Pre-doctoral early career fellowships for respiratory HCPs
The British Thoracic Society (BTS) have joined with Asthma + Lung UK (A+LUK) to fund grants for healthcare professionals who would like to apply for a PhD (or equivalent qualification, e.g. MD) in respiratory-related research, but currently do not have the time, resources, or support needed to develop an application.
This award is open to any healthcare professional, including Allied Healthcare Professionals.
BTS and A+LUK are offering up to £40,000 for up to six months (or pro-rated for longer periods) to support the development of a follow-on funding application. Examples of activities that this grant could support include:
- Developing research ideas and project plans that will lead to an application/s to a National funding body.
- Conducting pilot or feasibility studies to collect initial data to inform an application/s to a National funding body.
- Performing desk research required to evidence for a National funding body application and/or justify unmet patient need.
- Identifying collaborators/mentors to allow the submission of a National funding body application.
- Putting together a robust patient and public involvement approach, as may be required to allow the submission of a research application to a National funding body application.
It’s our hope that these funds help support the next generation of clinical researchers.
Please note:
- Applicants must be committed to applying for follow-on funding upon completion of this grant, which will support their journey towards a PhD or equivalent qualification.
- This follow-on funding application should ideally be made within six months of completing this A+LUK/BTS grant.
Please apply using the Flexi-Grant portal on the A+LUK website.
Closing date for applications: Friday 13 February 2026 at 3pm.
Yes. If you’re aware of the submission date/timelines for the follow-on grant you wish to apply for when completing this grant application, please state this within your application.
No problem, this grant is designed to support you to conduct the necessary activities to make your best next step. In your application, you will need to evidence your commitment to taking this step and how this grant can support you to do that. In the application form, you are asked to describe the follow-on funding you’re likely to apply for, but you can change your mind re. which funding stream you apply for at a later date. Some examples of follow-on funding opportunities you can consider include an NIHR Predoctoral award, NIHR Doctoral award, MRC studentship.
That’s fine, your funding (up to £40,000) can be pro-rated to reflect the length of time that your proposed activities will take. The total funding amount available won’t change but it can be phased to support the required length of your grant.
Sadly, this grant is only available for people who require support to prepare a competitive follow-on funding application.
This grant is designed to support you to make a competitive application for funding that will move you towards a PhD or equivalent qualification. We know how competitive these funding competitions are and appreciate that there is no way to guarantee the success of your follow-on application.
This award is open to any respiratory healthcare professional.
If you’re not currently practicing for a legitimate reason – e.g. taking a career break or currently taking parental leave, then you can still apply for this award. If you have any questions regarding this, please contact us at research@asthmaandlung.org.uk.
Applicants and the host/grant-holding institution must be based in the UK. Applications from individuals/institutions outside of the UK are not eligible.
That’s fine – however, please evidence in your application how your next step will contribute to the respiratory field and how your proposed PhD (or equivalent) project will be focus on a respiratory subject.
Yes, the principal applicant for this A+LUK/BTS award should be the individual who will apply for the follow-on grant.
Yes, a named supervisor should be a co-applicant on the A+LUK/BTS grant application.
No. Principal applicants must not hold a PhD or equivalent (e.g. Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree).