The BSRA has an open grant call that will be closing on 1 March 2025, so there’s still time for members to apply. Read on for a breakdown of the different grants and their success rates – and to hear from some of our previous grant awardees.
BSRA Funding Schemes and Success Rates
- Small Research Grants: success rate over 35% in 2023 and 2024
- Designed to provide financial support for early- to mid-career researchers to enable research where the resources, equipment and infrastructure are already in place. Might cover publications costs, outreach and public engagement, laboratory consumables, collaborative meetings, training and laboratory exchanges that otherwise wouldn’t be possible.
- Summer Studentships: average success rate in 2023 and 2024 of 62%
- Aimed at encouraging undergraduate students to explore research in the biology of ageing, these studentships offer a stepping stone for aspiring scientists to gain hands-on experience.
- Travel Awards: average success rate in 2023 and 2024 of 67%
- To facilitate knowledge exchange and collaboration, the BSRA offers Travel Awards for researchers attending conferences to present their research on ageing.
So whether you’re a PI seeking support for a new project, a PDRA or a PhD student seeking funds to support a project, an undergraduate student exploring the world of ageing research, or a scientist looking to attend a pivotal conference, you can take advantage of the BSRA’s practical support to advance your work. Applicants stand a strong chance of success, with odds favourable compared to many other funding organisations.
What Previous Winners Say
Dr Nathan Hodson (Manchester Metropolitan University, 2023): The BSRA summer studentship awarded to Medha Shashidharan in 2023 provided her with an ideal opportunity to gain significant wet laboratory experience which would otherwise not have been available to her during the summer period. On a personal level, this studentship provided me with the personnel needed to establish wet laboratory analyses which was essential as an early-career researcher with only 1 year of experience as PI. I would wholeheartedly recommend these studentships to any students and supervisors working in the ageing research field.
Dr Charles Steward (2023): I am extremely grateful for the funding that I received from the British Society for Research on Ageing. The grant was essential for the analysis of blood markers in my PhD study, titled Post exercise hot water immersion and hot water immersion in isolation enhance vascular, blood marker, and perceptual responses when compared to exercise alone, which was published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports and as part of my PhD thesis.
Dr Marie Korzepa (University of Birmingham, 2024): The travel grant from BSRA helped to support my travel to AGE where I presented at my first international conference. I presented immunofluorescence microscopy-based work, comparing skeletal muscle cross sections in young and old humans. The award allowed me the unique opportunity to exchange ideas and talk to other people working on other models of ageing and make collaborations outside of the UK.
Tips for Applicants
- Prepare thoroughly: Ensure your application is clear, concise, and aligns with the Vision of the BSRA.
- Engage with the BSRA community: Attend events, network with members, and familiarize yourself with the Society’s Vision and priorities.
- Start early: Give yourself ample time to craft a compelling proposal and gather any necessary supporting documents.
For more information on how to apply, visit https://bsra.org.uk/grants/ and take the first step toward advancing your research or career in the field of ageing.