The Jean Shanks Foundation was created by Dr Jean Shanks in 1986 when she floated JS Pathology PLC, a private pathology laboratory based in London, onto the London Stock Exchange. The Foundation was set up to fund medical research and education, primarily for medical students wishing to have an extra research year at medical school specialising in pathology and medical professionals researching specific diseases but with a pathology bias.

This initial grant awarding criteria has now changed and the Foundation presently has a joint partnership agreement with the Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland to fund pathology research and academia within medical schools. There are various grants available which are outlined on the Grants section (The Jean Shanks Trust | available grants) and also on the Pathological Society website (Jean Shanks/Pathological Society Joint Research Grants | The Pathological Society of Great Britain & Ireland ). The Foundation and the Pathological Society have each committed £5 million totalling £10 million over 10 years for this research. The current agreement ends at the end of 2027 with payments continuing until 2030.

Grants continue to be made to other medical research scientists and institutions and are also available for other projects that the Trustees consider to be worthwhile.

The Foundation has grown considerably since its original inception and is now worth approximately £30m. The Trustees endeavour to award grants totalling in the region of £500,000 annually.

To date the Foundation has made awards for medical research exceeding £10 million since its inception in 1986. The Foundation is governed by a trust deed and is a registered United Kingdom charity. As such it is regulated by the Charity Commissioners.

The Foundation is managed on a day-to-day basis by Eric Rothbarth, chairman.