Brain Research Trust
About This Funder
Brain Research UK (formerly Brain Research Trust), established in 1971 and expanded nationwide in 2017, is the UK's leading charity dedicated to funding transformative neurological research. Its mission is to advance understanding and treatments for brain and nervous system conditions, creating a world where those affected live better and longer. Guided by evidence-led principles, it prioritizes high-impact, peer-reviewed science addressing patient needs over academic tradition, having invested over £58 million to date. Distinctive for uniting expert advisors, clinicians, and patient voices, it targets underfunded areas with rigour and strategic clarity.
The charity focuses on three priority themes—brain tumours, brain and spinal cord injury, and headache/facial pain—supporting basic science, translational studies, clinical trials, investigator-led projects, post-doctoral fellowships, clinical PhD fellowships, and multidisciplinary collaborations. Beneficiaries span all ages with these conditions, caregivers, and the UK health system, emphasizing innovation for better diagnosis, therapies, and quality of life.
Eligible applicants are UK-based researchers at academic institutions, universities, or hospitals, including early-career scientists (with salaries in place); no income thresholds apply, but proposals must align with priorities. Typical grants range £250,000–£300,000 over up to three years. Applications are unsolicited via staged calls: preliminary EOI for projects (next round late 2025, deadline Spring 2026), full submissions for fellowships (next: 14 January 2026), with annual peer-reviewed decisions in 4–5 months.
It excludes core costs, capital equipment, service provision, advocacy, or non-neurological research, standing out for its UK-wide scope, track record in high-need gaps, and commitment to lasting breakthroughs in neuroscience.
Eligibility Checklist
Funding Details
Writing your application?
Free guides on what funders look for, common mistakes, and how to stand out
How to apply to Brain Research Trust
Skip weeks of research. Write a strong application this afternoon — in your own words, with AI doing the heavy lifting.
Check your match
Describe your charity once and see how well you fit Brain Research Trust's priorities — scored on location, cause, size, and 3 other factors.
Draft with your AI co-pilot
Paste the application question and word limit. The co-pilot writes a first draft using your charity's real data and this funder's criteria — not generic filler. You edit every word before it leaves.
Review, refine, submit
Every answer runs through an 8-point quality check — clear ask, funder alignment, measurable outcomes, and more. You stay in control. The AI does the drafting; you make it sound like you.
Is Brain Research Trust right for your charity?
See your compatibility score and find similar funders.
Free · No credit card required
Similar Funders
Other funders with a similar profile and grant range.
Browse Related Grants
Apply to Brain Research Trust
Match, draft, and review — all in one place.
Free. No credit card required.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much funding does Brain Research Trust provide?
Brain Research Trust typically provides grants ranging from £250,000 - £300,000.
Where does Brain Research Trust fund charities?
Brain Research Trust funds charities operating in UK.
How do I apply for funding from Brain Research Trust?
With Fundermatcher, you describe your charity once and see your compatibility score with Brain Research Trust. If you're a good fit, you can start drafting your application immediately using our AI co-pilot — paste each question and word limit, and the co-pilot writes a tailored first draft using your charity's real data and Brain Research Trust's priorities. You review and edit every answer before submitting.
Will funders know my application was drafted with AI?
No. The co-pilot uses your charity's real name, numbers, and impact data — not generic filler or templates. Every draft reads like it was written by someone who knows your charity inside-out, because it's built on your actual profile. You edit and refine every word before it goes anywhere, so the final application sounds like you — because it is.
Your next application could be finished today
Brain Research Trust is one of 3,500+ UK funders in our database. See how well they match your charity, discover similar funders, and find the ones most likely to fund your work.
Free · No credit card required
Apply to Brain Research Trust this afternoon
See your match score, then draft your application with an AI co-pilot. You edit every word — it just saves you hours of writing.