Research Grants

Apply for funding for your research

Our generous donors and tireless fundraisers make it possible for us to fund research that seeks to improve the lives of people with Addison's and adrenal insufficiency.

Entries for each year's available grants must be received before midnight on Addison's Disease Day (29 May). Please review our available awards before making a grant application.

Apply for an ADSHG Research Grant

Good clinical practice - up to £10,000 - Alfred Potter Memorial Medical Research Award

Research Project topics supported: Advancement of good clinical practice in the management of Addison’s disease.
Application assessors: ADSHG Trustee Board
About the award: The award is named in honour of Alfred Potter who was valued ADSHG member and regular contributor to our newsletter and lived into his nineties with Addison's disease.

Early career researchers - up to £5,000 - Sue Chambers Memorial Medical Research Award:

Researchers supported: Clinicians in the early stages of their careers (less than 5 years post Ph.D.) to encourage the next generation of medical researchers to develop their interests in Addison's Disease or steroid dependency.
Application assessors: ADSHG Trustee Board
About the award: The award is named after Sue Chambers, a much-loved and sadly missed member who passed away in 2018. We hope that Sue's spirited and passionate advocacy for people affected by Addison's will live on through this annual award.

Emergency Medicine - £varies - Professor John Wass Research Award

Research Project topics supported: Stimulating innovations and best practice in emergency medicine concerning adrenal insufficiency and adrenal crisis.
Application assessors: Professor Wass in collaboration with the Royal College of Emergency Medicine.
About the award: This award is named after long-time collaborator, Chair of our Clinical Advisory Panel and good friend of the charity, John Wass.

Grant awards for other purposes and / or larger funding requirements:

The ADSHG trustees welcome any applications for other research initiatives and grants of larger amounts for consideration.
Application assessors: ADSHG Trustee Board

Looking for participants with Addison's Disease or adrenal insufficiency to take part your study?

Please tell us more by filling in our online research participant request form.

Louise Breen and Lisa Shepherd pictured with ADSHG Founder and Patron Deana Kenward.

Prizes:

Nurse authored abstracts - Prize - £500 Annette Louise Seal Memorial Award

Research Project topics supported: Winning abstracts authored by nurses that are submitted to the Society for Endocrinology BES conference on the subject of any aspect of adrenal crisis prevention and treatment, the management and monitoring of steroid replacement therapy or associated patient education.
Application assessors: Society of Endocrinology judging panel at the BES conference. The judges may award a runner-up prize of £250 where there is more than one outstanding entry.
About the award: The award is made in memory of Annette Seal, an active volunteer for the charity, who assisted with our presence at medical conferences prior to her sad, early passing.

Previous winners:

Helen receiving the Annette Louise Seal Memorial Award from the Addison’s Disease Self-Help Group at SfE BES 2019, alongside (far left) Dr Helen Turner (Consultant Endocrinologist, Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism), Alison (ADSHG volunteer), Helen Loo, Deana (ADSHG Founder & Patron).

Phillip Yeoh, with his 2017 Annette Louise Seal Memorial Award winning research. Phillip works in collaboration with endocrinologists Bernard Khoo and Paul Carrol on continuous subcutaneous hydrocortisone infusion (CSHI), a novel treatment for adrenal insufficiency.

Award-winning abstracts from previous years' events include:

Lisa Shepherd - Use of Health Literacy Tools to Improve Written Information for Patients with or at Risk of Adrenal Insufficiency. Endocrine Abstracts (2022) 86 P150 | DOI: 10.1530/endoabs.86.P150
Sherwin Criseno - The 4E (Engage, Educate, Equip and Empower): A framework for supporting the approach in the prevention, early recognition and effective management of adrenal crisis in adults. Endocrine Abstracts (2021) 77 P17 | DOI: 10.1530/endoabs.77.P17
Lisa Shepherd - Development of interventions to prevent adrenal crisis – How can application of behaviour change theory and intervention frameworks inform practice? Endocrine Abstracts (2021) 77 P133 | DOI: 10.1530/endoabs.77.P133
Helen Loo, Anne Marland, Zara Shoosmith & Helen Turner - Cortisol alert dog: Improving patient outcomes, Endocrine Abstracts (2019) 65 P338 | DOI: 10.1530/endoabs.65.P338
Chona Feliciano - Hypothalamic-Pituitary Adrenal axis recovery rate of patients with Glucocorticoid-Induced Adrenal
Insufficiency (GC-induced AI) Endocrine Abstracts (2018) 59 OC4.5 | DOI: 10.1530/endoabs.59.OC4.5
Phillip Yeoh, Bernard Khoo & Paul Carroll - UK experience with continuous subcutaneous hydrocortisone infusion in patients with adrenal insufficiency, Endocrine Abstracts (2017) 50 P314 | DOI:10.1530/endoabs.50.P314
Kieffer V - Steroid replacement education: are we getting it right?, Endocrine Abstracts (2016) 44 P172 DOI:10.1530/endoabs.44.P172
Papadopoulou D - The use of 8-h serum prednisolone concentrations to guide prednisolone dosing in replacement therapy, Endocrine Abstracts (2016) 44 P89 DOI:10.1530/endoabs.44.P89
Munday J - Steroid group education: developing a curriculum ensures good nursing practice is maintained, BES 2014, Endocrine Abstracts (2014) 34 P192 DOI:10.1530/endoabs.34.P192
Andrew J - Adequacy of documented evidence of education in glucocorticoid deficient patients and subsequent nurse-led initiatives, Endocrine Abstracts (2012)28 P158
Stewart S - Steroid replacement: an unusual alternative to oral therapy via 24-h s.c. infusion device, Endocrine Abstracts (2010) 21 P340
Munday J - Group education improves patient confidence in managing steroid sick day rules, Endocrine Abstracts (2010) 21 P331
Note: An Addison's disease specific quality of life questionnaire has been developed called AddiQoL. This is used as an assessment tool in many research studies and by some Endocrinologists. You can read more about AddiQoL here.

Latest

Jennifer's fundraising for Addison's disease

I'm raising money for the Addison's Disease Self Help Group so that they can continue to support people with Addison's and adrenal insufficiency. Addison’s is a rare endocrine condition where the adrenal glands do not produce enough steroid hormones and can be life threatening. It affects approximately 1 in 10,000 people, meaning an estimated 300 - 350 new cases are diagnosed each year across the UK, this makes it roughly 300 times rarer than diabetes.
Behind the Research: U-RHYTHM

Dr Thomas Upton updates us on the development of U-RHYTHM, a wearable device to measure hormones, including cortisol levels, in the body over the full 24 hours, following the release of their clinical trial study,
Behind the Research: The PULSES trial - Pulsatile Cortisol Infusion Pump

Dr Georgina Russell updates us on The PULSES trial, looking at the effect of pulsatile cortisol pump therapy on quality of life, mood, sleep, behavioural and cognitive processing and metabolism.
Getting the Flu Jab

Say No to Flu! Book your flu jab today. There is no need to miss out, as it is free to people who are steroid-dependent (everyone with Addison's disease and adrenal insufficiency). Dr Prete, Consultant Endocrinologist, explains more about the importance of getting your flu jab when you are steroid-dependent.

Addison's Disease and Adrenal Insufficiency: At least 1785 people in UK unable to self-manage COVID-19 to reduce the burden on the NHS - 28/05/2020

Press Release:: Addison's Disease and Adrenal Insufficiency: At least 1785 people in UK unable to self-manage COVID-19 to reduce the burden on the NHS
[Superceded] EJE Guidance: Managing Adrenal Insufficiency in the time of COVID-19 - 21/04/2020

the European Journal of Endocrinology (EJE) editoral board has commissioned a new guidance series for the management of endocrine conditions during COVID-19. Included within this is clinical guidance for the management of Addison's disease and adrenal insufficiency. Here we take a look at this vital new guidance, so you can get a clearer view of what this means for you or your loved ones.
COVID-19: Tell us if you are ready to protect yourself and your Health Service today - 15/04/2020

We need gather data urgently about how well prepared our Addison's and Adrenal insufficiency communities are for illness or emergencies. Complete our very short survey today and be assured we will represent you.
Research Update - Professor Arlt's Perspective

In 2017, new research was published regarding mortality and primary adrenal insufficiency (Addison’s disease). In recent weeks, it's gone viral in light of the COVID-19 outbreak. Weibke Arlt, one of the authors of the research, explains more about the research.
Women in Science Day: ADSHG's Research Awards & Cortisol Alert Dogs

Does your pet pick up when you're unwell? We mark Women In Science Day by celebrating the work of a previous research grant recipient, Endocrine Nurse Helen Loo and her research into Cortisol Alert Dogs.

Sick Day Rules

Minor ailments can affect anyone with a steroid-dependent adrenal condition very differently. Things like vomiting, diarrhoea, colds and flu could cause an adrenal crisis. It’s important that you spot the early symptoms of a bug or cold and adjust your steroid replacement medication.
What is Addison's Disease?

Find out more about Addison's disease and adrenal insufficiency and and how they are treated.
Adrenal Crisis Can Kill
The Emergency Injection for the treatment of Adrenal Crisis

Understanding what an Emergency Injection kit is, how to inject and how important it is to use the injection during an Adrenal Crisis.
Coronavirus Vaccines and Adrenal Insufficiency

Everyone with a steroid-dependent adrenal condition should get the coronavirus vaccine and boosters to reduce their risk of getting coronavirus. This is because people who are steroid-dependent are at increased risk of needing hospital care if they get coronavirus, due to the risk of adrenal crisis.
Why Salt?

Why do people with Addison’s and adrenal insufficiency crave salty, acidic and sour foods at diagnosis, and then salt remains our “pick me up” when diagnosed? Professor Simon Pearce explains the connection between aldosterone, fludrocortisone and why you should always listen to your salt cravings.
Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) - 02/10/2023

Our medics have been keeping an eye on pandemic developments. This page is up to date but we will continue updating it regularly as we find out more information from the government.
Updated NHS Steroid Card Released

Following the early release of the new NHS Steroid Emergency Card back in March to keep patients with Addison's or adrenal insufficiency safe during the COVID-19 crisis, the NHS steroid card has been updated and physical copies will be available to order from Tuesday 18th August 2020 for hospital teams!
Addison's & Adrenal Insufficiency: Advice for Dentists

The ADSHG guidelines offer illustrative guidance for major and minor dental procedures. It is important to recognise the physical stress of any invasive dental procedure and to ensure that adequate glucocorticoid cover is provided for steroid-dependent patients.
Surgical Guidelines

The ADSHG surgical guidelines are intended for the information of your medical team or your dentist and have been developed by our Clinical Advisory Panel.

Research Grants

Our charity is at the forefront of medical research into Addison's Disease. Help us fund medical researchers working in this important field of endocrine research. Read more