Postdoctoral Research Fellowships (PRF) provide single candidates up to £30,000 for research lasting up to 36 months. Awards may include new and directly incurred research costs, but funds cannot be used to pay for salary, except for non-medical healthcare professionals working clinically in women’s health (such as nurses, midwives, AHPs, and clinical psychologists), who may request a contribution towards salary costs. The research must be undertaken in the UK.

These awards are designed to support research-active lecturers or equivalent level researchers to gather data and strengthen their submissions for longer-term funding. They are open to both clinician and academic researchers who have been awarded an MD or PhD within the last 7 years and are employed by the NHS, a higher education institution (HEI), or on a postdoctoral research fellowship (or equivalent arrangement) with at least 20% of their time funded to undertake research (unless requesting a salary contribution as non-medical healthcare professionals working clinically in women’s health).

Fellowships will be considered for basic science, clinical, and translational research, including explanatory or feasibility studies and systematic reviews across any area of women’s reproductive and gynaecological health, that seeks to improve the health of women, girls and babies.

Evidence must be provided of previous research experience and future research career intentions. Projects may be ongoing or new, as long as a substantial element of the work is carried out during the Fellowship and can be concluded within its duration.

Do you qualify for a Partnership Fellowship?*

*updates on more partnerships to follow

2026 Call timeline

Call launch: Wednesday 22 April 2026

Submission deadline: Wednesday 22 July 2026 at 1pm

Application outcome: December 2026

Awards start: January/February 2027

How to apply

The 2026 application form and guidance will be made available for download at call launch.

Please see last year's application form and guidance below (subject to change).

WoW_Postdoctoral Research Fellowship_Application Form 2025

WoW_Postdoctoral Research Fellowship_Guidance for Applicants 2025

WoW_Research Questions for Non-standard Animals

If you have any queries, please contact the Wellbeing of Women research team at research@wellbeingofwomen.org.uk or call 020 3697 6346.