Funding

• Funding amount: Up to £50,000
• Project duration: Up to 12 months
• Opening date: October 2023 and March 2024
• Lay summary development scheme closes: Monday 20 November 2023 and Monday 8 April 2024
• Deadline: 12 noon on Tuesday 23 January 2024 and 12 noon on Tuesday 18 June 2024
• Funding outcome: May 2024 and October 2024

Catalyst Awards provide support for short-term, small-scale pilot or proof-of-concept research projects. These may be “high risk, high reward” type projects and must be hypothesis-driven. We run two Catalyst rounds a year.

We intend for researchers from within and outside the MS field to use these Awards to explore innovative ideas in MS research. If merited, your ideas may lead to further support through our larger grant schemes or other funding sources.

Download Catalyst Awards Applicant Guidance
[PDF, 513kB]

Your application should be relevant to MS and fit with our 2018-2022 Research Strategy [PDF, 1.73 mB] and 2023-2024 Research Strategy Extension [PDF, 225.17 kB].  You're also encouraged to consider our top 10 JLA research priorities and our organisational goals when developing your application.

Your Catalyst Award application is eligible for Lay Summary Development with people affected by MS. You can find out more information about this below.

Who’s eligible to apply for a Catalyst Award?

Both junior and established researchers are eligible to apply for Catalyst Awards.

You’re expected to have a contract (fixed-term or tenure) which covers the proposed duration of the grant. You must be based at a UK university or NHS institution and be the Principal Investigator of the project.

What will we fund?

We’ll consider research budgets including running costs (consumables, animal costs, human tissue costs), equipment, and conferences. Please note that a proportion of your salary costs may be considered for Catalyst Awards but only in exceptional circumstances. You can find the full list of eligible costs in our Catalyst Awards applicant guidance document in the sidebar.

Lay summary development with people affected by MS

You should involve people affected by MS to help design your research. You should do this as early as you can.

Read more about involvement in your Catalyst Award application in our Applicant Guidance document [PDF, 513 kB]

Read more about how we can help with PPI on our public involvement in research page.

You can also use our Lay Summary Development scheme. You need to write a clear lay summary for your proposal. People affected by MS will review your application alongside experts in your field. Our funding panels also include researchers without direct expertise in your area of research. If your lay summary is too brief or too complex, it’ll be difficult for them to comment on and score your application. And this will affect whether it might be funded.  

People affected by MS from our Research Network can give feedback on your lay summary before you submit. They can comment on:

• how accessible your language is
• how well they understand your research plans
• the quality of your involvement plans
• how important the topic is to people affected by MS

Read more about Lay Summary Development on our public involvement in research page.

You don’t have to complete Lay Summary Development if you don’t want to. And can still submit an application without it. It’s not part of our review process, but it can help you to improve your lay summary. 

If you’d like to go through Lay Summary Development, you’ll need to complete the Lay Summary Development application form. This can be downloaded from the sidebar. 

You should email your completed form to [email protected]. You’ll receive feedback on your summary approximately 4 weeks before the funding submission deadline. 

How do I apply for a Catalyst Award?

You must submit your application through our online grants management system, CC Grant Tracker. 

You can find information for completing your online application in our ‘How to complete your application’ document in the sidebar. And in the help sections of the application forms on Grant Tracker.

For more information you can email [email protected] or call us on 020 8438 0822.

What’s the review process for Catalyst Awards?

• Once you’ve submitted your application, we validate it to make sure it fits the remit of the Catalyst Awards round.
• If your application is eligible, we send it for independent review by members of The Expert Review Network (TERN) with relevant expertise. This includes review by lay members.
• Based on the TERN review scores, applications go through a shortlisting process. This involves the TERN Review Panel Chair, Vice Chair and a lay panel member discussing the review scores and comments. They’ll recommend a shortlist of the highest quality and most relevant applications for further review. These will have the best chances of being fundable in this round. The remaining applications will be rejected (triaged). We’ll tell all applicants the triage outcomes around a month before funding outcomes are announced. 
• Shortlisted applications are considered by invited TERN members at the Catalyst Awards TERN Review Panel meeting.
• The TERN Review Panel provides a recommendation to us about which applications should be funded.
• Our Board of Trustees then considers their recommendations for funding.
• Following approval by the Board, we’ll communicate official funding offers, awards are made and projects start.

What’s the success rate for Catalyst Award applications?

There was a success rate of 36% for Catalyst Award applications in 2022. And a success rate of 31% in 2022. In 2023:

• 11 eligible applications were submitted across two rounds
• We took 9 applications through triage to the TERN Review Panel Meetings
• We funded 4 Catalyst Awards

• Funding amount: No upper or lower limit.
• Project duration: Up to 36 months
• Opening date: October 2023
• Lay summary development scheme closes: Monday 20 November 2023
• Deadline: 12 noon on Tuesday 23 January 2024
• Funding outcome: July 2024

Project Awards provide support for research projects designed to answer a single question, or a small group of related questions. Applications must be hypothesis-driven.

Download Project Awards Applicant Guidance
[PDF, 512 kB]

Your application should be relevant to MS and fit with our 2018-2022 Research Strategy [PDF, 1.73 mB] and 2023-2024 Research Strategy Extension [PDF, 225.17 kB]. You are also encouraged to consider our top 10 JLA research priorities and our organisational goals when developing your application.

Your Project Award application is eligible for Lay Summary Development with people affected by MS. You can find more information about this below.

Who’s eligible to apply for a Project Award?

Our Project Awards are intended for established researchers, but junior researchers are also eligible to apply.

You’re expected to have a contract (fixed-term or tenure) which covers the proposed duration of the grant. You must be based at an UK university or NHS institution and be the Principal Investigator of the project.

What will you fund?

There is no upper or lower limit for Project Award budgets, but we’ll consider value for money as one of the review criteria.

We’ll consider research budgets including salaries (research, technical), running costs (consumables, animal costs, human tissue costs), equipment, and conferences. Please note that you can’t include your salary costs or those of your co-applicants. You can find the full list of eligible costs in our Project Awards applicant guidance document in the sidebar.

Lay summary development with people affected by MS

You should involve people affected by MS to help design your research. You should do this as early as you can.

Read more about involvement in your Project Award application in our Applicant Guidance document [PDF, 513 kB]

Read more about how we can help with PPI on our public involvement in research page.

You can also use of our Lay Summary Development scheme. You need to write a clear lay summary for your proposal. People affected by MS will review your application alongside experts in your field. Our funding panels also include researchers without direct expertise in your area of research. If your lay summary is too brief or too complex, it’ll be difficult for them to comment on and score your application. And this will affect whether it might be funded.  

People affected by MS from our Research Network can give feedback on your lay summary before you submit. They can comment on:

• how accessible your language is
• how well they understand your research plans
• the quality of your involvement plans
• how important the topic is to people affected by MS

Read more about Lay Summary Development on our public involvement in research page.

You don’t have to complete Lay Summary Development if you don’t want to. And can still submit an application without it. It’s not part of our review process, but can help you to improve your lay summary. 

If you’d like to go through Lay Summary Development, you’ll need to complete the Lay Summary Development application form. This can be downloaded from the sidebar. 

You should email your completed form to [email protected]. You’ll receive feedback on your summary approximately 4 weeks before the funding submission deadline. 

How do I apply for a Project Award?

You must submit your application through our online grants management system, CC Grant Tracker. 

You can find information for completing your online application in our ‘How to complete your application’ document in the sidebar. And in the help sections of the application forms on Grant Tracker.

For more information you can email [email protected] or call us on 020 8438 0822.

What’s the review process for Project Awards?

• Once you’ve submitted your application, we validate it to make sure it fits the remit of the Project Awards round.
• If your application is eligible, we send it for independent, external review by members of the research community with relevant expertise and members of our Research Network.
• Once we’ve received the external reviews, you’re invited to respond to the reviewers’ comments. You’ll have 14 days to submit your rebuttal. We’ll advise you of the rebuttal period dates in advance.
• Based on the TERN review scores, applications go through a shortlisting process. This involves the TERN Review Panel Chair, Vice Chair and a lay panel member discussing the review scores, comments and your rebuttal. They’ll recommend a shortlist of the highest quality and most relevant applications for further review. These will have the best chances of being fundable in this round. The remaining applications will be rejected (triaged). We’ll tell all applicants the triage outcomes around a month before funding outcomes are announced.  
• Shortlisted applications are considered by invited TERN members at the Project Awards TERN Review Panel meeting.
• The TERN Review Panel provides a recommendation to us about which applications should be funded.
• Our Board of Trustees then considers their recommendations for funding.
• Following approval by the Board, we’ll communicate official funding offers, awards are made and projects start.

What’s the success rate for Project Award applications?

There was a success rate of 36% for Project Award applications in 2023. And 23% in 2022. In 2023:

• 9 eligible applications were submitted
• We took 6 applications through triage to the TERN Review Panel Meeting
• We funded 3 Project Awards

• Funding amount: See ‘What will you fund?’ section below
• Project duration: Up to 36 months
• Opening date: March 2024
• Lay summary development scheme closes: Monday 8 April 2024
• Deadline: 12 noon on Tuesday 18 June 2024
• Funding outcome: December 2024

PhD Fellowships are one of our Career Development Awards, designed to encourage the best science graduates to embark on a research career in MS.

Download PhD Fellowships applicant guidance
[PDF, 661kB]

Your application should be relevant to MS and fit with our 2018-2022 Research Strategy [PDF, 1.73 mB] and 2023-2024 Research Strategy Extension [PDF, 225.17 kB]. You are also encouraged to consider our top 10 JLA research priorities and our organisational goals when developing your application.

Your PhD Fellowship application is eligible for Lay Summary Development with people affected by MS. You can find more information about this below.

Who’s eligible to apply?

PhD Fellowships are awarded to the prospective supervisor of the project. You’re responsible for identifying a suitable student. You don’t need to name them when making your application. Students must have a minimum of upper second class honours degree, or equivalent, before starting the project.

The research environment and quality of the training provided will be key considerations for review.

You’re expected to have a contract (fixed-term or tenure) which covers the proposed duration of the grant. You must be based at an UK university or NHS institution and be the Principal Investigator of the project.

What will you fund?

PhD Fellowships are typically around £100,000. We’ll fund PhD stipends in accordance with MRC guidelines, up to £7,000 per year towards tuition fees and a maximum of £15,000 per year in running costs. We’ll also fund up to £3,000 in conference costs.

You can find the full list of eligible costs in our PhD Fellowships applicant guidance document in the sidebar.

Lay summary development with people affected by MS

You should involve people affected by MS to help design your research. You should do this as early as you can, and we can help. Go to our public involvement in research page for more information. 

You can also take advantage of our Lay Summary Development scheme during our open application period.

Lay Summary Development can help you write a clear lay summary for your application. People affected by MS will review your application alongside experts in your field. If your lay summary is too brief or too complex, it will be difficult for them to comment and score your application. And this will have an impact on whether it might be funded.

People affected by MS from our Research Network can provide feedback on your application before you submit. They will look at:

• how well you have communicated your research proposal
• the importance of the topic to people affected by MS.

This isn’t part of our review process, but is intended to help you to improve your lay summary before you submit.

If you’d like to go through Lay Summary Development, you’ll need to complete the Lay Summary Development request form. This can be downloaded from the sidebar.

You should email your completed form to [email protected]. You’ll receive feedback on your summary approximately 4 weeks before the grant submission deadline. 

How do I apply?

You must submit your application via our online grants management system.

You can find all information for completing your online application in our ‘How to complete your application’ document in the sidebar. And in the help sections of the application forms on Grant Tracker.

For more information you can email [email protected] or call us on 020 8438 0822.

What’s the review process for PhD Fellowships?

• Once you’ve submitted your application, we validate it to make sure it fits the remit of the PhD Fellowships round.
• If your application is eligible, we send it for independent, external review by members of the research community with relevant expertise and members of our Research Network.
• Once we’ve received the external reviews, you’re invited to provide a rebuttal to the reviewers’ comments. You’ll have 10 days to submit this and we’ll advise you of the rebuttal period dates in advance.
• Based on the TERN review scores, low scoring applications are then triaged. This involves a shortlisting process by the TERN Review Panel Chair, Vice Chair and a lay panel member. We will tell all applicants the triage outcomes around a month before funding outcomes are announced.
• Shortlisted applications are considered by invited TERN members at the Career Development Awards TERN Review Panel meeting.
• The TERN Review Panel provides a recommendation to us about which applications should be funded.
• Our Board of Trustees then considers their recommendations for funding.
• Following approval by the Board, we’ll communicate official funding offers, awards are made and projects start.

What’s the success rate for PhD Fellowship applications?

There was a success rate of 71% for PhD Fellowship applications in 2022. And 16% in 2021. In 2022:

• 10 eligible applications were submitted
• We took 7 applications through triage to the TERN Review Panel Meeting
• We funded 5 PhD Fellowships

• Funding amount: Up to £250,000
• Project duration: Up to 48 months
• Opening date: March 2024
• Lay summary development scheme closes: Monday 8 April 2024
• ECR PPI Partnership registration of interest closes: Date TBC
• Deadline: 12 noon on Tuesday 18 June 2024
• Funding outcome: December 2024

Early Career Fellowships are one of our Career Development Awards, aiming to attract and retain talented postdoctoral researchers who want to build a successful career in MS research. These grants provide a staged career structure and the opportunity for you to progress towards higher level appointments.

Download Early Career Fellowship applicant guidance
[PDF, 654 kB]

Your application should be relevant to MS and fit with our 2018-2022 Research Strategy [PDF, 1.73 mB] and 2023-2024 Research Strategy Extension [PDF, 225.17 kB]. You are also encouraged to consider our top 10 JLA research priorities and our organisational goals when developing your application.

Your Early Career Fellowship application is eligible for Lay Summary Development with people affected by MS. You can find more information about this below.

Who’s eligible to apply?

You must be the Early Career Fellowship candidate and have completed a PhD in a relevant science or health discipline. You can apply before your PhD is awarded, but the award must be made before the Fellowship starts. We’ve found that Fellowships are usually awarded to researchers after their first or second postdoc. But we’ll still consider your application if you’re earlier on in your career. Fellowships are available to everyone conducting research across the spectrum of MS research.

You must be based at an UK university or NHS institution and be the Principal Investigator of the project. You need to name a supervisor on your applications. They must be actively involved in the project and are responsible for supporting you throughout. Supervisors are required to sign-off the application before you submit.

If you are a clinician wanting to do a research PhD or postdoctoral research alongside clinical service, we partner with UKRI, NIHR and the Association of British Neurologists to offer clinical fellowships. You can find more information under co-funded postdoctoral research Fellowships.

What will you fund?

Your salary is funded as part of the Fellowship. We’ll consider research budgets including running costs (consumables, animal costs, human tissue costs), equipment, and conferences. You can find the full list of eligible costs in our Early Career Fellowships applicant guidance document in the sidebar.

We support flexible and part-time working for Early Career Fellows (part-time working should be a minimum of 50% FTE). If you'd like to discuss this further within the context of your application, you can email [email protected].

Lay summary development and application development with people affected by MS

All projects that we fund have to meaningfully involve people affected by MS in their design and delivery. This is called patient and public involvement (PPI). This ensures that projects are relevant to the experiences of people affected by MS. As well as being designed and implemented in a way that considers their needs. If there is no plan to include PPI until after a project is funded, the project may not be designed in a way that meets the needs of people affected by MS. Well-considered PPI plans are essential if you are applying for our funding. For Early Career Fellowship applicants, we offer two schemes to support you with patient and public involvement. 

Lay summary development

Lay Summary Development can help you write a clear lay summary for your application. People affected by MS will review your application alongside experts in your field. If your lay summary is too brief or too complex, it will be difficult for them to comment and score your application. And this will have an impact on whether it might be funded.

People affected by MS from our Research Network can provide feedback on your application before you submit. They will look at:

• how well you have communicated your research proposal
• the importance of the topic to people affected by MS.

This isn’t part of our review process, but is intended to help you to improve your lay summary before you submit.

If you’d like to go through Lay Summary Development, you’ll need to complete the Lay Summary Development request form. This can be downloaded from the sidebar.

You should email your completed form to [email protected]. You’ll receive feedback on your summary approximately 4 weeks before the grant submission deadline. 

Early Career Researcher PPI Partnership

We’re offering Early Career Fellowship applicants the opportunity for extra support developing your patient and public involvement plans for your Fellowship.

Our Early Career Researcher (ECR) PPI Partnership scheme offers enhanced PPI support to help ECRs develop their PPI skills. You’ll be partnered with one or a small group of people affected by MS from our Research Network. You’ll have a series of meetings with them to talk about your research, lay summary and involvement plans. And they’ll provide feedback and ideas that you can work on before your next meeting.

You’ll meet with your PPI partner at least twice over the course of a month before the funding submission deadline. This means you’ll develop a working relationship with your PPI partner. And receive more detailed, nuanced support.

If you're applying for the ECR PPI Partnership, you don't need to separately apply for Lay Summary Development. This is included in the process.

If you'd like to take part in ECR PPI Partnership, you should email [email protected] to express your interest by Monday 3 April 2023. You'll need to tell us your name, your institution and provide a brief outline of your research (250 words). We'll then arrange an informal chat with you and Laura Scott, our PPI Manager, to discuss your needs and how we can best support you with this scheme.

What’s the review process for Early Career Fellowships?

• Once you’ve submitted your application, we validate it to make sure it fits the remit of the Early Career Fellowships round.
• If your application is eligible, we send it for independent, external review by members of the research community with relevant expertise and members of our Research Network.
• Once we’ve received the external reviews, you’re invited to provide a rebuttal to the reviewers’ comments. You’ll have 10 days to submit this and we’ll advise you of the rebuttal period dates in advance.
• Based on the TERN review scores, low scoring applications are then triaged. This involves a shortlisting process by the TERN Review Panel Chair, Vice Chair and a lay panel member. We will tell all applicants the triage outcomes around a month before funding outcomes are announced.
• Shortlisted applications are considered by invited TERN members at the Career Development Awards TERN Review Panel meeting.
• If your application is shortlisted, you will be invited to interview at the Review Panel meeting.
• The TERN Review Panel provides a recommendation to us about which applications should be funded.
• Our Board of Trustees then considers their recommendations for funding.
• Following approval by the Board, we’ll communicate official funding offers, awards are made and projects start.

How do I apply?

You must submit your applications via our online grants management system.

You can find all information for completing your online application in our ‘How to complete your application’ document in the sidebar. And in the help sections of the application forms on Grant Tracker.

For more information you can email [email protected] or call us on 020 8438 0822.

What’s the success rate for Early Career Fellowship applications?

There was a success rate of 66% for Early Career Fellowship applications in 2022. and 20% in 2021. In 2022:

• 3 eligible applications were submitted
• We took 3 applications through triage to the TERN Review Panel Meeting
• We funded 2 Early Career Fellowships

• Funding amount: Up to £50,000
• Project duration: Up to 12 months
• Opening date: March 2024
• Lay summary development scheme closes: Monday 8 April 2024
• Deadline: 12 noon on Tuesday 18 June 2024
• Funding outcome: October 2024

Our Data Discovery Awards provide support for research projects designed to increase our understanding of MS risk factors. We hope these will provide a more combined approach to assess someone’s risk of developing MS and ultimately help us to develop new preventative strategies. 

These awards will be for up to £50,000 for one year. You must use data from the UK MS Register, either alone or with other existing datasets. Your project should aim to do one of the following: 

• Uncover new risk factors for developing MS, with a particular emphasis on modifiable risk factors (towards primary prevention) 

• Further characterise known MS risk factors in a way that will take us towards preventative strategies 

• Increase our understanding of modifiable risk factors and comorbidities that influence MS progression (towards secondary prevention) 

Download Data Discovery Awards Applicant Guidance
[PDF, 482kB]

We won’t fund applications relating to licenced pharmacological interventions for MS. You must also include public and patient involvement in the development and delivery of your project. 

You must speak to the UK MS Register team before submitting an application for funding. This will help to confirm if the UK MS Register holds the appropriate data for the project and confirm the estimated cost of accessing the data. You should complete an application scoping form to arrange a discussion with the team. 

You can download more information on these awards in our ‘Data Discovery Award applicant guidance’ document in the sidebar. 

Who’s eligible to apply?

Both junior and established researchers are eligible to apply for our Data Discovery Awards.

You’re expected to have a contract (fixed-term or tenure) which covers the proposed duration of the grant. You must be based at an UK university or NHS institution and be the Principal Investigator of the project.

Lay summary development with people affected by MS

You should involve people affected by MS to help design your research. You should do this as early as you can, and we can help. Go to our public involvement in research page for more information. 

You can also take advantage of our Lay Summary Development scheme during our open application period.

Lay Summary Development can help you write a clear lay summary for your application. People affected by MS will review your application alongside experts in your field. If your lay summary is too brief or too complex, it will be difficult for them to comment and score your application. And this will have an impact on whether it might be funded.

People affected by MS from our Research Network can provide feedback on your application before you submit. They will look at:

• How well you have communicated your research proposal
• The importance of the topic to people affected by MS.

This isn’t part of our review process, but is intended to help you to improve your lay summary before you submit.

If you’d like to go through Lay Summary Development, you’ll need to complete the Lay Summary Development request form. This can be downloaded from the sidebar.

You should email your completed form to [email protected]. You’ll receive feedback on your summary approximately 4 weeks before the grant submission deadline. 

How do I apply?

You must submit your applications via our online grants management system.

You can find all information for completing your online application in our ‘Data Discovery Award applicant guidance’ document in the sidebar.

For more information you can email [email protected] or call us on 020 8438 0822.

What’s the review process for Data Discovery Awards?

• Once you’ve submitted your application, we validate it to make sure it fits the remit of the Data Discovery Awards round.
• If your application is eligible, we send it for independent review by members of the MS Register Scientific Steering Committee (SSC) who have relevant expertise. This includes review by lay members.
• Applications will then be considered by the SSC members at the UK MS Register Data Discovery Awards SSC Review Panel meeting.
• The SSC Review Panel provide a recommendation to us about which applications should be funded.
• Our Board of Trustees then considers their recommendations for funding.
• Following approval by the Board, we’ll communicate official funding offers, awards are made and projects start.

What’s the success rate for Data Discovery Award applications?

There was a success rate of 33% for Data Discovery Award applications in 2022.

• 3 eligible applications were submitted and were reviewed by the SSC at the Review Panel Meeting.
• We funded 1 Data Discovery Award.

Co-funded postdoctoral Research Fellowships

UKRI Career Development Awards and Clinical Research Training Fellowships

We’re excited to partner with the UKRI towards their Career Development Awards and clinical-focused Clinical Research Training Fellowships.

Career Development Awards support postdoctoral researchers to establish your own research group and transition to independent investigator.

Clinical Research Training Fellowships support clinicians to undertake a PhD or other higher research degree. The scheme also provides a route for postdoctoral applicants who achieved their PhD some time ago but who have not been research active since due to clinical training commitments to reacquire research skills.

NIHR Advanced Fellowships

We’ve also partnered with the NIHR to co-fund their Advanced Fellowships. These are for postdoctoral researchers at various stages of your career. The Fellowship funding is for 2-5 years and you can complete it on a full- or part-time basis (between 50-100% whole time equivalent).

If you are a clinical applicant, you can request up to 40% of your time to dedicate to clinical service or development. This time will be paid for by the Award.

How do I apply for a co-funded Fellowship?

Deadlines are throughout the year. You can find more details and apply through our partners’ websites.

All research funding applications we receive are reviewed by other researchers with relevant expertise (peer review) and by people affected by MS (lay review).

Depending on the funding scheme you have applied to, the review process may be slightly different. Some of these reviewers may part of The Expert Review Network (TERN). All of our funding panels are made up of TERN members with relevant expertise to the funding round and applications being assessed.

You can find an overview of the review process for each funding scheme in the tabs above. 

Our review processes

As a member of the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC), we follow their principles of peer review. These principles are the benchmark for ‘best practice’ for reviewing funding applications to medical and health research charities. And ensure quality and fairness in decision-making.

You can find the scoring criteria used by our review panels as an appendix in the Applicant Guidance document. This can be downloaded from the sidebar.

We are audited by AMRC every 5 years to make sure we are still keeping pace with best practice. Our review processes were last audited in 2020 and meet the criteria for best practice.