Overview

The Garrod Award celebrates outstanding contributions to rheumatology by early-stage scientists from non-clinical backgrounds.

This prestigious award recognises innovative work and advancement in understanding rheumatological diseases. Winning the Garrod Award not only honours your achievements but also boosts your visibility in the field, positioning you as a leader in rheumatology research.

Background
Sir Alfred Baring Garrod (1819-1907), a distinguished professor and physician, transformed our understanding of rheumatology. Renowned for identifying uric acid's role in gout, he also distinguished between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis and coined the term "rheumatoid arthritis." The Garrod Award upholds his legacy by recognising groundbreaking research.

Why apply?

Receiving the Garrod Award showcases your scientific contributions and strengthens your professional reputation. Award recipients enjoy a range of benefits:

Garrod trophy
— A symbol of your achievements in rheumatology.
£1,000 prize
— Awarded to support your ongoing research.
Complimentary Annual Conference registration
— Join our Annual Conference at no cost.
Plenary presentation opportunity
— Present your work during our Annual Conference.
Research publication
— Publish your findings in Rheumatology (peer-reviewed).

Eligibility

BSR membership — You must be a current member.
Career stage
— Early-stage researchers (within 10 years of completing a PhD). We will make time adjustments allowed for career breaks or part-time work.
Position
— Open to non-clinical scientists who are not yet in a fully established position. Professors must be within two years of their appointment.
Past winners — Previous Garrod Award recipients are not eligible.

Decision-making process

Start your Garrod Award application here.
Log in or create an account
— Sign in to Oxford Abstracts or select “Create an account” if you're a new user.


Prepare required documents — Gather these before starting:
- Full CV
- 3-5 relevant published papers
- A statement explaining your individual contributions to the research


Submit — Complete your application and upload documents through the link.

Selection criteria

Applications will be assessed by our expert panel, who will consider:
- Scientific merit and impact
- Originality and innovation
- Quality of submission
- Candidate’s contributions and involvement with BSR

Timeline

12 November 2024 - 23 January 2025: Submission period
24 January 2025 - 16 March 2025:
Judging and deliberation
17 March 2025:
Winners notified
28-30 April 2025:
Winners present at Annual Conference

Applications are now closed for 2025.

Testimonials

"I was sceptical about submitting myself, but ultimately I let the panel decide. This has been a huge morale boost so I encourage applicants who are curious to apply."

Dr Thomas McDonnell, 2023 Garrod Award Winner
Senior Research Fellow , University College London (UCL)