History of Medicine Funding at the Wellcome Trust

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History of MedicineFunding at the Wellcome
Trust
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To foster and promote research with the aim of
improving human and animal health
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• Net investment base of 13.1 billion
• In the 2007/2008 financial year, the Trust spent
  701.6m on Grants
• 486.2m on Science Funding
• 69.2m on Medicine, Society, History
• 44.7m on TTD, 101.5m on Sanger

• an independent research-funding charity
• established 1936
• funded from private endowment
• managed for long-term stability and growth
• interests range from science to history of
  medicine

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Credit crunch!

• The Wellcome Trust is now the UKs second largest
  financial institution.
• Aaa/AAA Bond Credit rating.
• If the world is heading into a financial abyss,
  we will be the last to follow (Danny Truell,
  CIO).

• an independent research-funding charity
• established 1936
• funded from private endowment
• managed for long-term stability and growth
• interests range from science to history of
  medicine

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a fundfor conducting researches and collecting
information connected with the history of
medicine
Henry Wellcome
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• Because we believe...
• ...that this knowledge can inform debate
  about the present and the future, and help to
  bring medicine and science to a wide audience.

We Fund... ...historical research into
the factors affecting the medical and health
experience of people and animals - in all
countries and at all periods.
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Types of awards available

• Institutional (Enhancement, Strategic, Capital
  Awards)
• Personal (Studentships, Fellowships, Research
  Leave, University Awards)
• Research Support (CRIG, Project Programme
  Grants)
• Research Resources in Medical History
• Small (Travel Grants, Research Expenses,
  Symposia)
• Public Engagement

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Highlights
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International Collaborative Research Initiative
Grants (CRIGs)

• Encourage collaboration between UK/Ireland and
  developing/restructuring countries (South-east
  Asia, China, Africa, Latin America, Eastern
  Europe, etc)
• Address historical aspects of health issues
  relevant to the region of origin of the overseas
  applicant.
• Up to 3 years

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Fellowship Awards

• Support individuals at all stages of a career
  wishing to undertake a period of research
• Applicant cannot be in an established academic
  post
• Shortlisted applicants are invited for an
  interview
• Only two rounds per year (August 1st and December
  1st)
• Up to 3 years support

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University Awards

• Allows universities to attract outstanding
  research staff
• The university guarantees a permanent post at the
  end of the award
• Expected outputs are a monograph and other
  substantial publications
• Up to 5 years support, providing full salary for
  three years, 50 in the fourth year and 25 in
  the fifth year

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Programme Grants and Project Grants

• Programme Grants provide support for extensive or
  long-term research (normally 5 years)
• Forge cohesive teams (Applicants, Co-applicants,
  Research Assistants)
• Project Grants provide funding for high-quality,
  discrete research Projects (normally 3 years)
• Also a means to offer postdoctoral experience to
  young researchers

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Public Engagement in the History of Medicine

• Not proscriptive may involve television, radio,
  theatre, websites, lecture debates, or other
  approaches.
• Either provide greater contributions to general
  history coverage and the promotion of history of
  medicine
• Or stimulate dialogue between researchers, policy
  makers and the wider public with the aim of
  raising awareness and understanding of biomedical
  science.

• Highlighted as key aim in our Strategic Plan
• Awards for over 30,000
• Applications are invited from a wide range of
  organisations and commercial companies, as well
  as from individuals with a variety of backgrounds

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Small Awards

• Research Expenses assistance for modest
  programme of study (up to 2 years, 5,000)
• Travel Grants for scholars who are based abroad
  wishing to travel to the UK/Ireland (up to
  1,500)
• Conferences, Symposia, Seminar Series financial
  support for organising academic meetings of all
  kinds (up to 5,000)

• Applications accepted throughout the year
• Maximum of 2 awards with at least a year gap
• Fast turnaround decisions are usually made
  within 8 weeks
• No need for preliminary application

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Application process

• Online application process for some awards
• Preliminary applications required for all but the
  small grants
• Peer review
• Right to reply
• Interviews for fellowships
• Decision
• Feedback

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Top tips
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Common criticisms from the committee

• What is the research question?
• Incomplete bibliography
• Sampling methods are poor
• Concepts are not explained
• Poor level of outputs to date
• Why this period/location/sample? Justify.
• Too ambitious
• Not ambitious enough

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• Clearly had not sought advice
• Not trained in the methodology (e.g. oral
  history)
• Good project, but wrong academic environment
• The archives will not provide what they need
• Timetable is unrealistic
• Incoherent

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So please.

• Read the guidelines
• Use forms flexibly (within reason!)
• Formulate solid research questions
• Use appropriate methodology
• Use spell check
• Get someone from outside the field to read the
  application
• Seek expert advice and collaborate
• Maximise your opportunities e.g. attach copies
  of publications in press
• CONTACT US

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e.shaw_at_wellcome.ac.uk 0207 611
8693 n.fietje_at_wellcome.ac.uk 0207 611
7357 www.wellcome.ac.uk/medicalhumanities