We send notifications of open grant calls, alongside the latest animal free science news and updates from our current researchers, in our monthly science newsletter. Sign up to the science mailing list to be notified of our next grant call.
We award research funding to cutting-edge scientists that develop human methods and non-animal technologies to study human disease.
Research funding is awarded to scientists in universities, hospitals and research organisations all over the UK following a rigorous and independent peer-reviewed selection procedure.
You can view the research funding that we have previously granted on our active projects, completed projects or Summer Student Programme pages.
Closed grant calls
Large research grants (open on 3 June 2019)
We offer large research grants to drive innovation in the development of non-animal research methods or technologies that better understand the human condition and remove animals from experiments.
We offer PhD project funding to encourage graduates to develop career building skills and knowledge in replacement science and Post-doctoral project funding to attract and keep talented scientists within the ‘replacement’ scientific field. Our funding will support the development of cutting-edge science to remove animals and animal-derived bio materials from research laboratories.
Grants are usually funded for a minimum of two years and up to three years, with support for three-year PhD projects.
Pilot study grants (open on 3 June 2019)
Pilot study grants provide short-term support for small research projects or pilot studies for up to one year. In 2019, we will be funding up to 10 one-year pilot studies of up to £5,000 each.
The purpose of these grants is to allow scientists to explore new ideas in animal replacement research that might merit further development, and to enable the collection of sufficient data to assist in securing further support from us or other funding organisations. Pilot study grants are not available to ‘top-up’ existing research projects.
Summer Student Programme (closed for 2019)
Our Summer Student Programme was established to allow students to gain practical animal-replacement research experience. Summer research funding is available for recently graduated students or undergraduate students who have completed at least 2 years of a relevant degree. All summer projects should be undertaken for 8-weeks and must be directed towards replacing the use of animals in current research experiments.
We send notifications of open grant calls, alongside the latest animal free science news and updates from our current researchers, in our monthly science newsletter. Sign up to the science mailing list to be notified of our next grant call.
Direct impact on the replacement of animals in biomedical research
We support scientists to develop techniques that replace experiments on living animals. All the projects that we fund must have the potential to advance the development, validation or application of non-animal methods in biomedical research or teaching, as replacements for current animal experiments.
Only research that is directly relevant to human health will be funded by Animal Free Research UK. Acceptable scientific approaches may include, the use of human volunteers, epidemiology, human cell lines, ex vivo or primary human tissues or cells, microorganisms, plants, human sub-cellular components in vitro, biophysical and biochemical analytical techniques or computer technology.
Research that requires or involves the use of animals in any way, even though the ultimate aim may be to replace their use, will not be supported. We will not fund the purchase or maintenance of animals or animal-derived biomaterials for any reason.
We define the term animal as including all organisms of the Kingdom Animalia (excluding Humans), not only the animals that are protected under the Animals in Scientific Procedures Act 1986.
Page last modified on April 4, 2019 5:14 pm
