Second round of pre-doctoral early-career fellowships for respiratory healthcare professionals announced

Last year, four healthcare professionals benefited from the grants. These were: 

• Laura White, from Lancaster University, for Living WILD: Living Well with Interstitial Lung Disease, co-designing a holistic palliative care approach.     
• Olivia Walsh, from the University of Oxford, for Digital home monitoring in malignant pleural effusion managed with indwelling pleural catheters (IPCs).     
• Ethan Singer, from Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Trust, for work in airway clearance in bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis (CF), and primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD).     
• Zander Williams, from Royal Brompton Hospital, for Characterisation of large airway collapse during exercise (LACE).   

The new grant can strengthen an application to a National Funding Body by supporting a range of pre-application activities including:  

• Developing research ideas and project plans 
• Conducting pilot or feasibility studies to collect initial data
• Performing desk research to provide evidence/or justify unmet patient need
• Identifying collaborators/mentors
• Putting together a robust patient and public involvement approach   

The award is open to any healthcare professional, including Allied Healthcare Professionals, and these funds are hoped to support the next generation of clinical researchers. 

BTS President, Professor Robina Coker, says: 

“This funding stream is designed to give healthcare professionals the ability to focus on producing a PhD application, safe in the knowledge that their current role remains resourced. Respiratory research offers a fantastic opportunity to enhance clinical practice and make a real difference in patients' lives.   

Supporting the next generation of respiratory academics is vital at a time when clinical academic research is declining.  BTS and Asthma + Lung UK are committed to building and sustaining an inclusive academic workforce. 

Clare McVicker, Head of Research & Innovation at Asthma + Lung UK says:   

“Nearly 12 million people in the UK are living with a lung condition; that's around 1 in 6 people. Asthma + Lung UK is working hard to reverse the decades-long underinvestment that has left lung research on life support.  Through this partnership with the British Thoracic Society, the charity hopes to support talented clinicians to become future leaders in respiratory research. Currently, too few healthcare professionals have the opportunity to pursue respiratory research careers.  

By supporting healthcare professionals to develop strong doctoral fellowship applications, these awards will help grow the clinical academic workforce. This in turn will help accelerate research and improve the lives of people affected by lung conditions."  

For more details and how to apply, please use the Flexi-Grant portal on the Asthma + Lung UK website.

Closing date for applications: Monday 25 January 2027 at 12 noon