DEBRA UK Clinician Scientist Fellowship

Closing Date: 09/04/2025

Fellowship funding over five years to support healthcare professionals in the UK working to establish research independence while conducting research into the mechanisms of epidermolysis bullosa (EB) and develop therapies to benefit people with EB.

DEBRA UK is a national UK research charity and support organisation that provides care and assistance to improve quality of life for people living with epidermolysis bullosa (EB) and funding for pioneering research to find effective treatments for, and ultimately cure, EB. DEBRA UK developed from the first patient support group for people with EB and is a funding member of the EB Research Network (EB-ResNet).

DEBRA UK funds research on all of the four genetic types of EB, especially in areas with unmet need. Its Research Strategy (2022-26) focuses its funding support on four overarching research priorities, which have been selected as those most likely to deliver positive impact for people living with EB:

  • Drug re-purposing and development of drug discovery programmes to accelerate finding treatments – to identify research developments in EB, eczema, psoriasis, skin cancer or other skin conditions that could be applied to treat EB and select candidate repurposed drugs for clinical trials.
  • Patient-centred research themes – funding for multidisciplinary translational research to exploit research in eye/dental health, podiatry, skin care, nutrition or other relevant areas to develop interventions that benefit EB patients.
  • Better understanding the causes and progression of EB and the role of the immune system – focusing on the drivers of EB, the relationship between genes and proteins, the role of the immune system and the progression of cancer within EB.
  • The next generation of EB researchers – supporting the development of a highly-trained innovative research community by awarding PhD studentships and career development fellowships.

The DEBRA UK funded Clinician Scientist Fellowship awards funding over five years to support healthcare professionals in the UK working to develop research independence while conducting research within the scope of the DEBRA UK research priorities.

Fellows should be clinically active healthcare professionals who have gained a higher research degree with the objective of leading their own research, establishing their own research team and making the transition to independent researcher.

Funding body DEBRA UK
Maximum value Discretionary
Reference ID S27226
Category Biotechnology and Biology
Medical Research
Fund or call Fund