MQ Schizophrenia Fellows Award

The MQ Schizophrenia Fellows Award is offered by MQ Mental Health Research, a global charitable organization dedicated to improving mental health outcomes through innovative research. MQ focuses on advancing understanding, prevention, detection, and treatment of mental health conditions while addressing inequalities and supporting early- and mid-career researchers. This fellowship program specifically targets schizophrenia, a condition affecting approximately one percent of the population and associated with significant disability, reduced life expectancy, and unmet clinical needs. The program is funded by Nikki Fa Fond hosted by Fondation Philanthropia and is designed to stimulate progress in a field where treatment advancements have historically been limited. The primary objective of the fellowship is to support outstanding early-career researchers in conducting high-quality, focused projects that improve understanding, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of schizophrenia. The program emphasizes clinically meaningful outcomes, including improvements in cognitive and negative symptoms, early detection, and long-term quality of life. Applicants are encouraged to propose innovative, methodologically rigorous studies that integrate biological, psychological, and social factors, leverage existing data or infrastructure, and demonstrate a clear pathway to translation and real-world impact within a three-year timeframe. The fellowship provides funding of up to 250000 GBP over a three-year period. Allowable expenses include the applicant salary, research staff costs, direct research expenses such as equipment and consumables, publication and open access fees, animal research costs if applicable, travel, and training expenses. However, indirect and overhead costs are not covered and must be supported by the host institution. The funding structure is intended to support both the execution of the research project and the professional development of the fellow, including opportunities for networking, dissemination, and collaboration within academic and lived experience communities. Eligibility is open to researchers globally who have between three and seven years of postdoctoral research experience. Applicants must be affiliated with a university, hospital, or research institution and demonstrate a strong track record with clear potential for independence. They must commit between fifty and one hundred percent of their time to the fellowship over the full duration from May 1 2027 to April 30 2030. Applicants cannot hold substantial concurrent research funding exceeding 100000 GBP per year. Additional requirements include having a named senior sponsor at the host institution and submitting only one application. The application process is conducted entirely online through the FlexiGrant system. Applicants must first submit an Expression of Interest, followed by a full application if shortlisted. Required components include applicant details, a personal statement, project overview, scientific abstract, patient and public involvement plan, and records of grants and publications. Applicants must also agree to MQ policies including animal research, privacy, open access, and standard grant conditions. The selection process involves review by an international committee of academic and lived experience experts who evaluate applications based on applicant potential, project quality and originality, impact, and meaningful patient and public involvement. Key dates for the program include the opening of the call on June 12 2026, with Expressions of Interest due by August 12 2026. Shortlisting occurs in October 2026, followed by a full application deadline of December 8 2026. Final funding decisions are expected in April 2027. The program is recurring annually, and applicants are advised to prepare early to accommodate institutional approvals. For inquiries, applicants may contact the MQ grants team via email. Overall, the fellowship is designed as a strategic investment in early-career researchers to accelerate impactful schizophrenia research and build future leaders in mental health science.

Ensure strong patient involvement clear clinical impact and feasible three year plan demonstrating pathway to translation