News

The Medical Research Foundation has launched a £500,000 funding call to support research that will increase understanding of movement and balance disorders, and improve diagnosis, treatment and interventions in children and young people.

The Launchpad Grants in Children & Young People’s Movement and Balance Disorders offer up to £100,000 over two years for researchers and clinical academics in the UK conducting movement and balance disorder research that will act as a ‘launchpad’ for further research.

Funding can be used to conduct pilot studies, generate data and collaborations, and develop competitive research proposals for larger funding.

The Medical Research Foundation has launched this grant opportunity to improve understanding of the molecular mechanisms of movement disorders, such as essential tremor, cerebral palsy, tic, ataxia and dystonia.

Treatment options for children and young people are often suboptimal or limited, and in many cases are not targeted to the specific cause underlying the movement disorder. There also remains a significant knowledge gap between the molecular basis and treatment pathways.

Proposals which include research investigating the following themes are particularly encouraged:

• Increased understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the causes of movement disorders.
• Further understanding of mechanisms of action of any available therapies.
• Development of treatments and interventions, including pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical interventions (such as orthotics, splints, physiotherapy, speech and language therapies).
• Mental health impacts of movement and balance disorders in children and young people.

Application is open to researchers and clinical academics at based at HEIs, Research Council research institutes, hospitals, and other independent research organisations in the UK.

Applicants must hold a PhD, DPhil, MD or doctorate in a relevant area and be conducting their research at an eligible institution. Researchers may be at any career stage.

Clinical academics and applicants with clinical duties, including Allied Health Professionals, physiotherapists and occupational therapists, are strongly encouraged to apply. 

Applications should be submitted by the deadline on 27 March 2026.

Link: Medical Research Foundation | Launchpad Grants in Children & Young…

British Association of Prosthetics and Orthotics (BAPO) is pleased to announce the launch of its Journal Partnership Programme, a new initiative designed to strengthen collaboration between professional practice and academic publishing within prosthetics and orthotics.

Building on the success of BAPO’s existing partnership programme, this new strand focuses specifically on working with journals and publishers to improve access to research, support education and continuing professional development, and increase visibility for high-quality scholarly content within the profession.

Benefits for BAPO Members

The Journal Partnership Programme delivers clear and tangible benefits for BAPO members, supporting their clinical practice, research activity and lifelong learning. Through these partnerships, members may gain access to:

• Reduced or waived article processing charges (APCs) for open-access publishing
• Greater exposure to relevant, high-quality research in prosthetics and orthotics
• Educational resources such as CPD articles, research summaries and webinars
• Improved engagement with journals aligned to professional priorities and clinical practice

By strengthening links with journals, BAPO aims to ensure that its members are supported to publish, access and apply evidence-based research, enhancing patient care and professional standards across the UK.

Benefits for Journals and Publishers

For journals, the programme provides a valuable opportunity to connect directly with a highly engaged, specialist professional audience. Partner journals benefit from:

• Increased visibility and recognition through BAPO’s website and communication channels
• Targeted promotion to practising prosthetists and orthotists across the UK
• Opportunities to share content and updates with members via newsletters, events and digital communications
• Stronger engagement with clinicians and researchers working at the forefront of prosthetics and orthotics practice

The programme offers flexible partnership options, enabling journals to select a model that best aligns with their strategic goals, whether focused on visibility, education, or member benefits.

Get Involved

BAPO welcomes expressions of interest from journals and publishers who share a commitment to advancing research, education and professional practice in prosthetics and orthotics.

For more information or to discuss partnership opportunities, please refer to the attached flyer or contact BAPO directly.

Quote from Dr Laura Barr, chair of the BAPO Research Committee

“We are excited to work more closely with our journal partners through this new programme. It creates meaningful opportunities for the prosthetics and orthotics community to strengthen relationships between research and practice, support evidence-based care, and improve access to high-quality, relevant research for our members.”

The AHP WRaP team are pleased to announce that the project’s website is now live: https://research.shu.ac.uk/ahpwrap/  

If you are hearing about the AHP WRaP for the first time, the short video introduction on the website’s landing page provides a great overview of the project.  

Further details on each of the AHP WRaP’s current research projects can be found here: https://research.shu.ac.uk/ahpwrap/research-projects/  

As well as the website, you can also keep informed about the project through our social media pages : LinkedIn | BlueSky  

And of course through signing up to the CHAIN sub-group ‘NIHR AHP WRaP’.  Existing CHAIN members can email enquiries@chain-network.org.uk with the request to join this new sub-group.