- Early career small grants are open to basic scientists, and healthcare professionals (including allied health professionals) at an early stage of their research career. This scheme is not aimed for medically qualified research active clinical lecturers who should apply to the Academy of Medical Sciences Starter Grants for Clinical Lecturers.
- Applicants must be in receipt of a salary for the duration of the proposed award.
- The research must take place at an established research institution in the UK and applications will only be accepted form researchers working at academic institutes or NHS Trusts.
- Basic scientists must have completed a PhD or equivalent and should normally be no more than four years into their first academic position (e.g. a lectureship).
- Healthcare professionals (including allied health professionals) must have started a PhD or equivalent post-graduate degree, or have undertaken a substantial period of research equivalent to a PhD.
- Allowance will be made for applicants whose career has been subject to an interruption for family or personal reasons.
- Applicants who currently hold an early career fellowship that provides salary support are eligible to apply for this scheme. We advise that these potential applicants contact [email protected] to discuss their eligibility in more detail.
- Applicants may have received previous funding or be a current grant holder, but they must clearly meet the eligibility criteria as an early career researcher, and identify that this funding request is distinct from any current research grants.
- Applicants must identify a mentor on the application at the same institute. Their role should be to support the development of the application and the delivery of the project.
Researchers who do not meet the eligibility criteria for the early-career small grant scheme may apply for small amounts of funding through the project grant scheme. However, these applications will be in competition with all other project grant applications.
- Career level: Early-career basic scientists and healthcare professionals (including allied health professionals)
- Funding period: Up to 12 months
- Funding amount: Up to £15,000
- Diabetes UK will host one Early Career Small Grant round in 2026, applications will open on 20 April 2026.
- Applications will close on 4 August 2026
