Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

1. What is FRIS?
FRIS (Friends of Researchers in the Indian Subcontinent) is an international charity based in London (UK). The purpose of this charity is to encourage and support research collaboration between biomedical researchers based in the Indian subcontinent and those based in the UK/EU. FRIS will aim to fund reciprocal trips of research faculties lasting for up to 3 months at a time, exchange of research technologies and materials. FRIS will also arrange annual research meetings in the Indian subcontinent for researchers to meet and exchange ideas. In the long run, FRIS will aim to establish faculty/research positions in the UK/EU dedicated for collaboration with researchers of the Indian subcontinent.
2. What is the registration number of FRIS?

FRIS is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) registered with the Charity Commission in England and Wales. Its registration number is 1204788.

3. Why should I donate to FRIS?
FRIS is the only charity in the world dedicated to encouraging and supporting collaboration between biomedical researchers in the countries of the Indian subcontinent with researchers based in the UK and countries of EU. We believe that only collaborative research will solve health issues and make this world disease free. Your donations will help us to go a long way in achieving those objectives by providing financial support to researchers of both regions.
4. What percentage of donations FRIS will spend on administration?

At present we are not spending any of your donations on administration. The trustees aim to spend as little as possible on administration and do not expect the administrative cost to go more than 10% of all expenditures.

5. What is Gift Aid?

A UK Government scheme enabling a registered charity to reclaim tax on a donation made by a UK taxpayer effectively increasing the amount of donation by 25%, with no extra cost to the donor.

6. As a US citizen can I be included in the Gift Aid scheme.
No. The Gift Aid scheme is only for the UK taxpayers.
7. What are the benefits of becoming an honorary member of FRIS?
By becoming a FRIS honorary member, you are encouraging and supporting tomorrow’s researchers not only in the UK/EU but also in the Indian subcontinent. You are also becoming part of new innovations and discoveries in tomorrow’s healthcare system, and you will get a certificate to prove your role which you can proudly display.
8. What will be covered by FRIS funding to support collaboration with a researcher based in the UK/EU?

Any biomedical researcher from the Indian subcontinent can apply for funding for three months at a time. If successful, the FRIS funding will cover reasonable travel costs, visa fee, health insurance, living expenses and cost of research consumables used in the host lab.

9. Will the FRIS supported faculty position in a UK research institution be open to non-UK and non-EU citizens?
The FRIS supported faculty positions in the UK or EU research institutions will be open to any researcher based anywhere in the world so long as they were judged to be the most qualified for the job following an independent peer review.
10. Who will advertise the FRIS supported research/faculty positions?

Research Institutions based in the UK/EU will approach FRIS in the first instance with a proposal to establish a biomedical research/faculty in their campus. After a thorough external peer review, if the application were to be successful, the Institution submitting the original proposal will advertise the position, arrange interviews and provide all the facilities necessary for the new faculty. All the rules and regulations of the institution will apply on the new appointee except that his/her main research responsibility, besides their own research, will be to collaborate with researchers based in the Indian subcontinent.

11. Will FRIS fund a clinical trial of a newly invented drug for the treatment of a human disease?
No. FRIS will not fund clinical research including clinical trials of an experimental drug. However, if a drug has been developed during FRIS funded collaboration, FRIS might consider being part of a consortium involved in a clinical trial. In that case, a patent will be filed for the experimental drug and a revenue sharing agreement signed and FRIS must have received all the documents detailing the ethical considerations agreed with the NHS directorate before the trial can begin.
12. Will FRIS fund research on diseased human tissues or human subjects?
No. FRIS will not consider applications to investigate diseased human tissues or human subjects for ethical reasons. FRIS will also not consider research applications on human body excreta or fluid.
13. Will FRIS fund research on diseased animal tissues?
YES. FRIS will consider grant applications to study naturally occurring diseased tissue (not experimentally induced).
14. Will FRIS fund research on animals?
No. FRIS will not fund research where animals will be used for experimentations.
15. Are there specific items which the FRIS grant will or will not fund (e. g. equipment, salary)?
FRIS will consider applications for salary, research consumables, services, travel, visa fee, publication, and insurance costs. Our grants will not consider payment for tuition fees, equipment, and overheads.