Sexually Transmitted Infection Research Foundation (Stirf)

STIRF funds original research projects and part-funds PhD studentships focused on sexually transmitted infections and HIV. Supported areas include epidemiology, pathophysiology, management, and healthcare delivery. The Foundation prioritises early-career researchers and aims to provide initial funding for promising projects to generate preliminary results. Geographically, STIRF concentrates on the East Midlands, West Midlands, North East, North West, and Yorkshire and Humber regions, addressing the lack of sexual health research funding outside London and the South East. Projects should be evidence-based and aim to improve equity for underserved groups.

Applications are welcome from universities, NHS settings, and other academic or non-academic organisations. For PhD studentships, only universities are eligible. The Foundation is particularly interested in supporting researchers early in their career. Organisations must be based in the East Midlands, West Midlands, North East, North West, or Yorkshire and Humber regions. There are no income or size restrictions. Beneficiary groups prioritised include young people, LGBTQ+ individuals, ethnic minorities, and sex workers. Joint funding with other grant-making bodies is encouraged.

STIRF does not provide unrestricted, core, or capital funding. It is less likely to fund researchers who have already received STIRF support in the recent past. Projects outside the Foundation’s thematic focus on sexual health and STIs, or outside its geographic priority regions, are not supported.

STIRF offers multi-year funding for both research projects and PhD studentships. It acts as a pump-priming funder, providing initial support to early-career researchers to generate preliminary data for larger grants. The Foundation welcomes unsolicited applications and considers joint funding with other grant-making bodies. All expenditure is directed to grants, with no trustee remuneration.