Grants

UCB is committed to improving patient care and will consider providing financial support to institutions (e.g., academic), associations (e.g., of medical professionals or patients) or recognised third party medical education providers for independent medical educational programmes and resources that address healthcare knowledge gaps and provide non-promotional information to patients and/or healthcare providers.

We support high quality, independent education through unrestricted educational grants focused on enhancing medical professional and patient awareness, knowledge, and education. Supported programmes must be objective, balanced and scientifically rigorous. In addition, all programmes must be in full compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and guidelines, including those established by relevant regulatory agencies and industry associations.

Examples of programmes that may be considered for funding:

  • independent, accredited and non-accredited programs that foster increased understanding of scientific, clinical, and healthcare issues and contribute to the enhancement of patient care
  • Independent development of educational tools or resources to enhance physician-patient dialogue about treatment of disease
  • Support of independent projects that lead to measurable improvement in health care services and the health status of individuals and targeted patient groups and do not relate to a UCB asset
  • Support for producing educational material for patients in an independent way
  • Support for the development and running of a patient registry.

UCB will also consider innovative ideas that enhance patient care and advance scientific knowledge.

Therapeutic Areas of Interest

Axial Spondyloarthritis (axSpA)Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Juvenile Idiopathic ArthritisEpilepsy
OsteoporosisRestless Legs Syndrome
PsoriasisImmune Thrombocytopenic Purpura
Psoriatic ArthritisMyasthenia Gravis
  

Stef Smith Research Grant – Proposals open

In support of our longstanding commitment to improving patients lives, UCB is launching the Stef Smith Research Grant, designed to support innovative research ideas in the field of myasthenia gravis.

The Stef Smith Early Investigators Research Grant is intended to fund research into cause, diagnosis, or management of myasthenia gravis (excluding pharmacological treatments).

Successful applications approved by the UCB Grant Review Committee, will be eligible to receive up to €200,000 (€100,000 per annum for a maximum of 2 years). [One/two successful research project(s) will be awarded the grant funding].
 

Eligibility criteria

  • Submitted projects should be focused on cause, diagnosis, or management of myasthenia gravis
  • UCB Pharma will only consider applications submitted by healthcare organizations/institutions
  • Funding shall only be provided to an organization, and not to individual recipients 
  • Research project leads of the project team must* Hold a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), or equivalent degree and not be beyond Assistant Professor level and not more than 5 years post neurology training.
     

Timelines 

  • Applications are open until the end of September 2025
  • Approved submissions will be notified to requestors at the beginning of November 2025.
     

How to Apply? 

  • Applications must be submitted online through the UCB funding portal eRequest
  • Apply for a new FND and complete the integrated system fields
  • eRequest title should start with: SSMG2025


Documentation to be provided

Letter on Organization letterhead OR Email from recognized Organization addressed to UCB including, at a minimum:

  • Requestor's signature and date (letters only)
  • Detailed activity description with a statement indicating how funds will be used
  • Full activity budget 
  • The name and email of the best party to reach regarding this request
  • The legal name and address of the beneficiary organization
  • Confirmation if support has also been requested (and as applicable, secured) from other companies.


Additional information required, as applicable per project type

  • The scientific question(s) 
  • The source of information and/or data to be analyzed/referenced
  • The methodology employed/protocol followed
  • Study concept, protocol or project plan
  • Study budget breakdown/estimate (The requested financial support and its allocation i.e. reasonable expenses provided at a fair market value rate, associated with the development of qualitative output and access).


As applicable:

  • Institutional Review Board (IRB)/Independent Ethics Committee (IEC) approval or exemption letter
  • Informed Consent.

Note: additional information and/or documentation may be asked during the proposal review process by the review committee.

The Stef Smith Early Investigators Research Grant was founded in honor of Bryan Smith’s late wife, Stef Smith. Bryan Smith is a retired UCB researcher and biochemist, who was instrumental in the discovery and development of novel approaches for the treatment of gMG.

 

 

Stef Smith was an inspirational mother and teacher, and also the inspiration for my research in MG. Her determined resilience through years of ill health served as the best example of pushing forward to better treatment that can now benefit many who before had few options. It is an honor to have her name associated with continuing efforts to better medicines.
 

Bryan Smith

Contact us

To submit a Grant application access eRequest

Contact us:  externalfunding@ucb.com 

For Australia & China kindly contact the UCB Medical Affairs department in your country for assistance.