Biological Sciences

Regular Calls

Funding opportunities that are normally announced at the same time every year, usually from larger funding bodies

Funder 

Call 

Description Deadline
BBSRC Responsive Mode  Funding for research around BBSRC priority areas.

24 April 2024

BBSRC Follow-on Funding

Apply for Follow-on Funding (FoF) to help bridge gaps between early stage bioscience research and innovation with achieving wider commercial, economic and societal benefit. The scheme opens twice a years and has two sizes:

  • standard FoF awards: minimum £76,000, maximum £250,000 full economic cost for up to two years’ work. Applications are assessed by an independent panel
  • super FoF awards: minimum £251,000, maximum £800,000 full economic cost for up to two years’ work. Applications are reviewed by independent experts (some may be peers) prior to panel.

Both awards aim to take ideas through to a stage where the route to application is clear:

27 March 2024
EPSRC Standard Research Grants Funding varies (up to multi-million pound research programme). A wide variety of activities can be supported. Rolling deadlines
MRC

Molecular and cellular medicine - new investigator, Partnership, Programme Research grants. 

Funds fundamental research in MRC remit. Deadlines are linked to panel meetings. 

 

15 May 2024

 

MRC Infections and immunity - new investigator, Partnership, Programme Research grants Funds fundamental research in MRC remit. Deadlines are linked to panel meetings. 

15 May 2024

MRC Population and systems medicine new investigator, Partnership, Programme Research grants Funds fundamental research in MRC remit. Deadlines are linked to panel meetings. 

15 May 2024

NERC Pushing the frontiers of environmental research Apply for up to £1m to pursue an ambitious, high risk and high reward project in environmental research.

Usually January / July each year

NERC Exploring the frontiers of environmental research Apply for up to £100k to explore new ideas and approaches that may open up novel paths of research or result in discipline-shifting discovery in environmental science. Currently closed
NERC Large Grants These support innovative, large-scale and complex projects that tackle big science questions and have the potential to produce world-leading research. Your project must be predominantly within the NERC remit, although they do fund research that crosses over into other research council areas. You can apply if you are a research group or individual based at a UK university or other approved institution

Outline proposal closing date in March 2024

 

NERC Urgency funding

Urgency grants offer fast-track support (up to £100k) to respond quickly to short-lived and unexpected research opportunities that would result in a missed opportunity to collect valuable data should you conform to other available funding opportunities.

These may be events affecting the environment created by the occurrence of sporadic natural events such as (but limited to):

  • earthquakes
  • droughts
  • floods
  • ephemeral events in ecosystems.

We expect projects to last up to one year and focus on urgent data collection and essential initial analysis. You must have a clear strategy for taking the research forward once the urgent phase is complete.

No closing date, two stage application process, outline proposal, then full proposal by invitation only.
Royal Academy Engineering Research Chairs and Senior Research Fellowships

This scheme aims to strengthen the links between industry and academia by supporting exceptional academics in UK universities to undertake use-inspired research that meets the needs of the industrial partners.

 

Currently closed
Leverhulme Doctoral Scholarships These scholarships enable UK universities to award full-time doctoral scholarships in a priority area for the institutions. The scheme offers 10 grants worth £2.15 million each over eight years Currently closed
Leverhulme Research Fellowships  These fellowships enable experienced researchers to complete a piece of research in any discipline. Worth up to £65,000 each over a period of three to 24 months. Next round opens September 2024
Leverhulme Research Projects Grants

Proposals may be in any field, except for studies of disease, illness and disabilities in humans and animals, and research that is intended to inform clinical practice or the development of medical applications. Closing dates are the same each year.

Grants are worth up to £500,000 each and may be held for up to five years.

Outline applications: Anytime

Detailed Applications:

21 March, 01 September, 01 December each year

Leverhulme Visiting Professorship These enable UK institutions to host distinguished researchers from overseas, primarily to enhance the skills of academic staff or students at the host institution. Funding is worth between £10,000 and £150,000 for visits of between three months and a year. 2 May 2024 and 3 October 2024
Royal Society Research Grant ECRs or those returning from a career break. Covers specialised equipment and consumables. 27 March 2024
Royal Society APEX Awards These enable established, independent researchers with a strong track record in their respective area to pursue genuine interdisciplinary and curiosity-driven research to benefit wider society. Award £110,00 Currently closed
Royal Society of Edinburgh Personal Research Fellowships These provide eligible applicants with the opportunity to take up to twelve months to focus on a research project of their choice. The award provides funding for the appointment of a temporary replacement to enable the awardee to take study leave, either in their own institution or elsewhere, whilst remaining in continuous employment with their present employer  10 April 2024
Royal Society of Edinburgh International Joint Projects These aim to facilitate international collaboration between researchers based in Scotland with researchers overseas. The RSE provides up to a maximum of £6,000 per year and up to a maximum of £12,000 over two years  6 March 2024
Cancer Research UK  Discovery Programme foundation awards Programme Foundation Awards allow excellent mid-career researchers to develop their independent research group. Up to £1.5m

Next outline application deadline:

TBC

Next full application deadline:

TBC

Cancer Research UK  Discovery  Programme Awards Long-term support for broad, multidisciplinary research answering questions which span basic and translational research. Budget up to £2.5M

Next outline application deadline:

TBC

Next full application deadline:

TBC

Tenovus  Small Pilot Grants

These support pump priming research studies.

Grants are worth up to £20,000 for up to 18 months. Maximum award: £20,000

Currently closed 
Wellcome Discovery Award This scheme provides funding for established researchers and teams from any discipline who want to pursue bold and creative research ideas to deliver significant shifts in understanding that could improve human life, health and wellbeing.

16 April 2024

Rosetrees Trust  Seedcorn Award 

Support for researchers to advance innovative and novel ideas related to the prevention, diagnosis or treatment of human diseases.

Applicants are expected to have a  novel hypothesis and some preliminary data that can be developed over 12-18 months to form the  basis of larger grant applications. Funds up to £15k over 12-18 months. 

Currently closed