Our strategy
We strive to improve the health of women and babies by:
- Supporting high-quality, good value, innovative research with realistic aims.
- Closing gaps in scientific and medical knowledge.
- Investing in promising new women’s health researchers.
- Developing academic research, knowledge and techniques in women’s healthcare.
- Futureproofing the charity’s future by maintaining quality and transparency.
- Promoting our research results and working with relevant organisations to do so.
- Building a research portfolio which we can use to fund more research.
How our review process works
Our research is selected, monitored and evaluated by our eminent Research Advisory Committee (RAC), a team of established and expert clinicians and researchers.
Our rigorous selection procedure and independent peer review process guarantees we fund only the highest quality research to ensure that our funds are invested strategically to achieve the greatest impact on improving healthcare for women, girls and babies.
We are accredited by the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) and we work collaboratively with key partners including the government and the royal colleges; the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), the Royal College of Midwives (RCM).
The Research Advisory Committee
The RAC is made up of an independent panel of 19 specialists in women’s health who serve three-year terms to ensure up-to-date expertise.
Decisions are based not only on each project’s scientific value, but also on the quality of applicants and what research will have the greatest impact on women’s health.
Independent chair
Professor David Williams
Associate Professor in Maternal Medicine, University College London
Researchers and clinicians
Professor Pierre Martin-Hirsch
Consultant Gynaecological Oncologist, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Professor William Atiomo
Clinical Associate Professor in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Nottingham
https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/people/view/39335-sanders-julia
Professor of Clinical Nursing and Midwifery, Cardiff University
Midwifery Subcommittee
We are also supported by our Midwifery Subcommittee – three expert members in the field of midwifery research who sit on behalf of Wellbeing of Women and the Royal College of Midwives.
Our peer reviewers
We would like to thank our peer reviewers, reproductive specialists from around the globe who play a vital role in our review process.
Our core programme of research
Our funding opportunities and how to apply
Application open
NIHR Wellbeing of Women Doctoral Fellowships
These awards fund individuals from a range of health and social care professions to undertake a PhD that will underpin their development as an independent future leader.
Applications made for an NIHR Charity Partnership Fellowship must be relevant to our remit of women’s reproductive and gynaecological health.
More information can be found here.
Application closed
Entry-level Research Scholarships
These awards enable graduates to develop research interests in women’s reproductive and gynaecological health. They also provide ‘pump-priming’ funds to enable candidates to be exposed to a research environment, or to obtain pilot data for bids for definitive funding.
This award will open for applications in autumn.
Application closed
Postdoctoral Research Fellowships
These awards fund early career researchers (lecturers or lecturer equivalent level) to gather data and strengthen their bids for longer-term substantive funding. They are open to both clinicians and academic researchers.
This award will open for applications in autumn.
Application closed
Research Training Fellowships
These awards fund midwives, medical graduates, nurses and other AHPs to pursue a career in academic medicine. Candidates are expected to undertake a higher degree that will underpin their development as an independent future clinical academic leader.
This award will open for applications in autumn.
Application closed
Research Project Grants
These awards provide funds for projects in laboratory, health and translational research in women’s reproductive and gynaecological health. They are intended to support independent researchers leading multi-disciplinary teams.
This award will open for applications in early 2021.
Application closed
Scottish Research Project Grants
These awards, jointly funded by Wellbeing of Women and the Scottish Government Chief Scientist Office (CSO), provide funds for projects in laboratory, health and translational research in women’s reproductive and gynaecological health.
Example forms and guidelines will be available soon.
Application closed
Entry-level Research Scholarships for Midwives
These awards, in association with the Royal College of Midwives and the Burdett Trust for Nursing, provide ‘pump-priming’ funds to enable midwives to be exposed to a research environment, or to obtain pilot data for bids of definitive funding.
This award will open for applications in autumn.
Our standard grant Terms and Conditions can be found here.
Our current research
The following grants are being carried out by our researchers both in the UK and internationally.
For grant holders
Information for researchers who have been awarded a Wellbeing of Women grant.
Policies
Use of animals in research
Wellbeing of Women is a member of the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC). We support the principle of using animals in research when it is necessary to advance understanding of health and disease and to develop new treatments. This research only takes place where there is no alternative available. All AMRC member charities support this principle, as outlined in this AMRC statement on the use of animals in research.
Wellbeing of Women also supports the AMRC statement on supporting research in universities.
Partnerships
We are proud to co-fund a selection of projects with the following esteemed research partners.
The NIHR Clinical Research Network
Wellbeing of Women is a National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) non-commercial Partner. This means the studies that we fund may be eligible to access the NIHR Study Support Service which is provided by the NIHR Clinical Research Network.
The NIHR Clinical Research Network can now support health and social care research taking place in non-NHS settings, such as studies running in care homes or hospices, or public health research taking place in schools and other community settings.
Read the full policy: Eligibility Criteria for NIHR Clinical Research Network Support.