Guided by the epilepsy community’s priorities identified through a James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership, our research model is built on six key themes. This year, we particularly welcome applications addressing the Mortality, Morbidity & Risk theme and the Reproduction & Hormones theme.
For a complete outline of the application process and requirements for each award type please see the relevant Guidance for Applicants and Preliminary Application Forms below.
The Terms & Conditions for Grantholders are relevant to all award types.
Please direct any enquiries to [email protected]
In our 2026-27 Grant Round, we will have the following grant awards available.
Applications are invited for the Explore Pilot Grant awards of up to £40,000 for up to 18 months. Explore Pilot grants supports small-scale research projects that are exploratory, innovative, or novel. Pilots should generate preliminary findings that pave the way for larger-scale funding applications, either to the Institute or external funders. The award can support research costs, equipment, and salaries; however, there must be a clear emphasis on the generation of new/preliminary data.
Applications are open to all researchers, although we particularly encourage Early Career Researchers and those working outside of the epilepsy field to apply.
There was a 43% success rate at the full application stage in 2025/2026.
Applications are invited for the Endeavour Project Grant awards of up to £200,000 to support a research project lasting up to three years. Project grant proposals will investigate a hypothesis based on pilot data, with the aim of substantially contributing to furthering knowledge of epilepsy. Applications for the support of salary costs, purchase of equipment, or PhD student fees are also welcome.
There was a 36% success rate at the full application stage in 2025/2026.
Applications are invited for an Epilepsy Research Institute and The Waterloo Foundation Endeavour Project Grant award of up to £200,000 for up to three years, on the topic of Self-Limited Epilepsy with Centrotemporal Spikes (SeLECTS), previously referred to as Rolandic Epilepsy.
Applications must have a primary focus on SeLECTS but submissions are welcomed across the entire research pipeline. In particular, we are interested in receiving applications that focus on:
Applications are invited for the Epilepsy Research Institute Emerging Leader Fellowship Award of up to £350,000, over one to four years. Emerging Leader Fellowship awards provide research funding for researchers planning to develop a track record in epilepsy research and seeking to transition into research leadership. Funds will cover the Fellow’s salary, support staff costs and project running costs.
Building capacity in epilepsy research across the UK is a key ambition in the Institute’s Strategic plan. We aim to increase the diversity of the epilepsy research workforce and strengthen epilepsy research groups and centres across the four nations. In the 2026-27 grant round we expect to fund between one and three Emerging Leader Fellowships and so, to encourage equity and fairness, we ask institutions to only put forward a responsible number of applications into the competition.
There was a 40% success rate at the full application stage in 2025/2026.
The deadline for preliminary applications is Monday 28 September 2026, by 4pm.
Shortlisted applicants will be notified in November. If you are shortlisted you will be sent the full application form.
Shortlisted applicants will be invited to Shape Network Application Clinics in advance of submitting a full application, between November and December 2026.
The full application deadline for shortlisted applicants will be Monday 18 January 2027, 4pm
Interviews for applicants (Fellowships only) will take place in March 2027.
In the above video, Professor Mike Cousin gives a presentation on how to write clear, compelling applications for research grants. The session offers practical advice to researchers, including valuable tips and key considerations to avoid.
Applications are now also open for two Early Career Researcher Observer places on the Epilepsy Research Institute’s Scientific Advisory Committee for the 2026–27 grant round, offering a unique opportunity to gain insight into the research funding process. Read more and download the application form here.
Q: Can I apply for funding if I am based outside of the UK?
A: We only fund researchers based in the UK. Researchers based outside of the UK can be included as collaborators, although no funding can be allocated to individuals or organisations based outside of the UK.
Q: How many Institute funding opportunities can I be involved in at the same time?
A: You can be named as a Principal Investigator or supervisor on up to two active Epilepsy Research Institute grants at any one time (excluding PhD supervision). You may be involved in additional projects as a collaborator, but collaborators should only be listed if they will play an active role in the proposal.
Q: Can I contact the Shape Network and speak to people before the deadline for preliminary applications?
A: Yes, you are welcome to involve the Shape Network ahead of the preliminary application deadline. We can help share opportunities with the network to provide input on proposals. Before getting in touch, it’s helpful if you can consider the following:
To set this up, please email us at [email protected].
Q: Can I apply for an Emerging Leader Fellowship more than once?
A: No. Once a researcher has completed an Emerging Leader Fellowship, they are no longer considered to be ‘emerging’ and are therefore ineligible to reapply. However, we encourage previous fellows to explore our other funding opportunities, such as the Endeavour Project Grants.
Q: Can I apply for an Emerging Leader Fellowship if I do not have a PhD?
A: No. Applicants must either hold a PhD or be close to completing one at the time of application in order to be eligible for an Emerging Leader Fellowship.
Q: Can I apply to the ERI for funds to ‘top-up’ an award made by another funder?
A: We do not provide additional funding to cover shortfalls in grants have been underfunded by other organisations.
Q: Are these the only grant types you offer?
A: Yes, these are the only grant types available for this year. However, our funding opportunities change annually. In previous years, we’ve offered grants such as Entry Fellowships, Doctoral Training Centres, co-funded PhD Studentships, and various co-funded fellowships. We may reintroduce past schemes or launch new ones in future funding rounds, so we encourage you to check our website each year for the latest opportunities.
