FUNDING CALLS
FUNDING CALLS
Information
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 funding opportunities. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list of all funding opportunities.
Time-Limited Funding Calls
Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme
Funder: National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
Maximum Amount: Not stated
Closing Date: 02 September 2026
Maximum Duration: Not stated
The NIHR Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme funds research that assesses the impact of healthcare treatments, tests and other interventions, where there is already some evidence that they can be effective. The aim of this research is to provide additional evidence for these new technologies to potentially become standard care.
There are multiple funding opportunities within this programme that are currently inviting applications. Please use the link below to find out more.
Digital Twin Adoption Accelerator 2026
Funder: Innovate UK
Maximum Amount: £100,000
Closing Date: 06 September 2026
Maximum Duration: 9 months
Delivered by Digital Catapult, the Digital Twin Adoption Accelerator Programme 2026 is a nine-month programme that supports partnerships between UK technology SMEs and industry adopters to accelerate the adoption of digital twin technologies. Working together, participants will develop innovative proof-of-concept solutions that address real-world adoption challenges across sectors (including life sciences).
Successful projects will receive up to £100,000 in Innovate UK grant funding, alongside technical expertise, mentoring and access to specialist facilities to help accelerate the development and deployment of their solutions.
European Rare Diseases Research Alliance (ERDERA) Clinical Trial Call 2026
Funder: European Rare Diseases Research Alliance (ERDERA)
Maximum Amount: Not stated
Closing Date: 10 September 2026
Maximum Duration: Not stated
This call will support multinational, GCP‑compliant Phase I, Phase I/II and Phase II interventional clinical trials in rare diseases. While applications addressing all eligible rare diseases are welcome, they are particularly interested in proposals targeting:
- paediatric rare diseases
- rapidly progressive rare diseases
- rare diseases lacking approved therapeutic options or with substantial residual unmet medical need despite existing treatments
EIT Health Innovation Uptake Call 2026
Funder: Horizon Europe
Maximum Amount: €650,000
Closing Date: 16 September 2026
Maximum Duration: 15 months
EIT Health is calling for mature digital, data-driven and AI-powered healthcare solutions ready to scale across European markets. Selected projects will receive funding to accelerate market entry, generate real-world evidence, strengthen market access, and support the adoption of clinically validated innovations across healthcare systems.
The call funds projects focused on:
- Commercialisation pilots in real-world healthcare settings
- Product usability testing and market adaptation
- Go-to-market strategy and business model validation
- Health economic analysis
- Reimbursement pathway development
Health and Social Care Delivery Research (HSDR) Programme
Funder: National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
Maximum Amount: Not stated
Closing Date: 16 September 2026
Maximum Duration: Not stated
The NIHR Health and Social Care Delivery Research (HSDR) Programme funds research that has the potential to improve health and social care services for patients, staff and service users. The aim is to improve the quality of care – ensuring it reaches the people who need it, when they need it – and to make services more efficiently organised.
There are multiple funding opportunities within this programme that are currently inviting applications. Please use the link below to find out more.
Improving discharge delivery across Health and Social Care – Health and Social Care Delivery Research (HSDR) Programme
Funder: National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
Maximum Amount: Not stated
Closing Date: 16 September 2026
Maximum Duration: Not stated
The Health and Social Care Delivery Research (HSDR) Programme is interested in funding high-quality research studies across the UK, to evaluate potential improvements to discharge delivery in health and social care services, spanning patient-level, service-level and system-level improvements for children and young people (C&YP) and for adults.
The scope includes discharge from acute hospital settings, mental health inpatient services and specialist inpatient services, for example, those for people with learning disabilities and autism. They are particularly interested in receiving applications with a focus on community and integrated discharge pathways that support the broader health and social care ambition of shifting care from hospital to community settings.
Programme Development Grants (PDG) – July 2026
Funder: National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
Maximum Amount: £250,000
Closing Date: 16 September 2026
Maximum Duration: 2 years
The NIHR Programme Development Grants (PDG) is inviting applications 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). This is a one-stage, researcher-led funding opportunity.
Transformative Healthcare Instrument 2026
Funder: EIT Health
Maximum Amount: €500,000
Closing Date: 16 September 2026
Maximum Duration: Not stated
EIT Health is offering to support European start-ups developing innovative solutions in Biotech, Medtech, digital health, AI, and biomarkers or diagnostics. The programme is designed to help companies advance product development, strengthen commercialisation strategies, and prepare for their next stage of fundraising while addressing unmet clinical needs across Europe.
Eligible companies must have closed a minimum of 2,000,000 EUR within the last 36 months and have at least 4 full-time employees.
NextGen Paediatric Innovation and Impact Challenge (NPIIC) 2026
Funder: NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre (GOSH BRC)
Maximum Amount: See below
Closing Date: 30 September 2026
Maximum Duration: Not stated
The NIHR GOSH BRC invites early-stage paediatric innovation led by early career researchers (ECRs), with a focus on translating ideas into fundable concepts, to complete in a 3-stage process for total prize fund of £30,000 with awards of £15,000, £10,000 and £5,000 for the top three winners.
They are keen to support ideas that could lead to collaboration with industry or may present opportunities for commercial impact.
IHI (Innovative Health Initiative) 13th Call for Proposals
Funder: Horizon Europe
Maximum Amount: €9m-€35m depending on call
Closing Date: 08 October 2026
Maximum Duration: Not stated
IHI call 13 is a two-stage call with topics on accelerating healthcare innovation through networks, reducing animal use in drug safety studies, and decoding the immuno-science of diseases affected by ageing and the immune system.
Topics:
- A network to boost the next wave of European innovations in healthcare
- An AI foundation toxicology model and framework to support waiving a second species in drug safety studies
- Decode the immuno-science of age-related immune-mediated diseases
Funding is available for a single project in each topic: up to €35m for topic 1, €9m for topic 2, and €9.2m for topic 3.
UKRI Translation: BBSRC Proof of Concept 2026
Funder: Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
Maximum Amount: £800,000
Closing Date: 14 October 2026
Maximum Duration: 2 years
Apply for funding to translate bioscience research into innovations such as products, services or solutions that generate real-world economic, societal, and environmental impact.
Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP): 2026 – 2027 Round 3
Funder: Innovate UK
Maximum Amount: Not stated
Closing Date: 14 October 2026
Maximum Duration: 2 years
The Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) programme allows a UK registered business to partner with a knowledge base partner in a UK higher education or research institution. The KTP partnership brings new skills and the latest academic thinking into the business partner to deliver a specific, strategic innovation project.
Research for Patient Benefit – July 2026
Funder: National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
Maximum Amount: £500,000
Closing Date: 28 October 2026
Maximum Duration: 3 years
The NIHR Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) programme is inviting stage 1 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. As a researcher-led programme, RfPB does not specify topics for research but instead encourages proposals for projects that address a wide range of health service issues and challenges.
Pre-announcement: Purchase mid-range equipment for biomedical research: Medical Research Council (MRC) Equip
Funder: Medical Research Council (MRC)
Maximum Amount: £1 million
Closing Date: 05 November 2026
Maximum Duration: 7 months
Funding opportunity for mid-range capital equipment will enable and enhance research across Medical Research Council’s (MRC’s) scientific areas.
UKRI Translation: Medical Research Council (MRC) Impact Acceleration Awards
Funder: Medical Research Council (MRC)
Maximum Amount: £300,000
Closing Date: 11 November 2026
Maximum Duration: 18 months
The MRC are accepting applications for projects that generate critical preliminary data to build confidence in the development strategy for a new medicine, repurposed medicine, medical device, diagnostic test, or other medical intervention development. The Impact Acceleration Award strategically bridges the smaller Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) and the larger Proof of Concept funding opportunity.
Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Application Development Awards
Funder: National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
Maximum Amount: £150,000
Closing Date: 12 November 2026
Maximum Duration: 8 months
The Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme is looking to fund Application Development Awards. These are expected to support and inform a subsequent outline application to the HTA Programme.
The aim of the 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.
Speech and language therapist-led interventions for school-aged children with developmental language disorder
Funder: National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
Maximum Amount: Not stated
Closing Date: 18 November 2026
Maximum Duration: Not stated
The NIHR Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme is looking to fund research about developmental language disorder. This is a 2-stage, commissioned funding opportunity. To apply for the first stage you should submit an outline application.
Interventions for school-aged children with a developmental stammer
Funder: National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
Maximum Amount: Not stated
Closing Date: 18 November 2026
Maximum Duration: Not stated
The NIHR Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme is looking to fund research about developmental stammer. This is a 2-stage, commissioned funding opportunity. To apply for the first stage you should submit an outline application.
Interventions for children and young people with nonprogressive motor disorders affecting their speech
Funder: National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
Maximum Amount: Not stated
Closing Date: 18 November 2026
Maximum Duration: Not stated
The NIHR Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme is looking to fund research about nonprogressive motor disorders affecting speech. This is a 2-stage, commissioned funding opportunity. To apply for the first stage you should submit an outline application.
Early surgical intervention compared to standard care in neonates with symptoms of necrotising enterocolitis (NEC)
Funder: National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
Maximum Amount: Not stated
Closing Date: 18 November 2026
Maximum Duration: Not stated
The NIHR Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme is looking to fund research about early surgical intervention in neonates with symptoms of necrotising enterocolitis (NEC). This is a 2-stage, commissioned funding opportunity. To apply for the first stage you should submit an outline application.
UKRI Translation: Medical Research Council (MRC) Proof of Concept: stage one
Funder: Medical Research Council (MRC)
Maximum Amount: Not stated
Closing Date: 18 November 2026
Maximum Duration: Not stated
This funding opportunity was previously titled ‘Developmental pathway funding scheme: stage one’. Apply for funding for an academically-led translational project that aims to either 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 to develop and test novel therapeutics, medical devices, diagnostics and other interventions across any stage of the developmental pathway, from prototype development, through pre-clinical refinement, to early-phase clinical studies (up to phase 2a).
Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation (EME) Programme
Funder: National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
Maximum Amount: Not stated
Closing Date: 25 November 2026
Maximum Duration: 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.
There are multiple funding opportunities within this programme that are currently inviting applications. Please use the link below to find out more.
Programme Grants for Applied Research (PGfAR) – October 2026
Funder: National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
Maximum Amount: £3.5 million
Closing Date: 02 December 2026
Maximum Duration: 6 years
NIHR Programme Grants for Applied Research (PGfAR) funds substantial, high-quality, and long-term programmes of applied research focused on priority health and social care needs.
The PGfAR Programme is partnering with the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health to invite programmes of research which can make a transformative stepped change in CYP’s health, care and wellbeing. This funding opportunity builds on the success of previous NIHR-RCPCH-Programme Development Grants (PDG) competitions and is seeking to support sustainable research partnerships that bring together knowledge and expertise from across multiple sectors.
This is a two-stage, researcher-led funding opportunity and will open 07 October 2026. The amount awarded and length of the funding period will depend on the nature of the proposed work.
Using ‘big data’ to impact health and health inequalities
Funder: National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
Maximum Amount: Not stated
Closing Date: 08 December 2026
Maximum Duration: Not stated
The NIHR Public Health Research (PHR) Programme is looking to fund research into the health and health inequality impacts of:
- data linkage and ‘big data’ usage in local and/or regional government, and/or
- interventions that address barriers to, or risks associated with, big data usage.
This is a 2-stage funding opportunity. To apply for the first stage you should submit an outline application.
Public Health Research (PHR) Programme
Funder: National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
Maximum Amount: Not stated
Closing Date: 08 December 2026
Maximum Duration: Not stated
The Public Health Research (PHR) Programme funds research which aims to improve public health and reduce health inequalities, by testing how interventions outside of the NHS affect the health of the population.
There are multiple funding opportunities within this programme that are currently inviting applications and with highlight notices on specific areas of research. Please use the link below to find out more.
Transition from education to employment
Funder: National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
Maximum Amount: Not stated
Closing Date: 20 April 2027
Maximum Duration: Not stated
The NIHR Public Health Research (PHR) Programme is looking to fund research into the health and health inequality impacts of interventions that support young people as they transition from compulsory education into further education or employment. This is a 2-stage funding opportunity. To apply for the first stage you should submit an outline application.
Rolling Funding Calls
Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity Small Grant Funding
Funder: Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity
Maximum Amount: £10,000
Maximum Duration: Not stated
Sheffield Children’s is inviting applications for Small Research Grants (providing funds ranging from £500 – £10,000) to support the pump-priming and advancement of research activity at Sheffield Children’s with a particular focus on supporting Early Career Researchers and Nursing and AHP staff. This funding is supported by the Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity.
This is a rolling, annual call and aims to provide funding for:
- Grant development support (e.g., dedicated time, expert advice from statisticians/health economists).
- Pilot data collection for future larger research projects.
- Patient and Public Involvement (PPIE) activities to support research.
- Small-scale research projects within a limited budget.
Please contact scn-tr.research.governance@nhs.net with the subject “SCHC Small Grant Application Submission” for more information
Medical Research Council (MRC): research grant: applicant-led
Funder: Medical Research Council (MRC)
Maximum Amount: Not stated
Maximum Duration: 5 years
This funding opportunity is to drive important insights into causes and mechanisms of disease and help accelerate diagnosis, advance treatment and prevent human illness. You must be employed by an eligible research organisation and the project must involve more than one research group or organisation.
Action Medical Research Grants
Funder: Action Medical Research
Maximum Amount: Not stated
Maximum Duration: Not stated
Action Medical Research is a charity that aims to prevent and treat disease and disability by funding vital medical research in hospitals or research institutions across the UK.
Their remit focuses on child health to include problems affecting pregnancy, childbirth, babies, children, and young people. Within child health, they support a broad spectrum of research with the objective of preventing and treating disease and disability.
Please visit the ‘Apply for a research grant’ page on the AMR website to view their Project Grant and Research Training Fellowship opportunities.
GOSH BRC Accelerating Novel Therapies: Statistics Support Fund 2026
Funder: NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre (NIHR GOSH BRC)
Maximum Amount: £3,000
Maximum Duration: 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 3 months: 01 July 2026, 01 October 2026, 05 January 2027.
Public Health Research Programme Rapid Funding Scheme
Funder: National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
Maximum Amount: £50,000
Maximum Duration: 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.
Using the ‘Our Future Health’ data resource for research
Funder: Medical Research Council (MRC)
Maximum Amount: £1 million
Maximum Duration: 2 years
The scheme aims to encourage MRC-supported researchers to discover and test more effective ways to predict, detect and treat major diseases using the Our Future Health dataset, which reflects the diversity of the UK population. The proposed research should be within the MRC remit to improve human health.
AHRC responsive mode: Curiosity Award
Funder: Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
Maximum Amount: £100,000
Maximum Duration: 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
Funder: Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
Maximum Amount: £300,000
Maximum Duration: 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
Funder: Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
Maximum Amount: £3,000
Maximum Duration: 4 weeks
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.
Knowledge Transfer Partnership
Funder: Innovate UK
Maximum Amount: Not stated
Maximum Duration: 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.
UKRI-SBE Lead Agency Opportunity
Funder: UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
Maximum Amount: £1 million
Maximum Duration: 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, Norway or Luxemburg
Funder: UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
Maximum Amount: Not stated
Maximum Duration: Not stated
Brazil
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.
Norway
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.
Luxemburg
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
Funder: Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
Maximum Amount: Not stated
Maximum Duration: 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
Funder: Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
Maximum Amount: Not stated
Maximum Duration: 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 Overseas Travel Grant: November 2023: Responsive Mode
Funder: Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
Maximum Amount: Not stated
Maximum Duration: 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
Funder: Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
Maximum Amount: Not stated
Maximum Duration: 2 years
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: Nov 2023: responsive mode
Funder: Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
Maximum Amount: Not stated
Maximum Duration: 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.
BBC Children In Need
Funder: BBC Children In Need
Maximum Amount: Not stated
Maximum Duration: Not stated
BBC Children In Need offer a range of funding opportunities to support the wellbeing of children and young people.
Fellowships & Career Development
Early independence: clinician scientist fellowship
Funder: Medical Research Council (MRC)
Maximum Amount: See below
Closing Date: 02 September 2026
Maximum Duration: 5 years
This funding opportunity will fund your salary and project costs (80% of the full economic cost) for up to 5 years. You must be a registered healthcare professional and have a PhD or equivalent.
Capacity building: clinical research training fellowship
Funder: Medical Research Council (MRC)
Maximum Amount: See below
Closing Date: 02 September 2026
Maximum Duration: 3 years
The Medical Research Council (MRC) welcomes applications from across all areas of our remit to improve human health. This may range from basic studies with relevance to mechanisms of disease, to translational and developmental clinical research. They fund 80% of the full economic cost.
Professional doctorate: clinical research training fellowship
Funder: Medical Research Council (MRC)
Maximum Amount: See below
Closing Date: 02 September 2026
Maximum Duration: 4 years
The Medical Research Council (MRC) welcomes applications for funding to undertake a PhD. The focus can be on any area of the MRC’s remit to improve human health. You can apply if you’re a registered healthcare professional. The funding will cover a salary appropriate to your level of training, tuition fees at standard home student rate and up to £25,000 each year to cover consumables, equipment and travel.
Senior Investigators (Cohort 20)
Funder: National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
Maximum Amount: See below
Closing Date: 14 September 2026
Maximum Duration: 4 years
The Senior Investigator award recognises prominent and prestigious researchers of applied health and social care. Eligible individuals must: have made a substantial contribution to the NIHR with an ongoing contribution planned, be employed by an organisation based in England or Northern Ireland and be leading high-quality applied health, public health or social care research funded by NIHR, or have done so within the last 2 years.
Senior Investigators will receive a discretionary award of £15,000 per year for 4 years to fund activities that support their research.
Early independence: career development fellowship
Funder: Medical Research Council (MRC)
Maximum Amount: Not stated
Closing Date: 15 September 2026
Maximum Duration: 5 years
This career development fellowship aims to support talented researchers who have gained a higher research degree and have evidence of career consolidation and productivity across past appointments to: lead their own research plans to establish their own research niche, start to build their own research team and
make the first step-change towards independence. They welcome applications from across all areas that improve human health, ranging from basic studies with relevance to mechanisms of disease, to translational and developmental clinical research.
Health Innovation Network – NHS Innovation Accelerator (Fellowship)
Funder: Health Innovation Network
Maximum Amount: Not stated
Closing Date: 27 September 2026
Maximum Duration: 3 years
The NHS Innovation Accelerator (NIA) improves access to proven health and care innovations by connecting innovators with the expertise, networks, and support needed to achieve national impact. It is a fellowship, that you must commit 2 days a week to for 3 years (0.4 FTE). To find out more you can register to attend one of their “Meet the NIA” webinars on 18 August 13:00-14:00, 10 September 12:00-13:00 and 21 September 13:00-14:00 via this link.
Forward North Clinical PhD Programme for Health Professionals
Funder: Forward North
Maximum Amount: Not stated
Closing Date: 28 September 2026
Maximum Duration: 3 years
The Forward North PhD Academy for Health Professionals is a partnership between the Universities of Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle, Liverpool and Sheffield to combine their strengths in biomedical and health research. They are accepting UK-based applicants from actively practicing healthcare professionals across all clinical areas.
NextGen Paediatric Innovation and Impact Challenge (NPIIC) 2026
Funder: NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre (GOSH BRC)
Maximum Amount: £15,000
Closing Date: Wednesday 30 September 2026
Maximum Duration: Not stated
The NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre (GOSH BRC) NextGen Paediatric Innovation and Impact Challenge (2026) aims to bring together clinical and non-clinical early career researchers (ECRs) to co-develop bold, cross-disciplinary translational innovative concepts with clear potential to improve outcomes in children with rare and/or complex conditions.
NIHR Academy Member Event Fund 2026
Funder: National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Academy
Maximum Amount: £5,000
Closing Date: Wednesday 30 September 2026
Maximum Duration: Not stated
The NIHR Academy Member Event Fund provides support to plan and hold events that promote NIHR Academy programmes and strategic priorities. It is a single-stage funding opportunity. You can apply if you are a postdoctoral-level NIHR Academy Member.
Senior Research Leader (SRL) Programme (Cohort 5)
Funder: National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
Maximum Amount: Not stated
Closing Date: Wednesday 07 October 2026
Maximum Duration: Not stated
The Senior Research Leader (SRL) Programme is a senior research leadership-level funding opportunity. It supports senior nurses, midwives, allied health professionals (AHPs), pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to improve research capacity and capability in their organisation and beyond. This is a single-stage funding opportunity.
NIHR GOSH BRC Catalyst Fellowships 2027
Funder: NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre (GOSH BRC)
Maximum Amount: 12 months salary + £10k consumables
Closing Date: Thursday 08 October 2026
Maximum Duration: 12 months
The Catalyst Fellowship aims to build the capacity of child health research by supporting post-doctoral researchers to take the next step in their careers and develop into the research leaders of the future.
NIHR GOSH BRC Knowledge Transfer Scheme 2026
Funder: NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre (GOSH BRC)
Maximum Amount: £5,000
Closing Date: Monday 12 October 2026
Maximum Duration: 4 weeks
The NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre (NIHR GOSH BRC) Career Development Academy is pleased to launch the Knowledge Transfer Scheme 2026.
The Knowledge Transfer Scheme aims to support early career researchers to undertake a research placement at external institutes to learn key technologies or techniques and to strengthen collaborations or develop new partnerships.
Development and Skills Enhancement (DSE) Award (Cohort 11)
Funder: National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
Maximum Amount: See below
Closing Date: 04 November 2026
Maximum Duration: 2 years
The DSE award is a post-doctoral level funding opportunity aimed at supporting early to mid-career researchers in gaining specific skills and experience to underpin the next phase of their research career.
You can choose a 12, 18 or 24-month duration and the amount of funding is dependent on duration.
Daphne Jackson Fellowship
Funder: UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
Maximum Amount: Not stated
Closing Date: Open
Maximum Duration: 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.