1. Small grants (UK and international) Expand DEBRA UK small grants call is open for UK and international applications on 01 February 2025 with a deadline of 31 March 2025. DEBRA UK small grant awards of up to £15,000 are offered to national and international clinical or research scientists to support small pilot studies such as generation of preliminary data or feasibility studies which would not normally attract funding. The aim is to make larger follow up funding grants more competitive. 2023 success rate: 100% 2024 success rate: TBA% Download our application form to apply for small grant funding directly from DEBRA UK. Fight for Sight/DEBRA UK small grants call: TBC 2025. We have partnered with Fight for Sight to offer a small grant up to £15,000 to UK clinical or research scientists to support vision loss related research in epidermolysis bullosa. This should be used to collect preliminary/pilot data to develop follow on applications. Researchers currently working in fields outside of vision research are welcome to apply. Apply for Fight for Sight / DEBRA Small Grant Award through Fight for Sight.
2. Project grants (UK and international) Expand DEBRA UK project grant call is open on 1 February 2025 with a deadline of 31 March 2025. DEBRA UK project grants of up to £200,000 for 2-3 years are offered to UK and international researchers through our research calls. Funding will be judged on relevance to EB, scientific merit and novelty. Applicants must demonstrate the potential benefit to EB patients in the research proposal. Only one application per grant call will be considered from each principal investigator. 2023 success rate: 28% 2024 success rate: TBA% Download our application form to apply for project grant funding directly from DEBRA UK. Action Medical Research for Children/DEBRA co-funded project grant call TBC 2025 Applications may be made by UK researchers for project grants of up to £200,000 and up to three years duration. Apply for project grant funding from Action Medical Research.
3. PhD studentships (UK only) Expand DEBRA UK non-clinical PhD studentship call for UK and international applications is open on 1 February 2025 with a deadline of 31 March 2025. Non-clinical DEBRA UK PhD studentships of up to £140,000 for four years (including consumables for the first 3.5 years only to allow a six month period for students to complete the write up of their thesis) will be available to UK researchers through our research calls. Funding will be judged on relevance to EB, scientific merit and novelty. Applicants must demonstrate the potential benefit to EB patients in the research proposal. Only one application per grant call will be considered from each principal investigator. 2023 success rate: 67% 2024 success rate: TBA% Download our application form to apply for non-clinical PhD studentship funding directly from DEBRA UK. MRC/DEBRA UK Clinical Research Training Fellowships call is open in 2025 (UK only) PhD grant awards for 3-year projects to develop UK clinicians into EB researchers. The criteria will be the same as for project grants with the addition of quality of research environment and training for students. Application is through the MRC Website, where you can also find guidance on the application process. If you wish to discuss your proposed research area in advance of submission, please contact Dr Sagair Hussain, Director of Research.
4. Fellowship awards (UK and Ireland only) Expand NEW DEBRA UK Intermediate Career Research Fellowship call is open 1 February 2025 with a deadline of 31 March 2025 (UK and Ireland only) Our new Fellowship award to support researchers to establish themselves as independent investigator so run their own group and develop their own research interest in EB. The aim is to bridge the gap between post-doctoral research and independent running of a research group. Fellowship grants are offered to researchers in collaboration with recognised research institutions in the UK and Ireland. Applicants should have 3-6 years post-doctoral experience and a series of first, or senior, author publications. The candidate must have the support of a senior investigator, named on the application form, who will guarantee access to space and resources and provide scientific guidance for the duration of their Fellowship. This individual should provide an appropriate letter of support as part of the application. DEBRA UK will provide a total of £500,000 for lead researcher salary, a PhD student (see details above) and consumables. Lead researcher salary will be funded by DEBRA UK for 4 years with their university agreeing to fund their salary for an additional 2 years. Funding will be judged on relevance to EB, scientific merit and novelty. Applicants must demonstrate the potential benefit to EB patients in the research proposal. Only one application per grant call will be considered from each principal investigator. Download our application form to apply for project grant funding directly from DEBRA UK. MRC/DEBRA UK Clinician Scientist Fellowship call is open in February 2025 with a deadline in April 2025 (UK only) 5 year awards for UK registered healthcare professionals to establish themselves as independent investigators to run their own group and develop their own research interest in EB. The aim is to create future leaders in the EB field. In partnership with the Medical Research Council (MRC). Application is through the MRC Website where you can also find guidance on the application process. MRC/DEBRA UK Career Development Awards call is open in January 2025 with a deadline in April 2025 (UK only) 5 year awards to support UK post-doctoral researchers at early and intermediate stages of their career to establish themselves as independent investigators to run their own group and develop their own research interest in EB. The aim is to create future leaders in the EB field. In partnership with the Medical Research Council (MRC). Application is through the MRC Website, where you can also find guidance on the application process. If you wish to discuss your proposed research area in advance of submission, please contact Dr Sagair Hussain, Director of Research.