MS Society Catalyst Awards

The MS Society Catalyst Awards are the society's short-form research grants for Multiple Sclerosis Society UK, backing 12-month pilot studies, proof-of-concept projects, and high-risk high-reward ideas. The award ceiling is GBP 60,000, which keeps the scheme focused on fast-moving experiments rather than long, resource-heavy programmes. Applications must be hypothesis-driven, and both junior and established researchers can lead. Researchers from outside the MS field are eligible if the project is relevant to MS, but the work must be led from a UK university or NHS institution. The scheme normally runs twice a year, around March and October, although 2026 has only one round because the grants system is changing; the 2026 deadline was 10 February and decisions are due in August. This award suits teams that need to test whether an idea is worth scaling before asking for a larger commitment. The strongest applications are likely to show a clear MS question, a realistic one-year plan, and enough scientific edge to justify the risk. Success rates were 13% in 2025 and 39% in 2024, so fit and clarity matter as much as novelty.

Each grant below is a distinct funding opportunity with its own eligibility, scope, and deliverables.