Available research grants

We fund a huge range of research to tackle lung disease. To date, we have awarded more than £33m in research grants.

Check this page regularly to find out what funding we have available. We announce new funding throughout the year, as and when we secure the money. 

Our 2018-19 grant round

We achieved our highest ever annual research spend in 2017-18 at £2.7m. We’re now developing our new research strategy. While we do this, we’re offering a limited number of awards in our 2018-19 grant round. This will give us time to complete and launch our new research strategy and focus our resources on implementing it from 2019-20.

NB. We have extended the original deadline for the submission of preliminary applications from 14 January to 21 January 2019.

SarcoidosisUK - BLF sarcoidosis research grant

The British Lung Foundation and SarcoidosisUK are inviting preliminary applications for a grant to support research into sarcoidosis. Applications must fit into at least one of the following categories: aetiology, prevention, diagnosis, alleviation, treatment and/or cure of sarcoidosis. Preference will be given to research that takes us towards new core understanding/a new therapeutic option for all people living with sarcoidosis.

The grant is available either to medically qualified applicants, post-doctoral scientists or allied health professionals for clinical, laboratory and/or epidemiological research into sarcoidosis.

Grants are for a specified period of up to three years to a maximum of £120,000.

Applications may seek costs for personnel, equipment and consumables where appropriate. The grant-holding institution must be based in the UK.

Preliminary application deadline: 21 January 2019

Download the preliminary application form (Word, 1.3MB)
Download the accompanying guidelines (Word 1.4MB)

Funding decisions will be finalised in summer 2019

BLF Mesothelioma Research Network collaborative pump-priming research grant

Preliminary applications are invited for support of collaborative research into mesothelioma. The principal applicant and all co-applicants must be members of the BLF Mesothelioma Research Network (MRN). To join the MRN please see this page. At least one co-applicant must be based at a different institution to the principal applicant. Grants are available either to medically qualified applicants, post-doctoral scientists or allied health professionals for clinical, laboratory and/or epidemiological research.

Grants are for a specified period of up to three years to a maximum of £25,000 per award. The grant-holding institution must be based in the UK.

Preliminary application deadline: 21 January 2019

Download the preliminary application form (Word 1.2MB)
Download the accompanying guidelines (Word 1.3MB)

Funding decisions will be finalised in summer 2019

BLF-Pulmonary Fibrosis Trust Malcolm Weallans pulmonary fibrosis research grant

Preliminary applications are invited for support of research into pulmonary fibrosis. Grants are available to medically qualified applicants, post-doctoral scientists or allied health professionals for clinical, laboratory and/or epidemiological research. Applications may seek costs for personnel, equipment and consumables where appropriate.

Grants are for a specified period of up to three years to a maximum of £40,000. The grant-holding institution must be based in the UK.

Preliminary application deadline: 21 January 2019

Download the preliminary application form (Word 1.3MB)
Download the accompanying guidelines (Word 1.4MB)

Funding decisions will be finalised in summer 2019

BLF-Masonic Charitable Foundation PhD studentship award

Funding is available to support a PhD student performing research in one or more of the following priority areas:

  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
  • Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)
  • Children’s lung disease
  • Bronchiectasis

The principal applicant/supervisor must be either medically qualified researcher, a post-doctoral scientist or an allied health professional. Funding must support clinical, laboratory and/or epidemiological research.

Awards will cover student stipend (as set by host institution), university fees (as set by host institution) and research consumables, directly attributable to the project, usually less than £12,000 per year. Total award for 3 years cannot be greater than £100,000.

The grant-holding institution must be based in the UK.

Preliminary application deadline: 21 January 2019

Download the preliminary application form (Word 2.3MB)
Download the accompanying guidelines (Word 2.2MB)

Funding decisions will be finalised in summer 2019

Travel awards

The British Lung Foundation offers travel awards to the European Respiratory Society and American Thoracic Society Conferences. These travel awards are available to early-career clinical and/or non-clinical researchers in the respiratory field and contribute towards the costs of registration, accommodation and travel to assist in the attendance of these important meetings.

European Respiratory Society conference

A range of Travel Fellowships worth £750 each are available for early-career clinical and non-clinical researchers in the respiratory field to attend the European Respiratory Society International Congress in Madrid, Spain, 28 September - 2 October 2019. This year, we are offering BLF awards, plus several awards in conjunction with the British Pediatric Respiratory Society and King’s College London / Guy’s & St Thomas’ Charity.

All awards are applied for via the BLF’s Flexi-Grant portal. Please read the application guidelines before completing an application form.

Application deadline: 3pm Friday 19 July 2019.

Funding decisions will be made known to all applicants in September 2019.

American Thoracic Society conference

Applications for 2019 are now closed. An announcement regarding the availability of ATS awards for 2020 will be made in due course.