[Wellcome Trust](https://wellcome.org/research-funding)

September 2026 | March 2027

Up to £40,000 over 1–2 years to cover directly incurred research costs.

Provides small grants to support clinical lecturers in establishing independent research and gathering data for future fellowships.

All dates are projected; confirm current deadlines on the program page.

--- ## Description This grant supports research-active clinical lecturers (including eligible veterinary clinicians) in the early stages of their academic careers by providing modest funding to pursue research projects, gather preliminary data, and strengthen future applications for long-term fellowships and larger grants. The scheme is administered by the Academy of Medical Sciences in partnership with the Wellcome Trust and other UK funders. The funding is intended to cover directly incurred research costs such as consumables, equipment, access charges, and essential software, helping clinical lecturers to build their research portfolios and gain grant application experience. --- ## Due Dates - **September 2026** (anticipated/projected closing date for September round) - **March 2027** (anticipated/projected closing date for March round) *All dates are projected based on the annual cycle; check the program page for updates.* --- ## Funding Amount - Maximum award: **up to £40,000** - Duration: **1–2 years** - Funds can be used for directly incurred research costs (e.g., consumables, equipment, access charges, datasets, essential software/licenses, technical support). - **Cannot be used** for personal salary, research assistants, PhD students, or postdoctoral staff (but can buy out time for existing technical staff). --- ## Eligibility - Applicants must: - Be a **research-active clinical lecturer** (or equivalent for veterinary clinicians). - Hold a **PhD or MD**. - Hold a **medical, dental, or veterinary undergraduate degree** and be registered with the appropriate UK professional body (e.g., GMC, GDC, RCVS). - Hold a **clinical contract at a UK institution**. - For human/dental medicine: - Must hold a **National Training Number (NTN/NTN(A))** and be within higher specialty training. - CCT date must be no earlier than three months before the proposed project start. - Not eligible if already obtained CCT (except primary care/dentistry, where post-CCT applicants are welcome). - For veterinary medicine: - Must be a research-active Veterinary Specialist in Training (Resident/Senior Clinical Training Scholar) within an approved Specialist Training Programme, **or** - A research-active Veterinary Clinician/Pathologist with Specialist Board qualification or eligibility, within the three-year probationary period of first university appointment. - **Not eligible**: Senior Clinical Lecturers, Clinical Psychologists, and those with substantial prior funding (e.g., Clinician Scientist Fellowships, New Investigator Awards, large project grants). - Targeted at those in the earlier years of their Clinical Lecturer appointment. --- ## Application Process - Applications are submitted via the [Academy of Medical Sciences Flexi-Grant system](https://acmedsci.flexigrant.com/). - Two funding rounds per year: anticipated deadlines in March and September. - No interview required; applications are reviewed by a panel of experts. - Applicants are notified of outcomes within five months of the submission deadline. - Unsuccessful applicants may reapply once (one resubmission allowed). - Successful applicants cannot reapply. --- ## Additional Information - Grant holders are required to report annually via Researchfish during the grant and for five years after completion. - No-cost extensions may be available for periods of absence or project delays. - Starter Grant holders are eligible for one-to-one mentoring and the Academy’s PILLAR support programme. - Prior career breaks are considered in the review process. - For full eligibility and application guidance, see the latest [FAQs](https://acmedsci.ac.uk/file-download/sgcl-faq-2026) and [sample application form](https://acmedsci.ac.uk/file-download/sgcl-application-form-templateguidance-2026-1). --- ## External Links - [Wellcome Trust Research Funding](https://wellcome.org/research-funding) - [Academy of Medical Sciences – Starter Grants Main Page](https://acmedsci.ac.uk/grants-and-schemes/grant-schemes/starter-grants) - [Academy of Medical Sciences – Eligibility Details](https://acmedsci.ac.uk/grants-and-schemes/grant-schemes/starter-grants#tab2) - [Starter Grants FAQs 2026](https://acmedsci.ac.uk/file-download/sgcl-faq-2026) - [Sample Application Form and Guidance 2026](https://acmedsci.ac.uk/file-download/sgcl-application-form-templateguidance-2026-1) --- ## Contact Information | Name | Role | Email | Phone | Bio Link | |----------------------|----------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|--------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| | David Peters | Grants Officer | [David.Peters@acmedsci.ac.uk](mailto:David.Peters@acmedsci.ac.uk) | – | [View bio](https://acmedsci.ac.uk/about/our-work/staff-directory/grants/david-peters) | | Dr Grace Cowen | Senior Grants Officer (UK) | [grace.cowen@acmedsci.ac.uk](mailto:grace.cowen@acmedsci.ac.uk) | 020 3141 3210| [View bio](https://acmedsci.ac.uk/about/our-work/staff-directory/grants/dr-grace-cowen) | | Holly Sinclair | Grants Manager (Health of Public)| [holly.sinclair@acmedsci.ac.uk](mailto:holly.sinclair@acmedsci.ac.uk) | – | [View bio](https://acmedsci.ac.uk/about/our-work/staff-directory/grants/holly-sinclair) | | Academy Grants Team | General Enquiries | [clinicallecturers@acmedsci.ac.uk](mailto:clinicallecturers@acmedsci.ac.uk) | – | – | ---

Starter Grants for Clinical Lecturers

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