MAIN Grant Planning and Networking Workshop - Reflections and learning

In this post, Kathryn Radley a PhD graduate from the University of Huddersfield, shares her experience of attending the MAIN Grant Planning and Networking Workshop at the University of Edinburgh.  

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In May, I was fortunate to receive a bursary to attend the MAIN Grant Planning and Networking Workshop. As an early career researcher, I found this experience exciting, useful, and invaluable. The event, hosted by MAIN and sponsored by Marie Curie, brought together early career researchers, experienced researchers, final-year PhD students and clinicians from all over the UK to engage in collaborative discussions about the future of palliative and end-of-life care research.  

The day started with an icebreaker event encouraging attendees to share their research interests and methodological expertise. It was fascinating to hear about the exciting projects underway in the field of palliative and end-of-life care. These projects ranged from research on animal companionship at the end of life to exploring the communication experiences of hospice cleaning staff. 

Throughout the day, we heard from senior academics and Marie Curie professionals about what makes a good grant application, what funding opportunities are available, and how to maximise the impact of your research with policymakers. This was followed by groupwork, where teams were formed based on research interests. Collaborative discussions focused on developing research ideas, exploring various funding options, and anticipating potential obstacles, thus encouraging attendees to think about what a successful grant application might look like. This format was highly effective, as feedback was provided at each stage to help transform collaborative ideas into fundable projects.  

The event provided a valuable space to enhance my grant writing skills, gain insight into Marie Curie's funding priorities, and make new connections. I left the event with a clearer understanding of the grant writing process and funding landscape, but equally important was the chance to connect with individuals who share a passion for improving palliative and end-of-life care services. As a result of the workshop, I am now involved in a collaborative project to enhance death communication between professionals and patients. 

I am very grateful for the opportunity to attend this workshop. Whether you are an early career researcher, an experienced researcher, or just want to refine your next proposal, I highly recommend attending one of these events.  

 

Blog's Author

Kathryn Radley is a PhD Psychology graduate from the University of Huddersfield. Her doctoral thesis focused on how individuals begin to become open to death communication, with a particular emphasis on how the process behind openness to engaging in death-related conversations arises, persists and changes.

Published: Jun 16, 2025