Research Seed Grants

Lead applicant

We particularly encourage applications from researchers at the start of their independent career or those who want to develop ideas that are outside of their discipline or area of expertise.

As a lead applicant you’ll need to hold a post at one of the following organisations:

• Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at Queen Mary University of London.
• Barts Health NHS Trust hospitals.
• School of Health & Psychological Sciences at City, University of London.

Applications will only be considered for projects that are based at one of the organisations listed above.

For the duration of the award, you must have either:

• An independent academic, clinical or research post and receive your salary from one of the organisations above (rather than from another research grant). If you have a clinical post, you must have protected time for research.
• A fellowship or personal award that provides your salary, at postdoctoral level or above.

Applicants who currently hold a Research Seed Grant, or are funded through a Targeted Transformational Funding recruitment package, are not eligible and must wait until their grant has ended before applying.

You are not eligible to be an applicant if you are employed as a postdoctoral researcher or clinical fellow.

Co-applicants

You can apply with up to three co-applicants. They may be external to your organisation, but you’ll need to explain why their specific expertise is needed.

Your application will be reviewed by our Scientific Review Panel, using the following criteria:

Benefit -expected research outcomes aim to enhance our understanding of health and illness and/or have the potential to lead to improved lives in East London.

Originality – a novel and important research proposal within its field.

Feasibility - preliminary or published data that supports the research question or hypothesis and expected research outcomes. The proposed approaches are realistic, well developed and likely to achieve the aims.

Involvement – appropriate plans for engagement with, and involvement of, patients, the public, local services, research and/or clinical networks.

Credentials - the applicants and wider team have the necessary experience, skills and knowledge to undertake the proposed research, relative to career stage and career path.

Sustainability – the proposal includes appropriate plans and commitment to use the expected research outcomes in the future, including dissemination plans, and how they will lead to further funding.

You can request up to £75,000 for staff and research costs specific to your application, for up to 12 months (or 18 months for projects that involve patient/participant recruitment). 

See our Grants Cost Policy for details of allowed and disallowed costs. 

• Extensions of PhD projects, bridge-funding, or short-term fellowships. 
• PhD student fees or consumables for studentships/fellowships funded elsewhere. 
• Projects that have clear potential to be funded by other funders or revenue sources.
• Co-funding of projects that are part-funded by other funders.
• Projects for the sole purpose of supporting research resources (e.g. facilities, multi-user equipment, biobanks, cohorts, and databases).