Westminster Medical School Research Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £271,499 (expenditure, year ending March 2024)
• Annual Income: £124,103 (year ending March 2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Annual review cycle
• Grant Range: £7,500 - £90,000
• Geographic Focus: England and Wales (primarily Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and West Middlesex University Hospital)

Contact Details

• Email: westmedrestrust@gmail.com
• Phone: 020 8504 9857
• Address: 119 Monkhams Lane, Woodford Green, Essex IG8 0NW
• Charity Number: 247808

For JRC Grant Applications:

• Email: chelwest.research@nhs.net
• Phone: 020 3315 6825

Overview

The Westminster Medical School Research Trust, established as a registered charity (number 247808), has a long history linked to Westminster Hospital Medical School, which was formally founded in 1834 and later became part of Imperial College School of Medicine in 1997. The Trust's charitable objective is “to carry out or support or assist medical research in all its aspects,” including research into hospital functioning, pure science valuable to medicine, and education methods for medical students and hospital services.

The Trust operates primarily through its partnership with CW+ (the official charity of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust), jointly funding the Joint Research Committee (JRC). The JRC awards PhD grants, Clinical Research Fellowships, and Small Grants to drive high-quality research within Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital. With an annual income of £124,103 and expenditure of £271,499 in the year ending March 2024, the Trust plays a vital role in supporting junior clinical and non-clinical research staff career development and innovative preliminary research studies.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

All grant programs are administered through the Joint Research Committee (JRC), which meets annually to review applications.

• PhD Studentship Awards: £90,000 (total for 3-year programme) - Granted annually, funding must be predominantly for staff costs. Consultants are not eligible.

• Clinical Research Fellowship Awards: £60,000 (maximum for 1 year) - Full-time research project, funding primarily for staff costs. Consultants are not eligible.

• Small Grant Awards: £7,500 (maximum for 1 year) - Targeted at pilot studies that can be developed into potential full-time research fellowships. Funds consumables, small equipment, and procedures required to support small research studies. NOT for travel costs or course fees.

Priority Areas

The JRC has clear objectives that guide funding decisions:

• Supporting the development of talented clinical and non-clinical junior research staff
• Facilitating career progression for hospital-based researchers
• Supporting innovative preliminary research studies
• Projects with potential to change clinical practice
• Research with potential for national or international presentation
• High-quality research that benefits the NHS and patients

What They Don't Fund

• Consultants are not eligible for PhD Studentships or Clinical Research Fellowships
• Travel costs or course fees (specifically excluded from Small Grant Awards)
• Research conducted outside Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust or West Middlesex University Hospital

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Governance and Leadership

The Westminster Medical School Research Trust is governed by 7 trustees who provide oversight and strategic direction. No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The Trust has 1 volunteer and maintains up-to-date reporting with the UK Charity Commission.

Trustee names are not publicly listed in available sources but can be obtained through the Charity Commission or by contacting the Trust directly.

The Trust operates in close partnership with CW+, the official charity of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, to deliver its grant-making activities through the JRC structure.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are submitted through the Joint Research Committee (JRC) online application portal. Hospital-based researchers at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital are invited to submit applications annually.

Application Deadline: 11 January 2026 (for the current cycle)

Application Method: Online application pack available through the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital website

Pre-Application Support: Members of the R&D team are available in the Innovation Hub every other Thursday (2-4pm) to provide advice to anyone considering applying to the JRC. Enquiries or guidance on JRC awards can be directed to chelwest.research@nhs.net or 020 3315 6825.

Decision Timeline

The JRC committee meets annually to review applications. Applications are reviewed using a scoring system with a panel of internal and external expert peer reviewers. Decisions are based on the quality of the application and potential benefit to the NHS and patients.

Specific notification timelines following the January deadline are not publicly documented, but applicants should expect decisions within several months following the annual review meeting.

Success Rates

Success rates and application statistics (number of applications received versus awards granted) are not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy or waiting period is documented in publicly available sources. Applicants should contact the Research & Development Team at chelwest.research@nhs.net for guidance on reapplication.

Application Success Factors

Based on the JRC's stated objectives and review criteria, successful applications should demonstrate:

1. Clear Career Development Pathway: The JRC specifically aims to support talented junior research staff and facilitate career progression. Applications should articulate how the funding will advance the researcher's career development.

1. Potential Impact on Clinical Practice: The JRC prioritizes research with “potential to change clinical practice.” Applications should clearly articulate how findings could translate into improved patient care or NHS service delivery.

1. Quality and Rigor: Applications are judged on “quality of the application and potential benefit to the NHS and patients.” This requires well-designed research methodology, clear objectives, and realistic timelines.

1. Dissemination Potential: Projects with “potential for national or international presentation” are prioritized, indicating that research should have broader applicability beyond the local hospital setting.

1. Innovation in Preliminary Studies: Small grants specifically target “innovative preliminary research studies” and pilot work that can be developed into larger research programs. For small grants, demonstrate how the pilot will lay groundwork for future funding applications.

1. Appropriate Funding Justification: For PhD studentships and Clinical Research Fellowships, funding must be “predominantly for staff costs.” Budget justifications should align with this requirement. For small grants, focus on consumables, small equipment, and procedures (not travel or courses).

1. Eligibility Compliance: Consultants are explicitly not eligible for PhD Studentships or Clinical Research Fellowships. Ensure the applicant meets eligibility requirements before applying.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Hospital-Based Researchers Only: This funding is exclusively for researchers at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and West Middlesex University Hospital. External organizations cannot apply.

• Annual Deadline: With a single annual deadline (11 January), timing is critical. Plan well in advance and utilize pre-application support from the R&D team.

• Focus on Junior Researchers: The JRC explicitly targets junior staff career development. Senior consultants are not eligible for major awards.

• Clinical Translation is Key: Emphasize how research will benefit NHS patients and has potential to change clinical practice, not just advance academic knowledge.

• Use Pre-Application Support: Take advantage of the R&D team's Thursday office hours in the Innovation Hub for guidance before submitting.

• Small Grants as Stepping Stones: If you're early in your research career, consider applying for a small grant (up to £7,500) to generate pilot data for a larger fellowship application in subsequent years.

• Peer Review Process: Applications undergo rigorous internal and external peer review with a scoring system, so ensure research design is robust and clearly articulated.

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• University Hospitals Bristol & Weston Charity
• BMA Foundation
• Imperial Health Charity
• SIGHT RESEARCH UK
• Sir Samuel Scott of Yews Trust
• Brain Research UK
• Robert Luff Foundation Limited
• Mental Health Research UK
• Rosetrees Trust
• Epilepsy Research Institute UK

References

1. Westminster Medical School Research Trust, Charity Commission Register. Charity Number 247808. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=247808&subid=0

1. Joint Research Committee, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. https://www.chelwest.nhs.uk/about-us/research-innovation-and-quality-improvement-riqi/research-development/researchers/joint-research-committee

1. Westminster Medical School Research Trust, Charity Choice. https://www.charitychoice.co.uk/westminster-medical-school-research-trust-148109

1. CW+ Grants Programme. https://www.cwplus.org.uk/our-work/grants-programme/

1. History of Westminster Hospital Medical School and Imperial College School of Medicine. https://www.imperial.ac.uk/medicine/about-us/history/