Available research grants

We fund a huge range of research to tackle lung disease, spending more than £1million a year. To date, we have awarded more than £29m 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.

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.

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.

Applications are now closed.

BLF Dr Joseph Footitt COPD research grant

Preliminary applications are invited for support of research into chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Grants are available to early-career medically qualified applicants or post-doctoral scientists for clinical, laboratory or epidemiological research. Principal applicants can have a maximum of five years’ post-doctoral experience.

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 £17,000.

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

Applications are now closed.

BLF pump-priming research grants

Preliminary applications are invited for support of research into lung disease. Although we are prepared to consider all aspects of respiratory disease, during this funding round we will favour projects in the fields of:

  • Bronchiectasis
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
  • Interstitial lung disease (ILD, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis)
  • Lung cancer
  • Malignant pleural mesothelioma
  • Paediatric respiratory conditions (including infections and wheezing)

Preference will also be given to research of clinical relevance and those that involve early-career investigators.

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 £25,000 per award. The grant-holding institution must be based in the UK.

Applications are now closed.

BLF-Pulmonary Fibrosis Trust pulmonary fibrosis pump priming 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 £25,000.

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

Applications are now closed.

Mesothelioma UK-BLF mesothelioma research grant

We are inviting preliminary applications for Mesothelioma UK’s fourth annual research grant. The research may be either laboratory based or clinical, including epidemiological and/or palliative care studies into mesothelioma.

Grants are for a specified period of up to three years to a maximum of £150,000.

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

Applications are now closed.

Mick Knighton Mesothelioma Research Fund-BLF mesothelioma project grant

Preliminary applications are invited for support of research into mesothelioma. The research may be either laboratory based or clinical, including epidemiological and/or palliative care studies into malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Grants are for a specified period of up to three years to a maximum of £200,000.

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

Applications are now closed.

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

This year we are offering travel award types to the ERS International Congress in Paris, 15-19 September 2018:

  1. British Lung Foundation awards and British Lung Foundation - British Paediatric Respiratory Society awards
  2. British Lung Foundation - NAPP Pharmaceuticals Ltd awards
  3. British Lung Foundation - King's College London respiratory and sleep physiology fellowship (travel) award

1. British Lung Foundation awards and British Lung Foundation - British Paediatric Respiratory Society awards

4 British Lung Foundation 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 2018.

In addition, the British Lung Foundation and the British Paediatric Respiratory Society (BPRS) are co-funding 2 ERS Travel Fellowships of £750 each, available to paediatric respiratory researchers, with preference to those who have been a member of the BPRS for a minimum of 12 months.

All awards are applied for using the application form below. Please read the accompanying guidelines before completing an application form.

Funding decisions will be made known to all applicants by late August/early September 2018.

2. British Lung Foundation - NAPP Pharmaceuticals Ltd awards

10 British Lung Foundation-Napp Pharmaceuticals Limited Travel Fellowships worth £750 each are available for early-career health care professionals conducting research in the respiratory field in the UK to attend the European Respiratory Society International Congress 2018. Please read the accompanying guidelines before completing an application form.

Funding decisions will be made known to all applicants by late August/early September 2018.

3. British Lung Foundation - King's College London respiratory and sleep physiology fellowship (travel) award

One British Lung Foundation-King’s College London Travel Fellowship worth £750 is available for early-career clinical and non-clinical researchers working in the respiratory and sleep physiology field to attend the European Respiratory Society International Congress 2018. Please read the accompanying guidelines before completing an application form.

Funding decisions will be made known to all applicants by late August/early September 2018.

American Thoracic Society conference

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

BLF’s Mesothelioma Research Network: iMig travel awards

Applications are currently closed.