Applications are open for BIA’s Charity Partnership of the Year 2027 

Applications are now open for BIA's 2027 Charity Partnership - a yearly partnership giving a UK-based health or medical research charity the chance to team up with the thriving UK life sciences and biotech community. The partnership helps charities raise funds, boost visibility and forge lasting relationships across the sector.

A track record of meaningful collaborations 

BIA has teamed up with a number of remarkable charities through this initiative. In recent years, partners have included Bowel Cancer UK, RNID, Blood Cancer UK and Muscular Dystropy UK. 

Back in 2023, Bowel Cancer UK – the charity tackling the UK's second-deadliest cancer – became the chosen partner. Supporters got behind the "5 Biotech Wonders of the World" challenge, with teams racking up distance on foot, bike, or in the pool to raise money for the cause. 

In 2024, RNID joined forces with BIA to further its mission of making life fully accessible for people who are deaf or living with hearing loss or tinnitus. Members rallied behind campaigns to tackle stigma and drive innovation in hearing technology. A standout moment was "Step Up for RNID" during Deaf Awareness Week, which saw BIA teams compete in fundraising and distance-based challenges. Several companies also ran free deaf awareness sessions, while RNID handed out British Sign Language welcome plaques to encourage more inclusive workplaces. 

In 2025, BIA worked alongside Blood Cancer UK. To mark the collaboration, members took part in BIA and Blood Cancer UK Step Up Challenge, each committing to walk at least 280,000 steps — one for every person living with blood cancer in the UK. 

Current partner: Muscular Dystrophy UK 

As part of the partnership, BIA is proud to support MDUK's work to raise the profile of muscle-wasting conditions, accelerate research and improve access to treatments, with our community taking on MDUK challenges including cycling, hiking and running in beautiful places across the UK. At BIA’s Gala Dinner, our community raised over £50,000 for MDUK, a record sum that would directly fund PhD students researching muscle-wasting conditions affecting 110,000 people across the UK. MDUK joined us in Parliament at our Rare Disease Day reception, where Rebecca Torricelli, Stories Officer at MDUK, shared her experience of living with Spinal Muscular Atrophy and the transformative impact of timely treatment.

Apply now for 2027 

Charities working to improve health outcomes are encouraged to put themselves forward for the 2027 Charity Partnership of the Year. At its heart, the partnership is about strengthening ties between research charities and the life sciences industry, creating space for long-term collaboration, unlocking fresh fundraising opportunities and connecting charities with new audiences and networks. 

Muscular Dystrophy UK, BIA's partner charity this year, shared their experience: 

If your charity is driving forward scientific research and innovation within the life sciences ecosystem to change lives, we want to hear from you. Strong applications will clearly show how your charity's mission and goals align with BIA's own vision. 

Applications close on 6 September 2026.