For researchers

Our research programme supports clinician led, practice based studies that strengthen MS services and tackle inequalities in diagnosis, treatment and support. Explore our funding opportunities, eligibility and application guidance to see how your work can help drive meaningful change for people with MS. 

MS affects people from every background, but not everyone experiences MS services in the same way. Too many face barriers to diagnosis, treatment, and specialist support. We’re committed to changing that.

Our programme prioritises research that:

• Includes people from ethnically diverse and underserved communities
• Recognises the influence of social determinants of health
• Tackles unequal access to diagnosis, treatment, and specialist care
• Uses culturally sensitive approaches to engagement and recruitment
• Builds research capacity among underrepresented professionals

We believe research should reflect and serve the full MS community across the UK. By bringing together expertise from every angle, we’re working to create a future where everyone with MS feels more in control of their condition.

MS Trust's open grant round funds clinician led, practice-based research projects designed to improve MS services.

We focus on applied research that benefits people with MS, strengthens multidisciplinary care, and addresses health inequalities - supporting work that directly influences MS care pathways and service delivery.

• We have one application round per year
• There is an annual fund of £100,000 which could be awarded to one or multiple applicants
• We have an expert research review panel which includes clinicians, researchers, methodologists, and people living with MS
• Our decision panel makes final funding recommendations, ensuring transparency, fairness, and representation 

• The main beneficiaries of the project must be people with MS
• The project should be primarily focused on research that informs or improves clinical practice, service delivery, or future NHS implementation for people with MS
• UK people with MS must be consulted, considered, and involved in the development, delivery, and governance of the project
• The project should be delivered according to principles of equality, diversity and inclusion
• The project will be primarily led and delivered by a healthcare professional at a UK healthcare or research institution

Our focus on clinician led, practice‑based research helps MS services respond to real‑world challenges and deliver care that is closer to home, more joined‑up, and more preventative.

Applications for our 2026 open grant round will open on 30 May 2026. In the meantime, you can set up your account in our grants portal and review the application form.

We are hoping to receive applications for projects that may align with the NHS Neighbourhood Care Model by strengthening community based MS care, improving coordination across services, and reducing reliance on hospital‑centred models of care.

MS Trust research will prioritise projects that improve local, accessible care for people with MS. By supporting research embedded within NHS and community services, we help generate evidence that:

• Improves early intervention and proactive management of MS
• Supports self-management and prevention of avoidable deterioration
• Reduces unnecessary hospital admissions and outpatient use
• Enables people with MS to receive the right support in their own communities

This approach reflects the NHS ambition to shift care away from hospital reliant services and towards neighbourhood level support that responds early and effectively.

People with MS often rely on care from multiple professionals and organisations. Our research supports better coordination and continuity of care by:

• Evaluating how MS services work across neurology, rehabilitation, primary care, and community teams
• Identifying gaps, delays, and duplication in care pathways
• Supporting service redesign that improves navigation, access, and communication

By focusing on how services operate in practice, MS Trust research aims to strengthen integrated care and help systems work better for both people with MS and the professionals supporting them. This aim mirrors the goals of the NHS Neurology Transformation Model. It will help to guide the setting up of services based on the NHS Specialised Neurology Service Specification - Annex A (PDF, 176KB).

MS Trust hopes to bring together NHS services, community providers, and the voluntary sector through the projects we support.

• Involving partnerships between NHS MS teams, community services, and third‑sector organisations
• Exploring how voluntary and community support can complement clinical care
• Embedding lived experience from people with MS in research design and evaluation

This collaborative approach supports the Neighbourhood Care Model’s goal of joined up care, ensuring that clinical, social, and community support work together to meet people’s needs. 

Unlike biomedical or laboratory research, MS Trust hopes to support real world evidence that can be directly applied to service planning and delivery. This includes:

• Service evaluations, audits, and mapping exercises
• Evidence about access, equity, and health inequalities
• Insights into social determinants of health and barriers to care

This evidence will help NHS services understand what works, for whom, and in what context supporting evidence based decision making at neighbourhood and system level. 

By funding and supporting clinician led, service focused research, MS Trust helps to:

• Strengthen neighbourhood based MS services
• Improve outcomes through early, coordinated intervention
• Promote equitable access to care
• Support the NHS Neurology Transformation Model goals in a practical, achievable way 

All applications are independently reviewed by our external review panels. We have two panels for the initial stage: one made up of healthcare professionals and researchers, and another made up of people living with MS and their loved ones. Applications that progress beyond this stage receive a final review from our decision panel.

All successful applicants will need to agree to our terms and conditions. We encourage applicants to read these before starting the grant process.

MS Trust offers support throughout the research application process.

Our research portal is designed to be clear and easy to navigate. However, if you experience any difficulties or have questions about your application, our team is here to help.

We provide guidance documents that explain each stage of the process in more detail, including eligibility, timelines, and what to include in your application.

If you need further support, contact the research team at research@mstrust.org.uk.

We encourage applicants to get in touch if they are unsure about any aspect of the process or would like clarification before submitting an application.

Applications for our 2026 open grant round will open on 30 May 2026. In the meantime, you can set up your account in our grants portal and review the application form.