Guts UK Derek Butler Fellowship (Upper GI)

Guts UK is announcing a call for a research fellowship for a maximum of 3 years for research in upper gastrointestinal tract diseases and conditions. Research should be on the oesophagus, stomach, or duodenum.

Eligibility criteria

Research fellowships are restricted to clinical specialty trainees or early career post-doctoral scientists working in the field of gastroenterology and relevant fields of bioscience. For this award an early career post-doctoral scientist is an individual who is within eight years of the award of their PhD or equivalent professional training. Please not that due to the pandemic, year 2020 would not be considered in the count. Due consideration will be given for appropriate career breaks.

Guts UK limits its awards to applicants who are normally resident in the UK. Fellowships can include an element of research training overseas, up to 6 months, provided that fellows intend to return to the UK.

Preference will be given to applicants who intend to pursue research in their future careers. In making the award emphasis will be placed not only on the project itself, but also on the applicant’s potential and the quality of the training proposed.

Budget and research duration

The total value of the fellowship is £210,000 to cover salary costs and consumables over a maximum of 3 years.

Only the direct costs associated with the project will be funded. Overhead allocation, other indirect costs, publication costs, equipment, and capital costs will not be funded. If part of the project takes place abroad, Guts UK will not finance expenditure on consumables in overseas institutions.

Other considerations

Guts UK is keen that the research starts as soon as possible after the award of the grant, the start date must be within 6 months of the award date. Where relevant, successful clinical applicants must ensure they have permission to come out of practice in time to start the fellowship.

Ethical approval, if required by the project, will be needed before the work commences. All licences pertaining to research using animals must be valid and in place.

For clinical research, provided the study meets the NIHR’s definition of a research study, it will be eligible for adoption by the UK Clinical Research Network and therefore for NIHR support. Applicants are encouraged to contact their local NIHR Clinical Research Network for advice as early as possible.

Application process

To apply, download the following documents:

• Research scope and eligibility criteria
• Application form
• Guidelines
• Guts UK Grants Terms and Conditions

Please submit your application by email to research@gutscharity.org.uk and post one wet-signed copy to Guts UK, 3 St Andrews Place, London NW1 4LB. Applications will be considered incomplete until the wet-signed copy has been received.

Applications will be assessed by the Guts UK Research Awards Committee and external peer reviewers. Shortlisted applicants will be invited for an interview in February 2022 (TBC). The Research Awards Committee will then select one research project for funding and the Trustees of Guts UK will approve the award of the grant to that research project. The successful applicant will be notified by the end of February 2022.

Please note: Any queries relating to submission of the application must be referred directly to Guts UK. Applicants or their colleagues may not contact a Research Awards Committee member or Guts UK Trustee to discuss any aspect of an application, or the decision reached on it.

For details of the terms and conditions of the Fellowship please see the Guts UK website.

If you have questions about this funding opportunity or would like to sign up for research award updates, email research@gutscharity.org.uk