British Diabetic Association

The Trust funds high-quality, hypothesis-driven diabetes research across biomedical, clinical, and psychosocial themes. Specific areas include type 2 prevention, beta cell therapies, self-management, health inequalities, and patient education. Activities supported range from basic research through to public engagement and guideline development. The Trust also funds professional training and evidence-based guidelines. Its distinctive approach integrates research, policy influence, and community engagement to address both medical and social aspects of diabetes. The Trust has a UK-wide reach and a clear focus on translating findings into clinical practice and policy change.

Eligible applicants are UK-based academic institutions, universities, and NHS organisations with tenured principal investigators for projects or specific career-stage criteria for fellowships. General charities or grassroots groups cannot apply directly. No income thresholds apply, but recipients are typically medium-to-large research-active entities. The Trust prioritises beneficiaries including patients, families, healthcare professionals, researchers, and underserved communities.

The Trust funds multi-year project grants, early and mid-career fellowships, PhD studentships, small pilot grants, and strategic innovation prizes for high-risk ideas. It welcomes unsolicited applications and uses a peer review process with assessment by panels that include people with lived experience. Mandatory patient involvement is required in all research it supports.