Cross-sector experience awards

Summary

Our cross-sector experience awards provide funding for individuals to work in one or two organisations in a different sector for up to one year.

Who can apply

You can apply from any discipline or sector if you can demonstrate that your work is linked to improving human health. You must be able to show why this is the right point in your career to work cross sector, and how it will strengthen your work. You do not need to be at a specific career stage. You do not need a PhD to apply.

You must be on a permanent or fixed-term contract that runs beyond the end of the proposed grant. If your contract does not cover the full award period, you must provide confirmation from your employer that it will be extended if your application is successful. You must dedicate at least 50% of your working time to the grant. You may apply to work part time at the partner organisation and work the rest of your time for your employer. 

Who can’t apply

• undergraduate students
• people who already have the means to work in another organisation/sector
• people who hold 6% or more shares in the partner organisation(s) where they would like to work
• people who have previously had an employment contract or significant experience working with the partner organisation(s). If you believe your circumstances could qualify for an exception, you must discuss this with the Academy team before you apply
• trustees of the Academy of Medical Sciences. 

Your employer

Your employer (your current workplace) must:

• be based in the UK
• be the host of the award. The employer will receive grant funds which they can use to backfill the grant holder for the duration of the award, and/or distribute to the grant holder and partner organisation to spend on activity costs and travel/subsistence
• continue to pay the grant holder’s salary, as well as National Insurance, pension contributions and any other employee benefits offered (employers who are unable to backfill the grant holder’s position should contact [email protected] before applying)
• ensure your contract extends beyond the proposed end date of the grant
• work flexibly and collaboratively with you and the partner organisation. 

Your partner organisation(s)

Your partner organisation must:

• Be based in a different sector to your employer. If you are employed by more than one organisation, your partner organisation must be in a different sector to all your current employers.
• Support you with your application and work collaboratively with your employer to ensure the experience is mutually beneficial.
• Support you during the grant, if your application is successful. Partner organisations should provide the resources you need to perform your role within the organisation. You will be able to claim related costs during the award. Your partner organisation should treat you as an employee in all aspects, apart from those associated only with being a salaried employee.

Your partner organisation can:

• Be based outside the UK (although your employer must be in the UK). Grant funding can only cover travel, subsistence, and visa costs for you alone. By applying, you acknowledge you can travel and live in the partner organisation’s country to take up the grant.
• Be an existing partner/collaborator of yours at the colleague level. However, you must not have any contractual relationship or significant collaborations with the partner organisation. Please contact us if you have questions about this.

You can apply with two partner organisations in one application.  

• Both organisations must be in the same sector.
• The organisations must have a clear link. You must be able to demonstrate that working at both partner organisations will have a greater impact on you and your work compared to working with just one partner organisation.
• You must partner with each organisation for a minimum of three months, making the minimum grant period six months. 

Your, your employer and your partner organisation must create an intellectual property (IP) agreement covering any outputs during the potential grant. This should include data, assets and other products. Once awarded, we may request a signed copy of the formal IP agreement along with the other documentation you need to provide on accepting the grant. 

Funding amount

• Up to £100,000

Duration

• Three to twelve months

When to apply

• Late 2026 

Key dates

Online application: November – February

Eligibility check: March

Panel review: March – April

Panel meeting: April/May

Outcome notification: May/June 

How to apply

Read:

• Before you apply

You will need to apply using our online grant management system Flexi-Grant. If you have further questions, please contact [email protected].

Selection panel

• Professor Jackie Hunter CBE FMedSci FBPharmacolS FRSB FZL PhD Hons DSc (Chair), Chairperson at Brainomix Ltd and Biocortex, and Chair at Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst
• Dr Rubina Ahmed, Director of Research, Policy and Services, Blood Cancer UK
• Dr Lisa Anne Ashmore PhD MA BSc (Hons), Lancaster University
• Professor Linda Bauld OBE FMedSci FRSE FRCPE FAcSS FFPH, University of Edinburgh
• Dr Yvonne Doyle CB FMedSci MD MPH FRCPI FFPH, Self-employed: Hospital non-executive, international advisor and consultant, Trustee, and Faculty of Public Health chairmanship.
• Dr Steve Gardner, CEO of PrecisionLife Ltd.
• Professor Susan Hopkins FRCP FRCPI FFPH HonFRCPathCBE FMedSci CBE, Chief Executive Officer, UK Health Security Agency; Hon Consultant in Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Royal Free London; Hon Professor of Infectious Diseases and Health Security, University College London
• Dr Gita Khalili Moghaddam, University of Cambridge
• Professor Jennifer Logue, Expert Medical Director in Metabolism, Roche Pharma Research and Early Development
• Professor Sir Jonathan Montgomery FMedSci BA LLM Hon FRCPCH Hon FFPH, Professor of Health Care Law University College London; Chair, Oxford University Hospitals NHSFT
• Dr Jill C. Richardson FRSB FMedSci, Executive Director, UK Neuroscience, Discovery Research MRL UK, MSD
• Professor Christopher Shaw MD FRACP FRCP (Hon) FMedSci FANA FK, Professor of Neurology and Neurogenetics, Director of the Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London
• Professor Zion Tse, Queen Mary University of London

Panel members are unable to discuss individual applications. If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected]. 

Supporters

• Department for Science, Innovation & Technology
• National Institute for Health and Care Research
• Wellcome

Further information

Please note that you cannot accept a salary from the partner organisation(s) during the grant period. You will continue to receive your salary through your employer. (You are not permitted to receive a double salary.)

This grant scheme is part of our cross-sector programme.

What alumni say

With the cross-sector experience awards, the Academy has hit upon a niche…you are enabling highly skilled people across sectors to learn best practices. You are cultivating leaders and saving and improving lives.

Dr Pradeep Harish

The award has provided the unique space to experience new environments, prioritise career development and create a collaboration built on solid foundations.

Professor Grant Trewartha