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Funding Opportunity




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RD Lawrence Fellowship

Diabetes UK

Key information 

  • To support: postdoctoral researchers to establish their independence in diabetes research. 
  • Career level: three to ten years postdoctoral experience.
  • Funding period: over four or five years, depending on the study requirements. 
  • Funding amount: up to a total of £525,000. 
  • Deadline for preliminary application: 1 October.
  • Deadline for full application: 31 October.

The RD Lawrence Fellowship was established in recognition of the life and work of the late Dr Robert Daniel Lawrence, co-founder of Diabetes UK.

Our RD Lawrence Fellowships…

  • Empower researchers to become independent leaders in their field;
  • Help researchers obtain recognition from their institutions;
  • Enable researchers to nurture the next generation of PhD students and early-career researchers. 

Our recent career impact evaluation looked at what former grant holders of RD Lawrence Fellowships over the past 15 years have gone on to do and the impact of receiving the grant. Results show that most of them have become independent leaders in diabetes research and are nurturing the next generation of researchers. 

Financial support 

Funding can cover:  

  • the salary for the applicant,
  • the salary for a technician or postgraduate research assistant,  
  • consumables, materials, equipment and animal costs,
  • conference costs of up to £2,500 for registration, travel and accommodation, 
  • training costs of up to £1,500 relevant to the project.

All costs must be fully justified and will be considered by the review panel.

How to apply 

Preliminary applications open in March each year, and have a deadline a month before the full applications.

To apply, please read the general guidelines for grant applicants and tips for writing a grant application. Then log on to the Diabetes UK online grants management system and complete the preliminary application with a CV, list of publications and details of a potential sponsor. 

Eligible applicants will be invited to submit a full application. 

Administrative processes 

All applications will be sent out for external peer review. All applicants will be informed well in advance when they should expect to hear if they have been shortlisted for interview. 

AI Based Application Success Predictor

🧭 1. Patient Relevance & Plain-Language Clarity

All applications are evaluated not only by scientific experts but also by the Grants Advisory Panel (GAP)—patients and people affected by diabetes. The plain-English summary must be clear, engaging, and show direct benefits to people living with diabetes .

Health inequality–focused research (e.g., addressing disparities, co-led by underserved communities) is actively encouraged .

2. Scientific Excellence & Impact

Project and Career grants emphasize high-quality, hypothesis-driven research with demonstrable plans to improve diabetes outcomes .

Assessment weighs four main criteria:
• Potential impact
• Scientific rigour
• Applicant track record
• Value for money.

👩‍🔬 3. Career Stage–Appropriate Funding

Project Grants are for established PIs (tenured or equivalent), up to £500 K over 5 years .

Early-Career Small Grants support pilots (£15 K, 12 months), ideal for researchers ≤4 years post-PhD or equivalent .

Intermediate Clinical Fellowships (e.g., Harry Keen) are designed for medically trained professionals establishing independent diabetes research teams .

PhD Studentships build the pipeline of future diabetes researchers .

📊 4. Track Record & Mentorship

Strong personal track record—publications, prior grants, leadership—is vital for career-level schemes .

Early-career awards often require a mentor within the same institution 

Clinical fellows should plan for 50–70% protected research time, depending on training level .

💷 5. Budget Discipline & Justification

Budgets must be realistic and directly tied to project needs (e.g., consumables, equipment, staff)—especially for small grants (£15 K cap, excludes salary support) .

Projects over £500 K require prior discussion, and institutions must be prepared to contribute to equipment costs .

🔄 6. Robust Peer Review & Rebuttal

Applications undergo external peer review, followed by pre-selection and discussion by the Research Committee .

Applicants can submit rebuttals to reviewer comments (limited to 1,500 words) .

Only invited resubmissions are permitted after feedback 

🤝 7. Collaborative & Co-Funded Opportunities

Diabetes UK supports co-funded research, e.g., with MRC, NIHR, BHF—especially for fellowships and programme-level grants .

Active partnerships with other funders boost both the impact and budget, but require early coordination .

📈 8. Diversifying Research & Reducing Inequalities

A formal strategy to increase diversity and inclusion is underway, influencing both applicant selection and research design .

They are actively recruiting diverse review panel members and analyzing application success across demographics .

📋 Summary Table

Success PredictorWhat to Do
Patient relevance & clarityCraft a compelling lay summary; involve patients or underserved communities
Scientific rigor & valuePresent strong hypotheses with clear methodologies, impact plans, and track record
Match career stage & schemeSelect appropriate funding scheme (Project vs Early-Career vs Fellowship)
Mentorship & protected timeSecure internal support, especially for early-career and clinical applicants
Well-justified budgetDetail all project costs; consult early for high-budget proposals
Review & rebuttal processRespond thoroughly to reviewer comments; resubmit only if invited
Form strategic partnershipsPlan co-funding routes and collaborations ahead of time
Build inclusion into researchAlign with their EDI strategy and diversify teams and populations

 

✅ Final Takeaway:
To succeed with Diabetes UK, your application must be:

Scientifically rigorous and diabetes-focused

Inclusive, patient-centered, and written in accessible language

Budget-appropriate and career-stage matched

Strategically reviewed and, where possible, part of co-funding partnerships

Designed with diversity and equity in mind

  • The research must take place at an established research institution in the UK and applications will only be accepted form researchers working at academic institutes or NHS Trusts. 
  • Applicants usually have three to ten years' postdoctoral experience from the date of their doctoral degree examination (PhD viva). Allowance will be given to applicants whose career has been subject to a late start or interruption for family or personal reasons. Applicants are advised to contact us at research@diabetes.org.uk if they fall outside the stated experience band but feel they should still be considered for the fellowship. 
  • Applicants are expected to have proven research experience and plan to maintain a long-term interest in diabetes. 
  • All applicants must have identified a sponsor before applying. We cannot identify sponsors for potential applicants and will not accept applications from applicants without a potential sponsor. 

Eligible Countries:

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: Diabetes UK

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: Wells Lawrence House, 126 Back Church Lane London E1 1FH

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Grant, Fellowship

Letter Of Intent Deadline:

Oct 31, 2025

Final Deadline:

Oct 31, 2025

Funding Amount:

$721,274

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