Application window open: 15 May - 17 June 2024

Proposals will aim to reduce health inequalities, demonstrate potential for sustainable change and advance understanding in a particular area.

Leeds Hospitals Charity is making funding available to support research applications up to £10,000. The maximum grant available is £10,000 and we are looking for a range of research of varying value that will have a direct impact on patients treated and cared for at Leeds Teaching Hospitals over the next 5 - 10 years. 

We are looking for applications that will seed fund research activity that will benefit patients treated at Leeds Teaching Hospitals. This should be research that acts as a springboard to lead to more, such as a larger grant from a different funder or greater research experience for an individual.

You could apply for: 

• A proof of principle project 
• Feasibility studies 
• Pilot studies 
• A bolt on to an existing study that answers an additional research question which was not part of the original study 

Exclusions: 

• Tuition fees for higher level qualifications (e.g. MD, MSc, PhD) 
• Projects where other suitable funding is available 
• Consumables that are part of an existing trial or piece of research and required due to the underfunding of an existing project 

We will prioritise projects that align with our three areas of ‘impact focus’: 

• Tacking health inequalities 
• Treatments of Rare Conditions 
• Innovation and Health Technologies

More information on our impact areas is available in the guidance document. 

Examples of projects we have previously funded:  

• Research to determine if a smartphone app ‘FibriCheck’ can reduce the need for in-person consultations and monitors for patients with atrial fibrillation, thereby reducing costs, improving patient access, and improving staff working conditions - £8,000.
• Can the ‘Surprise Question’ – “would you be surprised if this patient were to die within the next year?” facilitate advanced care planning and prompt earlier referral to palliative care for patients hospitalised with worsening heart failure? - £9,451.
• Using data from LTHT patients to build and train AI computer programmes to make more accurate and timely diagnoses of recurrent brain cancer - £9,999.

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We invite you to register for our upcoming information webinar via MS Teams on Thursday 23 May 2024 where there will be an opportunity to ask questions. 

Click here to register

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Application Process 

We encourage you to read our funding opportunity guidance before applying, find out more below.

Research Seed Funding Guidance

1. Eligibility We welcome applications from staff at any stage of their career - whether stepping into the field of medical research or an experienced researcher whilst employed by Leeds Teaching Hospitals or holding a relevant honorary contract.

2. Idea We encourage potential applicants to attend the webinar on Thursday 23 May 2024 (a recording will be shared for those who can’t attend) and discuss their idea with their Line Manager and the Grant Funding team before preparing any paperwork. We also advise that you begin all relevant LTHT processes. before applying to the Charity (e.g. Liaison with Corporate Planning, Medical Physics, Information Technology).

3. Relevance We encourage applicants to consider how the proposal aligns with the criteria set out in the Research Seed Funding Grant funding opportunity guidance including how the Scientific Advisory Panel and the Small Grants Panel intend to score applications. For this grant opportunity we want to understand how the research that will benefit patients treated at Leeds Teaching Hospitals and if there is potential to lead to more, such as a larger grant from a different funder.

4. Make an application Applications will open on Wednesday 15 May 2024 Please make sure to select the following in the available drop down at the start of the application form: Funding Type: Funding Call  Funding Call Type: Research  Funding Call Programme: Research Q1 24-25 (up to £10,000) The deadline for applications against the Research Seed Funding grant opportunity is Monday 17 June 2024. Application Form

5. Review & Decision Applications are subject to review by two members of the Scientific Advisory Panel and reviewed by the Charity’s Small Grants Panel with input from LTHT stakeholders and advisors. For this grant round the Panel will meet on Wednesday 10 July 2024.

6. Monitoring & Evaluation All successful applicants will be required to complete a Monitoring & Evaluation form and share with the Charity the impact of grant funding through case studies, blogs and news stories.

Find out more about the projects we have funded

If you still have questions after reading the guidance, please contact the Grants Team on 0113 539 7091 or email [email protected]