SMR early career researcher Future Leader award 2026

  • SMR ECR Future Leader Application

    The SMR early career researcher (ECR) Future Leader award seeks to recognize excellence in medicines research by ECRs. The award celebrates the scientific contributions, leadership potential and community impact of ECRs across the medicines research ecosystem.

  • Award Objectives
    → Recognize excellence: Spotlight early career researchers driving meaningful advances in medicines discovery, design, development, and delivery.
    → Encourage leadership: Support individuals who demonstrate initiative, collaboration, and influence within and beyond their institutions.
    → Promote visibility and engagement: Connect awardees with SMR networks, events, and opportunities to amplify their impact.

    To apply for the SMR ECR Future Leader award, please complete and submit this form.

    For any questions, contact: secretariat@smr.org.uk

    Application closing date for 2026 award: 31st July 2026.

  • Award Eligibility Criteria

    To be eligible, applicants must be within 10 years of completing their highest degree (i.e. BSc/Masters, PhD, MD, PharmD, or equivalent), excluding recognized career breaks. Applicants from all settings (academia, industry, biotech, government) and scientific disciplines broadly relevant to medicines research will be accepted for consideration. The SMR accept applications from broad range of fields be relevant to medicines research. This includes disciplines such as: Chemistry for medicines R&D (medicinal, synthetic, analytical), Target and hit discovery, systems and structural biology, Molecular and cellular biology for drug discovery, Immunology, infectious diseases and antimicrobial discovery, Disease biology and mechanisms of pathophysiology, Translational science, Computational, data and AI for drug discovery and development, Quantitative and clinical pharmacology (PK/PD), DMPK and safety sciences, Formulation, drug delivery and pharmaceutical engineering, Biologics, advanced modalities and radiopharmaceuticals, Clinical development and real‑world evidence, Precision medicine, diagnostics and imaging, CMC, manufacturing and quality, Patient-centred outcomes and access, Regulatory science, Education and science communication, Ethics, policy and governance.
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  • Within the specified word limits, complete all four application sections below, including relevant examples:

  • Section 1/ Scientific Excellence and Impact (300 words max): Describe your most significant research contribution to date. What was novel about your approach, how did you ensure rigor, and what measurable outcomes did it produce (e.g., publications, patents, tools, datasets, translational milestones)?

    Highlighting your specific scientific expertise and how this drives innovation in medicines research. Please include your specific role and a link to any citations. Example impacts could include areas of science where work has helped to advance understanding or development of novel methods/technologies.

  • Section 2/ Leadership and Collaboration (300 words max): Describe your most significant research contribution to date. What was novel about your approach, how did you ensure rigor, and what measurable outcomes did it produce (e.g., publications, patents, tools, datasets, translational milestones)? Highlighting your specific scientific expertise and how this drives innovation in medicines research. 

    Please include your specific role and a link to any citations. Example impacts could include areas of science where work has helped to advance understanding or development of novel methods/technologies.

  • Section 3/ Societal, impact, communication and Advocacy (300 words max):

    Describe the unmet need your work addresses and describe how patients, communities, or stakeholders have informed your objectives, design, or deployment. Summarize how you communicate your science to diverse audiences (specialist, cross-disciplinary, public/patient). Include examples (e.g., talks, workshops, media, open resources) and describe the outcome. Note any contributions to scientific culture (e.g., open science, reproducibility initiatives, community building).

  • Section 4/ Future vision for medicine research (100 words max):

    What is your hope for the future of medicine research? And how do you aim to make a meaningful difference? 

  • Letter of support

    Please provide a signed letter of support from current or previous senior management and/or supervisors *Please provide information on affiliation details and length of working relationship. Must be relevant to the past 10 years*
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  • Conflict of interest declaration: 

    It is important that you disclose whether you have any current or past working relationships with the SMR or any of its committee members. If there are no conflicts of interest please enter NA. Committee profiles are available here: https://www.smr.org.uk/AboutUs/Committee.asp
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