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. 

Our 2020 - 21 grant round

The following awards are available:

Mesothelioma Research Network collaborative pump-priming research grant

Full applications are invited for support of collaborative research into mesothelioma. The principal applicant and all co-applicants must be members of our Mesothelioma Research Network (MRN). 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 £40,000 per award. The grant-holding institution must be based in the UK.

Full application deadline: 19 April 2021

We operate a paperless grants application system through the Flexi-Grant platform. To make an application and read the full guidelines for our research grants, please visit our portal.

AUK-BLF Flexi-Grant Portal

Funding decisions will be finalised in summer 2021

Mesothelioma research grants, supported by Catalina

Applications are invited for support of research into mesothelioma, supported by Catalina Services UK Limited. Grants are available either to medically qualified applicants, post-doctoral scientists or allied health professionals for clinical, laboratory and/or epidemiological research where appropriate.

The following grants are available:

  • Clinical Trial Award. Funding is available to support trials of new/existing molecules (either molecules that are not yet licenced for any indication or those that are already licenced for use in other indications). Grants are for a specified period of up to four years to a maximum of £500,000 per award. Preliminary application deadline: 8 February 2021
     
  • Project Grant for research into improved early diagnosis. Grants are for a specified period of up to three years to a maximum of £330,000 per award. Preliminary application deadline: 8 February 2021 
     
  • Pump Priming Grant for research into improved early diagnosis. Grants are for a specified period of up to 18 months to a maximum of £40,000 per award. Full application deadline: 19 April 2021

Collaboration is encouraged, both within and outside the UK, but the grant-holding institution must be based in the UK. Applications involving early-career investigators are also encouraged.

Due to timescale restrictions, we will accept letters of intention for collaborations (e.g. with industry partners).

We operate a paperless grants application system through the Flexi-Grant platform. To make an application and read the full guidelines for our research grants, please visit our portal.

AUK-BLF Flexi-Grant Portal

Funding decisions will be finalised in summer 2021

BLF-Pulmonary Fibrosis Trust Malcolm Weallans pulmonary fibrosis research grant

Full 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.

Full application deadline: 19 April 2021

We operate a paperless grants application system through the Flexi-Grant platform. To make an application and read the full guidelines for our research grants, please visit our portal.

AUK-BLF Flexi-Grant Portal

Funding decisions will be finalised in summer 2021

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Project Grant

Preliminary applications are invited for support of research into idiopathic 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 £135,000. The grant-holding institution must be based in the UK.

Preliminary application deadline: 8 February 2021

We operate a paperless grants application system through the Flexi-Grant platform. To make an application and read the full guidelines for our research grants, please visit our portal.

AUK-BLF Flexi-Grant Portal

Funding decisions will be finalised in summer 2021

This grant award has been made possible due to the generosity of our supporters, the Iceland Foods Charitable Foundation and the Janus Henderson Foundation. Special thanks to the Iceland Foods Charitable Foundation for their very kind donation of £100,000.

Travel awards

We offer travel awards to the European Respiratory Society Conference and the International Mesothelioma Interest Group Meeting. These travel awards are available to early-career clinical and/or non-clinical researchers and contribute towards the costs of registration, accommodation and travel to assist in the attendance of these important meetings.

Early career researchers are defined as within 10 years of receiving their PhD. Allowances can be made for career breaks. If working in a field where a PhD is not a pre-requisite for research activity, non-PhD holders with research experience equivalent to a PhD holder are eligible.

European Respiratory Society conference

An announcement regarding the availability of ERS awards for 2021 will be made in due course.

International Mesothelioma Interest Group Meeting

An announcement regarding the availability of virtual iMig travel awards for 2021 will be made in due course.