Our Pilot Study Grants

Striving to advance human health

The purpose of these grants is to allow researchers to tap into blue-sky thinking and identify concepts with replacement potential that merit further attention and development. It will also enable the collection and sharing of further data and findings which may help scientists to secure more funding for their research.

Want to apply for a Pilot Study Grant?

Animal Free Research UK award Pilot Study Grants to explore new ideas in animal-replacement research that could advance human health.

Pilot Study Grants provide short-term financial support for proof-of-concept studies lasting up to a maximum of 12 months.

Find out more

Our completed Pilot Study Grants

Read about completed Pilot Study Grants that we have funded.

View completed projects

Current projects

Dr Paul Holloway (Oxford)

Developing human mini- brain circuits to reveal new insights into stroke

Dr Driton Vllasaliu (King’s College London)

Developing an animal free gut model to study gastrointestinal diseases

Dr Federica Masieri (Suffolk)

Reprogramming cells to help treat muscle injury

Dr Adjanie Patabendige (Edge Hill)

A human relevant approach to study brain damage caused by abnormal heart rhythm

Dr Massimo Vassalli (Glasgow)

Harnessing plant power: Plant-based scaffolds to tackle visceral myopathy.

Professor Kay Peggs (Kingston University)

Inspiring animal free researchers through learning more about the values, motivations, and ambitions of Animal Free Research UK’s scientists

Dr Peng Liu (Aberdeen)

Mimicking the human ‘microenvironment’ to uncover new ways to stop breast cancer in its tracks

Dr Ali Kermanizadeh (Derby)

A novel nanomedicine for liver disease.

Dr Davina Simoes (Northumbria)

Developing a human muscle ‘organoid’ to study muscle

Dr Davina Simoes (Northumbria)

Using 3D-engineered muscle to study muscle wasting diseases