Wessex Medical Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £427,998 (2024)
• Grant Range: £4,000 - £100,000 (PhD studentships)
• Innovation Grants: Up to £20,000
• Decision Time: Peer review process with external assessment
• Geographic Focus: Wessex region (Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Dorset, South Wiltshire, Channel Islands)
• Founded: 1977

Contact Details

Website: www.wesmed.org.uk

Email: enquiries@wesmed.org.uk

Phone: 07802731973

Address: Wessex Medical Trust, Mailpoint 420, Level B South Academic Block, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton SO16 6YD

Overview

Wessex Medical Trust (operating as Wessex Medical Research) was founded in 1977 by Professor (later Sir) Donald Acheson, Lord Northbrook, and others as the Southampton and Wessex Medical School Trust. The charity was established to support the relatively new University of Southampton School of Medicine, which lacked the historic endowments of older institutions. Over the past 47 years, the trust has raised over £20 million in voluntary donations to fund medical research projects. With an annual expenditure of approximately £428,000 (2024), the trust focuses on “pump-priming” grants that provide initial funding to launch promising research careers and projects. They are members of the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) and take a generalist approach rather than concentrating on a single disease area, believing this helps understand interconnections between medical conditions and promotes collaboration between research groups.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Innovation Grants: Up to £20,000 per year

• Designed for early career researchers
• “Pump-priming” funding to launch research careers
• Five grants awarded annually
• Rolling application process (check website for current deadlines)

PhD Studentships: £100,000 over 4 years

• Four studentships typically offered biennially
• Students contribute to research projects run by supervisors
• Recent deadline: 12 noon, 27th August for October 2026 commencement
• Jointly funded options available with:
• Centre for Cancer Immunology
• Rosetrees Trust
• Tizard studentship

Start-up Grants: Variable amounts (historical examples: £4,000-£9,750)

• Support for young medical scientists
• Help launch research careers
• Often lead to significant further funding

Priority Areas

Wessex Medical Research takes a generalist approach to medical research, funding projects across multiple disciplines:

Primary Research Areas:

• Cancer (breast, prostate, ovarian, cervical)
• Neurological conditions (Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's)
• Musculoskeletal disorders (osteoporosis)
• Respiratory conditions
• Skin conditions

Additional Research Areas:

• Child health (including infant asthma)
• Inflammatory and immune system disorders
• Oral and gastrointestinal conditions
• Renal and urogenital conditions
• Infectious diseases (hepatitis C, meningitis)

Cross-Cutting Themes:

• Research affecting all age groups
• Projects addressing underlying causes of ill health
• Studies finding better treatments and potential cures
• Research with potential for significant health impact

What They Fund

• Medical research projects based principally at Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust
• Research in the greater Wessex region
• Projects at the University of Southampton across multiple faculties:
• Medicine
• Environmental and Life Sciences
• Engineering and Physical Sciences
• Early-career researcher development
• Collaborative research projects

What They Don't Fund

While the trust doesn't publish explicit exclusions, their charitable purpose is narrowly focused on medical education, research, and practice at the University of Southampton. This suggests they do not fund:

• Research unconnected to the University of Southampton
• Projects outside the Wessex region without Southampton connection
• Non-medical research
• Clinical service delivery without research component
• Equipment or infrastructure not related to specific research projects

Ready to write a winning application for Wessex Medical 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

Board of Trustees

Professor Sir Charles George - Chair of Trustees (since April 2022)

• Professor of Clinical Pharmacology at University of Southampton (1975-1999)
• Dean of Faculty of Medicine (1986-1990, 1993-1998)
• Former Medical Director of British Heart Foundation (1999)

Professor Diana Eccles - Trustee (ex-officio since September 2018)

• Dean of Faculty of Medicine at Southampton
• Previously Head of Cancer Sciences division
• Expertise in breast cancer research and clinical genetics
• Former grant recipient of the trust (1998: genetic risk for breast and ovarian cancer research)

Professor Max Crispin - Trustee

• Professor of Glycobiology at University of Southampton
• Runs Glycoprotein Therapeutics Laboratory
• Focuses on anti-viral vaccines and antibody-based cancer therapies

Tony Cottam - Trustee

• Chartered accountant and Southampton University engineering graduate
• Former KPMG partner
• Experienced in business advisory and school governance

Nick Page - Trustee

• Retired corporate commercial lawyer (35+ years' experience)
• Former Chairman of Bond Pearce law firm (2008-2018)
• Currently a Prince's Trust mentor

Luke March - Trustee

• Deputy Lieutenant of Wiltshire
• Chairman of National Churches Trust
• Former NHS Foundation Trust Chairman

The trust operates with 6 trustees and 10 volunteers, with no paid staff or trustee remuneration.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Innovation Grants:

• Download application form from website (www.wesmed.org.uk/grants/)
• Check website for current application notices and deadlines
• Required documents:
• Research Strategy
• Compliance with Scientific Advisory Committee Constitution
• Conflicts of Interest Policy adherence

PhD Studentships:

• Applications invited on a cyclical basis (typically every two years)
• Download studentship application form from website
• Submit by specified deadline (12 noon on deadline day)
• Recent cycle: October 2026 commencement, August 2025 deadline

Application Materials:

Visit www.wesmed.org.uk/grants/ to access:

• Current grant notices
• Application forms
• Policy documents
• Guidelines

Decision Timeline

Review Process:

• Panel members are specialists in medical research
• Assess quality, relevance, and potential health impact
• Verify uniqueness (ensuring similar work isn't already funded)

• External experts evaluate scientific merit and value for money
• Provide independent assessment

• Once satisfactory peer review and external assessment received
• Trustees resolve whether to make awards

Timeline: Specific decision timelines are not published, but the process involves multiple stages of review including external assessment before trustee decision.

Success Rates

Specific success rate data is not publicly available. However, the trust awards:

• Five Innovation Grants annually
• Four PhD studentships every ~2 years
• Various start-up grants on a rolling basis

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is published. Contact the trust directly for guidance on reapplication after an unsuccessful attempt.

Application Success Factors

What the Trust Values

Pump-Priming Potential: The trust emphasizes that “even a small grant can make a huge difference.” They specifically look for projects where their funding can launch research that attracts further external support—“sometimes worth several millions of pounds.”

Scientific Quality and Impact: The Scientific Advisory Panel assesses:

• Scientific quality and methodology
• Relevance to health improvement
• Potential health impact
• Value for money

Early Career Support: The trust is particularly interested in supporting young medical scientists at the start of their research careers. Their funding has historically helped researchers secure subsequent major funding from organizations like Cancer Research UK, Breast Cancer Now, and Alzheimer's Research UK.

Regional Connection: Strong connection to University of Southampton and benefit to the Wessex region are important alignment factors.

Examples of Successful Projects

Professor Salim Khakoo - Received £9,750 Innovation Grant in 2002 for research on immunogenetics of hepatitis C. Discovered important role of natural killer cells in controlling hepatitis C, leading to significant further research.

Professor Myron Christodoulides - First seed funding in 1999 to study meningococcal meningitis. Received continued funding for a decade to research meningitis and vaccine development.

Professor Diana Eccles - 1998 grant funded research on genetic risk for breast and ovarian cancer in Channel Island families, plus colon cancer genetic susceptibility research. Now Dean of Faculty of Medicine and trustee.

Professor Lindy Holden-Dye - Received £4,000 start-up grant in 1991 for research on molecular characterization of parasitic worm receptors, launching a successful research career.

Professor Colin Kennedy - Received five-figure grant (2003-2006) supporting quality of life research for childhood medulloblastoma treatment trials.

Reporting Requirements

• Grant recipients must report periodically on progress
• Research findings are published
• Supporters receive newsletters with research team updates

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Early Career Focus: This is an excellent funder for early career researchers seeking pump-priming funding to launch research careers and projects. Demonstrate how seed funding will lead to further opportunities.

• Connection to Southampton Essential: All funded research must have a connection to the University of Southampton and benefit the Wessex region. Clearly articulate this connection in your application.

• Emphasize Future Impact: Show how initial funding could lead to larger grants and significant long-term research impact. The trust values investments that multiply into substantial further funding.

• Generalist Approach: While they fund across disease areas, demonstrate understanding of how your research connects to broader medical knowledge and could promote collaboration between research groups.

• External Peer Review: Larger grants undergo rigorous external assessment, so ensure applications meet high scientific standards and clearly demonstrate value for money.

• Small Grants, Big Impact: Don't underestimate the value of smaller grant amounts. The trust has a strong track record of modest grants (£4,000-£20,000) launching significant research careers.

• 45+ Year Legacy: Reference the trust's mission to support medical research at Southampton and their history of backing early-career researchers who go on to make substantial contributions to medical science.

References

1. Wessex Medical Research Official Website - www.wesmed.org.uk
2. Wessex Medical Research - Grants Page - https://www.wesmed.org.uk/grants/
3. Wessex Medical Research - Research Grant Outcomes - https://www.wesmed.org.uk/research-grant-outcomes/
4. Wessex Medical Research - About Page - https://www.wesmed.org.uk/about/
5. Wessex Medical Research - Trustees - https://www.wesmed.org.uk/trustees/
6. Wessex Medical Research - Frequently Asked Questions - https://www.wesmed.org.uk/frequently-asked-questions/
7. Charity Commission - Wessex Medical Trust (274839) - https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/274839/full-print
8. Association of Medical Research Charities - Wessex Medical Research - https://www.amrc.org.uk/wessex-medical-research