Information for researchers

Research funding

Alopecia UK is a member of the Association for Medical Research Charities (AMRC). We follow the AMRC principles on Expert Review of funding applications, representing best practice in responsible research funding. We are audited on our Expert Review processes every 5 years, and passed the most recent audit. 

We also support their position statements on the use of animals in research, and the importance of involvement in medical research. 

Please note that Alopecia UK does not fund research involving animals. 

Research funding applications are reviewed by our scientific, clinical and healthcare experts on the Research Committee and experts by lived experience on the Lay Research Panel. 

We are also a National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Research Delivery Network non-commercial partner, which means the clinical research we fund is eligible for NIHR Portfolio support. 

Active funding opportunities (when available), and further information for researchers can be found at the bottom of this page. 

Supporting research

Alopecia UK supports a wide community of people affected by different types of alopecia (hair loss), for which the causes are not well understood. By building meaningful connections between researchers and the alopecia community we can enable two-way learning, maximise the impact of the research that happens, and show its importance to the wider world. Researchers should be able to communicate their work in clear, accessible language, so that people affected by alopecia can understand what the research means for them, empowering them to take charge of their healthcare journey with confidence and clarity.

We can support researchers with Participation, Involvement, and Engagement activities. These are defined as:  

Participation is when people are the subject of a study, for example by filling in a questionnaire, doing an interview, or donating biological samples. We can share adverts for recruitment with our community, granted they are relevant and approved by an appropriate research ethics committee. 

Involvement means people with lived experience act as advisors or contributors to the research, rather than being studied as subjects. It’s about giving people with lived experience a seat at the table to help shape and progress research. Our Lay Research Panel of people with lived experience of alopecia is available to support your research in this way. Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) ensures the research focuses on what's important to people affected by alopecia, and is sensible to their needs and preferences. As members of the AMRC, we endorse the AMRC's position statement on the importance of involvement in research. For more information on how we can support your research with PPI, please see our 'Good Practice Guide': 

Good practice guide to involving people affected by alopecia in research

Engagement is when researchers share information and knowledge with the public. This helps our ommunity understand the latest research developments so that they can make informed choices about their condition and healthcare journey. 

To request Participation, Involvement and/or Engagement support with your research, please complete the request form below and return it to [email protected]

Patient and Public Participation, Involvement and Engagement request form

Funding opportunities and information