Oliver Bird Fund

Research funding to improve the social and economic well-being of people living with musculoskeletal conditions.

Fund information


The Foundation manages the Oliver Bird Fund, given to us to administer by Captain Bird in 1948. The Fund aims to improve the well-being of individuals with musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions, including rheumatoid diseases, through coordinated policy, practice, and research efforts. Each grant round has a specific theme relating to living with MSK.  

In 2018, we funded six projects covering three themes. This included two large-scale programmes undertaking innovative data integration across a locality, with the potential for replication across the UK.   

Our second call in late 2021 focused on the links between musculoskeletal conditions and economic and social well-being. £1.94 million was awarded to support six teams, across five Universities.  

We are now opening a third round of funding, which continues to explore links between MSK conditions and wellbeing across the life course. Up to £6 million in grant funding is available to support high-quality, high-impact projects.  

As with the last two rounds, we will again partner with Versus Arthritis to provide funding for research this year. Versus Arthritis is the UK’s largest charity dedicated to supporting people with arthritis. Versus Arthritis are contributing up to £2 million of the cost of the call.  

This call will contribute towards Versus Arthritis’ ‘Living Well’ strategic priority of ensuring that people live well with arthritis and that there is a strong community of support. Our shared emphasis for this funding round is on addressing inequalities, through non-medical intervention.   

The document below sets out the details of the new call. Applicants should use the specific OBF outline form. The closing date for applications is 16 September 2024. Any questions relating to applying should be sent to applications@nuffieldfoundation.org. 

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Application deadline
16 Sep 2024 23:59 GMT

Explore Oliver Bird Fund projects

Three colleagues smiling and talking at work
New

Welfare | 2023 – 2026

Arthritis, work and wellbeing: a mixed methods study with policy recommendations

View project
Teenager hugging their mother
New

Welfare | 2023 – 2025

Juvenile onset rheumatic diseases: education, vocational readiness, & employment

View project
A man driving a van at work
New

Welfare | 2023 – 2025

The PAW Trial: feasibility and acceptability of the Pain-at-Work Toolkit

View project
Older woman at work using a laptop
New

Welfare | 2023 – 2026

Extending working lives for people with musculoskeletal conditions

View project
Older woman using a tablet to make a video call
New

Welfare | 2023 – 2025

Remote osteoarthritis peer-mentorship for socioeconomically underserved people

View project
Two older women swimming in their local pool
New

Welfare | 2023 – 2025

The psychological, social and economic impact of musculoskeletal conditions

View project
Older-man-reads-textbook-Assembling-data-jigsaw-Greater-Manchester-PROJ
In progress

Welfare | 2020 – 2025

Assembling the data jigsaw: powering robust population research in MSK disease

View project
Medical-professional-massages-patient-knee-Understanding-joint-replacement-surgery-decision-making-for-older-patients-PROJ
In progress

Welfare | 2020 – 2024

Supporting older patients to make informed decisions about knee surgery

View project
Woman-medical-professional-treats-patient-impact-MSK-conditions-outcomes-other-illnesses-PROJ
Reported

Welfare | 2020 – 2022

The impact of musculoskeletal conditions on outcomes of other illnesses

View project
Female-nurse-sees-patient-in-office-Integrating-enriched-longitudinal-data-North-Staffordshire-Stoke-on-Trent-PROJ
In progress

Welfare | 2020 – 2025

Enriched data integration for population musculoskeletal health intelligence

View project
Older-man-and-woman-walk-together-Geographical-mapping-prevalence-outcomes-MSK-conditions-Wales-Scotland-PROJ
In progress

Welfare | 2020 – 2024

Mapping rheumatic and musculoskeletal disease in Scotland and Wales

View project
Man-massages-own-hand-Longitudinal-evidence-how-arthritis-affects-earnings-PROJ
In progress

Welfare | 2020 – 2022

How arthritis affects earnings over time

View project
Three colleagues smiling and talking at work
New

Welfare | 2023 – 2026

Arthritis, work and wellbeing: a mixed methods study with policy recommendations

View project
A man driving a van at work
New

Welfare | 2023 – 2025

The PAW Trial: feasibility and acceptability of the Pain-at-Work Toolkit

View project
Two older women swimming in their local pool
New

Welfare | 2023 – 2025

The psychological, social and economic impact of musculoskeletal conditions

View project
Older woman using a tablet to make a video call
New

Welfare | 2023 – 2025

Remote osteoarthritis peer-mentorship for socioeconomically underserved people

View project
Teenager hugging their mother
New

Welfare | 2023 – 2025

Juvenile onset rheumatic diseases: education, vocational readiness, & employment

View project
Older woman at work using a laptop
New

Welfare | 2023 – 2026

Extending working lives for people with musculoskeletal conditions

View project
Woman-medical-professional-treats-patient-impact-MSK-conditions-outcomes-other-illnesses-PROJ
Reported

Welfare | 2020 – 2022

The impact of musculoskeletal conditions on outcomes of other illnesses

View project
Man-massages-own-hand-Longitudinal-evidence-how-arthritis-affects-earnings-PROJ
In progress

Welfare | 2020 – 2022

How arthritis affects earnings over time

View project
Medical-professional-massages-patient-knee-Understanding-joint-replacement-surgery-decision-making-for-older-patients-PROJ
In progress

Welfare | 2020 – 2024

Supporting older patients to make informed decisions about knee surgery

View project
Older-man-and-woman-walk-together-Geographical-mapping-prevalence-outcomes-MSK-conditions-Wales-Scotland-PROJ
In progress

Welfare | 2020 – 2024

Mapping rheumatic and musculoskeletal disease in Scotland and Wales

View project
Female-nurse-sees-patient-in-office-Integrating-enriched-longitudinal-data-North-Staffordshire-Stoke-on-Trent-PROJ
In progress

Welfare | 2020 – 2025

Enriched data integration for population musculoskeletal health intelligence

View project
Older-man-reads-textbook-Assembling-data-jigsaw-Greater-Manchester-PROJ
In progress

Welfare | 2020 – 2025

Assembling the data jigsaw: powering robust population research in MSK disease

View project
Man-massages-own-hand-Longitudinal-evidence-how-arthritis-affects-earnings-PROJ
In progress

Welfare | 2020 – 2022

How arthritis affects earnings over time

View project
Medical-professional-massages-patient-knee-Understanding-joint-replacement-surgery-decision-making-for-older-patients-PROJ
In progress

Welfare | 2020 – 2024

Supporting older patients to make informed decisions about knee surgery

View project
Older-man-and-woman-walk-together-Geographical-mapping-prevalence-outcomes-MSK-conditions-Wales-Scotland-PROJ
In progress

Welfare | 2020 – 2024

Mapping rheumatic and musculoskeletal disease in Scotland and Wales

View project
Female-nurse-sees-patient-in-office-Integrating-enriched-longitudinal-data-North-Staffordshire-Stoke-on-Trent-PROJ
In progress

Welfare | 2020 – 2025

Enriched data integration for population musculoskeletal health intelligence

View project
Older-man-reads-textbook-Assembling-data-jigsaw-Greater-Manchester-PROJ
In progress

Welfare | 2020 – 2025

Assembling the data jigsaw: powering robust population research in MSK disease

View project
Three colleagues smiling and talking at work
New

Welfare | 2023 – 2026

Arthritis, work and wellbeing: a mixed methods study with policy recommendations

View project
A man driving a van at work
New

Welfare | 2023 – 2025

The PAW Trial: feasibility and acceptability of the Pain-at-Work Toolkit

View project
Two older women swimming in their local pool
New

Welfare | 2023 – 2025

The psychological, social and economic impact of musculoskeletal conditions

View project
Older woman using a tablet to make a video call
New

Welfare | 2023 – 2025

Remote osteoarthritis peer-mentorship for socioeconomically underserved people

View project
Teenager hugging their mother
New

Welfare | 2023 – 2025

Juvenile onset rheumatic diseases: education, vocational readiness, & employment

View project
Older woman at work using a laptop
New

Welfare | 2023 – 2026

Extending working lives for people with musculoskeletal conditions

View project
Woman-medical-professional-treats-patient-impact-MSK-conditions-outcomes-other-illnesses-PROJ
Reported

Welfare | 2020 – 2022

The impact of musculoskeletal conditions on outcomes of other illnesses

View project
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