Action Medical Research

Action Medical Research is a dedicated charity advancing paediatric medicine through innovative research that prevents and treats childhood diseases and disabilities, rooted in the belief that every baby, child, and young person deserves life-changing health breakthroughs. Established with a founding vision to conquer polio and now championing evidence-led discovery, its values emphasize scientific rigour, unmet medical needs, measurable patient impact, and clinician-scientist collaboration to transform laboratory insights into real-world prevention, diagnosis, and therapies. Their impact approach prioritizes high-potential projects delivering tangible benefits for vulnerable young lives via rigorous peer review and dissemination of breakthroughs.

The charity funds medical research targeting rare childhood diseases, pregnancy and neonatal complications like premature birth and birth asphyxia, childhood disabilities and neurodevelopmental conditions, childhood cancers and brain tumours, inherited genetic disorders, severe infections, and life-limiting illnesses threatening quality of life. Beneficiaries encompass unborn babies, newborn and premature infants, critically ill neonates, children aged 0-18 with complex health needs, physical disabilities, neurodevelopmental disorders, and those at high risk from infectious threats or genetic syndromes. Supported interventions include laboratory science probing disease mechanisms, clinical trials testing novel treatments, translational research bridging bench to bedside, and health services research optimizing care delivery, with emphasis on early intervention, preventative strategies, and therapies for conditions like neonatal brain injury, Crohn’s disease, and rare syndromes such as Jeune syndrome. They champion projects advancing non-invasive diagnostics, genetic studies, cooling therapies, and long-term care for paediatric patients with severe, often overlooked conditions.

Exclusions encompass adult-only research, non-medical projects, core operational costs, or ongoing service provision like routine clinical care. Distinctive for its singular paediatric focus, track record of national medical advances like newborn screening and folic acid prevention of spina bifida, and commitment to rare and complex conditions underserved elsewhere, Action prioritizes UK-wide research in universities and NHS trusts, favouring evidence-based, collaborative efforts with strong potential for paediatric health transformation and involvement of early-career researchers through training fellowships.