+ More Filters

Reset Filters

Title

Funding Organization

Funding Type

Eligible Country

Deadline

Other (Select all that apply)

Show Expired Programs

Show Verified Programs

Not Verified

Our senior research fellowships

Parkinson's UK

Our senior research fellowships are for people who want to specialise in Parkinson's research by establishing their own independent research group.

We’re keen to receive applications from researchers working across all fields of research into Parkinson's, including research on the potential links between diabetes and Parkinson’s. This can include research into Parkinson's Plus - conditions that share some aspects of Parkinson's, such as multiple system atrophy (MSA) and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP).

Deadlines

The deadline for preproposal applications is Wednesday 1 July 2026, by 4pm.

The full application deadline will be Wednesday 7 October 2026, by 4pm for applicants who are successful at the preproposal stage.

The senior research fellowship preproposal form will be made available in 2026 on our online application system. Applicants who are successful at the preproposal stage will then be invited to submit a full application via our online application system.

Online interviews are likely to take place in the week commencing Monday 23 November 2026.

Workshop

We held a virtual workshop earlier this year for potential applicants to our senior research fellowship scheme. This included the chance to hear from a recent successful applicant, top tips from both lay and scientific reviewers, as well as information on patient and public involvement (PPI) requirements and equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI). If you would like to access the slides and a recording of the workshop, then please do contact us at researchapplications@parkinsons.org.uk

Duration and value

Senior research fellowships are initially offered for up to £300,000 for 3 years.

Funding can cover:

the cost of the applicant's salary
appropriate start-up and running costs
support for additional research assistance such as a technician or research assistant
well justified costs for training opportunities such as attendance at relevant conferences or short courses

Senior research fellowship award holders can formally apply for a further 2 years of funding at least 6 months before the end of the award.

Fellowships awarded for more than 3 years may be dependent on the host research institution committing some funds towards the latter stages of the fellowship.

AI based application success predictor

Competitive applications tend to score highly when they demonstrate the following strengths:

1️⃣ Clear Relevance to Parkinson’s Disease

The research must address mechanistic understanding, progression, or treatment of Parkinson’s, or focus on improving quality of life for people affected by the condition. Parkinson's UK

Pro tips:

Explicitly state how the work will advance knowledge or care in Parkinson’s.

Align questions with known unmet needs or strategic priorities within the field.

2️⃣ Innovation and Scientific Rigor

Parkinson’s UK seeks novel, well-designed science — projects that go beyond incremental findings to deliver transformative insights or tools.

Pro tips:

Focus on bold hypotheses with credible rationale.

Explain why the proposed mechanisms or interventions represent a step-change.

Include robust methodological detail and rationale for design choices.

3️⃣ Feasibility and Clear Milestones

Reviewers assess whether the project plan is feasible and whether the timeline and design will likely yield meaningful outcomes within the funding period.

Pro tips:

Provide a logical, staged plan with defined deliverables.

Justify sample sizes, expected outcomes, and risk mitigation strategies.

4️⃣ Public and Patient Involvement (PPI)

Parkinson’s UK encourages meaningful involvement of people affected by Parkinson’s throughout the research cycle — including idea generation, design, execution and dissemination. Early involvement improves competitiveness. Parkinson's UK

Pro tips:

Include PPI plans and show how patient input will shape research questions and interpretation.

5️⃣ Investigator Track Record and Environment

Competitive applications typically come from researchers with strong expertise in relevant areas, appropriate infrastructure and institutional support.

Pro tips:

Highlight past successes and relevant experience.

Demonstrate that you have access to the necessary expertise, facilities, and collaborators.

6️⃣ Pathways to Impact

Especially for non-drug and translational research, Parkinson’s UK looks for evidence that a project has a credible route to real-world benefit.

Pro tips:

Describe how findings will be taken forward into practice, further research, or clinical evaluation.

🧠 Practical Application Tips

✔ Start early and review deadlines — Parkinson’s UK often uses pre-proposal stages before full applications. Parkinson's UK
✔ Engage with PPI support early — lay reviewers and patient feedback are important. Parkinson's UK
✔ Tailor your narrative to Parkinson’s care and science contributors — clear benefit to people living with Parkinson’s strengthens impact statements.
✔ Sign up for research newsletters to stay updated on open calls and deadlines. Parkinson's UK

📌 Summary: Parkinson’s UK Funding at a Glance

Funding Scheme	Focus	Typical Support
Project Grants	Mechanistic & translational research	Up to ~£400k, ~3 years britishpainsociety.org
Drug Accelerator Awards	Drug discovery/translational	Competitive/value varies Parkinson's UK
Non-Drug Approaches Grants	Quality of life interventions	Up to ~£200k britishpainsociety.org
Senior Research Fellowships	Leadership & independent research	Higher value, longer duration ResearchConnect
Support for meetings/workshops	Community research activity	Variable

Specialties

Clinical Trials

Public Health

Neurosciences

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants should have a strong track record of original and productive research in their area which shows impact across past appointments (typically at least one previous post-doctoral appointment). They should be able to demonstrate:

the progress they have made in moving towards independence through diverse collaborations and partnerships independent of their sponsors and past supervisor
receipt of small amounts of independent funding (such as a previous intermediate fellowship) and/or a track record of effective management of a small number of their own laboratory staff.

Supervisors should hold employment contracts that extend beyond the period of the grant.

Researchers who hold tenure are not eligible to apply.

Grants are tenable only at a UK university, NHS Trust, statutory social care organisation or other UK research institution.

Co-applicants and collaborators may be based at institutions outside the UK or at pharmaceutical or biotech companies.

We actively encourage people from all sections of the community to apply for grants, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity, age, disability, sexual orientation, or religion.

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: Parkinson's UK

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: 50 Broadway London SW1H 0DB

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