Wings For Life Uk Spinal Cord Research Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Income: £4,760,522 (2024)
• Annual Expenditure on Charitable Activities: £2,548,776 (2024)
• Success Rate: 30-40% (approximately 60-80 invited to full application from ~200 preliminary applications)
• Decision Time: 4-6 months (September preliminary deadline, November full application, decisions by March)
• Grant Range: €21,000 - €390,000 (Individual grants €21,000-€57,000/year; Project grants up to €130,000/year for max 3 years)
• Geographic Focus: International (UK entity prioritises UK-based research from funds raised domestically)

Contact Details

Website: www.wingsforlife.com

Email: office@wingsforlife.co.uk

Phone: 020 3117 2123

Research Application Portal: www.wingsforlife.com/uk/research/application/

Headquarters: Salzburg, Austria (global foundation); UK office for fundraising

Overview

Wings for Life UK Spinal Cord Research Foundation was established in 2010 as the UK fundraising arm of the global Wings for Life Foundation, which was founded in 2004 by two-time motocross world champion Heinz Kinigadner and Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz following Kinigadner's son's spinal cord injury. The charity's singular mission is to find a cure for spinal cord injury through funding world-class research. Since 2004, the global foundation has funded 299 research projects and clinical trials worldwide, generating 256 publications. The UK charity operates on a unique 100% donation model—all administrative costs are covered by Red Bull, ensuring every penny donated goes directly to research. Wings for Life UK prioritises funds raised domestically for UK-based research, though grant applications are processed through the global foundation's centralized system. The charity raised over £4.7 million in 2024, primarily through the annual Wings for Life World Run event, which in 2024 alone raised €8.1 million globally.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Wings for Life operates a competitive, centralized grant program managed from Salzburg, Austria, accepting applications worldwide:

Project Research Grants: €130,000/year for maximum 3 years

• For established investigators, young investigators, and post-docs
• Initial approval for 2 years; third year funding dependent on interim report evaluation
• Total potential funding: €390,000 per project
• Application method: Two-stage process (preliminary applications due September 1; full applications by November 2)

Individual Grants: €21,000 - €57,000/year for maximum 3 years

• Technicians: €21,000/year
• PhD students: €34,000/year
• Post-doctoral scientists: €57,000/year
• Covers salary, training, and travel costs for staff working on spinal cord injury projects

Accelerated Translational Program: Up to US$3+ million

• For major clinical trials and translational research (e.g., NervGen Pharma received US$3.18 million in 2023)

Clinical Trials: Rolling basis, no fixed deadline

• Support available for clinical research related to spinal cord injury

Priority Areas

Wings for Life funds research across all aspects of spinal cord injury with preference for:

• Spinal cord lesions
• Nerve regeneration and plasticity
• Neuronal and glial protection
• Trophic support of injured neurons
• Functional changes induced by lesions (preferentially in mammals)
• Clinical areas: diagnosis, acute lesion management (including surgery), neurology, urology, rehabilitation

1. Emerging technologies: From 2023, exoskeletons and brain-spinal interfaces are considered if focused on rehabilitation/plasticity applications

What They Don't Fund

• Research not related to spinal cord injury
• Projects without adequate preliminary data
• Multiple applications from the same Principal Investigator in one cycle (only one proposal per PI allowed)
• Research not complying with ARRIVE and/or MIASCI guidelines

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Governance and Leadership

Global Leadership

CEO: Anita Gerhardter - “responsible for making sure that we as a team raise as much money as possible and spend it responsibly, wisely and effectively on research”

Founders:

• Heinz Kinigadner (two-time motocross world champion)
• Dietrich Mateschitz (founder of Red Bull) - NOTE: Following Mateschitz's passing in 2022, Red Bull continues supporting the foundation

UK Charity Governance

• Trustees: 9 (no trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits)
• Staff: 6 employees (including 1 earning £70-80k and 1 earning £110-120k)
• Volunteers: 20

The UK entity operates primarily as a fundraising organization, with grant decisions made by the global foundation's scientific advisory board and external reviewers.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Two-Stage Process:

Stage 1 - Preliminary Application (Deadline: September 1)

• 6,000 characters maximum
• Should explain background, hypothesis, and preliminary data (figures not necessarily required)
• Internal board reviews ~200 preliminary applications annually
• 60-80 projects invited to Stage 2 (30-40% success rate at this stage)

Stage 2 - Full Application (Deadline: November 2, for invited applicants only)

• Up to 35 pages
• Detailed project proposal including methodology, budget, timeline
• Sent to external reviewers and scientific advisory board

Language: English only

Eligibility: Worldwide applications accepted; UK charity prioritises UK-based research with funds raised domestically

Important: Only one research proposal per Principal Investigator per cycle

Decision Timeline

• September 1: Preliminary applications due
• September-October: Internal board review
• November 2: Full applications due (invited projects only)
• November-March: External review and scientific advisory board evaluation
• By March: Final funding decisions announced

Total timeline: Approximately 6 months from preliminary submission to decision

Success Rates

• Stage 1 (Preliminary to Full): 30-40% (~60-80 invited from ~200 applications)
• Overall success rate: Not publicly disclosed, but foundation receives 250+ applications annually from 30+ countries and has funded 299 projects since 2004

Reapplication Policy

Yes, reapplication is encouraged. If an application is rejected, applicants are welcome to reapply the following year. No waiting period specified.

Application Success Factors

What Wings for Life Values

1. Preliminary Data is Critical

“Preliminary data is highly valued” - applicants should demonstrate proof of concept and feasibility.

2. Translational Potential

Strong preference for research with “perspective of translation from the laboratory to the clinical setting” and “potential to provide real benefits to spinal cord injury patients.”

3. Context Over Strict Criteria

“The charity does not assess bids against strict criteria...every application will be viewed in its context.” Novelty is valued but not paramount—feasibility and quality matter more.

4. Don't Over-Plan at Preliminary Stage

"Don't plan the entire project at the preliminary application stage; it's a short document, designed to save everybody time."

Evaluation Criteria

All proposals evaluated on:

• Wings for Life priorities alignment
• Scientific merit
• Preliminary data quality
• Feasibility (good commitment of state-of-art research and theory)
• Adequacy of environment: facilities/equipment and available expertise
• Principal Investigator qualifications
• Adequacy of methods

Examples of Funded Research

Recent Funded Projects:

• Professor Grégoire Courtine (EPFL, Switzerland) - Electrical spinal cord stimulation enabling paralyzed individuals to walk
• Dr. Joshua Burda (Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, USA) - Spinal cord injury research
• Professor Michael Kilgard (University of Texas, USA) - Vagus nerve stimulation for hand movement in high-level spinal cord injuries
• Dr. Simon O'Carroll (New Zealand, 2024) - Pioneering spinal cord injury research in collaboration with CatWalk Trust
• NervGen Pharma (2023) - US$3.18 million for Phase 1b/2a clinical trial

Tips for Success

1. Demonstrate translational potential - Show clear pathway from laboratory to patient benefit
2. Include robust preliminary data - This is highly valued in the evaluation process
3. Keep preliminary application focused - Use the 6,000 characters wisely; don't try to fit a 35-page proposal into the preliminary stage
4. Ensure compliance - All experiments must comply with ARRIVE and/or MIASCI guidelines
5. Highlight patient benefit - Emphasize how your research will improve outcomes for people with spinal cord injuries
6. Focus on chronic SCI where applicable - This is a stated preference area
7. Quality of PI and environment matters - Demonstrate you have the expertise and facilities to deliver

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• 100% funding model is unique: All donations go to research; Red Bull covers administrative costs—this demonstrates extraordinary commitment to research value
• Preliminary stage is your gateway: With only 30-40% advancing to full application, make those 6,000 characters count with strong preliminary data and clear translational vision
• Translational potential is paramount: They want research that will ultimately help patients, not just advance basic science
• International competition, UK priority: While applications are accepted globally, the UK charity prioritizes UK-based research with funds raised domestically
• Patient-focused mission: Founded by a father whose son became tetraplegic—the foundation's personal connection to SCI drives their commitment to finding a cure
• Two-stage process saves time: The preliminary application screens out mismatches early, so if invited to full application, you have a realistic chance
• Reapplication is welcome: Rejection is not final—refine your approach and reapply the following year

References

• Wings for Life UK Charity Commission record (Charity No. 1138804), accessed 23 October 2025: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1138804
• Wings for Life official website, Research Application page, accessed 23 October 2025: www.wingsforlife.com/uk/research/application/
• “Opportunity profile: Joining up spinal injury research,” Research Professional News, 2020
• “Wings for Life: The backbone of spinal cord research,” Research Features
• Wings for Life 2024 Project Grant Guidelines (Course Hero document reference)
• Wings for Life World Run 2024 results: €8.1 million raised, 265,818 participants
• NervGen Pharma press release, 2023: US$3.18 million Wings for Life grant announcement
• Weill Cornell Medicine Research Funding database: Individual Research Grant - Wings for Life
• Multiple Wings for Life news articles and foundation communications, 2023-2025