We are pleased to announce the Epilepsy Research Institute’s 2026–27 Grant Round is now open. Researchers in the UK are invited to apply for funding to support projects investigating the causes, treatments and prevention of epilepsy.
This grant round reflects our commitment to building a thriving epilepsy research community and accelerating scientific progress for people affected by epilepsy. We welcome applications from researchers at all career stages and across all disciplines whose work could advance understanding of epilepsy, improve treatments and care, enhance quality of life, or help prevent epilepsy.
Through our funding programme, we aim to support excellent science, foster collaboration, develop research capacity and drive innovation across the field.
Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we can invite applications for:
- Emerging Leader Fellowship Awards
- Designed to support researchers transitioning to independent leadership in epilepsy research
- Up to £350,000
- Up to four years
- Explore Pilot Grants
- Supports new ideas and the generation of pilot data to underpin larger studies
- Up to £40,000
- Up to 18 months
- Endeavour Project Grants
- Support hypothesis-driven projects with pilot data that aim to advance understanding of epilepsy
- Up to £200,000
- Up to three years
- Epilepsy Research Institute and The Waterloo Foundation Endeavour Project Grant
- To support a project that investigates self-limited epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (SeLECTS; also known as Rolandic Epilepsy)
- Up to £200,000
- Up to three years
We welcome applications across the full spectrum of epilepsy research, from basic and translational science to clinical studies. This includes research exploring the underlying mechanisms of epilepsy, investigations into co-existing conditions and mental health, as well as data-driven and technology-enabled approaches that have the potential to advance the field.
We particularly encourage collaborative and interdisciplinary approaches that bring together expertise from outside the epilepsy field.
Ready to apply?
The deadline for preliminary applications is Monday 28 September 2026, 4pm. For full information on all the available grants, visit our Apply for Funding page, where you will find application forms, detailed guidance and all supporting documents.
The Emerging Leader Fellowship has been foundational to the development of the BEE (Brain development in Early Epilepsy) programme and my progression as an independent researcher. Throughout the award, the Institute demonstrated a strong understanding of the realities of conducting ambitious longitudinal research within a clinically complex population. Beyond the funding itself, being part of the Epilepsy Research Institute community has been extremely important.”
Dr Charlotte Tye
Emerging Leader Fellow, Epilepsy Research Institute
Senior Lecturer in Psychology, King’s College London
Shape Network: Involving people affected by epilepsy in research
People with lived experience of epilepsy will continue to play a key role in grant applications through our Shape Network Application Clinics. These sessions bring together researchers and people affected by epilepsy to facilitate discussion and debate on potential grant applications.
If you’d like to discuss working with the Shape Network on the development of your application, email us at [email protected]
If you’re affected by epilepsy and would like to contribute to research, you can Find out more and join the network here.