BHF Discovery Research Senior Fellowship

BHF Discovery Research Senior Fellowship

Funds senior cardiovascular scientists to build independent research teams to strengthen real-world implementation.

The British Heart Foundation Discovery Research Senior Fellowship is a five-year personal fellowship awarded to exceptional non-clinical scientists who lead an independent cardiovascular research programme at a UK host institution. BHF is the largest independent funder of heart and circulatory research in the UK, committing approximately £100 million annually across its grant portfolio. Eligible applicants include bench scientists, epidemiologists, data scientists, and engineers — clinicians must apply to the separate Clinical Senior Research Fellowship. Candidates must demonstrate an independent research track record, including multiple first- or last-author publications and a history of securing substantial research grants. Applicants cannot have held a tenured position at the proposed host institution for more than two years at the time of application; however, international researchers, career returners, and industry-to-academia transitioners are explicitly welcomed.

The fellowship covers 50% of the fellow's salary; the host institution must formally commit to underwriting the remaining 50% — this co-funding commitment is a hard eligibility condition. Beyond salary, BHF funds up to two associated research staff, research consumables, and essential equipment. Additional support includes a £5,000 discretionary fund (with institutional match), a £5,000 travel fund for conferences and collaborative visits, and up to £1,000 toward caring-related expenses during the award period. No extension beyond five years is available. The next application deadline is 16 September 2026 at 17:00, with a subsequent round closing 3 March 2027.

Prospective applicants must contact the BHF Fellowships team informally — submitting a CV and a brief project outline — before making a formal application. The fellowship is administered through BHF's researcher portal at researchgrants.bhf.org.uk. Because BHF covers only half of the fellow's salary, host institution buy-in is essential before approaching BHF; institutions that cannot guarantee the co-funding commitment should not proceed. Strong applicants position their research clearly within the cardiovascular disease remit and demonstrate the depth of their independent track record.