The Isaac Newton Trust funds research at the University of Cambridge in all subjects.

What we do: principles

• attempt to be responsive and flexible
• prefer to help projects get off the ground, rather than sustain existing projects
• aim to help secure funding from outside the University and/or from the School or Faculty
• expect applicants to approach other funding bodies first wherever possible
• prioritise early career researchers (see early career researchers)
• assume that senior PIs will not need to approach the Trust, except for Emergency or Strategic funding
• prioritise PDRA salary costs
• make modest contributions to consumables and travel, only if a special case is made
• occasionally make a contribution to purchasing a key item of equipment.

What we do not do: principles

• fund research undertaken outside the University of Cambridge
• provide all the funding for any project
• act as a primary funder – other awards should be applied for before applying to INT
• augment existing awards from external funding bodies unless a strong strategic rationale for the necessity is made
• extend existing awards, except where this can be done at no extra cost to the Trust
• reconsider unsuccessful applications for the same project (unless there has been a substantial material change in circumstances)
• revise the amount offered (unless there has been an error)
• provide long-term funding – we commit to no more than five years at any time and standard Research Grants are almost always for less than three years
• tide over post-doctoral researchers repeatedly
• match fund Wellcome Trust Junior Interdisciplinary Fellowships, for which matching funds must come from the host department
• consider grant applications between rounds (see Research Grant Application Deadlines).

We do not fund:

• overheads or Departmental or laboratory charges
• core University business (eg teaching & professorial posts)
• research that falls squarely under the remit of UKRI or other major funders
• 'buying out' PI time (except for CTO research leave)
• PhD students (except via the AHRC DTP)
• Technicians (except in exceptional cases - please ask)
• Apprenticeship levy, visa charges etc
• Short-term visitors (except as part of a Strategic Programme)
• Conferences
• Publication costs

Further information can be found in our Terms & Conditions.