Research Opportunities
Opportunities for research funding are provided below.
For individuals who have contributed significantly to respiratory research, eligibility information for our BTS Medals and Awards can be found here.
These are 1–2 year fellowships to provide postdoctoral research experience for clinicians, working in a Crick research group on a project agreed between the fellow and the Crick group leader.
The fellowships aim to:
Foster long-term clinical links and collaborations.
Provide clinicians with a postdoctoral extension of their research experience, and with scientific networking, training and career development opportunities.
Provide a platform from which fellows may apply for external funding, e.g. clinician scientist fellowships, to be held at the Crick or elsewhere.
Fellows at the Crick will be embedded in a vibrant multidisciplinary research community of more than 1000 scientists carrying out research to improve our understanding of health and disease.
This opportunity would suit talented and motivated postdoctoral clinicians who are passionate about research and show outstanding potential for continuing a career in academic medicine and research. Applicants should have completed a medical degree, or equivalent clinical professional qualification, and hold, or be about to hold, a research PhD.
The application submission window for Crick fully funded fellowships (route 1) is open from early March 2025 to end of April 2025.
Applications from fellows with funding for their own salary support (route 2) are welcome all year round.
Click here for further informationThe Ruth Strauss Foundation ran a non-smoking lung cancer grants programme from 1 August to 7 November 2024. This grants round is now closed.
Please watch this space for the Foundation's next grants call in summer 2025.
For more information, click hereThe Small Research Grant Programme supports UK-based researchers in building evidence to improve care and treatment for people with pulmonary fibrosis.
The call encourages projects that use:
- Existing Data – to analyse trends, identify interventions, and address gaps in policy and practice.
- Qualitative Research - to capture patient and caregiver experiences to inform care improvements.
- Scoping Reviews – to identify knowledge gaps to help shape future research priorities.
Funding Available: £10,000 total, supporting one or more projects, depending on the funding requested by successful applicants. Project Duration: 6–18 months.
Application deadline: 6 May 2025
For more information, click hereAre you a basic science or medical student interested in researching chronic respiratory diseases? Or a researcher with an idea for an 8-week research project?
APF along with the British Association for Lung Research (BALR) support studentships over the summer vacation period.
Application deadline: 10 May 2025
For more information, click hereAre you an early career researcher or healthcare professional presenting your work at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress 2025 or another conference?
Do you have caring responsibilities or face additional barriers to attend scientific meetings? We can help!
Who can apply?
UK-based:
- basic science and medical students
- early career researchers
- healthcare professionals
Applications are invited where an abstract has been accepted for presentation (poster or spoken session) at a national or international conference.
Key dates:
Our Research Review Panel considers applications 5-6 times a year.
The next deadline for applications: 30 June 2025.
For more information, click hereThis year funds have been made available to award grants to those whose abstracts receive the highest score, accepted for presentation at the BTS Winter Meeting. If you wish to apply for a conference grant you must be the first author of the abstract and meet one of the following criteria:
- Within 5 years of having achieved your PhD
- Registered for Higher Degree in a relevant subject
- A doctor in training
- A nurse, allied health professional, healthcare scientist or other member of the respiratory team
You must also agree to return the grant if you receive funding to attend the Winter Meeting from another source.
You will be able to declare your wish to apply for a conference grant when submitting your abstract (If you are submitting this abstract on behalf of a colleague who would meet this criteria, you may tick this box for your colleague to be considered for the grant). This grant is not available to medical students.
BTS is grateful to AstraZeneca and GSK for supporting the conference grants for 2025.
For more information and to apply for the grant, select the relevant tick box on the abstract submission form