Apply for a Diabetes UK research grant

We offer a wide range of funding opportunities and you can read more about each funding scheme in this section.

Diabetes UK Research Funding Position Statement on COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

Like all of you, we’ve been closely following the development of the COVID19 outbreak both globally and in the UK, and we’re doing all we can to understand the ongoing effect this will have on all of us.

Everyone at Diabetes UK is working very hard to make sure we can support everyone who needs us.

We understand the challenge COVID-19 presents to the Diabetes UK funded research community. It may mean that research studies funded by Diabetes UK need to be paused for a number of reasons, including to free up staff to help support the frontline response to COVID-19.

Diabetes UK is keen to support the research community during this difficult time and in recognition of this we have outlined our current position below.

Funding schemes

We are currently reviewing our funding round deadlines in light of COVID-19 and will contact all applicants should there be any changes.

The COVID19 outbreak is a fast changing situation, but we’re doing everything we can to make sure the most up-to-date information on its impact to people with diabetes and the research community is available to you. Please refer to this notice regularly, as our position may change as the COVID-19 outbreak progresses.

How to apply for a grant

• Read our general guidelines for grant applicants and tips on writing a research grant application.
• Read our grant conditions, revenue-sharing agreement, and commercial collaborations policy. All applicants and the involved institutions should agree to accept and adhere to the grant conditions and intellectual property and revenue-sharing agreement before making your application.
• Log on to the Diabetes UK online research grants management system. 
• Complete all sections of the online application form, using the grants management system user guide.

You must allow enough time to complete the approval process through the online grants management portal - all signatories must have approved your application before the specified funding round deadline.

If you have any questions about the online research grants management system please contact Diabetes UK at research@diabetes.org.uk.

Research privacy notice 

As part of the grant application process, we will ask you to provide us with personal details about yourself, other people applying for the grant and you collaborators. Please read our research privacy notice carefully before registering to the Diabetes UK online research grants management system.  If you have any questions about the notice, please contact Diabetes UK at research@diabetes.org.uk.

Strategic research calls

Details of any open strategic calls for research in a specific area of diabetes can be found here. 

NIHR Programme Grants for Applied Research - diabetes complications

Diabetes UK and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) are joining forces to launch a 2020 co-funding opportunity through NIHR’s Programme Grants for Applied Research (PGfAR) scheme in the area of diabetes complications.

Priority Research Area

Co-funding is available for PGfAR proposals which aim to prevent or slow the progression of diabetes complications in people with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes who are at extremely high risk.

For information on the background, remit and timelines, please read our information.

Deadline

The first PGfAR round opens on 6 February 2020, with a 1 April 2020 deadline for stage 1 applications.

Application Assessment Process

All applications will be assessed through the NIHR PGfAR standard assessment procedure, with shortlisted stage 1 applicants invited to stage 2.

Further information about NIHR PGfAR applications can be found here.

How to apply

After reading Guidance for Stage 1 applications and the supporting information, applications must be submitted through the NIHR Central Commissioning Facility Research Management System.

For information, the average NIHR PGfAR award has historically been in the region of £2.4 million funding across five and a half years.

For further details please contact the Diabetes UK Research team at research@diabetes.org.uk.

Grant types

• Project grants
  To provide support for diabetes research projects for up to five years.

• Early-Career Small grants
  To enable early-career researchers to undertake small research projects or pilot studies.

• Harry Keen Intermediate Clinical Fellowship
  To allow outstanding medically qualified professionals, and other clinically qualified professionals to establish themselves as independent researchers, with a view to a long-term career as a clinical research leader in the field of diabetes. This includes nurses, pharmacists and members of the Allied Health Professions, who have gained a PhD or equivalent (e.g. MD (Res)).

• Sir George Alberti Research Training Fellowship
  To enable graduates currently working in the NHS to study for a PhD or MD in diabetes research and develop a career in research. Applications are invited from individuals working in a patient-facing role including, but not limited to, doctors, nurses, midwives, psychologists and dietitians. 

• NIHR/Diabetes UK Doctoral Fellowship
  To fund a Doctoral Fellowship which supports individuals to undertake a PhD in an area of diabetes related research.

• RD Lawrence Fellowship
  To provide personal support enabling postdoctoral researchers to establish their independence in diabetes research.

• PhD Studentship
  To enable experienced researchers to recruit outstanding science graduates to study for a PhD in the field of diabetes-related research.

Co-funding opportunities

Our goal is to increase diabetes research capacity, expertise and deliver clear patient benefits. We will therefore consider co-funding applications with other funders where there is a clear link to diabetes.

If you would like to apply for co-funding, please contact research@diabetes.or.uk in advance of submitting your application and consider the following:

• It is important to approach us as early as possible, so that we can consider the request, approach the other funder(s), and review our processes.
• If a co-funded application is agreed, we or the other funder(s) will manage the application review process. This will be discussed by all funders and a suitable approach will be agreed. 

Kidney Research UK

We are open to co-funding research with Kidney Research UK, into the relationship between kidney disease and diabetes and the development of new treatments. Read our joint research statement for more information.

British Heart Foundation

Diabetes UK and the British Heart Foundation (BHF) recognise the importance of understanding, treating and preventing cardiovascular disease in people with diabetes, and are prepared to consider joint funding. This funding would be for substantial research projects with a clear link to both diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

In particular, Diabetes UK and the BHF are prepared to consider co-funding applications for the following grant types:

• Programme-level grants or clinical trials (large project grants from Diabetes UK and programme grants or clinical study grants from the BHF)
• Diabetes UK Harry Keen Intermediate Clinical Fellowship or BHF Intermediate Clinical Research Fellowship
• Diabetes UK RD Lawrence Fellowship or BHF Intermediate Basic Science Research Fellowship.

If you have an interest in applying for one of the above, please contact the research team of the appropriate funder who you are considering applying to before submitting your application. 

Joint funding will not be considered for lower value awards such as smaller project grants or studentships. These should be applied for under normal processes for each funder.

Other opportunities 

IDia – Innovators in Diabetes Training Programme
The aim of the programme is to create a vibrant diabetes research network of basic and clinical researchers. The programme involves the attendance of a residential weekend once a year over a three-year period.