Thackray Medical Research Trust

The Thackray Medical Research Trust (TMRT), established in 1990 by Charles Paul Thackray from proceeds of the Leeds-based medical products firm Chas. F. Thackray Ltd, is a mission-led charity dedicated to advancing medical understanding through heritage, education, and research. At its heart is the Thackray Museum of Medicine in Leeds, housing over 47,000 objects chronicling medical history from Roman times to today, with a focus on instruments, hearing aids, pharmaceuticals, and public health. TMRT's ethos connects historical innovations to contemporary needs, prioritizing public awareness, knowledge dissemination, and improved medical supply—especially for underserved UK and developing country populations—via strategic, relationship-driven funding rooted in the Thackray family's Leeds legacy.

It primarily sustains the museum's operations, capital projects, learning programs (engaging 20,000+ schoolchildren yearly and underserved communities), and outreach like exhibitions and publications. External grants, awarded sparingly, support aligned projects: academic research on medical history, publications, and initiatives enhancing medical product supply in resource-poor settings, benefiting researchers, students, the public, and vulnerable groups nationally or internationally.

Eligible applicants are limited to UK-registered charities and academic institutions; unsolicited applications are not accepted—funding is invite-only via pre-existing relationships, with no deadlines, income thresholds, or geographic restrictions beyond alignment to objectives (strong Leeds preference). Typical external grants range £5,000–£25,000 for projects; museum support can reach six figures. TMRT stands out by uniquely blending museum patronage with targeted medical history research and supply interventions, eschewing open calls, unrestricted aid, or grassroots startups in favor of high-impact, mission-fit endeavors.