Depends on the program. The funder sets the rule in each program's guidelines, so check the program a PI is applying to.
What applicants may do
- Presidents' Fund 2026: applicants may use AI only for limited support. Examples are checking spelling, grammar or punctuation, improving clarity of the applicant's own content, and help with formatting or structure that does not change meaning. [1]
- 2025 Early Career Grants: AI may be used strategically to support learning and proposal writing. [2]
What the funder asks of applicants
- Presidents' Fund 2026: applicants must confirm on submission that the work is their own and that any AI use was limited to the permitted purposes. They must confirm that no AI-generated content was used to create or substantially shape the application. [1]
- 2025 Early Career Grants: if RSTMH has concerns, the applicant must show and evidence how they produced their work and estimated costings. [2]
What is off limits
- Presidents' Fund 2026: applicants may not use AI to generate responses or substantive content. They may not use it to draft, rewrite or embellish descriptions of work, experience or impact. They may not use it for summaries or statements that are not their own words and judgement. [1]
- 2025 Early Career Grants: applicants may not copy written or budget materials directly from AI. All work must be the applicant's own original work, in their own words, with their own ideas and judgements. [2]
If an applicant breaks the rule
- Presidents' Fund 2026: RSTMH may ask how an application was prepared. It may exclude applications that used AI inappropriately. It may withdraw funding if misuse is found after an award. [1]
- 2025 Early Career Grants: applications found not to comply with the plagiarism and AI rules will be declined. [2]
Rules for reviewers
Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene has published no rules for reviewers.
Where this comes from
The funder's own words, from its own pages.
Presidents' Fund 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Applicants may use AI tools only for limited, supportive purposes, such as:
Generating application responses or substantive content
Drafting, rewriting, or embellishing descriptions of the proposed work, experience, or impact
Any use of AI has been limited strictly to the permitted purposes outlined above
No AI‑generated content has been used to create or substantially shape the application
Exclude applications found to have used AI inappropriately
Withdraw fund ing where misuse is identified after an award has been made
2025 Early Career Grants Programme - Terms and Conditions (opens in a new tab)
AI – used strategically, AI can support applicants’ learning and proposal writing. However, the copying directly of written or budget materials directly from AI is not permitted.
All work submitted as part of the application for the grant must be the applicant’s own original work, written in their own words.
If RSTMH has any concern regarding potential plagiarism in an application, they will ask the applicant to demonstrate and evidence how they have produced their work and estimated costings.
Applications found to be non-compliant with the above stipulations will be declined.
See Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene's 7 open programs
This is a reading of what the funder has published, and it is not legal advice. A solicitation can set its own rule, so read the funding announcement before a PI applies.