Ataxia UK Studentships

Ataxia UK provides funding for innovative and relevant research on the ataxias. Read below to discover more about the application process. A list of current and recently funded projects can be seen here. Ataxia UK have also passed the 2015 peer review audit by the Association of Medical Research Charities, of which we are a member.

Apply For Funding

The application process
Ataxia UK hold two rounds of preliminary applications for funding each year in June and October. All applicants are encouraged to contact the Head of Research, Dr Julie Greenfield (research@ataxia.org.uk), before submitting a proposal.

Ataxia UK will provide funding for innovative and relevant research on the ataxias that fits into an explicit therapeutic strategy. This does not exclude the advancement of scientific knowledge, but such an outcome would need to be clearly linked.

We will consider a variety of proposals, including:

– Research projects
– PhD studentships
– research fellowships
– travel awards for researchers or students presenting at conferences
– satellite meetings at major Symposia of other organisations dealing with related disorders, as a way of raising awareness and enhancing collaboration with researchers in these disciplines
– equipment to be used for ataxia research (by researchers not already in receipt of a grant from Ataxia UK)
– small grants for research projects (less than £5000)

Selection process
All applicants are encouraged to contact the Research Projects Manager (research@ataxia.org.uk) before submitting a proposal. A two-stage selection process is used to assess the suitability of a proposal for funding. Initially, researchers are asked to submit a preliminary proposal (i.e. a one page summary of research). This is taken to Ataxia UK’s Scientific Advisory Committee, who advises on whether to invite applicants to submit a full application. You can view the members of the Scientific Advisory Committee here. Selected applicants are then invited to submit a full application by completing the full application form. These selected research projects are peer reviewed and assessed by Ataxia UK’s Scientific Advisory Committee.

Ataxia UK’s Scientific Advisory Committee meets three times a year (generally in February, June and October). This Committee advises Ataxia UK’s Trustees who then make the final decision on whether to award a grant.