Marie Curie

Marie Curie, a UK-wide charity established in 1948 (with roots in the 1930 Marie Curie Hospital), is the largest independent provider of palliative and end-of-life care outside the NHS, operating nine hospices and community nursing services across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Its mission centers on delivering free, compassionate, person-centred care, support, and information to adults with any terminal illness—including cancer, neurological diseases, and dementia—and their families, while advocating for dignified deaths in one's chosen place. Core values emphasize equity, holistic support, reducing health inequalities, and evidence-led improvements through research, policy influence, and partnerships with NHS trusts, hospices, and local authorities.

As the UK's biggest charitable funder of palliative and end-of-life research, Marie Curie prioritizes projects enhancing care models, implementation, policy impact, professional training (e.g., Daffodil Standards), bereavement support, and public awareness. It backs nurse-led services, community/out-of-hours care, innovative pilots, and collaborations addressing underserved communities, with beneficiaries including patients, carers, and minoritised groups.

Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities and academic institutions based in the UK, with no income thresholds but a focus on capable research teams or consortia. Unsolicited applications are not accepted; funding is via time-limited calls only (e.g., Research Grants Scheme deadlines like 3 November 2024). Submit detailed proposals (up to 8 pages), budgets, CVs, and ethics info by email to research.grants@mariecurie.org.uk; peer-reviewed decisions follow within 2-3 months, with ad hoc meetings possible.

Typical grants range £30,000–£300,000 for project costs (staff, overheads, dissemination), excluding unrestricted/core funding. Distinctively, Marie Curie's integrated hospice-community-research model, UK-wide scale, and catalytic role in systemic change set it apart from generalist funders, targeting high-impact, co-produced solutions to end-of-life gaps.