Dunhill Medical Trust
Could Dunhill Medical Trust fund your project? Check fit free. Draft if yes — or shortlist better matches.
- Typical grants
- £50,000 – £300,000
- Applications
- Accepted
- How to apply
- Two-stage application
Works for Registered charities, CIOs, CICs and community groups.
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dunhillmedical.org.ukAbout Dunhill Medical Trust
The Dunhill Medical Trust is an independent charitable foundation dedicated to advancing healthy ageing through research, innovation and practical improvements in health and social care for older people. Established with a focus on evidence-based translation of knowledge into real-world benefits, the Trust values collaboration between researchers, practitioners and community organisations to address the complex challenges of later life. The Trust funds academic and clinical research into the biology of ageing, age-related conditions and frailty, alongside community-based interventions that promote independence, social connection and wellbeing. It supports universities, research organisations and charities working with older people, with a strong emphasis on building research capacity through fellowships and early-career development. Geographically, the Trust operates across the UK. Distinctively, the Trust maintains a rigorous open access policy and does not fund cancer research, tobacco-related activities, or projects focused solely on COVID-19. It prioritises organisations with proven expertise in ageing and a commitment to translating evidence into practice.
What Dunhill Medical Trust funds
The Trust supports research and interventions that improve the health and wellbeing of older people. Funded activities include research into the biology of ageing, age-related conditions and frailty, as well as community-based projects that promote independence, social connection and wellbeing. The Trust also funds research capacity building through post-doctoral fellowships and early-career development schemes, covering salaries and training. It operates across the UK, funding universities, research organisations and charities. Specific themes include the ageing immune system and undergraduate research placements in geriatrics. The Trust does not fund cancer research, tobacco-related activities, or projects focused solely on COVID-19.
Who can apply
The Trust funds registered charities, community groups, universities and research organisations. It prioritises organisations with proven expertise in ageing and a commitment to translating evidence into practice. Beneficiaries are older people, with some programmes also supporting young people through research placements. Eligibility varies by programme; for example, post-doctoral fellowships are open to early-career researchers with up to three years' experience, and some schemes require match funding. The Trust does not have a faith restriction.
What Dunhill Medical Trust doesn't fund
The Trust does not fund cancer research, tobacco-related activities, or projects focused solely on COVID-19. It also excludes bridging support, completion or extension of existing projects, stand-alone Master's or PhD projects, apprenticeship levy, and overheads (indirect costs).
How they like to fund
The Trust provides multi-year grants for research and fellowships, and some programmes require match funding. It welcomes unsolicited applications and funds both project and core costs such as salaries and training. The Trust emphasises collaboration between researchers, practitioners and community organisations.
How much does Dunhill Medical Trust give?
Dunhill Medical Trust runs 4 grant programmes. Every figure below is sourced from their published guidance.
Last verified 8 August 2026 · 47 sourced facts
- Online portal
- Online portal
- By invitation only
- Multi-year funding
- Match funding required
- Online portal
- 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 Dunhill Medical Trust funds — and what they won't
The full exclusions list (4)
- only open to post-doctoral researchers with up to three years' experience
- Current holders of Joint Undergraduate Research Placement grants are not eligible to apply to this round
- only one candidate per Department/Centre/Institute; Departments/Centres/Institutes that currently host a DMT Proleptic Post-doctoral Fellow are not eligible; Fellowships are not transferrable between institutions or to another individual; candidate should not have previously held or currently hold a permanent academic appointment
- Bridging support; Funds for the completion or extension of an existing project; Stand-alone Master’s or PhD projects; Research entirely focused on COVID-19; Apprenticeship levy; overheads (Indirect Costs)
Good to know
How to apply to Dunhill Medical Trust
Dunhill Medical Trust takes applications via two-stage application.
- Published programme route: online portal.
- Check whether your charity is in scope before you spend time on a full bid.
What Dunhill Medical Trust's application asks
We hold the 15 questions from Dunhill Medical Trust's application form, word for word — so you know exactly what you're signing up to answer.
“Please outline details of your previous research experience How will this Fellowship build on your previous research experience?”
Max 400 words
“Case for Support Your free-text case for support should not exceed 2000 words. It is suggested that you organise this under the following headings: Research background... Aims and objectives... Importance...”
Max 2000 words
13 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 Dunhill Medical Trust could be a fit. Draft if yes.
Frequently asked questions
How much funding does Dunhill Medical Trust provide?
Dunhill Medical Trust runs 4 grant programmes — Joint British Geriatrics Society / Vivensa Foundation Undergraduate Research Placement Scheme: Up to £12,325 · The Ageing Immune System: Call for Research Project Grant proposals: Up to £400,000.
Where does Dunhill Medical Trust fund charities?
Dunhill Medical Trust funds charities operating in the UK.
Does Dunhill Medical Trust accept unsolicited applications?
Dunhill Medical Trust accepts unsolicited applications from eligible organisations. Current programme status is on this page — do not assume a round is open.
What does Dunhill Medical Trust not fund?
Their published exclusions include: only open to post-doctoral researchers with up to three years' experience; Current holders of Joint Undergraduate Research Placement grants are not eligible to apply to this round; only one candidate per Department/Centre/Institute; Departments/Centres/Institutes that currently host a DMT Proleptic Post-doctoral Fellow are not eligible; Fellowships are not transferrable between institutions or to another individual; candidate should not have previously held or currently hold a permanent academic appointment; Bridging support; Funds for the completion or extension of an existing project; Stand-alone Master’s or PhD projects; Research entirely focused on COVID-19; Apprenticeship levy; overheads (Indirect Costs). The full exclusions list is further up this page.
How do I apply for funding from Dunhill Medical Trust?
Dunhill Medical Trust takes applications via two-stage application. Published programme route: online portal.
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Could Dunhill Medical Trust be a fit?
Check free. Draft if yes, or shortlist better matches.