Action Medical Research

05/06/2026

Action is driving forward research into conditions including epilepsy, premature birth, meningitis, cerebral palsy, brain cancer and some rare and distressing conditions. We are currently funding around 50 top quality research projects at leading institutions across the UK: www.action.org.uk/research.

With your help, we can continue to fund some of the best research in the world. Bringing hope for new treatments and cures to:
👨‍🔬Tackle the rare diseases that devastate children’s lives
🤰Help stop premature birth and pregnancy complications
❤️‍🩹Support children living with disabling conditions.

Join our fight for little lives today 👉 www.action.org.uk/support-us.

27/05/2026

Lovely to see Digby here (Digbys Smile - Defying Duchenne) being treated to a ‘Muscle Dream Day’ by the The Muscle Help Foundation as a VIP guest on a cruise ship, where he met the captain and blew the ship’s horn.

Digby is living with the rare, genetic condition Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Children affected by this condition suffer a relentless deterioration of their physical abilities.

Find out about Action's current research in this area: www.action.org.uk/duchenne.

"We are grateful to the research teams investigating new ways to treat Duchenne – this new research brings hopes to families like ours,” says Lisa, Digby's mum.

You have less than a week left to nominate a child living with Muscular Dystrophy (MD) for our Become a Master of the Sea VIP Cruise Ship Day on board the MSC Virtuosa Muscle Dream Programme.

To learn more and to nominate, visit: https://www.musclehelp.com/muscle-dreams/master-of-the-sea-2026/

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23/05/2026

Thanks to our supporters, we’re currently funding 8 research projects focused on improving the lives of babies, children and young people living with epilepsy.

This includes research into how epilepsy affects early brain development, helping identify children who may need extra support as early as possible.

We’re also funding advanced brain imaging research that could help detect conditions like Barnaby’s earlier - potentially opening the door to life-changing surgery for more children.

Important progress is being made, but there is still so much more to do.

With your support, we can continue funding vital research to give children like Barnaby the best possible future. Find out more and donate: https://action.org.uk/research/research-we-fund/epilepsy.

21/05/2026

This week marks National Epilepsy Week (18–24 May), raising awareness of the impact epilepsy has on children and families across the UK.

Around 64,000 babies, children and young people under 18 are living with epilepsy - a condition that can affect development, learning and everyday life.

Barnaby has Focal Cortical Dysplasia (FCD) and requires multiple medications. On his worst days, he has endured as many as 100 seizures. Keeping their young son safe and well is a constant challenge for parents Charlotte and Keiran.

Stories like Barnaby’s remind us why research matters. Thanks to your support, we’re funding vital research to improve understanding, diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy in children and young people, including advanced brain imaging that could help more children access life-changing care. Find out more ➡https://action.org.uk/research/research-we-fund/epilepsy.

There is still much more to do, but progress is possible because of supporters like you.

17/05/2026

Today, on NEC Awareness Day, we’re highlighting Action-funded research helping to improve understanding of how breast milk may protect premature babies from serious complications like necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) and sepsis.

Research led by Professor Darren Smith at Northumbria University found that phages - tiny naturally occurring viruses in breast milk - may help shape gut health and support the early immune system in premature babies.

This important work has now led to a further £1.2m in funding from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council to continue the research.

On NEC Awareness Day, we recognise the babies, families and researchers working towards better outcomes for children born too soon.

Find out more: https://action.org.uk/about-us/successes/understanding-how-breast-milk-can-help-premature-babies.

16/05/2026

Tomorrow is NEC Awareness Day, and we’re sharing Jack’s story.

Born at just 25 weeks and weighing 1lb 15oz, Jack faced life-threatening complications including necrotising enterocolitis (NEC), a devastating bowel disease that affects premature babies. After emergency surgery and four and a half months in hospital, he is now a happy 12-year-old.

Jack still faces health challenges linked to his early birth, but his family are passionate about raising awareness of NEC and the importance of research that saves and changes tiny lives.

“Without research, we wouldn’t have medical advances, and Jack probably wouldn’t be here,” says Jack's mum, Jenny.

Watch Jack's story: https://youtu.be/6HwvA0Lvsb8.

Born three months early, Jack spent the first four and a half months of his life in hospital. He needed oxygen, help with his breathing, and feeding tubes to...

15/05/2026

Congratulations to three-time Olympic medallist on announcing her retirement from cycling. Katie is one of Britain’s most versatile track cyclists: winning Gold at her first Olympic Games in Rio as a key part in the GB Women’s Team Pursuit. Katie followed up her Rio success with a 2017 World Championship individual title in the Omnium event and in 2018 she became world Madison champion and came first in the individual pursuit at the British Track Nationals!

Katie has generously supported the work of Action and been a valued presence at our Champions of CycleSport Dinner over the years, helping raise awareness and funds for children’s medical research.🙏

We thank her for her contribution to the sport and wish her every success in what comes next.

13/05/2026

Raptör is back!

From 8 - 12 July 2026, insurance professionals from across the market will take on Peaks and Passes – Rhine Tour, a 4-day cycling and networking challenge through the Black Forest, Vosges Mountains, Alsace wine region and finishing in Strasbourg.

A huge thank you to our 2026 partners for making this event possible:
♦️Lead Partner Ki
♦️Main Partner Brit Insurance
♦️Supporting Partners Lockton, Scor, Verisk, Everest Re, Sompo, Argenta, JS Held and Canopius.

Raptör continues to raise vital funds for Action, with more than £1.5 million raised to date for life-changing children’s medical research. We are looking forward to another incredible event this summer.

Find out more: https://action.org.uk/events/corporate-events/raptor.

07/05/2026

Huge congratulations to our friend and long-time supporter, Andy Dewhurst, co-founder of the Barking Badgers Cycling Club and the iconic Badgers cycling event.

Andy received a British Empire Medal (BEM) in the New Year’s Honours list for his outstanding charitable service, which he was awarded yesterday at Buckingham Palace. 🎉

Andy’s dedication to fundraising for Action and his passion for making a positive impact is truly inspiring. This recognition is a testament to his generosity and commitment to helping the most vulnerable children and babies.

As a group, the Badgers have raised over £2 million for Action over the past 20 years. Thank you and congrats, Andy! 👏

01/05/2026

A big thank you to all our supporters and researchers who joined Action Medical Research yesterday on the 21st floor of the iconic London landmark, the Walkie Talkie. Kindly hosted by long-standing supporter Liberty Specialty Markets six engaging researchers highlighted their research projects which Action is funding, thanks to our incredible supporters.

Research to help save and transform the lives of babies, children and young people, covering pregnancy complications, premature birth, brain injury in newborns, pre-school wheezing, heart health and a rare metabolic disease.

It was an engaging evening and a good reminder of the hard work which goes into each and every one of the 50 projects we’re funding to help sick babies and children. Children like young Digby (whose story we watched) https://action.org.uk/research/family-stories/digbys-story-duchenne-muscular-dystrophy who has the muscle wasting condition Duchenne muscular dystrophy. In the words of his parents: “Hope’s a brilliant thing for a parent. We all know what’s going to happen, but just given a little glimmer of hope, that keeps us going another day. And that’s what Action Medical Research is doing.”