Co-funded by

Wellbeing of Women-British Society for the Study of Vulval Disease Partnership Postdoctoral Research Fellowships provide single candidates with 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.

Applicants do not have to be members of the BSSVD, but successful candidates are expected to join the Society on receipt of their award. 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 a basic science, clinical or translational research project into the cause and management of vulval diseases, to improve evidence-based practice and ultimately lead to better outcomes for women with vulval conditions.

Lichen sclerosus is a particular research priority area identified by the BSSVD, as informed by the James Lind Alliance Lichen Sclerosus Priority Setting Partnership (LSPSP). However, as vulval disease is a subspecialty area which is typically under-researched and under-funded, research proposals that address other aspects/conditions of vulval disease will be considered.

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.

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