Research Application Guidelines

1. THE FUND'S POLICY

1.1 The Baily Thomas Charitable Fund is a registered charity which was established primarily to aid the research into learning disability and to aid the care and relief of those affected by learning disability by making grants to voluntary organisations working in this field.

1.2 Learning Disability We consider under learning disability the conditions generally referred to as severe learning difficulties, together with autism. In this area, we consider projects concerning children or adults. Learning disability, thus defined, is our priority for funding. We do not give grants for research into or care of those with mental illness or dyslexia.

1.3 We generally direct our limited funds towards the initiation of research so that it can progress to the point at which there is sufficient data to support an application to one of the major funding bodies.

2. HOW TO APPLY

2.1 Applications will only be considered from established research workers and will be subject to normal professional peer review procedures.

2.2 Applications, limited to 5 pages with the type no smaller than Times New Roman 12, should be in the form of a scientific summary with a research plan to include a brief background and a short account of the design of the study and number of subjects, the methods of assessment and analysis, timetable, main outcomes and some indication of other opportunities arising from the support of such research.

2.3 A detailed budget of costs should be submitted together with a justification for the support requested. Details should be included of any other applications for funding which have been made to other funders and their outcomes, if known.

2.4 We do not expect to contribute towards university overheads.

2.5 A one page Curriculum Vitae will be required for each of the personnel actually carrying out the study and for their supervisor together with a note of the total number of their peer reviewed publications and details of the 10 most significant publications.

2.6 Evidence may be submitted of the approval of the Ethics Committee of the applicant to the study and approval of the University for the application to the Fund.

2.7 An eighty word lay summary should also be submitted with the scientific summary.

2.8 Any papers submitted in excess of those stipulated above will not be passed to the Research Committee for consideration.

2.9 Before submitting a full application, researchers may submit a one page summary of the proposed study so that the Trustees may indicate whether they are prepared to consider a full application

2.10 Meetings of the Trustees are usually held in June and early December each year and applications should therefore be submitted no later than 1 May or 1 October for consideration at the next relevant meeting. Late applications will not be considered.

Printed Copies

If you would like a printed copy of the research application guidelines please click here to download a PDF version. This will open Adobe Acrobat in a new window.

Please click here for a pro-forma Research Report. Once complete, please send to the Secretary to the Trustees.

If you would like any further details, please contact us.