Please read our Postdoctoral Guidance document and Conditions of Award for full details.
If you have any questions, please email research@stroke.org.uk and we will get back to you as soon as we can.
You can also view the Postdoctoral Fellowship scheme webinar, held on 25 March 2026, below:
Deadline
This round is currently closed for applications.
The funding call for Postdoctoral Fellowship applications is due to open at 11:00am, 2 March 2026. The closing date for applications is 1:00pm, 25 May 2026. Interviews will be held on 21 October 2026.
Purpose and remit of the awards
The Stroke Association is committed to building capacity in stroke research to accelerate progress in prevention, treatment, recovery and long‑term outcomes for people affected by stroke. Our Postdoctoral Fellowship scheme aims to develop the next generation of research leaders by supporting independent stroke research that advances knowledge, is informed by lived experience, and has the potential to improve the delivery of stroke care.
We expect all research proposals to align with the priorities for stroke research, as set by the 2021 James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership for Stroke.
Applications in childhood stroke should fall under the priorities of the Childhood Neurological Disabilities PSP Top 10. Any applications addressing one or more of these priorities must have a clear link to stroke prevention, treatment or care.
The Stroke Association does not fund basic research that has no clear trajectory towards improving the health and wellbeing of people affected by stroke. All proposals must outline a credible pathway to impact.
Postdoctoral Fellowship (PDF):
- Is for researchers who have an interest in stroke research and do not have a clinical background or do not wish to undertake clinical activity during the Fellowship.
- Supports innovative research across the stroke care pathway, aligned with our strategic priorities.
- Focuses on building multidisciplinary research capacity and leadership.
Clinical-Academic Postdoctoral Fellowship (CPDF):
- Offers the opportunity for clinicians to combine research with clinical practice.
- Aims to embed research within stroke care, bridging the gap between evidence and practice.
- Supports future clinical-academic leaders who will drive improvements in patient outcomes and service delivery.
We are committed to creating clinical career pathways in stroke research and welcome applications from any clinical professional working in stroke care.
Eligibility requirements
The eligibility requirements for each award can be found in the postdoctoral guidance document here.
Please contact the Research Team if you are unsure of, or have any queries regarding, your eligibility for this award.
Scope of funding
For both Postdoctoral (PDF) and Clinical-Academic Postdoctoral Fellowships (CPDF):
- The maximum funding amount that you can apply for is £350,000 over a period of three years (full-time) or up to five years (part-time)
- Fellowships may be taken up on a part-time, pro-rata basis but the minimum working hours would be equivalent to 0.6 FTE.
- You cannot apply for the full amount if you want to work part time over a shorter period (e.g. three years). In these cases, we will reduce the award value accordingly.
For Clinical-Academic Postdoctoral Fellowships (CPDF) only:
- The CPDF will fund your research activity, including your time spent on research activity, and research costs.
- The research component of the CPDF must be undertaken at a minimum of 0.6 FTE.
- The length of the CPDF should reflect the split between research and clinical activity, and with the research component equating to three years full-time (e.g. 0.6 FTE over five years).
- Clinical activity is expected to be funded through your NHS or Statutory Social Care Organisation contract of employment.
Apply
Please read our Postdoctoral Guidance document and Conditions of Award before beginning an application.
Please complete our Narrative CV Template and upload to the appropriate places in the application form.
Applications must be submitted to our online award management system.
To begin an application, please create an account by clicking 'register' in the top right hand corner. If you have previously interacted with us, then your email address may already be in the system. If you find that this is the case, please click on 'Login' and 'Forgot password?' The system will then email you instructions to set yourself a password.
After you have logged in, please click on 'Application Portal' at the top of the page, then select which award you would like to start an application for, from the 'Click here to start an application' search bar in the blue panel on this page.
This system should work on all major browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, Safari and Edge, but we would not recommend using Internet Explorer below version 9.
If you have any issues with the system or have any feedback, please email us at research@stroke.org.uk.
Interviews will be held on 21 October 2026. You'll be informed two weeks before whether you have been shortlisted for an interview.
- Chair: Professor Jacqui Morris (University of Dundee)
- Professor Anne Forster (University of Leeds)
- Dr Emma Patchwood (University of Manchester)
- Dr Fergus Doubal (University of Edinburgh)
- Dr Hannah Thompson (City St George's, University of London)
- Dr Niki Chouliara (Loughborough University)
- Dr Sarah Moore (Northumbria University)
- Dr Stephanie Rossit (University of East Anglia)
- Dr Tom Crocker (University of Leeds)
- David Burgess (Stroke Voices in Research)
Success rates for Postdoctoral Fellowship awards
You can find details of the number of applications received and the number funded for this stream in recent years here: