Pharmacy-led Research and Research into Nephrotoxicity Grants (United Kingdom)

Kidney Research UK is the leading national charity dedicated to funding research that will lead to better treatments and cures for kidney disease. They fund a wide range of research needs; supporting innovative ideas, establishing future research experts, and underpinning work that will build on advances and scientific breakthroughs.

For the first time Kidney Research UK are leading a collaborative drive to develop and enhance pharmacy led research and research into nephrotoxicity. Pharmacy Research UK, The UK Kidney Association’s Renal Pharmacy Group, The Paediatric Medicines Research Unit, Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Kidney Research Yorkshire and the Thompson Family Trust have all joined to form a collaborative partnership to invest in new research call.

Grant Types

• Allied health professional fellowships (clinical) support nurses, psychologist, hospital and community-based pharmacists and allied health professionals to undertake a renal research study and develop their research interests and career.
• Intermediate non-clinical fellowships for renal research specialisation of post-doctoral scientists
• PhD studentships (non-clinical) in renal research, supporting a science graduate to obtain a higher degree
• Research project grants for innovative standalone research projects that will advance the knowledge of kidney disease and refine current treatments or lead to new ones.
• Start-up grants for investigating new hypotheses around the kidney that lack any significant existing research prior to a full research project.  

Funding Information

• Allied health professional fellowships (clinical) 
  • Annual consumables allowance: £8,000
  • Funding period: over 3 years maximum, can be done part-time
  • Items of expenditure: Fellow’s salary, higher degree fees and consumables
• Intermediate non-clinical fellowships
  • Annual consumables allowance: £15,000
  • Funding period: over 3 years maximum
  • Items of expenditure: Fellow’s salary and consumables
• PhD studentships (non-clinical)  
  • Annual consumables allowance: £3,500
  • Funding period: over 3 ½ years maximum
  • Items of expenditure: Student’s stipend, higher degree fees and consumables
• Research project grants   
  • Funding available: up to £250k
  • Funding period: three years maximum
• Start-up grants  
  • Funding available: up to £40k
  • Funding period: over two years maximum

Eligibility Criteria

• All applicants must be resident in the United Kingdom and the research project and work and/or employment must also take place in the United Kingdom. Kidney Research UK does not fund research outside the United Kingdom.
  • Collaborators and Co-investigators may be based outside the UK. With full justification, Co-investigators may be involved in delivering smaller aspects of the research for the Lead Applicant.
• All grants must be held with a host institution, which can be either a UK University or NHS Trust. Not-for-profit organisations, SMEs or companies are not eligible.
• Applications are not accepted where the Lead Applicant already holds three or more concurrent active Kidney Research UK awards, excluding PhD Studentships and Startup awards.
• Lead Applicants may only submit one grant type Expression of Interest application in any twelve-month period.
• Specific Eligibility
  • Allied health professional fellowships (clinical) 
    • In exceptional circumstances Kidney Research UK may agree to a period of up to one year in an appropriate overseas facility during the term of the Fellowship. Scientific justification would need to be provided in the application form at the outset.
    • UK’s research strategy. They will have completed their professional training and hold a membership of an appropriate body, and now wish to achieve a Higher Degree (Master, DPhil, or PhD).
    • Research experience post registration with the appropriate body is not a mandated requirement; however, this may be advantageous to candidates.
    • Kidney Research UK AHP Fellowships are awarded following shortlisting and interview. Supervisors are asked to carefully consider the relationship of the research programme to the abilities and training needs of the candidate and must ensure that the proposed research programme is appropriate for the candidate’s current experience and future career plan. There should be a clear, appropriate training plan outlined in the application. The Head of Department/Sponsor is required to make a commitment of space and facilities for the Fellow.
  • Intermediate non-clinical fellowships 
    • In exceptional circumstances Kidney Research UK may agree to a period of up to one year in an appropriate overseas laboratory during the term of the Fellowship. Scientific justification would need to be provided in the application form at the outset.
    • Kidney Research UK Intermediate Fellows will be non-clinical graduates with at least two years’ post-doctoral experience with a commitment to study areas relevant to Kidney Research UK’s research strategy. Applicants with greater than six years’ post-doctoral experience should provide an explanation about their timing for seeking an independent fellowship.
    • Kidney Research UK Intermediate Fellowships are awarded following shortlisting and interview. Supervisors are asked to carefully consider the relationship of the research programme to the abilities and training needs of the candidate and must ensure that the proposed research programme is appropriate to the candidate’s current experience and future career plan. The Head of Department/Sponsor is required to make a commitment of space and facilities for the Fellow.
  • PhD studentships (non-clinical)
    • PhD Studentships will be for post-graduates with a commitment to focusing on areas relevant to Kidney Research UK’s research strategy.
    • Kidney Research UK PhD Studentships are awarded to UK higher education institutes for research studentships leading to PhD and held within an established research group who undertake programmes of renal research. Supervisors are asked to carefully consider the relationship of the research programme to the abilities and training needs of the candidate and must ensure that the proposed research programme is appropriate to the candidate’s current experience and future career plan. The Head of Department/Sponsor is required to make a commitment of space and facilities for the Student.
    • Candidates proposed, via a Kidney Research UK nomination form, to take up the award should have recently graduated with a good Honours Degree; only in exceptional circumstances will a candidate with a degree below the II(i) level be considered.
  • Research project grants  and Start-up grants  
    • Applicants must be employed in a role where their salary is already covered for the period of the award (e.g. NHS employee, university tenured).

For more information, visit Kidney Research UK.