outcomes
• Ageing and ANCA response (“inflammageing”)

Specific Vasculitis Types:

• ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV, MPA, GPA)
• Giant cell arteritis (GCA)
• Takayasu arteritis
• IgA vasculitis
• Primary angiitis of the central nervous system
• DADA2 (Deficiency of Adenosine Deaminase 2)
• SAVI syndrome

Patient-Centered Research:

• Fatigue studies
• Cardiovascular event risk
• Quality of life improvements
• Diagnostic pathways
• Non-invasive diagnostic techniques

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the charity's track record shows focus on:

• UK-based research institutions (universities and NHS hospitals)
• Vasculitis-specific research (not general autoimmune or inflammatory conditions)
• Projects with clear patient benefit and impact

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees (2024)

Dorothy Ireland - Chair and Fundraising Team

Diagnosed with MPA in 2008 with renal failure affecting her heart. Passionate advocate for vasculitis research and patient support.

Heidi Pollard - Treasurer

Jane Edwards - Media Team and Deputy Director of Operations

Charlotte Smith - Fundraising Team and Events

Professor Peter Rutherford - Advisor

Nephrologist with 25-year NHS career as consultant nephrologist and hospital Medical Director; currently Vice President, Head of Global Renal Medical Affairs at Baxter Healthcare. His interest in vasculitis began as a junior doctor and he remains passionate about improving care and developing new therapies for rare diseases.

Diana Shonfield - Trustee

Staff

Zoi Anastasa - Director of Operations (sole employee)

Medical Advisors

• Professor David Jayne - Reader in Vasculitis, University of Cambridge; President of European Vasculitis Society (EUVAS)
• Professor David Scott
• Professor Richard Watts
• Professor Charles Pusey

The charity restructured in 2024 to organize trustees into functional teams, demonstrating adaptive governance focused on maximizing impact despite limited resources.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

1. Download Application Materials: Official application form and guidelines available at www.vasculitis.org.uk/research/grant-call-application-guidance

1. Ensure Alignment: Review the 2023-2028 Research Strategy to confirm your proposal addresses stated priorities

1. Complete Application Form: Use only the official Vasculitis UK application form

1. Submit by Deadline: Applications for 2025 grants due October 15, 2025

1. Internal Validation: Initial screening to ensure completeness and eligibility

1. Shortlisting (if high volume): Scientific Advisory Board and patient representatives may shortlist applications before full peer review. Applicants notified by email if not shortlisted at this early stage.

1. External Peer Review: All shortlisted applications undergo rigorous independent expert review

1. Scientific Advisory Board Meeting: Board reviews peer-reviewed applications and makes funding recommendations

1. Trustee Decision: Final approval by Board of Trustees

1. Notification: Decisions announced in Spring (e.g., Spring 2026 for October 2025 submissions)

Decision Timeline

• Application deadline: Early November (e.g., October 15, 2025)
• Decision announcement: Spring (approximately 20-24 weeks later)
• Estimated total time: 5-6 months from submission to decision

Success Rates

Based on recent data, Vasculitis UK received 11 applications and awarded 4 grants (totaling £200,000), indicating an approximate 36% success rate. This is relatively favorable compared to many research funders, though the small number of total grants means competition remains intense.

With capacity to fund only 3-4 projects annually at approximately £50,000 each, applicants should ensure strong alignment with stated priorities and demonstrate clear patient benefit.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy was identified in available documentation. Unsuccessful applicants should contact Vasculitis UK directly to discuss whether and when reapplication is appropriate.

Application Success Factors

Evaluation Criteria

Applications are scored by both technical and patient reviewers on a 1-5 scale across these criteria:

Technical Reviewer Assessment:

1. Novelty of proposed activity and contribution to wider knowledge
2. Feasibility of research design and timeline
3. Relevance to research priorities (from 2023-2028 Strategy)
4. Patient benefit and work impact
5. Value for money

Patient Reviewer Assessment:

1. Clarity for lay audiences
2. Relevance to research priorities
3. Patient and public involvement (PPI)
4. Patient benefit and impact
5. Value for money

Keys to Success

Alignment with Priorities: Applications MUST address priorities in the 2023-2028 Research Strategy. Review funded projects from 2019-2024 to understand what the charity values—recent awards emphasize biomarker development, novel therapeutics, and understanding disease mechanisms.

Patient Benefit: Both technical and patient reviewers assess patient benefit and impact. Clearly articulate how your research will tangibly improve outcomes for vasculitis patients—whether through better diagnosis, treatment options, symptom management, or quality of life.

Patient and Public Involvement: Applications are reviewed by patient representatives as well as scientific experts. Strong PPI demonstrating meaningful patient engagement in research design, conduct, and dissemination strengthens applications significantly.

Clarity for Non-Specialists: Patient reviewers assess clarity for lay audiences. Avoid jargon and explain your research in accessible language without sacrificing scientific rigor.

Value for Money: As a small charity with limited resources, Vasculitis UK prioritizes maximum impact per pound spent. Justify budget requests carefully and demonstrate cost-effectiveness.

Feasibility: Strong research design with realistic timelines is critical. Reviewers assess whether your proposed work can actually be accomplished within the timeframe and budget.

Novelty and Knowledge Contribution: While patient benefit is paramount, research should also advance scientific understanding. Demonstrate how your work fills knowledge gaps or pioneers new approaches.

Track Record: Though not explicitly stated, funded researchers include established investigators at major institutions (Cambridge, Oxford, Imperial College, Trinity College Dublin, etc.). Early-career researchers may benefit from partnering with experienced mentors.

Examples of Funded Research

Recent awards demonstrate the charity's priorities:

• Dr. Lucy Francis (Addenbrooke's): £12,500 for comparing glucocorticoid exposure on renal outcomes in AAV
• Dr. Silke Brix (Manchester Royal Infirmary): £46,818 examining frailty's effect on treatment outcomes
• Prof. Mark Little (Trinity College Dublin): £49,378 for predicting relapse through Fc-glycosylation analysis
• Asst. Prof. Claire Rice (Bristol): £48,741 for cell-free DNA “liquid biopsy” diagnostic tool
• Prof. Despina Eleftheriou (UCL): £49,999 for stem cell research in DADA2

These projects share common features: clear patient benefit, novel approaches, strong scientific rationale, and feasible designs.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. Patient benefit is non-negotiable: Every aspect of your application should clearly demonstrate how vasculitis patients will benefit. Both scientific and patient reviewers assess this criterion.

1. Align precisely with the 2023-2028 Research Strategy: Download and study this document carefully. Applications not addressing stated priorities are unlikely to succeed.

1. Design for dual audiences: Write to satisfy both expert peer reviewers and patient reviewers. Technical rigor with accessible explanations wins grants.

1. Maximize value: With only 3-4 grants available annually at ~£50,000 each, competition is intense despite the 36% success rate. Make every pound count and justify all costs.

1. Incorporate meaningful PPI: Patient involvement isn't optional—it's explicitly evaluated. Demonstrate genuine collaboration with vasculitis patients in designing and conducting your research.

1. Study funded projects: Review the comprehensive list of funded research from 2008-2024 on their website to understand what succeeds. Patterns include biomarker development, therapeutic trials, and mechanistic studies.

1. Apply to the right institutions: Funded researchers are predominantly at major UK universities and NHS hospitals (Cambridge, Oxford, Imperial, Manchester, Birmingham, etc.). Ensure your institution can support the proposed work.

1. Time your submission carefully: Annual deadline in early November with Spring decisions means 20-24 week wait. Plan accordingly for project timelines and other funding applications.

1. Contact the charity: With a dedicated helpline and accessible staff, Vasculitis UK welcomes inquiries. Don't hesitate to reach out with questions about fit or eligibility before investing significant effort in an application.

1. Demonstrate feasibility: Realistic timelines, appropriate methodology, and achievable objectives are essential. The charity's limited resources mean they cannot afford to fund projects that may not deliver.

References

1. Charity Commission Register of Charities - Vasculitis UK (Charity Number 1180473): https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5126552/charity-overview -

1. Vasculitis UK Official Website: https://www.vasculitis.org.uk/ -

1. Vasculitis UK Grant Call - Application & Guidance: https://www.vasculitis.org.uk/research/grant-call-application-guidance -

1. Vasculitis UK Research and Education Funded: https://www.vasculitis.org.uk/research/funded-research -

1. Vasculitis UK About Us: https://www.vasculitis.org.uk/about -

1. Vasculitis UK Trustees, Medical Advisors and Volunteers: https://www.vasculitis.org.uk/about/meet-the-trustees -

1. Vasculitis UK Finances and Trustees' Report: https://www.vasculitis.org.uk/about/finances -

1. Vasculitis UK Research Strategy 2023-2028: https://www.vasculitis.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/VUK-Research-Strategy-2023-2028.pdf - Referenced December 27, 2025

1. “Vasculitis UK Funds 4 Research Projects in AAV, Other Vasculitis” - ANCA Vasculitis News: https://ancavasculitisnews.com/news/vasculitis-uk-funds-4-research-projects-aav-other-vasculitis/ -

1. Vasculitis UK Spring 2024 Newsletter (Issue 67): https://www.vasculitis.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/VUK-newsletter-spring-2024.pdf -

1. Vasculitis UK Autumn 2024 Newsletter (Issue 68): https://www.vasculitis.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/VUK-newsletter-autumn-2024.pdf -

1. Vasculitis UK Contact Us: https://www.vasculitis.org.uk/contact -

1. Vasculitis UK Helpline: https://www.vasculitis.org.uk/helpline -