Kennedy Trust for Rheumatology Research
Could Kennedy Trust for Rheumatology Research fund your project? Check fit free. Draft if yes — or shortlist better matches.
- Applications
- Accepted
- How to apply
- Two-stage application
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kennedytrust.orgAbout Kennedy Trust for Rheumatology Research
The Kennedy Trust for Rheumatology Research is a specialist funder dedicated to advancing the understanding, prevention, and treatment of musculoskeletal, rheumatic, inflammatory, and immunological diseases. Founded by Mathilda and Terence Kennedy following personal experience with rheumatoid arthritis, the Trust helped establish the world's first dedicated rheumatic disease research institute (now the Kennedy Institute at the University of Oxford). The Trust emphasises scientific excellence, innovation, collaboration, and translating basic discoveries into clinical therapies. Its approach prioritises sustained investment in UK research, nurturing talent, and maintaining deep ties to the Kennedy Institute alongside national expansion.
What Kennedy Trust for Rheumatology Research funds
The Trust funds basic, translational, and clinical research into rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and spondyloarthropathies, as well as musculoskeletal disorders and overlapping inflammatory and immune conditions. It supports discovery projects, innovative platforms, intellectual property development, and new therapies. Programmes include Senior Research Fellowships, Transition Fellowships for early-career scientists, Research Ignition Awards for pump-priming innovative research, and MB-PhD studentships for medical students. International collaborations are encouraged. Funding is available across the UK.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants are UK research institutions including universities, medical schools, and NHS centres. Individuals apply through their host institution. The Trust targets academic researchers and interdisciplinary teams at institutions with strong records in inflammation science. Candidates for Senior Research Fellowships should not hold a current permanent faculty post. MB-PhD studentships are limited to UK medical students at partner institutions including Birmingham, Manchester, and Oxford. There is no religious restriction.
What Kennedy Trust for Rheumatology Research doesn't fund
The Trust does not fund direct patient care, core costs, or general overheads. Small non-research charities are ineligible. Research Ignition Awards prioritise early and mid-career researchers, with a focus on rheumatic, musculoskeletal, immunological, and inflammatory diseases. Exclusions are specific to each programme and focus on maintaining high-impact translational research rather than routine support.
How they like to fund
The Trust provides multi-year funding across its programmes, including pump-priming innovative research through Research Ignition Awards and longer-term fellowships. It supports salaries, direct costs, limited equipment, and overheads. Unsolicited applications are accepted, and the Trust works by invitation for some programmes. The approach emphasises sustained investment in UK research and fostering spin-outs for commercialisation.
How much does Kennedy Trust for Rheumatology Research give?
Kennedy Trust for Rheumatology Research runs 4 grant programmes. Every figure below is sourced from their published guidance.
Last verified 8 August 2026 · 44 sourced facts
- By invitation only
- 1 rounds a year
- Multi-year funding
- 1 rounds a year
- Decisions in ~30 weeks
- Multi-year funding
- 1 rounds a year
- Decisions in ~39 weeks
- Multi-year funding
- Two-stage process
- 1 rounds a year
- Decisions in ~39 weeks
- 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 Kennedy Trust for Rheumatology Research funds — and what they won't
Develop the next generation of clinical academics; early career training in a dynamic, multidisciplinary environment; focus on immune mediated inflammatory or musculoskeletal diseases
The full exclusions list (2)
- Eligibility limited to UK medical students at partner institutions (Birmingham, Manchester, Oxford)
- Candidates should not hold a current permanent faculty post
Good to know
How to apply to Kennedy Trust for Rheumatology Research
Kennedy Trust for Rheumatology Research takes applications via two-stage application.
- Published programme route: by invitation only.
- Check whether your charity is in scope before you spend time on a full bid.
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 Kennedy Trust for Rheumatology Research could be a fit. Draft if yes.
Frequently asked questions
How much funding does Kennedy Trust for Rheumatology Research provide?
Kennedy Trust for Rheumatology Research runs 4 grant programmes — MB-PhD Programme: Typically £23,000 · Research Ignition Awards: Up to £100,000 · Senior Research Fellowship: £1,500,000 – £2,500,000 · Transition Fellowship: £500,000 – £500,000.
Where does Kennedy Trust for Rheumatology Research fund charities?
Kennedy Trust for Rheumatology Research funds charities operating in the UK.
Does Kennedy Trust for Rheumatology Research accept unsolicited applications?
Kennedy Trust for Rheumatology Research accepts unsolicited applications from eligible organisations. Current programme status is on this page — do not assume a round is open.
What does Kennedy Trust for Rheumatology Research not fund?
Their published exclusions include: Eligibility limited to UK medical students at partner institutions (Birmingham, Manchester, Oxford); Candidates should not hold a current permanent faculty post. The full exclusions list is further up this page.
How do I apply for funding from Kennedy Trust for Rheumatology Research?
Kennedy Trust for Rheumatology Research takes applications via two-stage application. Published programme route: by invitation only.
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Could Kennedy Trust for Rheumatology Research be a fit?
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