Sarcoma UK Grant to support Research Projects (United Kingdom)

Sarcoma UK is committed to funding world-class science to understand sarcoma better, improve treatments and make a difference to the lives of sarcoma patients. Since 2009, they have funded over £6.5 million of research to a range of high-quality institutions and projects across the UK.

Sarcoma UK’s strategic approach to research is flexible and broad, and the charity is open to supporting high-quality research across a number of scientific and clinical fields across all its funding calls. Areas of exploration that could be considered for funding include, but are not limited to, improving understanding of disease biology, improving diagnosis, developing new or better treatments, and improving quality of life.

Applications for funding will be assessed on both scientific quality and relevance to people affected by sarcoma. Therefore, successful applications will also have a pathway to impact for people affected by sarcoma; applicants should clearly justify this in their proposal.

Funding Information

• Small Grants, up to £60,000.
  • These can be used to pump prime ideas for innovative, small studies, or fund additional research to a larger project already underway.
• Large Grants, up to £175,000.
  • These are to undertake a substantive piece of work; this type of application must support a member of staff as a directly incurred cost. Please note that this member of staff may not be a PhD student.
• PhD studentships, up to £140,000.
  • Sarcoma UK seeks to provide funding for new PhD studentships in lab-based science, with the aim of attracting high-calibre graduates who will go on to develop a career in sarcoma research. Their PhD studentships offer up to £140,000 in funding, comprising a stipend, fees and research expenses. Funding is available for up to four years, with thesis completion expected within four years of the start date.
    • The stipend and fees for the student. These should either be in line with UK Research and Innovation minimum standard levels for UK home students, or standard host institution levels (with enhanced weighting for London-based studentships if appropriate). You will be asked to specify which stipend rate you are using in your application. Please bear in mind that UKRI’s indicative stipend rates usually increase in line with inflation and plan your budget accordingly. Your host institution will be able to support further with this.
    • Research expenses, such as consumables (directly incurred costs only)
    • Funding towards attendance at appropriate scientific meetings
    • Project or discipline-specific training (directly incurred costs only)

Eligibility Criteria

• Small and Large Grants/PhD Studentships
  • Institution
    • The host institution for the project must be a UK-based higher education institution, research institute or within the NHS.
    • The host institution will be responsible for the entirety of the award, including all administration, liaison with third parties and ensuring compliance with conditions of award by other institutions where appropriate.
    • Work on the project may take place at other institutions, which may be outside of the UK, but the host institution is responsible for any sub-contracting and payment of funds to other organisations.
    • Collaborative applications are strongly encouraged; collaborators may be based outside the UK. The contribution of co-applicants and collaborators to relevant work packages must be clearly outlined in the application. In addition, applications from investigators outside the immediate field of sarcoma are welcome but are encouraged to involve the expertise and input of investigators with experience in sarcoma.
  • Applicants
    • The principal investigator/Main Supervisor (PI) should be able to demonstrate evidence of a strong research record, with experience to drive and lead a research project which addresses your proposed research questions. Demonstrable evidence could include publications, successful grant applications and an ability to lead teams.
    • Applications must have one lead PI only; applications from joint principal investigators are not accepted.
    • The PI is responsible for the intellectual leadership of the research project and must be actively engaged in the overall management of the research.
    • The principal investigator must hold a permanent, salaried post at the host institution. Where the PI is on a fixed-term contract, their contract must extend at least one year beyond the lifetime of the project, or the host institution must demonstrate that it intends to award a permanent position at the end of the fixed term. In addition, a co-applicant with a permanent post at the host institution should be listed on the application.
    • Please note that salary costs for Principal Investigators or Co-Investigators may not be requested.
• PhD Studentships
  • They expect any institution hosting a PhD studentship to show support through commitment to facilitate the research proposed, and provide a basic level of facilities, such as library access, computer equipment and a PhD training programme. The suitability of the host institution or doctoral school as a training environment for the studentship will be assessed at peer and panel review.
  • Second and third supervisors
    • The second and third supervisors must be appropriate to the needs of the project and have a level of commitment to both the research and the training and development of the PhD student.
    • 2nd Supervisor: Should provide academic input and a second line of support for the student.
    • 3rd Supervisor (if applicable): Should contribute to the student experience or provide a vital facet to the project.
  • The student
    • Students do not need to be from the UK, nor resident for any amount of time before the award begins. Please note that stipend and fee rates must be those for UK home students.
    • A prospective student does not need to have been identified at the time of submitting the application.
    • If a student has been selected, a one-page CV should be included in the application. Students must have a minimum of a 2:1 in their undergraduate degree.

Ineligibility Criteria

• Small and Large Grants
  • Applications will not be accepted:
    • Where the primary intent of the grant is for purchase of equipment
    • From commercial organisations.
    • Where the application has been submitted to any of Sarcoma UK’s funding calls on more than one previous occasion unless explicitly invited.
    • Please note that the member of staff supported on a large grant may not be a PhD student.
• PhD Studentships
  • Applications will not be accepted:
    • Where the primary intent of the grant is for purchase of equipment
    • From commercial organisations.
    • Where the PhD studentship is already underway.
    • Where the application has been submitted to any of Sarcoma UK’s funding calls on more than one previous occasion unless explicitly invited.
    • From prospective PhD students themselves.

For more information, visit Sarcoma UK.