UKRI more than doubles funding to Daphne Jackson Trust to support a more inclusive and representative research community
Having already agreed an increase to allow all UKRI funded Daphne Jackson Fellows to be three-years in duration, the UKRI and Daphne Jackson Trust are delighted to announce a further increase to funding, agreed by the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology in the current spending review period from 2026 onwards. The Government will more than double support for the Daphne Jackson Trust from £1.7m to £4m per year, which will help to unlock the talent of many more researchers whose careers have been paused. This additional funding will strengthen the UK’s research capacity and ensure important work, such as developing new treatments and improving lives, continues to progress.
The Daphne Jackson Trust facilitates fellowships for researchers who have taken a break from their career of at least two years for family, caring or health reasons. UKRI has been the largest funder of these fellowships for many years and has supported 280 fellowships to date, with around 60% of the current fellows fully or partly funded by UKRI.
“The Daphne Jackson Trust Fellowships play a vital role in enabling researchers and innovators to return to their careers after a break, helping the UK retain essential skills and experience. That’s why UKRI is more than doubling its investment, increasing the number of research fellowships and making three‑year awards the standard. This uplift will also allow the Trust to support up to 15 new research technical professionals each year. Together, these changes strengthen support for diverse career paths and the talent the UK needs.”
Dr Frances Burstow Director – Talent and Skills, UK Research and Innovation
For over 40 years, the Trust’s mission has continued to evolve to embrace inclusivity and welcome individuals from all backgrounds, career trajectories and across all research and technical disciplines. While the Fellowships were originally delivered over two years on a part-time basis, experience has shown that three-year fellowships are increasingly vital in enabling returners to achieve the best possible outcomes. With UKRI’s support the increase has taken the Trust over the tipping point where all research fellowships will now be for a three-year duration.
“As our partnership with the Government and UKRI has developed, we are now working with the UKRI Talent and Skills team. I am delighted that the continued commitment and significant uplift means that we can use this funding not only to support more researchers to resuming their career, but also embed our new Research Technical Professional Fellowships. As a small charity, working with the Government and UKRI allows us to magnify our impact and work towards shared goals and strategic priorities around equality, diversity and inclusion for the research and innovation landscape.”
Dr Katie Perry, Chief Executive at the Daphne Jackson Trust.
Professor Jim Al-Khalili CBE FRS, Patron at the Daphne Jackson Trust comments;
“This additional funding goes to show the tremendous value of what the Trust achieves – and I look forward to seeing the expansion of the incredibly important work the Trust does for the research community, with thanks to UKRI and DSIT.”
Daphne Jackson Fellows make significant impact in their research fields and the wider sector. They have secured over £87million in research funding and produced more than 2,200 peer-reviewed publications. More than 70% of former fellows remain in research active work five years after their fellowship, and for every £1 invested in Daphne Jackson fellows they bring in an average of £3.50 in additional funding in their subsequent career.
As a small charity, to date the Trust has supported 533 research returners and saved over 2,400 years and £80million of research training, experience, and talent from being lost from the sector through a challenging, flexible research project.
Learn more about the impact and outcomes Daphne Jackson Fellowships deliver in our Impact Report 2026.
