We are committed to funding research that underpins and integrates with the needs of patients and those who care for them. Our Member Review Panel helps us to ensure that the research we fund is relevant and important to people affected by coeliac disease.  

When we receive grant applications from researchers, they are evaluated by our expert Research Awards Panel and external peer reviewers to determine which are of suitable quality and a priority for funding.  

In addition to this we also invite our members to read a summary of each application and provide their feedback on the proposal. The purpose of this is to understand what research our members want us to be funding.  

By including people with coeliac disease and other gluten related conditions, family members and carers in the decision process, we ensure the research we fund will be of potential benefit to the people we are trying to help. 

What does it involve? 

Members on the panel are asked to review grant applications approximately once or twice per year, typically in the Autumn. Application summaries (maximum of 400 words, written in ‘plain English’) are sent to panel members by email, alongside a link to complete an online questionnaire which consists of three multiple choice questions and a comment section for each summary. Panel members are typically given 2 or 3 weeks to submit their comments. 

The questions covered within the questionnaire ask: 

• If the panel member has understood the summary provided.
• If the research project will contribute to improving the lives of people with coeliac disease and/or other gluten related conditions.
• If the project should be considered for funding.

Finally, panel members are asked to rank the research projects.

Are you eligible? 

We are looking for people with coeliac disease and other gluten related conditions, family members and carers, to join our Member Review Panel. Members must have a personal link to coeliac disease or other gluten related conditions and an interest in research. You don’t need to have a scientific or medical background to sit on the panel as all application summaries and documentation will be written in a ‘plain English’ format.  

You must be a current member of Coeliac UK to participate on the Panel.  

Other essential criteria for Panel members include access to a computer and email, the ability to maintain confidentiality and, time available to read research application summaries and submit your feedback. 

To ensure that we hear from a variety of people, members are permitted to participate on the Panel for a maximum of 3 consecutive years, or 3 cycles within a period of 6 years. After a maximum term, we ask Panel members to take a break from serving on the Panel for 3 years before they can return to complete another term. 

To register your interest in being a Member of the Review Panel please click here. 

At Coeliac UK, our mission is for no life to be limited by coeliac disease and our vision is a world without coeliac disease. We fund research in an effort to achieve our mission and vision but it’s vital that our members have a say in the research we choose to fund so that we can ensure it is relevant and important to our community.