The Academy of Medical Sciences is awarding grants of up to £100,000 for talented individuals to gain experience across different sectors and accelerate health innovation.
The Cross-Sector Experience Awards represent a strategic investment in breaking down traditional barriers between sectors – including industry, the NHS and academia – to help foster fresh pathways that bridge the public, private and charitable sectors.
Now in its second year, award recipients will receive up to £100,000 to undertake three to 12-month placements in different sectors – with the flexibility to return to their original roles afterwards equipped with new ideas, expertise and connections that can support cross-sector partnerships.
Professor James Naismith FRS FRSE FMedSci, Vice President (Non-Clinical) at the Academy of Medical Sciences, said: "The Academy's mission is better health for everyone, and scientific breakthroughs are essential to achieve this. We’re creating opportunities for unprecedented knowledge exchange. Imagine a clinical researcher gaining fresh perspectives from Formula-1 engineering, or a rare disease specialist collaborating with aerospace experts.
“The UK is a world leader in health research, and collaboration across academia, the NHS, industry and research funders is essential to our health and prosperity. However, the number of industrial placements, collaborative PhD studentships and collaborative postdoctoral researchers in pharmaceutical R&D has fallen.
“By facilitating temporary placements, our unique Cross-Sector Experience Awards makes sure researchers can see a wider world and make the connections that will drive the innovation that will benefit us all.”
The awards are particularly significant for individuals seeking to:
- Access new research methodologies and technologies from other sectors.
- Build lasting cross-sector partnerships without leaving their current position.
- Gain fresh perspectives on complex health challenges.
Delivered in partnership with Wellcome, the National Institute for Health and Care Research and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, this programme aligns with the Government’s broader strategy to maintain the UK’s competitive edge in life sciences. It addresses findings from the Academy’s ‘Future-proofing UK Health Research’ report, which identified how the restriction of movement between sectors suppresses innovation.
The awards provide up to £100,000 to cover salary, project costs and expenses for placements of up to 12 months. The applicant’s work must be connected to improving human health, while their partner organisation must operate in a different sector and does not need to be health related. The work of both the applicant and partner organisation does not need to be research focused.
The application deadline for the second round of Cross-Sector Experience Awards is 27 February 2025. Full eligibility criteria and application details can be found on the Academy of Medical Sciences website.