SRUK/WSF Grant Call 2025
Quality of Life Matters: Tackling Gut and Nutrition Challenges in Scleroderma
We are excited to announce that Scleroderma & Raynaud’s UK and the World Scleroderma Foundation are partnering to launch this year’s grant call: ‘Quality of Life Matters: Tackling Gut and Nutrition Challenges in Scleroderma’.
Scleroderma & Raynaud’s UK is the only UK charity dedicated to funding research into Scleroderma and Raynaud’s. By funding novel scientific research, we aim to improve the lives of people living with Scleroderma and Raynaud’s.
The World Scleroderma Foundation promotes and supports global research into all aspects of Scleroderma and is committed to improving the quality of life for Scleroderma sufferers and their families.
Key Details:
- Expression of Interest Opening Date: Tuesday, July 1, 2025
- Expression of Interest Deadline: Monday, September 1, 2025
- Full Application Period: Late September to Monday, November 17, 2025
- Outcomes Anticipated: January/February 2026
- Funding Available: Two awards of £50,000
The gastrointestinal tract is often affected in Systemic Sclerosis (SSc). Up to 90% of people with SSc will have some form of GI tract involvement, which can occur at any point and may progress over time. This can have a substantial impact on the nutrition and broader quality of life of patients.
Through the grant call, two awards of £50,000 will be made to innovative research teams, to promote high-quality research by new and established investigators with an interest in gastrointestinal involvement in Scleroderma and its impact on quality of life.
Proposals may be basic, translational, or clinical in nature but must be relevant to the theme of gastrointestinal health in Scleroderma, nutrition, or the impact of these areas on the quality of life of those living with the condition.
This is a two-stage application process, and the deadline for Expression of Interest applications is the Monday 1st September 2025. Successful expression of interest applicants will be invited to submit a full application from the end of September 2025, for a Monday 17th November 2025 deadline.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact [email protected] where a member of our Research Team will be happy to support you.
You can find the expression of interest form and guidance below:
SRUK-MRC Clinical Research Training Fellowship
SRUK has an ongoing agreement with the Medical Research Council to co-fund successful applicants to the MRC Clinical Research Training Fellowship scheme.
The SRUK-MRC Clinical Training Research Fellowship gives registered healthcare professionals the opportunity to undertake a PhD or reacquire research skills that are relevant to Scleroderma and Raynaud’s research. If you’re a healthcare professional interested in kickstarting a career in Scleroderma research, or if you’re looking to transition into the field, the scheme operates on a rolling basis, with three opportunities to apply each year. Deadlines to apply are in January, April, and September each year.
We will consider co-funding high quality applications relevant to any of the four key areas identified in our research strategy. You can find the full details of the call, upcoming deadlines, as well as details on how to apply online, здесь.
Previous Funding
Through the scheme, SRUK have previously co-funded Nina Goldman, who is currently undertaking a PhD at the Royal Free Hospital. The research funded through the scheme aims to develop a better understanding of how treatments work in Scleroderma-associated interstitial lung disease.
Speaking about the scheme, Nina told SRUK that “the fellowship from the MRC and SRUK allows doctors like me to develop research skills so we can run more clinical trials in the future. I’ve been given the space to think clearly about SSc-ILD and my research. I love knowing that I’m making an active difference: you can see treatments working, and I get to work out how!”