FUNDING CALLS
This page details various funding calls that are relevant for child health technology. Funding calls are updated on a monthly basis.
Funding calls are split into:
- Time-limited funding calls, with a set deadline
- Rolling funding calls, which are open all year round
- Fellowships and career development awards
The document below provides an overview of potential opportunities for funding and support that may be relevant. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list of all funding opportunities.
CLOSING DATE
MAXIMUM AMOUNT
MAXIMUM DURATION
GOSH Charity National Research Programme Grants
Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity (GOSH Charity)
26 March 2026
No limit
5 years
The Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity (GOSH Charity) Programme Grant scheme aims to create a step change in an area of rare or complex paediatric disease by providing long-term, high-value funding. Programmes will bring together diverse expertise to work collaboratively on an interlinked set of work packages, designed to generate shared outcomes and advance research beyond the scope of individual projects, having impact beyond the lifetime of the grant.
GOSH Charity has made up to £10m available through this scheme which is open nationally to UK-based academic researchers working at UK Higher Education Institutions.
Children and Young People’s Movement and Balance Disorders Award
Medical Research Foundation
27 March 2026
£100,000
2 years
This scheme is designed to support research that will increase understanding of movement and balance disorders in children and young people, improve diagnosis, and develop better treatments and interventions.
BBSRC Follow-on Fund: 2026 round one
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
31 March 2026
£800,000
2 years
Apply to Follow-on Fund (FoF) to bridge the gap between bioscience research and achieving economic and societal benefit.
The BBSRC FoF is designed to enable researchers, with a sound understanding of the market opportunity of their intellectual assets, to execute a defined programme of work that has clear objectives.
Programme Grants for Applied Research – February 2026
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
01 April 2026
Not stated
Not stated
NIHR Programme Grants for Applied Research (PGfAR) is inviting applications for research proposals to develop individual programmes of applied health research. Research funded through a Programme Grant typically consists of an interrelated group of high quality projects focused on a coherent theme and hence require multidisciplinary approaches, including clinical, health economics, statistics, qualitative and behavioural sciences, to ensure that research objectives can be met.
Apply for one of these funding opportunities within this scheme:
- PGfAR researcher-led
- PGfAR commissioned – NIHR NICE rolling funding opportunity
- PGfAR commissioned – NIHR JLA rolling funding opportunity
This is a two-stage, researcher-led funding opportunity.
EME Programme Researcher-led
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
01 April 2026
Not stated
Not stated
The NIHR Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation (EME) Programme is accepting outline applications to its researcher-led workstream.
This is a 2-stage, commissioned funding opportunity. To apply for the first stage you should submit an outline application. If invited to the second stage, you will then need to complete a full application.
NIHR James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnerships rolling funding opportunity (EME Programme)
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
01 April 2026
Not stated
Not stated
The NIHR Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation (EME) is inviting outline applications to their commissioned workstream. The NIHR is interested in receiving applications that address research priorities identified by the James Lind Alliance (JLA) Priority Setting Partnerships (PSP).
NIHR NICE rolling funding opportunity (EME Programme)
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
01 April 2026
Not stated
Not stated
The NIHR Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation (EME) Programme is inviting outline applications to their commissioned workstream. The NIHR is interested in receiving applications to meet recommendations in research identified in NICE guidance that has been published or updated in the last 5 years.
Crohn’s & Colitis Targeted Call – Research Awards 2026
Crohn’s & Colitis UK
09 April 2026
£150,000
3 years
In the 2026 grant call, C&C UK would like to spotlight priority areas identified by people living with Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis in the Top 10 Impacts of Crohn’s and Colitis report. They particularly encourage applications that build understanding of IBD, strengthen diagnosis and monitoring, improve care, or explore the impact of the conditions on people living with IBD. The Charity will consider smaller or innovative projects, including feasibility and pilot studies, as well as mainstream research.
i4i THRIVE – March 2026
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
17 April 2026
£150,000
9 months
NIHR’s Invention for Innovation (i4i) THRIVE (Translate Healthcare Research through InnoVation and Entrepreneurship) funding and training programme funds early stage innovations which tackle health inequalities.
THRIVE is aimed at academic and clinical entrepreneurs with innovations at prototype development level (Technology Readiness Level (TRL 3)) and above. Through the programme the innovators will explore the market for their innovation and identify potential routes for commercialising.
Yorkshire MedTech Place-Based Impact Accelerator (Three-Tier Funding Pathway)
Yorkshire MedTech
17 April 2026
See below
See below
The funding structure is designed to support the progression of your fundamental research through crucial stages that will support real-world impact. Each stage addresses specific development challenges, enabling you to secure appropriate support on your journey – from market appraisal through technical feasibility to proof of concept.
- Tier 1 – Proof of Market – <15k, 3-6months
- Tier 2 – Proof of Feasibility – <40k, 6-12 months
- Tier 3 – Proof of Concept – <120k, 12-18months
NIHR NICE rolling funding opportunity (PHR Programme)
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
21 April 2026
Not stated
Not stated
Our Public Health Research (PHR) Programme is inviting outline applications to their commissioned workstream. We are interested in receiving applications to meet recommendations in research identified in NICE guidance that has been published or updated in the last 5 years.
Applications must be within the remit of the PHR Programme and the primary outcome measure must be health related. This is a 2-stage funding opportunity.
Invention for Innovation (i4i) Funding at the Speed of Translation (FAST) – April 2026
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
29 April 2026
£100k
12 months
The technology must address prevention, either primary (behavioural, environmental, commercial or lifestyle-based interventions) or secondary (risk stratification, identification of pre-disease states, and escalation pathways). All applications must meet the minimum technology readiness level 5 as a prerequisite, meaning that the technology must already be functional with prior feasibility or pilot data in a relevant community or primary care environment.
HTA Researcher-led: primary research
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
06 May 2026
Not stated
Not stated
The NIHR Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme is looking to fund primary research through our researcher-led workstream. Proposals addressing any health problem in areas not otherwise well covered in the HTA Programme portfolio are invited.
NIHR James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnerships rolling funding opportunity (HTA Programme)
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
06 May 2026
Not stated
Not stated
The NIHR Health Technology Assessment Programme (HTA) is inviting outline applications to its commissioned workstream. NIHR is interested in receiving applications that address research priorities identified by the James Lind Alliance (JLA) Priority Setting Partnerships (PSPs).
NIHR NICE rolling funding opportunity (HTA Programme)
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
06 May 2026
Not stated
Not stated
The NIHR Health Technology Assessment Programme (HTA) is inviting outline applications to their commissioned workstream. The NIHR is interested in receiving applications to meet recommendations in research identified in NICE guidance that has been published or updated in the last 5 years.
NIHR GOSH BRC Paediatric Excellence Initiative New Projects Funding Call 2026
National Institute for Health and Care Research, Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre (NIHR GOSH BRC)
11 May 2026
£10,000
12 months
The scheme aims to provide pump-prime funds for novel translational research ideas across the Paediatric Excellence Initiative partner sites (Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital and Sheffield Children’s Hospitals).
Applications submitted through this call should align with the BRC objectives and propose novel research ideas related to therapies, biomarkers, diagnostics, data or surgical innovations. Only non-pay costs can be requested and projects solely focused on PPIE or EDI activities can only request between £250 – £2,000.
UKRI Translation: Proof of Concept
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
13 May 2026
£250,000
6-9 months
The UKRI Proof of Concept funding opportunity aims to support and accelerate the development of new or improved technologies, products, processes, and services arising from research activities at eligible UK research organisations.
Apply for funding for research commercialisation activities to develop new products, processes, and services via future venture creation, licensing or other commercialisation routes.
Health and Social Care Delivery Research (HSDR) – Researcher-led
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
14 May 2026
Not stated
Not stated
The HSDR Programme is looking to fund high quality, well designed research to provide findings which meet the needs of NHS and social care managers and leaders. This should include priorities within the government’s 10 year plan, or challenges and research needs identified by national health or care stakeholders (this includes NIHR themed funding opportunities). This is a 2-stage, researcher-led funding opportunity.
Evidence Synthesis Programme (ESP): Researcher-Led – Evidence Synthesis
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
18 May 2026
£1.5m
Not stated
The NIHR are providing a streamlined pathway for high-impact research by integrating funding routes previously managed under the Health Technology Assessment (HTA), Public Health Research (PHR), and Health and Social Care Delivery Research (HSDR) programmes. They invite applications for standalone evidence syntheses that address the UK’s most pressing health and social care challenges, with a goal to support: rigorous synthesis, better services and health equity.
Research for Patient Benefit – March 2026
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
08 July 2026
£500,000
36 months
The NIHR Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) Programme is inviting outline applications for research proposals that are concerned with the day-to-day practice of health and care service staff, and that have the potential to have an impact on the health or wellbeing of patients and users of health and care services. This is a two-stage, commissioned funding opportunity.
You can apply for one of these funding opportunities within this scheme:
- RfPB commissioned – Building a health and social care system fit for the future
- RfPB commissioned – NIHR JLA rolling funding opportunity
- RfPB commissioned – NIHR NICE rolling funding opportunity
School readiness and the home learning environment (Public Health Research Programme)
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
18 August 2026
Not stated
Not stated
The Public Health Research (PHR) Programme is looking to fund research into the effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness, of interventions seeking to improve the home learning environment and school readiness for children in the UK. This is a 2-stage funding opportunity. Regarding project duration and costs they state: “Value for money is one of the key criteria that peer reviewers and commissioning committee members will assess applications against.”
MAXIMUM AMOUNT
MAXIMUM DURATION
GOSH BRC Accelerating Novel Therapies: Statistics Support Fund 2025
NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre (NIHR GOSH BRC)
£3,000
Not stated
This call provides an opportunity for early career researchers to pay for statistical support for paediatric translational projects and is open to any speciality/profession across GOSH, ICH and the PEI partners.
Each applicant can apply for up to £3,000 worth of statistics support to prepare a grant applications, outsource specific Data analysis or attend a highly specialised statistics training course.
This call has a deadline every 4 months: 01 April 2025, 01 July 2025, 01 October 2025, 01 January 2026
Public Health Research Programme Rapid Funding Scheme
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
£50,000
6 months
The Public Health Research (PHR) Programme funds research to generate evidence to inform the delivery of non-NHS interventions, intended to improve the health of the public, and reduce inequalities in health.
The Rapid Funding Scheme (RFS) was launched in March 2018 and offers researchers the opportunity to apply for funds to conduct rapid baseline data collection, as well as other feasibility work, prior to intervention implementation, for unique, time-limited opportunities such as a natural experiment or similar evaluations of a new public health intervention.
This scheme is not intended to fund studies which provide definitive answers to questions to inform service provision – it is to prepare for such studies.
AHRC responsive mode: Curiosity Award
Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
£100,000
5 years
Curiosity awards support early-stage ambitious and novel fundamental research which has the potential to act as a springboard towards new and exciting research agendas.
AHRC responsive mode: Catalyst Award
Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
£300,000
5 years
Catalyst awards support researchers without prior experience of leading a significant research project to accelerate their trajectory as independent researchers, unlocking their potential and building leadership and convenor experience through the delivery of ambitious or complex projects.
BBSRC International Travel Award Scheme
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
£3,000
4 weeks
International travel awards are for BBSRC-supported researchers making visits to initiate or prepare proposals with international partners, visiting overseas facilities for up to one month or attending European consortia-building events.
Knowledge Transfer Partnership
Innovate UK
Not stated
3 years
This call supports partnerships that help businesses to innovate, develop, grow and become more productive by employing academic expertise that they do not have in-house. Your project can focus on any type of innovation in any sector but it must aim to deliver results that your business would not otherwise be able to deliver.
Daphne Jackson Fellowship
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
Not stated
Not stated
These fellowships are for those looking to return to a research career after a break of two or more years for family, health or caring reasons. The aim is to give participants the confidence and skills they need to make a successful return to research.
UKRI-SBE Lead Agency Opportunity
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
£1 million
Not stated
This opportunity allows UK and US-based researchers to submit a collaborative proposal that will go through a single review process. The goal is to reduce some of the barriers that researchers and funding agencies encounter when trying to work internationally. This opportunity does not represent a separate research funding scheme – applications will be integrated into existing programmes at the relevant lead agency.
Collaborate with Researchers in Brazil
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
Not stated
Not stated
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to support collaborative applications. It provides for a lead agency agreement whereby participant UKRI research councils receive and assess joint applications from eligible UK and Brazil-based researchers from the state of São Paulo on behalf of both organisations.
Collaborate with Researchers in Norway
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
Not stated
Not stated
Norway co-investigators can be included in UK-led applications and receive funding from participating UKRI councils following a Money Follows Cooperation agreement between UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and Research Council of Norway (RCN) to reduce barriers to cross-border collaboration.
Collaborate with Researchers in Luxembourg
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
Not stated
Not stated
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and Fonds National de la Recherche (FNR) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to welcome and support collaborative applications. UKRI will receive and assess joint applications from eligible UK and Luxembourg applicants on behalf of both organisations.
EPSRC Programme Grant Outline Stage
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
Not stated
6 years
Programme grants provide flexible funding to world-leading research groups seeking to address significant research challenges across the EPSRC remit. EPSRC expects successful applications to be collaborative and address key challenges across single or multiple disciplines. Programme grants are not solely large grants but are strategic in nature and should meet all of the key features described below.
EPSRC Standard Research Grant, November 2023: Responsive Mode
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
Not stated
Not stated
EPSRC fellowships are a prestigious individual award aimed at exceptional, ambitious and talented researchers and technical professionals who wish to develop, expand or establish a programme of research or technical development alongside personal and professional development. EPSRC fellowships present an accelerated pathway to progression and success on your career journey.
EPSRC Postdoctoral Fellowships December 2023: Responsive Mode
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
Not stated
3 years
EPSRC fellowships are a prestigious individual award aimed at exceptional, ambitious and talented researchers and technical professionals who wish to develop, expand or establish a programme of research or technical development alongside personal and professional development. EPSRC fellowships present an accelerated pathway to progression and success on your career journey.
EPSRC Open Fellowships December 2023: Responsive Mode
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
Not stated
5 years
EPSRC fellowships are a prestigious individual award aimed at ambitious and talented researchers, and technical professionals who wish to develop, expand or establish a programme of research. Successful fellowships can include elements of community engagement and advocacy, research leadership, and drive positive change in the research environment.
EPSRC Open Plus Fellowships December 2023: Responsive Mode
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
Not stated
5 years
EPSRC fellowships are a prestigious individual award aimed at exceptional, ambitious and talented researchers and technical professionals who wish to develop, expand or establish a programme of research or technical development alongside personal and professional development. The plus component will enable you to allocate 20% to 50% of your time spent on the fellowship to create positive change in the research community by championing a topic aligned to EPSRC aspirations to deliver improvements in research in topics such as equality, diversity and inclusion, responsible research and innovation or public engagement.
EPSRC New Investigator Award: November 2023: Responsive Mode
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
Not stated
3 years
New investigator awards should have a single research vision with clearly defined objectives and outcomes. Complex, multi-faceted research projects with many objectives are not appropriate to the new investigator award. You can apply for a new investigator award in any field of research relevant to the EPSRC remit, for example, artificial intelligence, engineering and healthcare technologies.
EPSRC Overseas Travel Grant: November 2023: Responsive Mode
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
Not stated
12 months
Overseas travel grants (OTGs) provide funding for visits overseas to learn new techniques, or form and develop collaborations in any field of research relevant to the EPSRC’s remit, for example, artificial intelligence, engineering and healthcare technologies.
EPSRC Discipline Hopping in ICT: November 2023: Responsive Mode
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
Not stated
24 months
This is an opportunity for ICT researchers to use their expertise in other disciplines, or for researchers from other fields to apply their expertise to ICT. You can apply for a discipline-hopping in ICT grant in any field of research relevant to the UKRI remit.
EPSRC Network Grant: November 2023: Responsive Mode
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
Not stated
3 years
Network grants aim to develop new interdisciplinary research communities and topics by supporting interaction between researchers and relevant science, technology and industrial groups. EPSRC supports high quality research in any field of research relevant to their remit including, but not limited to, artificial intelligence, engineering and healthcare technologies. EPSRC expects networks to lead to new collaborative multidisciplinary research applications in areas they support. Some may develop into virtual centres of excellence.
Knowledge Asset Grant Fund: Explore
Innovate UK
£250,000
18 months
The Knowledge Asset Grant Fund (KAGF) is run by the Government Office for Technology Transfer (GOTT) and funded by the Department for Science Innovation and Technology (DSIT). The aim of this competition is to support the identification and development of public sector knowledge assets, including repurposing, commercialisation or expanded use. There are 3 strands within this funding competition: Explore, Expand, Extend.
BBC Children In Need
BBC Children In Need
Not stated
Not stated
BBC Children In Need offer a range of funding opportunities to support the wellbeing of children and young people.
The Evie Dove Foundation
The Evie Dove Foundation
Not stated
Not stated
The Foundation will accept applications from existing paediatric professionals at any level (or those returning to paediatrics), who need help in funding education that allows them to progress their Paediatric Career.
CLOSING DATE
MAXIMUM AMOUNT
MAXIMUM DURATION
Capacity building: clinical research training fellowship
Medical Research Council (MRC)
08 April 2026
No limit
2-3 years
This funding opportunity is for if you if you have a PhD and want to apply for funding to reacquire research skills. You can apply if you are a registered healthcare professional and your research focus is within any area of Medical Research Council (MRC)’s remit.
Professional doctorate: clinical research training fellowship
Medical Research Council (MRC)
08 April 2026
No limit
n/a
This funding is to undertake a PhD, where the research must focus on any area of MRC’s remit to improve human health. You must be a registered healthcare professional.
Early independence: career development fellowship
Medical Research Council (MRC)
21 April 2026
No limit
n/a
Apply for an early independence fellowship to support your career transition within the new Fellowship Investment Framework, if your research focus is within the MRC remit.
Developing Research Leaders (Cohort 2) – Developing Research Leader Programme
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
21 April 2026
0.4 FTE
3 years
This funding opportunity supports nurses, midwives and Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) to develop as research leaders and build research capacity. This programme is providing protected time to lead research capacity building and strengthen research culture across health and care.
Future Leaders Fellowships: round 11
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
16 June 2026
No limit
7 years
You must be a researcher or innovator who is either looking to establish or transition to independence. Future Leaders Fellowships (FLF)’s are personal awards to support fellows to develop as impactful and influential research or innovation leaders.
2025 Clinical Lectureships in Medicine
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
01 September 2026
n/a
4 years
NIHR have allocated funding for 120 Clinical Lectureships (CLs) for recruitment in 2025/26 through the Integrated Academic Training (IAT) Programme. CLs are postdoctoral, higher specialty training (ST3+ entry) awards of up to 4 years duration that provide 50% protected academic time for doctors in specialist training, or GPs that have completed their vocational training, that have completed a higher research degree (PhD or MD).