How to Apply for a Grant
Sparks funds medical research related to the prenatal period and the early years aimed at providing a therapeutic intervention that will make a significant contribution to reducing mortality or relieving the condition, disease or disability in question.
SPARKS Research
The Charity will only support research which is likely to have a clear clinical application in the near future. Therefore grant applications for routine basic research which is unlikely to have clinical application within ten years will not be considered.
Sparks-funded research takes the form of project grants of up to three years in length with a clearly definable subject area and outcome, or for equipment grants for use within a specific research proposal as previously defined. Pilot projects of short duration to test a concept in preparation for a full application will also be considered. Grants are only made to projects where the principal applicant is in a tenured position at a university or research institution.
Researchers who are making a substantial intellectual contribution to the project and require personal support from the grant may apply as co-applicants with a tenured member of staff as the principal applicant.
Clinical applications are particularly welcomed
Funding Guidelines
Our normal support provides for 1-3 year salary costs to cover a research post, consumables and essential equipment. Each item must be fully justified and currently a three year grant covering all of these components rarely exceeds £200,000.
For researchers who have a sustained track record of successful grant awards from Sparks, the Charity may consider supporting a more comprehensive programme of research. These programme grants will be subject to the same rigorous peer-review process as all Sparks project grant applications
Please note that Sparks are unable to consider applications which are concurrently submitted to other funding bodies, and do not fund:
- Grants for further education, e.g. MSc/PhD course fees
- Grants towards service provision or audit studies
- Grants for work undertaken outside the UK
- Grants towards 'top up' funding for work supported by other funding bodies
- Grants to other charities
Outline process
Prior to submitting a full application, all applicants are required to complete an outline application form which can be downloaded using the link below:
Download outline application form (word format)
Completed outlines and any queries should be sent to:
Dr Kirti Patel
Medical Research Manager
Email: kirti@sparks.org.uk
Tel: 020 7799 2111
Fax: 020 7222 2701
Sparks is currently accepting outlines for review. Outlines should be submitted by 3 October 2008 at the very latest in order to be considered for our October 2008 full application grant round. Please note that outlines take up to 5 days to review.
Applicants with suitable research projects will be sent a full application form (by email in Word format) and a copy of the relating terms and conditions. Full applications are required to be submitted by our 17 October 2008 deadline date.
Closing dates for full applications:
For 2008: The deadline for receipt of full applications is 17 October 2008
For 2009: The deadline for receipt of full applications is 13 March 2009 and 16 October 2009
Peer review: All complete applications are assessed by full peer review, firstly by independent external referees and then by the Sparks Medical Advisory Committee.