Seed Funding
Call now closed - thank you to everyone who submitted an application!
The Brain Health ARC is now accepting applications for seed funding projects! We offer support towards research projects or other activities that may lead to larger grants or fellowships. Possible applications may be around PPIE work, pilot experiments, stake-holder meetings, writing retreats, data analysis or any other work that can inform a larger funding application.
Our budget is limited and while we will consider any application submitted, we are unlikely to be able to support projects requiring substantial funding. The anticipation is that most funding will be around £3K to £5K maximum. For projects requiring more support, we hope to announce other funding calls with partners later in the year.
Applications will be reviewed by members of the Brain Health ARC executive. If we receive more applications than our budget can support, then we will rank the applications.
We will prioritise applications that form new collaborations, support people who are new to brain health research, and consider diversity and inclusion issues. We are especially interested in applications that are aligned with the themes of our research meetings.
We ask that successful applicants submit a short end of project report, detailing how the support was used and the progress towards a larger grant application.
The Brain Health ARC is now accepting applications for seed funding projects! We offer support towards research projects or other activities that may lead to larger grants or fellowships. Possible applications may be around PPIE work, pilot experiments, stake-holder meetings, writing retreats, data analysis or any other work that can inform a larger funding application.
Our budget is limited and while we will consider any application submitted, we are unlikely to be able to support projects requiring substantial funding. The anticipation is that most funding will be around £3K to £5K maximum. For projects requiring more support, we hope to announce other funding calls with partners later in the year.
Applications will be reviewed by members of the Brain Health ARC executive. If we receive more applications than our budget can support, then we will rank the applications.
We will prioritise applications that form new collaborations, support people who are new to brain health research, and consider diversity and inclusion issues. We are especially interested in applications that are aligned with the themes of our research meetings.
We ask that successful applicants submit a short end of project report, detailing how the support was used and the progress towards a larger grant application.
Brain Health ARC Seed Funded Projects
Project Title |
Project Lead |
Patient and carer experiences and opinions of neurocognitive decline following critical illness |
Dr Mark Andonovic, University of Glasgow |
Age Related TBI recovery and Outcomes |
Dr David Hamilton, Glasgow Caledonian University, and Dr Benjamin Tari, University of Oxford |
Comparative Analysis of Extracellular Vesicles: Insights from NTA, Flow Cytometry, Imaging Flow Cytometry, DLS/ELS, and TRPS |
Prof Bettina Platt, University of Aberdeen |
Sensory stimulation for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease |
Dr Will McGeown, University of Strathclyde |
Evaluating the impact of intangible cultural heritage experiences on the wellbeing of older adults with cognitive impairment: a pilot study in Scotland |
Dr Sofia de la Fuente Garcia, The University of Edinburgh |
Evaluation of Methodology in Cognitive and Brain Reserve |
Lauren Binning, University of Glasgow |
Jointly Funded Projects
Following the Quantum Healthcare Summit in November 2024, the Brain Health ARC teamed up with the Quantum Technologies ARC to provide up to £15k per project for applications that centre on interventions that could be implemented within the NHS. Total funding between the two Alliances was £100k.
Funded healthcare projects:
Funded healthcare projects:
- Scotland–England Collaboration on Developing Human Resource in Quantum Technologies in Healthcare and Promoting Public Trust in Digital Health
- Quantum Healthcare Connect
- Catalysing Scotland-Middle East collaboration on quantum bioinformatics approaches to MERS
- When Worlds Collide: Building the Base for Quantum Sensing Technologies in the Challenging Context of the North of Scotland Health and Care Sector
- Diffuse optical tomography and quantum light for multi-resolution brain imaging (DOT-Q)
- OMEGAS – A consortium for bringing optically-pumped magnetoencephalography to Scotland
- Quantum Sensors for Paediatric Sleep Apnoea Diagnostics
Spotlighted Papers
“Growing old is not for wimps”: A personal reflection on dementia in Scotland - Professor Frank Gunn-Moore
Professor Frank Gunn-Moore writes for the NHS2048 forum of the challenges and opportunities for Scotland in dementia research. Read here.
Ageing-related research in the UK: a landscape analysis
Vivensa Foundation's recently published analysis of ageing-related research funding in the UK sheds light on the gaps, challenges, and opportunities within the field. It underscores the pressing need for targeted investment in research that addresses both the biological and social aspects of ageing. You can read it here.
Professor Frank Gunn-Moore writes for the NHS2048 forum of the challenges and opportunities for Scotland in dementia research. Read here.
Ageing-related research in the UK: a landscape analysis
Vivensa Foundation's recently published analysis of ageing-related research funding in the UK sheds light on the gaps, challenges, and opportunities within the field. It underscores the pressing need for targeted investment in research that addresses both the biological and social aspects of ageing. You can read it here.
Webinar Recordings
The Brain Health ARC has hosted a range of webinars to provide support to early career researchers in their professional and career development.
Patient, Carer, Public Involvement and Engagement (PCPIE)
The following links are intended to signpost as a way to make connections, encourage engagement and assist researchers:
- NHS Scotland | Making Care Home Research Accessible
- The University of Edinburgh | Patient and Public Involvement
- The University of Edinburgh | Patient and Public Involvement for Wellcome Multimorbidity PhD Students
- The University of Edinburgh | Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement Groups
- NHS Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) Groups - For those interested in joining the patient and public involvement community in Scotland. Several groups run across Scotland with a focus on a range of therapy areas. The website contains information on the groups, frequency of meetings and contact information.
- Edinburgh Centre for Research on the Experience of Dementia (ECRED): An interdisciplinary group of dementia researchers, people with dementia, dementia practitioners and representatives from a range of dementia organisations. The centre is interested in exploring and developing theories, methods and impact around the experience of living with dementia.
- ECREDibles: A peer support group for people who have dementia and are interested in research. This cold be as a contributor to existing research or for people who co-produce, co-author and co-research. They are a sister group to the University of Edinburgh’s ECRED and are a member of the DEEP network across the UK.
