Guts UK/Falk Foundation Awards

The Guts UK/Falk Foundation awards recognise the achievements of those who bring new insight to gastroenterology, pancreatology and hepatology, and the collaboration that furthers patient care.  These awards are an opportunity to achieve national recognition as well as financial support for career progression.

The awards comprise:

• A £1,000 prize for the best essay on gastroenterology (including hepatology and pancreatology) research personally undertaken by medical students studying in the UK who were on an intercalated BSc/MRes/MSc/MPH/MD/MBPhD* course during the previous academic year (2024/25) and are completing their medical training in the UK.

 

• Four £1,500 prizes for current medical students taking full-time science degrees in the UK (BSc/MRes/MSc/MPH/MD/MBPhD*) focusing on gastroenterology (including hepatology and pancreatology) in the current academic year (2025/26).

 

• Two £2,500 awards for UK-based F1/F2 and Internal Medicine Trainees  – including those undertaking all foundation and core training – to facilitate prospective research in an area relevant to gastroenterology (including hepatology and pancreatology).

 

• A £1,000 prize for UK-based primary and secondary care nurses working in gastroenterology (including hepatology and pancreatology) for initiatives that have improved patient care. Guts UK and Falk Foundation want to encourage nurses to apply. We would also like to invite colleagues  to nominate nurses to this award as well. Colleagues can email research@gutscharity.org.uk with the name of their nominee and a brief explanation of why they want to put their colleague forward. Guts UK will then contact the nominee to encourage the potential applicant.

 

• A £1,000 prize for UK-based dietitians working in gastroenterology (including hepatology and pancreatology) for initiatives that have improved patient care.

 

• A £1,000 prize for UK-based pharmacists working in gastroenterology (including hepatology and pancreatology) in primary and secondary care who have developed programmes and  initiatives that have improved patient care in some capacity.

 

• Up to £10,000 is available for UK-based gastroenterology Higher Specialty Trainees (who hold a National Training Number) who would like to conduct an audit or quality improvement project in any area of gastroenterology (including hepatology and pancreatology) or nutrition. Refer to the Guts UK Falk Foundation Higher Specialty Trainee Award Criteria and Guts UK Research Grants Terms and Conditions. Please ensure you have raised any pertinent issues with relevant staff.

 

These awards are open to applications and will close on Monday 2 February 2026 at 5pm. For updates, please refer to this webpage or email research@gutscharity.org.uk.

*PhD students should note that they may apply for the medical student prize only once during their three-year studentship and that they may apply for the essay prize when their PhD has been completed.

 

Check out our previous winners of the Guts UK/Falk Foundation awards by clicking here!