William Harvey Research Foundation

The foundation funds research into disease mechanisms, therapeutic targets, and drug evaluation, with a focus on cardiovascular, inflammatory, and metabolic conditions. It supports a wide range of activities including project grants, PhD studentships, postdoctoral fellowships, academic chairs, equipment, and conferences such as the John Vane Memorial events. Its work is concentrated at the William Harvey Research Institute and other UK academic groups with strong thematic alignment, emphasising blue-skies inquiry and pilot data generation.

Eligible applicants are UK academic institutions, particularly those with strong alignment to the foundation’s research focus. The foundation primarily supports researchers and clinicians at the William Harvey Research Institute, but also considers other UK academic groups working on cardiovascular, inflammatory, or metabolic diseases. There is no religious restriction.

The foundation does not fund service delivery, advocacy, core costs, or any non-research activities. Its singular focus is on transformative research in cardiovascular and inflammation science, so it excludes projects that fall outside this remit.

The foundation works by invitation only, with funding decisions guided by peer review. It supports a range of project-specific costs including studentships, fellowships, equipment, and conferences. Its funding style emphasises catalytic, high-risk, high-reward projects and seed funding for early-stage ideas.