The Kennedy Trust has approved a five-year funding award worth over £27m to the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology to enable the strategic ambitions of the Institute from 2026.  The Institute and the Trust have close relationship, forged through a shared historical legacy that began with the Trust’s founding in 1965, and the new funding package will add to the more than £100 million in continuous core funding provided by the Trust since the Institute’s move to Oxford in 2011. 

The Trust’s Chair of the Board, Professor Michael Patton, emphasized the importance of the relationship, saying that “it is over a decade since the Institute moved from London to Oxford and the Kennedy Trustees are proud to support the world class science and dedicated teams that have thrived in this new environment. The Trust’s latest award comes at an important stage in the Institute’s journey, as it builds on excellence in discovery research and sets the next phase in the translation of its research for the benefit of those suffering from rheumatic and related disorders”.

The Institute’s Director, Professor Dame Fiona Powrie said “We are immensely grateful to the Kennedy Trust for their continued flexible support. This investment enables us to pursue ambitious, curiosity-driven science while maintaining a clear focus on patient impact. It strengthens our ability to attract exceptional talent, harness cutting-edge technologies, and foster a collaborative research culture. The successes of the KIR over recent years, and indeed decades, could not have been achieved without our strategic partnership with the KTRR’.

The Kennedy Trust is excited to continue its close relationship with the Institute in supporting exceptional science and long-term innovation in the next phase of its exciting program of research.