Outline

The Sasakawa Foundation Butterfield Awards are intended to encourage and facilitate exploratory exchanges and collaborations between Japan and the UK in any of the scientific, clinical, social and economic aspects of medicine and health.

What is funded

The awards are intended to encourage and facilitate exploratory exchanges and collaborations between qualified professionals in Japan and the UK, and the investigation of scientific, clinical, social and economic aspects of medicine in which Japanese and British researchers, practitioners, policy makers, managers and voluntary sector workers may learn from each other. The grants may be used for travel expenses or to contribute to other costs as appropriate (but NOT laboratory consumables). Typically, an award might cover the cost of one exchange visit in each direction for up to a month. It is intended that the project should involve partners in both the UK and Japan.

A small number of awards of around £5,000 are offered annually. Proposals for continuous funding of up to £5,000 per annum. for a maximum of three years are acceptable. Applications for smaller - and, exceptionally, larger - sums can be considered. Substantial funds are also available for support of conferences and publications bringing together UK and Japanese expertise.

Duration

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Eligibility

Eligibility

Applicants should normally be able to show an existing research record, but consideration will also be given to practitioners, managers, carers or others in health-related fields who intend to establish working links between organisations or produce a publishable comparative study. Preference will be given to those who have not previously been involved in UK-Japan collaboration, and applications from those in the early stages of their career are particularly welcomed. All proposals must, however, be supported by reputable referees and evidence of the facilities to be provided by a host institution or partner organisation must be provided.

Field of research

There are no restrictions on the field of research or collaboration, provided that it is one in which the UK and Japan have a mutual and beneficial interest. Areas currently of interest include, for example: health management; public health; health education; genetic aspects of ageing; palliative care; stem cell technology; community-based psychiatry; patient and carer involvement; drug testing; cancer; voluntary sector development; architecture and design for healthcare.