Lupus UK
Could Lupus UK fund your project? Check fit free. Draft if yes — or shortlist better matches.
- Typical grants
- £10,000 – £25,000
- Applications
- Accepted
- How to apply
- Email application
- Decisions
- Bi annually
Works for Registered charities, CIOs, CICs and community groups.
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lupusuk.org.ukAbout Lupus UK
Lupus UK is a national charity dedicated to supporting people affected by lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease. Established in 1978 as the British SLE Aid Group, the organisation has grown into the UK's leading voice for lupus, serving England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Its mission centres on improving the lives of those with lupus through direct support, awareness-raising, and the advancement of research. The charity is patient-led, with core values of inclusion, equity, and evidence-based practice, and it works closely with clinical experts and institutions to ensure its funding has meaningful impact. Lupus UK's singular focus on this one condition sets it apart, ensuring every grant directly contributes to tackling lupus.
What Lupus UK funds
Lupus UK funds research grants aimed at improving understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of lupus. Supported projects are conducted in UK universities, hospitals, or recognised research institutes, and focus on physical health aspects of the disease. The charity prioritises pilot or enabling research that can advance scientific knowledge and directly benefit people living with lupus. Grants are awarded for specific research projects rather than ongoing institutional support, and the charity also supports initiatives such as specialist lupus nurse posts and patient-centred care innovations. All funded work must take place within the UK, reflecting the charity's national remit.
Who can apply
Lupus UK welcomes applications from registered charities, including universities, hospitals, and recognised research institutes based in the UK. Researchers and clinical teams with a proven track record in lupus are encouraged to apply. The charity does not fund individuals directly, and those employed by or whose salary derives from a commercial organisation are not eligible. Beneficiaries of the funded research are the general public, particularly people living with lupus, their families, and carers. There are no restrictions based on income or religion, and unsolicited applications are accepted.
What Lupus UK doesn't fund
Lupus UK does not fund individual institutions, long-term career posts, travel costs, or open access publication costs. The charity also excludes capital works, equipment purchases, and salaries from its grants. Funding is not available for general health research or conditions other than lupus, and commercial organisations are not eligible to apply.
How they like to fund
Lupus UK awards grants for specific research projects, typically as one-off funding rather than multi-year commitments. The charity welcomes unsolicited applications and works collaboratively with clinical experts and institutions to identify and support high-impact research. Grants are capped at a maximum amount per project, and the charity runs a single research grant round each year, with applications submitted through a formal process.
How much does Lupus UK give?
Lupus UK runs one grant programme. Every figure below is sourced from their published guidance.
Last verified 8 August 2026 · 17 sourced facts
- 1 rounds a year
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 Lupus UK funds — and what they won't
The full exclusions list (1)
- Lupus UK will not fund individual institutions, long-term career posts, travel or open access publication costs.
Good to know
How to apply to Lupus UK
Lupus UK takes applications via email application.
- Decisions are typically bi annually.
- Check whether your charity is in scope before you spend time on a full bid.
What Lupus UK's application asks
We hold the 15 questions from Lupus UK's application form, word for word — so you know exactly what you're signing up to answer.
“Name and email address of Applicant(s) (Add more lines as required)”
“Institution Address”
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 Lupus UK could be a fit. Draft if yes.
Frequently asked questions
How much funding does Lupus UK provide?
Lupus UK runs one grant programme — Lupus UK Research Grants: Up to £35,000.
Where does Lupus UK fund charities?
Lupus UK funds charities operating in UK.
Does Lupus UK accept unsolicited applications?
Lupus UK accepts unsolicited applications from eligible organisations. Current programme status is on this page — do not assume a round is open.
What does Lupus UK not fund?
Their published exclusions include: Lupus UK will not fund individual institutions, long-term career posts, travel or open access publication costs.. The full exclusions list is further up this page.
How do I apply for funding from Lupus UK?
Lupus UK takes applications via email application. Decisions are typically bi annually.
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Could Lupus UK be a fit?
Check free. Draft if yes, or shortlist better matches.