ARUK Research Pilot Award

Overview

This scheme provides up to £100,000 over a maximum of 12 months to explore innovative concepts that if successful, could be transformational for people affected by dementia. It is open to researchers at any career stage, with Early Career Researchers encouraged to apply as Lead Applicants alongside at least one established Joint Lead Applicant for mentorship. We particularly welcome proposals that bring together new collaborations or introduce researchers from other disciplines to dementia research.

Pilot Awards enable applicants to pursue bold, exploratory work without the requirement for extensive preliminary data, though any data you have will be considered. Data generated or collaborations established through this award are intended to form the basis for subsequent project and programme funding.

What we aim to support

Applications must demonstrate relevance to one or more areas of the scheme’s remit:

• Test highly novel, high-risk, high-reward research ideas
• Lead by an Early Career Researcher as a first independent award
• Support new multidisciplinary collaborations between two or more Joint Lead Applicants (Co-PIs) from different disciplines
• Introduce new entrants to dementia research from related disciplines i.e. data science, chemistry and mathematics

Eligability

Lead Applicants must be based in a UK university, hospital or research institution. However, applications can include Co-applicants (i.e. Co-Investigators and Collaborators) from outside the UK. Co-Investigators and Collaborators from small and medium enterprises are also permitted.

We welcome researchers at all career stages to apply, provided the proposals addresses a truly novel research idea, novel collaboration or is from a new entrant(s) to dementia research. We particularly welcome applications from Early Career Researchers alongside an established Joint Lead Applicant for mentorship.

We encourage novel multidisciplinary collaborations between Lead and Joint Lead Applicant(s) from a broad range of fields, including, but to limited to:

• Immunology
• Engineering
• Physics
• Data sciences
• Statistics
• Chemistry

Lead Applicants do not need to have previous dementia research experience but must apply with at least one dementia researcher and address a clear link to an urgent question in dementia research.

The Lead Applicant is expected to have a contract (fixed term or tenure) which covers the proposed duration of the grant. Alzheimer’s Research UK can support the salaries of Early Career Researchers, as defined by our ECR Framework, as Lead Applicants that do not have tenure or fixed term contracts but not to established Co-applicant salaries for this scheme. If the Lead Applicant does not hold a tenure appointment, the application must include a Joint Lead Applicant that does.

In addition, Co-applicants can include:

• Joint Lead Applicant(s): Someone who will give equal intellectual input and time as the Lead Applicant to the project. Together with the Lead Applicant, any Joint Lead Applicants will be responsible for the success of the project. Any Joint Lead Applicant(s) and the Lead Applicant will be recognised with equal status
• Co-Investigator(s): Someone who will give substantial intellectual input and time to the project, for example by leading a specific aim or work package, and who is responsible alongside the Lead Applicant and any Joint Lead Applicant(s) for the success of the project
• Collaborator(s): Someone who is important for the completion of the project, for example by supplying specific expertise or special materials, but are not responsible for the success of the project

Administrative Support: One Administrative Support contact may be invited to your application to help provide your budget information.