Psoriasis UK Opens Applications for Its Annual PhD Studentship Research Grants
Psoriasis UK, the charity formerly known as the Psoriasis Association, has opened its annual call for applications to its PhD Studentship programme, offering funding for doctoral-level research into the causes, treatment and care of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.
The PhD Studentship programme supports three-year research projects leading to the award of a doctorate, with recipients expected to make a significant, original contribution to the field of psoriasis research over the course of their studies. Applications are submitted on behalf of prospective students by UK-based research institutions and supervisors rather than directly by individual applicants, with each principal applicant permitted to submit only one application per funding round and to hold a maximum of two Psoriasis UK studentships at any given time. According to the charity, no top-ups or extensions are available on awarded studentships for any reason.
Every PhD Studentship application submitted to Psoriasis UK undergoes a multi-stage evaluation process, including review by the charity’s Medical and Research Committee, assessment by external peer reviewers, and further evaluation by its Experts by Experience Committee (EXEC), a panel made up of people who live with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis themselves, reflecting the charity’s commitment to incorporating patient perspectives directly into its research funding decisions.
Alongside the PhD Studentship programme, Psoriasis UK also offers a smaller grant of up to £10,000 through the Cecil King Memorial Foundation. This award is aimed specifically at early-career researchers, defined as principal researchers under the age of 35, or those within the first five consecutive years of either their first permanent independent academic research post or a named limited-tenure or fixed-term research post secured through open competition, based in the UK or Ireland. Unlike the PhD Studentship applications, Cecil King Memorial grant applications are assessed solely by the charity’s Medical and Research Committee, without the additional peer-review and patient-panel stages.
Founded in 1968, Psoriasis UK describes itself as the leading national charity and membership organisation supporting people affected by psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in the country. The charity says it has awarded millions of pounds in research grants and PhD Studentships over the decades, funded through member contributions, branch fundraising, legacies and private donations, and has recently passed the Association of Medical Research Charities’ Expert Review Audit, external recognition of the rigour of its research funding processes. Applicants and research institutions interested in either the PhD Studentship programme or the Cecil King Memorial award are encouraged to consult Psoriasis UK’s official website directly for full eligibility criteria, application forms and current submission deadlines, since these details can vary between funding rounds.
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