Guts UK 2025 research grants now open for applications for early career researchers and speciality trainees

The 2025 Guts UK Development Grant for Early Career Researchers and Guts UK/BSG Trainee Awards are now open to applications.

As the national charity for the digestive system, we’re passionate about funding research that has the potential to change the lives of the millions of people affected by digestive conditions across the UK.

We’re dedicated to supporting researchers in the early stages of their careers and beyond and are delighted to announce that our 2025 grant cycle is now open.

We strongly encourage applications that align with our current research priorities, including upper gastrointestinal disease such as GORD or Barrett’s oesophagus; diverticular disease; pancreatitis; irritable bowel syndrome; childhood gut, liver and pancreatic diseases; gut microbiome and nutrition; and cancers of the stomach, oesophagus, pancreas or liver.

About the Guts UK Development Early Career Researchers Grants

The Guts UK Development Grants for Early Career Researchers offer six grants up to £15,000 each to early career researchers who are not yet in a substantiative position or are within three years of appointment to a substantive academic post and are for translational or proof of concept research in any area of gastroenterology, including pancreatology and hepatology.

Applications will be assessed on the following criteria:

• Scientific excellence (plausibility, feasibility, importance, originality, potential to elicit clinically useful results).
• Value for money.
• Relevance to Guts UK’s research priority themes.
• Suitability of research team (track record of the applicants).
• The potential difference the research will make to the lives of patients.
• The potential for further funding and/or follow up studies.

For more information on eligibility criteria, budget, research duration and application process, click here.

The deadline for applications is Monday 30th June 2025 at 5pm.

About the Guts UK/BSG Trainee Awards

Guts UK and the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) invite UK-based gastroenterology and allied Specialty Trainees to apply for for the Trainee Awards.

The Guts UK/BSG Trainee Awards are one-year grants of up to £5,000 for individuals or £10,000 for networks for research or audit/quality improvement on any area of gastroenterology, pancreatology or hepatology, including nutrition in relation to gastroenterology.

Applications can be submitted by individual trainees (Individual Awards) or by collaborators within a network of trainees (Network Awards), though network applications must name one lead applicant.

• The project must address an area of clinical need and have clear patient benefit.
• Pilot and feasibility work to enable larger grant applications will be considered.
• Applications for the network awards may be for new projects for existing networks or for the development of a project within a new research network.
• The project must be entirely based within the UK and for a period of one year only.

For Individual Awards:

Trainees who have an established project or fellowship that is fully funded are not eligible for this award unless the funding is to contribute to a separate piece of work which is distinct from their thesis. Details of other funding for related work must be provided on the application form.

For Network Awards:

• Applications should include a group of six or more trainees linked as a research network either within a region or nationally.
• The project has to be delivered from a network of at least six trainees from at least four independent trusts.
• A single senior applicant can be the chair of the research network with other trainees listed as co-applicants or collaborators.
• The lead applicant must be a gastroenterology trainee at a grade of specialty trainee, but co-applicants can be from all training grades as long as they are part of the research network working together.
• Agreement from a supervisor or mentor must be provided from the host institution that will administer the grant. The supervisor will be expected to oversee the project and must sign the application. 

For more information on eligibility criteria, budget, research duration and application process, click here.

The deadline for applications is Monday 30th June 2025 at 5pm.