Cystic Fibrosis Trust
Could Cystic Fibrosis Trust fund your project? Check fit free. Draft if yes — or shortlist better matches.
- Typical grants
- £15,000 – £1,000,000
- Applications
- Accepted
- How to apply
- Two-stage application
- Decisions
- Bi monthly
Works for Registered charities, CIOs, CICs and community groups.
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cysticfibrosis.org.ukAbout Cystic Fibrosis Trust
The Cystic Fibrosis Trust is the UK's leading charity dedicated to transforming the lives of people with cystic fibrosis (CF). Founded by parents and clinicians, its mission is a world where CF no longer limits lives. The Trust funds pioneering research and education, taking a community-co-designed, evidence-based approach. It invests in Strategic Research Centres, Development Awards, and the Joseph Levy Education Fund, welcoming both basic and clinical research applications that address the JLA refreshed CF research priorities.
What Cystic Fibrosis Trust funds
The Trust funds research that addresses the JLA refreshed CF research priorities, with particular welcome for applications focusing on supporting people growing older with CF, CF diabetes, and the effects of modulators on systems outside the lungs. It supports both basic and clinical research, including salaries, equipment, and training. The Joseph Levy Education Fund provides grants to support people with cystic fibrosis into further or higher education. Research must be led by a UK-based institution, though international collaborations are welcome.
Who can apply
For research programmes, the Trust funds UK-based registered charities, unincorporated associations, trusts, community interest companies, and social enterprises. The principal investigator and lead institution must be based in the UK. The Joseph Levy Education Fund is open to individuals with cystic fibrosis. Beneficiaries include children, young people, and the general public affected by CF.
What Cystic Fibrosis Trust doesn't fund
The Trust does not fund capital works, core costs, or general organisational costs. For research programmes, salaries are excluded as a standalone cost. Applicants who were unsuccessful in a previous funding round cannot reapply for the same programme in the following round unless the new proposal differs significantly from the original.
How they like to fund
The Trust offers multi-year research grants, with funding periods of up to four years for Strategic Research Centre Awards and one to three years for Development Awards. The Joseph Levy Education Fund operates on a rolling basis. Unsolicited applications are welcome across all programmes.
How much does Cystic Fibrosis Trust give?
Cystic Fibrosis Trust runs 4 grant programmes. Every figure below is sourced from their published guidance.
Last verified 8 August 2026 · 59 sourced facts
- Two-stage process
- Multi-year funding
- Two-stage process
- Multi-year funding
- Online application form
- Two-stage process
- Multi-year funding
Those are the published figures. What your charity could realistically get — and whether you'd clear their rules on income, location and legal structure — is what the free fit check answers.
What Cystic Fibrosis Trust funds — and what they won't
Research that addresses our research goals, focused on the research priorities of people with CF. Applications from basic scientists are particularly welcome.
The full exclusions list (4)
- Applicants must be UK-based. Early Career Researchers must name a mentor as a co-applicant and submit a letter of support from their host institution. Established investigators who applied for a DA in the previous funding round and were unsuccessful cannot reapply for this year's funding round unless the new proposal differs significantly.
- If you applied for a DA in the previous funding round and were unsuccessful you cannot reapply for this year's funding round. New applications may be considered if differing significantly from any original proposal previously submitted.
- Applicants must have cystic fibrosis. Grants are not for general organisational costs.
- Applicants who applied for an SRC in the previous funding round and were unsuccessful cannot reapply for this year's funding round unless the new proposal differs significantly from the original.
Good to know
How to apply to Cystic Fibrosis Trust
Cystic Fibrosis Trust takes applications via two-stage application.
- Published programme route: two-stage process.
- Decisions are typically bi monthly.
- Check whether your charity is in scope before you spend time on a full bid.
What Cystic Fibrosis Trust's application asks
We hold the 32 questions from Cystic Fibrosis Trust's application form, word for word — so you know exactly what you're signing up to answer.
“Have the applicants presented a well-identified, important and challenging problem strategically relevant to cystic fibrosis? Consider relevance to Trusts research goals informed by the research priorities of the CF community.”
“Is the proposed research innovative and at the cutting-edge of the research domain?”
30 more questions from their form, plus answers drafted from your charity's real data if you decide to apply.
How it works
- 1Describe your project. Once — used for this funder and others.
- 2See if this could be a fit. Honest check on cause, place, size, and rules.
- 3Draft if yes. From your real data — or move on if not.
See if Cystic Fibrosis Trust could be a fit. Draft if yes.
Frequently asked questions
How much funding does Cystic Fibrosis Trust provide?
Cystic Fibrosis Trust runs 4 grant programmes — Development Award for Early Career Researchers: £150,000 – £300,000 · Development Award for Established Investigators: £150,000 – £300,000 · Joseph Levy Education Fund: Up to £660.
Where does Cystic Fibrosis Trust fund charities?
Cystic Fibrosis Trust funds charities operating in UK.
Does Cystic Fibrosis Trust accept unsolicited applications?
Cystic Fibrosis Trust accepts unsolicited applications from eligible organisations. Current programme status is on this page — do not assume a round is open.
What does Cystic Fibrosis Trust not fund?
Their published exclusions include: Applicants must be UK-based. Early Career Researchers must name a mentor as a co-applicant and submit a letter of support from their host institution. Established investigators who applied for a DA in the previous funding round and were unsuccessful cannot reapply for this year's funding round unless the new proposal differs significantly.; If you applied for a DA in the previous funding round and were unsuccessful you cannot reapply for this year's funding round. New applications may be considered if differing significantly from any original proposal previously submitted.; Applicants must have cystic fibrosis. Grants are not for general organisational costs.; Applicants who applied for an SRC in the previous funding round and were unsuccessful cannot reapply for this year's funding round unless the new proposal differs significantly from the original.. The full exclusions list is further up this page.
How do I apply for funding from Cystic Fibrosis Trust?
Cystic Fibrosis Trust takes applications via two-stage application. Published programme route: two-stage process.
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Could Cystic Fibrosis Trust be a fit?
Check free. Draft if yes, or shortlist better matches.