Joint OBB Research Fund

Orthopaedic Research UK (ORUK), the British Orthopaedic Trainees Association (BOTA) and the British Orthopaedic Medical Students Association (BOMSA) are offering up to £1,500 research funding for medical students and foundation year doctors.

To encourage medical students and foundation year doctors to become future leaders in MSK research, the three organisations are partnering to deliver seed funding of up to £1,500 for short clinical or laboratory research projects hosted by universities, hospitals or hospital trusts. Most projects are expected to last around 12 months or under. Projects can be done with flexible part-time hours. 

Successful applications must fulfil the following criteria:

• Are prospective in nature,
• Demonstrate original research.
• Outline specific expenses pertaining to how the bursary will to be spent,
• Involve significant exposure to trauma & orthopaedic surgery.
• Demonstrate how this period of research will aid professional career development,
• Clearly demonstrate how the project and funding will benefit the applicant.

Suitable types of projects include Research, Quality Improvement Projects (QIP) or Audit.

Award winners will be expected to submit a 500 – 1000-word report within eight weeks of the project’s completion. 

Application process

Applications will be a single stage process application form closing on the extended deadline of 24 September, followed by interviews for shortlisted applicants on the week commencing 4 or 11 November.  Applications will be scored for shortlisting and in interviews by a team of reviewers from ORUK, BOTA and BOMSA.

Award decisions are expected to be made by the end of November 2024. The role is planned to commence by no later than June 2025.

The extended deadline for the online application form is 24 September at 17:00.