Applications for four awards are open until 28 September 2026.

Epilepsy Research Institute UK is a national charity aiming to radically advance research into the causes, prevention and treatment of epilepsy and its associated conditions. The Institute aims to strengthen the epilepsy research ecosystem by driving strategic investment and developing partnerships and collaborations between academia, the NHS, industry, funders, patient groups and people affected by epilepsy.

Epilepsy Research Institute UK is now accepting applications for the following four grants and fellowships:

Explore Pilot Studies

Awards will support fundamental science and clinical research studies investigating the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of epilepsy and associated conditions. The awards provide an opportunity to test bed new ideas and explore speculative work. Information gathered from the pilot study will enable researchers to obtain larger-scale funding.

Grants of up to £40,000 over an 18-month period are available in support of salaries, equipment and obtaining new data.

Emerging Leader Fellowship Awards

Awards epilepsy researchers planning to develop a track record in epilepsy research and seeking to transition into research leadership.

The Fellowship has a value of up to £350,000 for projects lasting between one and four years. The funding will cover the Fellow’s salary, support staff and project running costs.

Endeavour Project Grants

Awards will support fundamental science and clinical research projects investigating the causes, diagnosis or treatment of epilepsy and associated conditions. Project grant proposals will investigate an hypothesis that has been based on pilot data, with the aim of substantially contributing to furthering knowledge of epilepsy.

Grants of up to £200,000 to support a research project lasting a maximum of three years are available. Awards will support salary costs, purchase of equipment, and/or PhD student fees.

Epilepsy Research Institute and The Waterloo Foundation Endeavour Project Grant

In 2026, applications are also invited for an Epilepsy Research Institute and The Waterloo Foundation Endeavour Project Grant award 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, proposals are sought that focus on:

1. The long-term impact of SeLECTS beyond seizure outcomes, including effects on cognition, memory, and mental health.
2. Understanding the biological and clinical mechanisms of SeLECTS.

Applicants to all awards must be UK residents affiliated to a UK academic institution. They must be graduates in either medicine, one of the sciences allied to medicine, neuroscience, engineering or mathematics. Applicants who are external to the epilepsy field should include a senior expert in epilepsy as a co-applicant on their proposal.