There are no grants open currently!

The next seed funding grants will open in June. Become a Professional Member to keep up-to-date with our news.

---

General information grant- application process

Funds can be available for research into all aspects of encephalitis, and particular areas of importance and priority are advised by the Encephalitis Society Scientific Advisory Panel and outlined in the Encephalitis Society Research Strategy.

Funding opportunities are advertised on the Encephalitis Society website, social media channels (Facebook and Twitter), appropriate journals/academic institutions/ organisations and through the mailing out to the Society’s Professional Members.

The Encephalitis Society will fund

• Academic Clinical Fellowship (three years).
• PhD students (three years).
• Research Exchange projects (one to three years).
• Seed funding (9-18 months).

We will fund salary costs, consumables and travel costs however we will not fund overheads of any affiliated institutions.

We will fund staff and students of academic institutions, in the UK and overseas. We will also fund research students at postgraduate level (i.e. MSc and PhD) who must have an undergraduate degree. We have no regional or institutional priorities, but if the research takes place outside UK it must meet UK standards of research ethics and scientific integrity. If the research involves using animals we only fund research conducted in the UK.

Review Process

Initially, all applications are checked by the Society's staff members to ensure compliance with the application's specific criteria and checklist. 

Secondly, all applications for funding go through a strict review process which means reviewed by the Society’s Research Subcommittee. The Research Subcommittee has four professional members, who are selected from the Scientific Advisory Panel for a three years term with the possibility of renewing for three more years and two lay members, selected from the Society Team Encephalitis Volunteers. If necessary (there are conflicted members or a need for specific expertise not available within the Subcommittee), additional reviewers are invited to the Committee. These can be members of the Scientific Advisory Panel or professionals outside the Society. Recommendations for funding are based on the mean score for each application. 

At least three members of the Subcommittee must be present for there to be a quorum.

The Research Subcommittee’s Chair will advise the Society of the Subcommittee recommendations. The decision of awarding the grant is made by the CEO and the Trustees taking in consideration the Subcommittee’s recommendations. 

Criteria for reviewing the application:

• Scientific validity, significance and originality.
• Feasibility and value for money.
• Relevance to the Encephalitis Society and its research priorities.
• Context with other relevant research currently ongoing, or completed.
• Supports the principle of the 3Rs to refine, reduce and replace the use of animals in research if applicable.
• Done by researchers with relevant skills and facilities.

The Encephalitis Society may also commission a specific researcher or research group to investigate a topic of interest. These applications will also be peer reviewed and discussed by the Research Subcommittee, who will advise the CEO and the Trustees.

Research Subcommittee members:

Prof Angela Vincent, Chair

Emeritus Professor of Neuroimmunology; University of Oxford, UK

Emeritus Fellow; Somerville College, UK

Dr Benedict Michael

NIHR HPRU for Emerging and Zoonotic Infection, and Clinical Infection Microbiology and Immunology, IVES, University of Liverpool; UK

Dr Thomas Polack

NIHR Clinical Lecturer; Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King’s College London; UK

Assist Prof Omar Siddiqi

Assistant Professor of Neurology; Harvard Medical School, USA

Visiting lecturer; University of Zambia School of Medicine in Lusaka, Zambia

Director; Global Neurology Program at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, USA

Lay members

• Rachel Tarlton, Team Encephalitis Volunteer
• Paul Woolfries, Team Encephalitis Volunteer

Encephalitis Society's research policies and forms:

• Research Strategy
• Peer Review and Conflict of Interest Process
• Code of Conduct
• Research Subcommittee Terms of Reference
• Conflict of Interest Form

Further information can be obtained by emailing [email protected].