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
The effectiveness of technologies for people living with deafblindness in social care settings
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
02 April 2025
Not stated
Not stated
The NIHR Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme is looking to fund research into effectiveness of technologies for people living with deafblindness in social care settings.
Selective decontamination of the digestive tract in children and young people receiving mechanical ventilation
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
02 April 2025
Not stated
Not stated
The NIHR Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme is looking to fund research into selective decontamination of the digestive tract in children and young people receiving mechanical ventilation.
Ambitious data-enabled ‘e-trials’
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
02 April 2025
Not stated
Not stated
The NIHR Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme is looking to fund research into ambitious data-enabled ‘e-trials’.
Improving outcomes for children and young people in care using interventions that combine mentoring with skills training: A feasibility study
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
02 April 2025
Not stated
Not stated
The NIHR Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme is looking to fund a feasibility study into research to improve outcomes for children and young people in care using interventions that combine mentoring with skills training.
NIHR NICE Rolling Funding Opportunity (EME Programme)
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
08 April 2025
Not stated
Not stated
The Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation (EME) Programme is accepting Outline Applications to this funding opportunity. The programme 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.
Proposals must be within the remit of the EME Programme and the primary outcome measure must be health related.
NIHR James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnerships Rolling Funding Opportunity (EME Programme)
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
08 April 2025
Not stated
Not stated
The NIHR Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation (EME) Programme is accepting Outline Applications to their commissioned workstream. The NIHR recognises the importance of the research priorities identified by the James Lind Alliance (JLA) Priority Setting Partnerships (PSP) and is interested in receiving high-quality applications which address them.
We are looking to receive applications for research studies addressing JLA PSPs’ research priorities, rather than to conduct a PSP itself.
EME Programme Researcher-led
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
08 April 2025
Not stated
Not stated
The Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation (EME) Programme supports translational research evaluating a wide range of novel or repurposed interventions and technologies. These may include but are not limited to diagnostic or prognostic tests and decision-making tools, drugs or biological compounds, behavioural therapies, medical devices, and public health initiatives delivered within the NHS.
Expression of interest: Supporting researchers to involve public at pre-application stage
Medical Research Council (MRC)
08 April 2025
£20,000
18 months
Apply for funding for your own scheme to reimburse time and expenses for public partners to work with researchers to develop Medical Research Council (MRC) research funding applications.
Investor partnerships: digital technologies, North East round 2
Innovate UK
09 April 2025
See below
See below
UK registered SMEs can apply for grant funding for projects that grow their innovation activities in the digital technologies cluster in North East England, alongside private investment from selected investor partners.
- For feasibility studies projects: your total project costs must be between £50,000 and £300,000 and your project duration must be between 6 and 12 months
- For industrial research projects: your total project costs must be between £100,000 and £1 million and your project duration must be between 6 and 12 months
- For experimental development projects: your total project costs must be between £250,000 and £2 million and your project duration must be between 12 and 18 months
Investor partnerships: health technologies, West Yorkshire, round two
Innovate UK
09 April 2025
See below
Not stated
UK registered SMEs can apply for grant funding for projects that grow their innovation activities in the health technology cluster in West Yorkshire, alongside private investment from selected investor partners. Your project can focus on medical devices; diagnostics, including In-Vitro Diagnostics (IVD); digital health, including data driven health technologies and artificial intelligence (AI).
Your project’s total costs will depend on your research category and must be between £50,000 and £300,000 for feasibility studies, £100,000 and £1 million for industrial research, £250,000 and £2 million for experimental development.
Knowledge transfer partnership: 2025 to 2026 round one
Innovate UK
09 April 2025
£8,500 per month
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.
i4i FAST – March 2025
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
16 April 2025
£100,000
12 months
The NIHR Invention for Innovation (i4i) Funding At the Speed of Translation (FAST) programme, in partnership with the NIHR HealthTech Research Centre in Paediatrics and Child Health, invites applications to support the development of health technologies to reduce community and hospital waiting lists for children and young people, including those with learning disabilities, seeking mental healthcare or neurodevelopmental assessment.
BBSRC standard research grant: 2025 round 2: responsive mode
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
23 April 2025
£2 million
5 years
This scheme supports excellent investigator-led research across the breadth of BBSRC scientific remit. You can apply to undertake biotechnology or biological research in microbes, humans, and tools and technology underpinning biological research.
Unstructured activities (play) for children and young people
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
25 April 2025
Not stated
Not stated
The NIHR Public Health Research (PHR) Programme is looking to fund research which evaluates interventions that work to increase and sustain unstructured activities (or play opportunities) for children and young people.
Mental Health Research Groups: Round 2
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
25 April 2025
£11 million
5 years
Applications are invited for Mental Health Research Group (MHRG) funding.
The NIHR is looking to establish, in total, up to ten NIHR Mental Health Research Groups (NIHR MHRGs) in geographical areas with high mental health (MH) burden, limited local research capacity and low recruitment into MH research studies. These will be partnerships between higher education institutions (HEIs) based in England with low/no mental health research capacity and close to areas with significant mental health support needs, and HEIs based in England with more experience and expertise in mental health research, who have a shared interest and vision.
Neurosciences and mental health: programme: responsive mode
Medical Research Council (MRC)
30 April 2025
No limit
5 years
Apply for funding to support a programme of research focused on neurosciences and mental health.
Neurosciences and mental health research: research grant: responsive mode
Medical Research Council (MRC)
30 April 2025
No limit
5 years
Apply for funding to support research projects focused on neurosciences and mental health.
HTA Programme Researcher-Led
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
07 May 2025
Not stated
Not stated
The aim of the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme is to ensure that high quality research information on the clinical effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and broader impact of healthcare treatments and tests are produced in the most efficient way for those who plan, provide or receive care from NHS and social care services.
In this researcher-led workstream, separate grants are available for primary research and evidence synthesis on topics proposed by the researchers.
NIHR NICE rolling funding opportunity (HTA Programme)
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
07 May 2025
Not stated
Not stated
The aim of the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme is to ensure that high quality research information on the clinical effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and broader impact of healthcare treatments and tests are produced in the most efficient way for those who plan, provide or receive care from NHS and social care services.
The programme is interested in receiving Stage 1 applications to meet recommendations in research identified in NICE guidance that has been published or updated since 2015.
NIHR James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnerships rolling funding opportunity (HTA Programme)
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
07 May 2025
Not stated
Not stated
The aim of the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme is to ensure that high quality research information on the clinical effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and broader impact of healthcare treatments and tests are produced in the most efficient way for those who plan, provide or receive care from NHS and social care services.
The NIHR are looking to receive applications for research studies addressing JLA PSPs’ research priorities, rather than to conduct a PSP itself.
Transformative and disruptive innovations to reduce waiting lists and waiting times – April 2025
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
07 May 2025
Not stated
Not stated
The NIHR Invention for Innovation (i4i) programme invites applications to enhance timely access to care through the development, clinical validation and/or real-world evidence generation of transformative and disruptive technologies. This funding opportunity, therefore, supports the development of innovative health technologies aimed at reducing waiting times and waiting lists for individuals in need of care, in any setting.
Early Life Cohort longitudinal study
Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
08 May 2025
£42.8 million
5 years and 8 months
Apply for funding to lead the Early Life Cohort (ELC) on behalf of the broader research community. The ELC offers a once in a lifetime opportunity to generate new research and policy insights on how the early and ongoing life experiences of children born in the 2020s and growing up in the UK shape their future outcomes.
i4i THRIVE – April 2025
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
16 May 2025
£150,000
9 months
The NIHR Invention for Innovation (i4i) programme is accepting applications to their new researcher and clinician-led THRIVE (Translate Healthcare Research through InnoVation and Entrepreneurship) funding and training opportunity.
THRIVE aims to accelerate the translation of healthcare innovations tackling health inequalities from bench to bed, speed up patient benefit and concurrently expand the entrepreneurial mindset of researchers and clinicians.
UKRI Proof of Concept
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
29 May 2025
£250,000
12 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, for example, universities, research institutes, facilities and centres.
Digital Good Research Fund ‘Building the Digital Good’
Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
26 June 2025
£75,000
Not stated
The aim of the Digital Good Network is to enhance our collective understanding of what a good digital society looks like and how we get there. In the third year of the network, they invite research proposals that focus on ‘Building the digital good.’
Proposals should build on prior research and the discussion paper Evaluating the societal outcomes of digital technologies: building blocks and reflexive questions.
Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme: Stage One
Medical Research Council (MRC)
16 July 2025
No limit
No limit
Apply for funding for an academically-led translational project that aims to improve prevention, diagnosis or treatment of significant health needs or develop research tools that increase the efficiency of developing interventions. You can apply for funding for work that includes, but is not limited to, novel medical devices, digital healthcare, app development, artificial intelligence, diagnostics, medical imaging technology, and surgical techniques or tools.
The use of thickened fluids in children and young people with oropharyngeal dysphagia
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
30 July 2025
Not stated
Not stated
The NIHR Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme is looking to fund research into the use of thickened fluids in children and young people with oropharyngeal dysphagia.
Evaluating interventions for foster/kinship carers of looked-after children with behavioural difficulties
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
30 July 2025
Not stated
Not stated
The NIHR Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme is looking to fund research into the relative effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of interventions for foster/kinship carers of looked-after children with behavioural difficulties.
Initial management strategies for children and young people presenting with post-appendicectomy collections: a feasibility study
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
30 July 2025
Not stated
Not stated
The NIHR Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme is looking to fund research into initial management strategies for children and young people presenting with post-appendicectomy collections.
A behavioural intervention to treat anxiety disorder in children with a moderate to severe learning disability
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
30 July 2025
Not stated
Not stated
The NIHR Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme is looking to fund research into a behavioural intervention to treat anxiety disorder in children with a moderate to severe learning disability.
The effectiveness of interventions to support children and young people affected by sexual abuse
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
30 July 2025
Not stated
Not stated
The NIHR Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme is looking to fund research into the effectiveness of interventions to support children and young people affected by sexual abuse.
Novel non-pharmacological approaches for diagnosis and treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
05 August 2025
Not stated
Not stated
The MRC-NIHR Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation (EME) Programme is inviting applications to evaluate the efficacy of novel non-pharmacological approaches to improve the diagnosis, treatment and/or management of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children and adults.
Children and young people’s mental health
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
15 August 2025
Not stated
Not stated
The NIHR Public Health Research (PHR) Programme is looking to fund research which evaluates the effectiveness of interventions in supporting the promotion and protection of the mental health of babies, children and young people.
MAXIMUM AMOUNT
MAXIMUM DURATION
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
International Fellowships for PhD and Early Career Researchers 2025
Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) – Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
13 March 2025
Not stated
Not stated
The International Fellowships for PhD and Early Career Researchers programme provides early career researchers, and AHRC-funded and ESRC-funded doctoral students, with inclusive and dedicated access to internationally renowned collections, programmes and expertise held at host institutions.
Predoctoral Award Round 1
National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR)
20 March 2025
Not stated
Not stated
The Predoctoral Award is designed to advance your health and social care research career at masters level. It supports early career researchers to undertake a masters degree, or a bespoke training and development plan comprising masters-level training, and provides protected time to develop a competitive PhD award application.
ESRC postdoctoral fellowships
Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
25 March 2025
Not stated
12 months
The funding opportunity is open to applicants who have completed their PhD at a UK research organisation and who have less than 12 months of active postdoctoral experience from passing their viva voce to the competition closing date.
Career Development Award
Medical Research Council (MRC)
25 March 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.
Development and Skills Enhancement (DSE) Award Cohort 6
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
27 March 2025
£15,000
2 years
The Development and Skills Enhancement (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.
2025 Academic Clinical Fellowships in Medicine
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
31 March 2025
Not stated
3 years
The NIHR Academic Clinical Fellowship (ACF) is a clinical specialty training post in medicine that incorporates academic training. The NIHR has allocated funding for 278 ACFs for recruitment in 2024/25, through the Integrated Academic Training (IAT) Programme.
Neurosciences and mental health: new investigator: responsive mode
Medical Research Council (MRC)
30 April 2025
No limit
3 years
The Medical Research Council is looking for new investigators with a proposal for research that increases understanding within the field of neurosciences and mental health. Apply for funding to:
- research neurosciences and mental health
- take the next step towards becoming an independent researcher
UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships: Round 10
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
18 June 2025
No limit
7 years
Funding to support an early career researcher or innovator who is looking to establish or transition to independence or who is developing their own original and ambitious plans within a commercial setting.