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ABCD Diabetes Dragons' Den Funding Scheme

The Diabetes Dragon's Den - running for a second year. 

After a successful first year in 2023, we are delighted to advise that ABCD will be running the Diabetes Dragons' Den funding scheme once again this year. 

This competition aims to provide a route for supporting clinically relevant innovative projects in the area of diabetes care. 

This ‘Dragons' Den’ route will appeal to the strengths of NHS clinicians with worthy clinical projects that would be important to support.

Watch our video to learn more about this funding scheme.


"We are delighted to receive this recognition and support from ABCD and the Dragons. This is hugely beneficial to us as doctors approaching the end of our training, who may soon become involved in design of diabetes services working as Consultants." 💬 2023 awardee,  Emma Johns, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde


Who can apply?

Junior doctors, consultants  and health care professionals who are up to 5 years post Certificate of Completion of Training and without previous grant funding. The applicant will usually have a clinical post in the UK and the research will take place at a UK institution.

Funding criteria

✅ This fund is for small clinically relevant projects relating to education, research and quality improvement.

✅ Grants will be for a maximum of £10,000 to be used within 2 years. The term can be extended with the permission of the ABCD Grant committee.

✅ Successful applicants will have to acknowledge ABCD and DCT in all outputs including publications and presentations. 

✅ Awardees will be required to present the results at the ABCD annual conference and publish an aspect of their work in the British Journal of Diabetes.


"Success with this grant award has given me the confidence to actively seek other funding opportunities, and has demonstrated to me that I am starting to develop the skills required to be a successful academic...I intend to have a fully active academic career and this grant award has hopefully provided the first steps to achieving that." 💬 2023 awardee,  Oluwaseun Anyiam, University of Nottingham / University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust


How to apply

To apply, record a video of up to 120 seconds, that outlines your proposal, you do not need to prepare any slides, however, in your video you will need to clearly state the following: 

  • The problem your project addresses
  • Project aims
  • Timeline
  • Budget
  • Expected outcomes

Share your video with ABCD via WhatsApp - send to 07904 889009.

In your message please include your full name, email address, title of your project and institution.

Submit your video application by 5:00pm on Friday 4th October 2024. 

A panel made up of members of the ABCD Academic/Research Grant Review Committee will shortlist the video applications.

Those shortlisted will be invited to present their proposal virtually to our 'Diabetes Dragons' and to answer questions from the panel. 

Funding application timeline

  • Stage one video application closes - 4th October 2024 
  • Stage one applicants shortlisted - October/November 2024
  • Stage two proposal presentation - 29th November 2024
  • Stage two applicants notified of outcome -  Mid December 2024

The project(s) deemed worthy of support will be required to complete an official acceptance form providing proof of any required supporting evidence and governance approvals.

Final selection is subject to scrutiny process.

Watch our short video for an overview of this opportunity

Grant Awardees 2023

Dr Emma Johns, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde: Hybrid closed loop to prevent Recurrent DKA in High Risk People with Diabetes

Emma details her experience in this interview.

Oluwaseun Anyiam, University of Nottingham / University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust: Can High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) improve maintenance of type 2 diabetes remission?

Oluwaseun details his experience in this interview.