+ More Filters

Reset Filters

Title

Funding Organization

Funding Type

Eligible Country

Deadline

Other (Select all that apply)

Show Expired Programs

Show Verified Programs

Verified

BASK/ORUK Research Fellowship

Orthopaedic Research UK

The British Association for Surgery of the Knee (BASK) and Orthopaedic Research UK (ORUK) are delighted to announce applications are opening on Monday 27th April 2026 for their joint 2-year research fellowship. The aims of the BASK/ORUK Research Fellowship are to deliver a programme of high-quality knee-related research and to develop the careers of future UK research leaders in knee surgery.

How much funding is available?

Up to £130k is funded between the two organisations for a period of 2 years, or longer, if taken on a less than full-time (LTFT) basis.

Application process

Applications will be a single stage process closing on Friday 5 June, followed by interviews and award decisions by November 2026. The 2-year fellowship is planned to commence within 6 months of the decision date.

Applications are encouraged in, but not restricted to the following themes:

Use of digital aids and AI to monitor knee outcomes (including after painful total knee replacement).
Women and adolescent knee injuries.
Osteochondral injuries and chondral replacement.
Biomechanics and management of meniscus root tears.
Injection treatment for osteoarthritis and joint fluid analysis.

Key dates:

Single-stage application form opening on Monday 27 April 2026and closing by 17:00 on Friday 5 June 2026.
External Expert Review will take place between 8 June – 31 August 2026.
Following the review of the BASK/ORUK Selection Panel, shortlisted applicants will be notified in September 2026.
Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed online in October/November 2026.
Award decisions will be received shortly after the interviews.
The fellowship must start no later than August 2027.

Applicants will be assessed on the following criteria and are also expected to provide details on Intellectual Property and testing on animals, if applicable.

Purpose of research: research aims, objectives and deliverables.
Background to investigation: brief literature review, personal track record and preliminary data obtained by the applicant(s).
Plan of investigation, covering materials & methods: a detailed technical step-by-step research plan, according to linked work packages, and focusing on the core ideas and methodologies.
Research environment and resources: research clinical/technical support, laboratory space, equipment and any other additional fundings.
Research impact:
- Who will benefit from this research?
- How can your research be translated into care or treatment for patients?
- How will your research represent the aims and objectives of BASK and ORUK?
Outreach and engagement.
Research budget: full cost breakdown.

Recipient requirements

Contract: The applicants must share the agreement with their respective University /Trust’s Research Contracts Department and agree in principle with our Standard Research Agreement terms and conditions.
Progress report: Every 6 months, the successful Fellows are asked to submit an interim report, covering their research progress and details of publications and presentations.
The financial and non-financial support of BASK and ORUK must be duly acknowledged in all the presentations and publications by the Fellows.

AI Based Application Success Predictor

🦴 1. Strong Focus on Musculoskeletal & Orthopaedic Conditions (Non-Negotiable)

Projects must directly address:
- Bone, joint, and musculoskeletal disorders
Common areas:
- Osteoarthritis
- Trauma & fracture healing
- Joint replacement
- Spine disorders

👉 Weak orthopaedic relevance → low success probability

🔄 2. Translational & Innovation Focus (Top Predictor)

ORUK explicitly prioritizes:
- Translational research (lab → clinic)
- Innovation that can be applied in practice

👉 Key question:
“Will this lead to a new or improved treatment or intervention?”

🎯 3. Clear Patient Impact (Critical)

Successful proposals:

Demonstrate:
- Improvement in patient outcomes or quality of life
Focus on:
- Reducing pain
- Improving mobility
- Enhancing recovery

🚀 4. Strong Emphasis on Commercialization Potential

Unique to ORUK:

Preference for:
- Projects with pathway to commercialization
Includes:
- Devices
- Biomaterials
- Digital health tools

👉 Industry translation is a major differentiator

🧪 5. Feasible, Milestone-Driven Project Design

Must include:
- Clear objectives
- Defined milestones
- Realistic timelines

👉 Projects should show progression toward application or market

👩‍🔬 6. Investigator Capability & Multidisciplinary Teams

Strong proposals include:
- Clinicians + engineers + scientists
Demonstrated ability to:
- Deliver translational outcomes

👉 Multidisciplinary teams are highly valued

🤝 7. Collaboration with Industry or Clinical Partners

Higher success for:
- Academic–industry partnerships
Demonstrates:
- Real-world applicability

📊 8. Evidence of Preliminary Data

Not always mandatory, but beneficial:
- Pilot data
- Proof-of-concept results

👉 Strengthens feasibility and credibility

🌍 9. Alignment with UK Healthcare Needs

Preference for:
- Projects relevant to:
  - NHS priorities
Focus on:
- Cost-effective solutions

👉 Health system relevance improves competitiveness

💰 10. Realistic Budget & Deliverables

Funding is typically:
- Moderate-scale (pilot to mid-size projects)
Budget must be:
- Justified
- Linked to milestones

📊 Summary: Key Predictors (Ranked)

Highest impact factors:

Orthopaedic focus
Translational innovation
Patient impact

Moderate predictors:
4. Commercialization potential
5. Feasibility & milestones
6. Multidisciplinary team

Supporting factors:
7. Collaboration
8. Preliminary data
9. Budget clarity

💡 Insider Insight

Compared to other orthopaedic funders:

Orthopaedic Research UK is:
👉 innovation-driven + commercialization-focused
👉 sits between academic funding and industry translation

👉 Key evaluation question:
“Will this research translate into a practical solution that benefits patients and healthcare systems?”

Specialties

Orthopedics

Eligibility Requirements

It is aimed at academics, clinicians and allied health professionals with a strong interest in research into any knee area. The Fellowship will be open exclusively to BASK members, and at least one proposed supervisor for the research project must also be a BASK member.

Applicants may choose whether the award is taken on a salary or stipend basis and whether it is full-time or less than full-time (LTFT), with a minimum of 0.5 full-time equivalent (FTE).

Eligible Countries:

United Kingdom

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: Orthopaedic Research UK

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: Furlong House 10a Chandos Street London W1G 9DQ

Legal & Affiliation Disclaimer

Affiliation Disclaimer: Trialect operates independently and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or supported by any sponsors or organizations posting on the GrantsBoard platform. As an independent aggregator of publicly available funding opportunities, Trialect provides equal access to information for all users without endorsing any specific funding source, content, organization, or sponsor. Trialect assumes no responsibility for the content posted by sponsors or third parties.

Subscription Disclaimer: Upon logging into Trialect, you may choose to SUBSCRIBE to GrantsBoard for timely notifications of funding opportunities and to access exclusive benefits, such as priority alerts, reminders, personalized recommendations, and additional application support. However, users are advised to contact sponsors directly for any questions and are not required to subscribe to engage with funding opportunities.

Content Ownership and Copyright Disclaimer: Trialect respects the intellectual property rights of all organizations and individuals. All content posted on GrantsBoard is provided solely for informational purposes and remains the property of the original owners. Trialect does not claim ownership of, nor does it have any proprietary interest in, content provided by third-party sponsors. Users are encouraged to verify content and ownership directly with the posting sponsor.

Fair Use Disclaimer: The information and content available on GrantsBoard are compiled from publicly accessible sources in alignment with fair use principles under U.S. copyright law. Trialect serves as an aggregator of this content, offering it to users in good faith and with the understanding that it is available for public dissemination. Any organization or individual who believes their intellectual property rights have been violated is encouraged to contact us for prompt resolution.

Third-Party Posting Responsibility Disclaimer: Trialect is a neutral platform that allows third-party sponsors to post funding opportunities for informational purposes only. Sponsors are solely responsible for ensuring that their postings comply with copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. Trialect assumes no liability for any copyright or intellectual property infringements in third-party content and will take appropriate action to address any substantiated claims.

Accuracy and Verification Disclaimer: Trialect makes no warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information provided by sponsors. Users are advised to verify the details of any funding opportunity directly with the sponsor before taking action. Trialect cannot be held liable for any discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies in third-party postings.

Notice and Takedown Policy: Trialect is committed to upholding copyright law and protecting the rights of intellectual property owners. If you believe that content on GrantsBoard infringes your copyright or intellectual property rights, please contact us with detailed information about the claim. Upon receipt of a valid notice, Trialect will promptly investigate and, where appropriate, remove or disable access to the infringing content.

View Funding Opportunity