FUNDING CALLS
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
Health Technology Assessment Researcher-led
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
03 September 2025
Not stated
Not stated
The NIHR Health Technology Assessment (HTA) programme is looking to fund research through the researcher-led workstream. They are interested in receiving proposals that address any health problem areas not otherwise well covered in the HTA programme portfolio.
Neurosciences and Mental Health: Research Grant
Medical Research Council (MRC)
04 September 2025
No limit
5 years
Apply for funding to support research projects focused on neurosciences and mental health.
BBSRC-STFC Biotechnology Business Incubation Centre (Bio BIC) 2025
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) – Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
07 September 2025
£50,000
Not stated
The BBSRC-STFC Bio BIC is an incubator programme for early-stage biotechnology start-ups, providing access to the following UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) campuses:
- STFC Sci-Tech Daresbury campus
- Rothamsted Enterprises
- AberInnovation
NIHR GOSH BRC Paediatric Excellence Initiative New Projects Funding Call 2025
NIHR Great Ormond Street Biomedical Research Centre (NIHR GOSH BRC) Paediatric Excellence Initiative & affiliated charities
08 September 2025
£25,000
2 years
The NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre (NIHR GOSH BRC) Paediatric Excellence Initiative New Projects Call is open for applications. This year, NIHR GOSH BRC are proud to partner with Alder Hey Children’s Charity, Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity, Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity and GOSH Charity, who, together, have made around £150,000 available in this call. 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).
NIHR GOSH BRC Early Career Researcher New Projects Funding Call 2025
NIHR Great Ormond Street Biomedical Research Centre (NIHR GOSH BRC)
08 September 2025
£25,000
18 months
The NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre (NIHR GOSH BRC) Early Career Researcher New Projects Call aims to fund novel translational research ideas that seek to develop new therapies, biomarkers, diagnostics, or surgical interventions to benefit children and the adults they will become with rare and/or complex conditions.
NIHR GOSH BRC Theme New Projects Funding Call 2025
NIHR Great Ormond Street Biomedical Research Centre (NIHR GOSH BRC)
08 September 2025
Not stated
18 months
The NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre (NIHR GOSH BRC) New Projects Call aims to fund novel translational research ideas, which seek to develop new therapies, biomarkers, diagnostics or surgical interventions to benefit children and the adults they will become with rare and/or complex conditions. Around £800,000 is available in this call to support several projects across our strategic research themes.
Knowledge Transfer Partnership: 2025 to 2026 Round Three
Innovate UK
17 September 2025
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.
Programme Development Grants – July 2025
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
17 September 2025
£250,000
2 years
NIHR Programme Development Grants (PDG) is inviting applications for funding to undertake preparatory work to develop a future programme of research (stream A). PDGs are also available for researchers to develop and enhance the quality and value of an ongoing or recently completed Programme Grants for Applied Research (PGfAR) award (stream B).
BBSRC Engineering Biology (EngBio) ICURe Discover
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) – Innovate UK
23 September 2025
£3,700
10 weeks
Apply for funding to explore the potential market of your engineering biology-based idea, increase market awareness and gain deeper understanding of your technology’s potential applications.
BBSRC New Investigator Award 2025: Round Three Applicant-led Mode
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
24 September 2025
£2 million
5 years
Apply for funding to support excellent new investigator-led research across the breadth of Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) scientific remit.
Health Technologies Connectivity Awards: Round Two
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
02 October 2025
£500,000
3 years
Apply for funding to spend time in a different research or user environment to build new connections applicable to health technologies. Novel engineering and physical sciences (EPS) research contributing to the delivery of the EPSRC health technologies strategy must comprise a proportion of the placement.
BBSRC Follow-on Fund 2025: Round Two
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
15 October 2025
£800,000
2 years
Apply for Follow-on Funding (FoF) to bridge the gap between bioscience research and achieving economic and societal benefit.
Research and Partnership Hubs for a Healthy Society
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
21 October 2025
£12.5 million
6 years
Apply for funding to establish a large-scale multidisciplinary research hub, drawing on expertise across the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and health research community, to support people to live healthier lives and prevent ill health. Proposals should address long term research challenges in the priority areas of prevention, early diagnosis and self-management of health.
Research for Patient Benefit – July 2025
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
05 November 2025
£500,000
3 years
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 service staff, and that have the potential to have an impact on the health or wellbeing of patients and users of the NHS.
Mental Health Award: Transforming early intervention for anxiety, depression and psychosis in young people – Foundation Phase
Wellcome Trust
11 November 2025
See below
See below
Funding for projects that robustly test the real-world effectiveness and assess implementation strategies of scalable transformative early interventions for anxiety, depression and psychosis in young people.
The award is structured in two phases:
- Foundation Phase (open to applications week commencing 28th July 2025): This phase will provide teams with £200,000 for 12 months to build their teams and develop a detailed research proposal.
- Impact Phase (open to applications February 2027): All funded teams from the Foundation Phase will be invited to apply. This phase will provide £5 million – £8 million for a period of up to 5 years (upper limits TBC).
Gap Fund for Early-Stage Development of New Healthcare Interventions
Medical Research Council (MRC)
12 November 2025
£300,000
18 months
Apply for funding to generate critical data that builds confidence in developing a new or repurposed medicine, medical device, diagnostic test, or other medical intervention.
Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme: Stage One
Medical Research Council (MRC)
19 November 2025
No limit
No limit
Apply for funding to develop and test novel therapeutics, medical devices, diagnostics and other interventions.
EME Programme Researcher-Led
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
02 December 2025
Not stated
Not stated
The Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation (EME) Programme is accepting outline applications to its researcher-led workstream.
NIHR NICE Rolling Funding Opportunity (EME Programme)
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
02 December 2025
Not stated
Not stated
The NIHR Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation (EME) Programme is inviting outline applications to their commissioned workstream. They 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.
NIHR James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnerships Rolling Funding Opportunity (EME Programme)
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
02 December 2025
Not stated
Not stated
The NIHR Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation (EME) Programme is inviting outline applications to their commissioned workstream. They are interested in receiving applications that address research priorities identified by the James Lind Alliance (JLA) Priority Setting Partnerships (PSP).
Studies evaluating the clinical and cost-effectiveness of ambulance service led interventions
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
07 January 2026
Not stated
Not stated
The NIHR Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme is looking to fund studies evaluating the clinical and cost-effectiveness of ambulance service led interventions.
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
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.
CLOSING DATE
MAXIMUM AMOUNT
MAXIMUM DURATION
Predoctoral Clinical Research Training Fellowship
Medical Research Council (MRC)
03 September 2025
No limit
3 years
Apply for funding to undertake a PhD. Your research can focus on any area of Medical Research Council (MRC)’s remit to improve human health.
Postdoctoral Clinical Research Training Fellowship
Medical Research Council (MRC)
03 September 2025
No limit
3 years
Apply for funding to reacquire research skills. Your research can focus on any area of Medical Research Council (MRC)’s remit.
Clinician Scientist Fellowship
Medical Research Council (MRC)
03 September 2025
No limit
5 years
Apply for support to become an independent researcher in a medical research field. Your research can focus on any area of Medical Research Council’s (MRC) remit to improve human health.
Career development award
Medical Research Council (MRC)
10 September 2025
No limit
5 years
You can apply for support to become an independent researcher, if your research focus is within Medical Research Council (MRC) remit to improve human health.
Smart Data Research UK Fellowships
Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
23 September 2025
£200,000
18 months
Smart Data Research UK (SDR UK) invites applications for fellowships to conduct research using smart data to address a real-world challenge.
NIHR GOSH BRC Doctoral Training Support Fund 2025
NIHR Great Ormond Street Biomedical Research Centre (GOSH BRC)
26 September 2025
£5,000
Not stated
The Doctoral Training Support Fund invites proposals for up to £5,000 for consumables funding. The scheme is open to translational clinical research and experimental medicine projects in the areas of child health from Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health (ICH) or GOSH BRC partner site doctoral students.
NIHR GOSH BRC Intermediate Fellowship for Wider Healthcare Professionals 2025
NIHR Great Ormond Street Biomedical Research Centre (GOSH BRC)
31 October 2025
£150,000
18 months
The Intermediate Fellowship aims to support post-doctoral wider healthcare professionals working in child health research to make the next step in their research career and become clinical academic leaders of the future.
Applications are welcome from staff substantively employed by either GOSH, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health (UCL GOS ICH) or Paediatric Excellence Initiative partner sites (Alder Hey, Birmingham or Sheffield Children’s Hospitals) who are wider healthcare professionals, including nurses, AHPs, pharmacists, psychologists, healthcare scientists and any other appropriate clinical professional who is not a doctor or dentist and who is registered with an appropriate regulatory/professional body.
Development and Skills Enhancement (DSE) Award Cohort 8
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
04 November 2025
Not stated
2 years
The DSE award is a postdoctoral level funding opportunity. It supports early to mid-career researchers who want to gain specific skills and experience to underpin the next phase of their research career.
Future Leaders Fellowships: Round 10, Business and Non-academic
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
05 November 2025
£3 million
4-7 years
UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £110 million for ambitious research and innovation projects in any sector, and tailored support to develop careers for future leaders.