Getting funding for research projects can be time consuming and difficult. But there are plenty of useful guides and tips to help find the best funding option for your research. We have collated some of these below:
NIHR INSIGHT
| Funder/Programme | Scheme/Call | Closing deadline | link | Stage | Key words | Brief Description | Funds availaible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NIHR | Swiss-UK investigator-led randomised controlled clinical trials in areas of unmet clinical need | 09-Sep-25 | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/swiss-uk-investigator-led-randomised-controlled-clinical-trials-areas-unmet-clinical-need/2025200 | 1-stage application | collaboration - clinical trials | £8,000,000.00 | |
| NIHR | i4i FAST - March 2025 | 16-Apr-25 | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/i4i-fast-march-2025/2025tbc | 1-stage application | Children and Yong People - Enhance early detection - Improve access to care | development of health technologies to reduce community and hospital waiting lists for children and young people | |
| NIHR | Mental Health Research Groups: Round 2 | 28-May-25 | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/mental-health-research-groups-round-2/2025264 | 1-stage application | mental health | £11,000,000.00 | |
| NIHR | Programme Grants for Applied Research - February 2025 | 02-Apr-25 | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/programme-grants-applied-research-february-2025/2025218-2025219-2025220 | full application | multidisciplinary - interrelated groups of projects | ||
| NIHR | ROK-UK Smart Clinical Trials Collaboration Award | 1 April 2025 | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/rok-uk-smart-clinical-trials-collaboration-award/2025208 | Smart Clinical Trials | £50,000.00 | ||
| NIHR/EME | Novel non-pharmacological approaches for diagnosis and treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) | 05-Aug-25 | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/novel-non-pharmacological-approaches-diagnosis-and-treatment-attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd/2025214 | Outline | ADHD | ||
| NIHR/EME | Prevention and/or management of lymphoedema following Breast Cancer Resection | 05-Aug-25 | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/prevention-andor-management-lymphoedema-following-breast-cancer-resection/2025215 | Outline | |||
| NIHR HTA | health problem in areas not otherwise well covered | 07-May-25 | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/hta-programme-researcher-led-primary-research/2025201 | Outline | notice brain tumours | ||
| NIHR HTA | HTA Programme researcher-led evidence synthesis | 07-May-25 | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/hta-programme-researcher-led-evidence-synthesis/2025202 | Outline | |||
| NIHR HTA | Care, support and rehabilitation for patients with brain tumours | 07-May-25 | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/care-support-and-rehabilitation-patients-brain-tumours/2025205 | Outline | |||
| NIHR HSDR | Care, support, and rehabilitation for patients with brain tumours | 20-May-25 | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/care-support-and-rehabilitation-patients-brain-tumours/2025206 | Outline | |||
| NIHR PHR | PHR Programme researcher-led | 25-Apr-25 | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/phr-programme-researcher-led/2024220 | Outline | |||
| NIHR HTA | The effectiveness of technologies for people living with deafblindness in social care settings | 02-Apr-25 | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/effectiveness-technologies-people-living-deafblindness-social-care-settings/2024225 | ||||
| NIHR HTA | Ambitious data-enabled ‘e-trials’ | 02-Apr-25 | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/ambitious-data-enabled-e-trials/2024216 | Outline | |||
| NIHR HTA | Selective decontamination of the digestive tract in children and young people receiving mechanical ventilation | 02-Apr-25 | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/selective-decontamination-digestive-tract-children-and-young-people-receiving-mechanical-ventilation/2024208 | Outline | Children and Yong People - ventilation | ||
| NIHR HTA | Therapies for women, children and others who experience domestic abuse | 02-Apr-25 | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/therapies-women-children-and-others-who-experience-domestic-abuse/2024204 | Outline | domestic abuse | ||
| NIHR HTA | Higher-calorie refeeding compared with lower-calorie refeeding in malnourished adults with anorexia nervosa | 02-Apr-25 | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/higher-calorie-refeeding-compared-lower-calorie-refeeding-malnourished-adults-anorexia-nervosa/2024203 | Outline | anorexia | ||
| NIHR HTA | Improving outcomes for children and young people in care using interventions that combine mentoring with skills training: A feasibility study | 02-Apr-25 | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/improving-outcomes-children-and-young-people-care-using-interventions-combine-mentoring-skills-training-feasibility-study/2024205 | Outline | |||
| NIHR PHR | Suicide prevention | 25-Apr-25 | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/suicide-prevention/2024214 | Outline | mental health - suicide | ||
| NIHR PHR | Mass media content | 25-Apr-25 | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/mass-media-content/2024209 | Outline | media - health - evaluation | ||
| NIHR PHR | Healthy Homes | 25-Apr-25 | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/healthy-homes/2024212 | Outline | |||
| NIHR PHR | Unstructured activities (play) for children and young people | 25-Apr-25 | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/unstructured-activities-play-children-and-young-people/2024210 | Outline | |||
| NIHR PHR | Increasing uptake of vaccinations in populations where there is low uptake | 25-Apr-25 | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/increasing-uptake-vaccinations-populations-where-there-low-uptake/2024215 | Outline | |||
| NIHR | Australia-UK platform studies in areas of unmet clinical need | 23-Jul-25 | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/australia-uk-platform-studies-areas-unmet-clinical-need/97018 | ||||
| NIHR | NIHR Climate Change and Health: Adapting Health and Social Care Systems - Development Awards | OPENING SOON | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/nihr-climate-change-and-health-adapting-health-and-social-care-systems-development-awards/2025277 | £100,000.00 | |||
| MRC | Expression of interest: Supporting researchers to involve public at pre-application stage | 08-Apr-25 | https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/supporting-researchers-to-involve-public-at-pre-application-stage/ | Expression of interest | expenses for public partners to work with researchers to develop Medical Research Council (MRC) research funding applications. | ||
| Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) | EPSRC Programme grant full proposal | Open - no closing date | https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/epsrc-programme-grant-full-proposal/ | world-leading research groups addressing significant major research challenges | |||
| EPSRC | Sandpit: moving respiratory health diagnosis into the 21st century | 20-Mar-25 | https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/sandpit-moving-respiratory-health-diagnosis-into-the-21st-century/ | ||||
| BBSRC | BBSRC standard research grant: 2025 round 2: responsive mode | 23-Apr-25 | https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/bbsrc-standard-research-grant-2025-round-2-responsive-mode/ | support excellent investigator-led research across the breadth of Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) scientific remit | |||
| MRC | Infections and immunity: programme: responsive mode | 30-Apr-25 | https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/infections-and-immunity-programme/ | support a programme of research focused on infections and immunity. | |||
| MRC | Neurosciences and mental health: programme: responsive mode | 30-Apr-25 | https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/neurosciences-and-mental-health-programme/ | support a programme of research focused on neurosciences and mental health. | |||
| MRC | Population and systems medicine: programme: responsive mode | 30-Apr-25 | https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/population-and-systems-medicine-programme/ | support a programme of research focused on population and systems medicine. | |||
| MRC | Molecular and cellular medicine: programme: responsive mode | 30-Apr-25 | https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/molecular-and-cellular-medicine-programme/ | upport a programme of research focused on molecular and cellular medicine. | |||
| MRC | Molecular and cellular medicine: new investigator: responsive mode | 30-Apr-25 | https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/molecular-and-cellular-medicine-new-investigator/ | ‘transition to independence’ | |||
| MRC | Neurosciences and mental health: new investigator: responsive mode | 30-Apr-25 | https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/neurosciences-and-mental-health-new-investigator/ | ‘transition to independence’ | |||
| MRC | Infections and immunity: new investigator: responsive mode | 30-Apr-25 | https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/infections-and-immunity-new-investigator/ | ‘transition to independence’ | |||
| MRC | Population and systems medicine: new investigator: responsive mode | 30-Apr-25 | https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/population-and-systems-medicine-new-investigator/ | ‘transition to independence’ | |||
| MRC | Neurosciences and mental health research: research grant: responsive mode | 30-Apr-25 | https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/neurosciences-and-mental-health-research/ | ||||
| MRC | Population and systems medicine: research grant: responsive mode | 30-Apr-25 | https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/population-and-systems-medicine-research/ | support research projects focused on population and systems medicine | |||
| MRC | Molecular and cellular medicine: research grant: responsive mode | 30-Apr-25 | https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/molecular-and-cellular-medicine-research/ | ||||
| MRC | Infections and immunity: research grant: responsive mode | 30-Apr-25 | https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/infections-and-immunity-research/ | ||||
| MRC | Developmental pathway funding scheme: stage one | 19-Mar-25 | https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/developmental-pathway-funding-scheme/ | develop and test novel therapeutics, medical devices, diagnostics and other interventions | |||
| EPSRC | EPSRC programme grant outline stage | Open - no closing date | https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/epsrc-programme-grant-outline-stage/ | world-leading research groups addressing significant major research challenges | |||
| MRC | Collaborate with the functional genomics screening laboratory | Open - no closing date | https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/collaborate-with-the-functional-genomics-screening-laboratory/ | collaborate with the functional genomics screening laboratory (FGSL) on projects using complex human in vitro models for CRISPR screening to better understand model biology and enable target identification | |||
| MRC | Experimental medicine stage one | 16-Apr-25 | https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/experimental-medicine/ | ||||
| MRC | Researching motor neurone disease: highlight notice | Open - no closing date | https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/researching-motor-neurone-disease-highlight-notice/ | ||||
| MRC | Novel human in vitro models of complex disease | 20-Mar | https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/novel-human-in-vitro-models-of-complex-disease/ | ead a cluster in a coordinated network for novel human in vitro models of complex disease. | |||
| The British Heart Foundation | Project Grants | no closing date | https://www.bhf.org.uk/for-professionals/information-for-researchers/what-we-fund/project-grants | ||||
| The British Heart Foundation | Special Project Grants | no closing date | https://www.bhf.org.uk/for-professionals/information-for-researchers/what-we-fund/special-project-grants | ||||
| The British Heart Foundation | Programme Grants | no closing date | https://www.bhf.org.uk/for-professionals/information-for-researchers/what-we-fund/programme-grant | ||||
| Wellcome | Mental Health Award: Leveraging longitudinal data to transform early intervention in mental health | 22-Jul | https://wellcome.org/grant-funding/schemes/mental-health-award-leveraging-longitudinal-data-transform-early-intervention#application-process-timeline-6aa9 | ||||
| Children with Cancer UK | Standard Research Grant 2025 | 04-Apr-25 | [2025 Research Grant Call | Children with Cancer UK](https://www.childrenwithcancer.org.uk/research/for-researchers/funding-opportunities/2025-research-grant-call/) | addresses the needs of children, teenagers or young adults with cancer | ||
| Kidney Research UK | Various grants | Opening soon | https://www.kidneyresearchuk.org/research/research-grants/?_gl=1*1gtqkod*_up*MQ.._gaNTE1NTc2Mjg5LjE3NDE2MzEyNTg._ga_737HY1XF35MTc0MTYzMTI1NS4xLjAuMTc0MTYzMTI1NS4wLjAuMA.. | ||||
| Rosetrees | SEEDCORN AWARD 2025 (highlight sepsis) | 14-Apr-25 | https://rosetrees.org.uk/seedcorn-awards/ | ||||
| Scoliosis Support and research | Small exploratory grant/New investigation grant/Major research grant | no closing date | [https://ssr.org.uk/research/scoliosis-research-grants/#:~:text=Research grants - Scoliosis Support %26 Research&text=The SSR Research Grant is,be submitted at any time.](https://ssr.org.uk/research/scoliosis-research-grants/#:~:text=Research grants - Scoliosis Support %26 Research&text=The SSR Research Grant is,be submitted at any time.) | ||||
| CRUK | Therapeutic Catalyst | 06-Jun-25 | https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/funding-for-researchers/our-funding-schemes/therapeutic-catalyst?_gl=1*1r7mdno*_gcl_au*NDQ1MDg5ODA0LjE3NDAwNjI3MDA.*_ga*MTcyNTA2Njk1Mi4xNzIwMTc3NDk1*_ga_58736Z2GNN*MTc0MTYzMjEwMi43LjEuMTc0MTYzMjExOC40NC4wLjA. | ||||
| CRUK | Drug Development Project | 06-May-25 | https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/funding-for-researchers/our-funding-schemes/drug-development-project?_gl=1*1j7umx6*_gcl_au*NDQ1MDg5ODA0LjE3NDAwNjI3MDA.*_ga*MTcyNTA2Njk1Mi4xNzIwMTc3NDk1*_ga_58736Z2GNN*MTc0MTYzMjEwMi43LjEuMTc0MTYzMjEzNy4yNS4wLjA. | ||||
| CRUK | Prevention and Population Research Project Award | 19-Jun-25 | https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/funding-for-researchers/our-funding-schemes/prevention-and-population-research-project-awards?_gl=1*qxqkcd*_gcl_au*NDQ1MDg5ODA0LjE3NDAwNjI3MDA.*_ga*MTcyNTA2Njk1Mi4xNzIwMTc3NDk1*_ga_58736Z2GNN*MTc0MTYzMjEwMi43LjEuMTc0MTYzMjE0OC4xNC4wLjA. | ||||
| CRUK | Biology to Prevention Award | 19-Jun-25 | https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/funding-for-researchers/our-funding-schemes/biology-to-prevention-award?_gl=1*tt28wp*_gcl_au*NDQ1MDg5ODA0LjE3NDAwNjI3MDA.*_ga*MTcyNTA2Njk1Mi4xNzIwMTc3NDk1*_ga_58736Z2GNN*MTc0MTYzMjEwMi43LjEuMTc0MTYzMjE1OS4zLjAuMA.. | ||||
| CRUK | Data for Children’s and Young People’s Cancer Pilot Award | Not advertised | https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/funding-for-researchers/our-funding-schemes/data-for-childrens-and-young-peoples-cancer-pilot-award?_gl=1*1gm7h9s*_gcl_au*NDQ1MDg5ODA0LjE3NDAwNjI3MDA.*_ga*MTcyNTA2Njk1Mi4xNzIwMTc3NDk1*_ga_58736Z2GNN*MTc0MTYzMjEwMi43LjEuMTc0MTYzMjE5My4zOS4wLjA. |
| NIHR Academic Clinical Fellowship (ACF) | 2024 NIHR Academic Clinical Fellowships in Medicine | 31/03/2025 | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/2024-nihr-academic-clinical-fellowships-in-medicine/34517 | Stage 1 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NIHR Academic Clinical Fellowship (ACF) | 2024 NIHR Academic Clinical Fellowships in Dentistry | 31/03/2025 | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/2024-nihr-academic-clinical-fellowships-in-dentistry/34515 | Stage 1 | ||
| Integrated Academic Training (IAT) | 2024 NIHR Clinical Lectureships in Dentistry | 31/03/2025 | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/2024-nihr-clinical-lectureships-in-dentistry/34516 | Stage 1 | ||
| NIHR Population Health Career Scientist Award | Population Health Career Scientist Award | 10-Jul-25 | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/population-health-career-scientist-award/2025216 | full application | Population Health | enable senior researchers to make the next step to Reader or Professor level |
| NIHR | 2025 Clinical Lectureships in Medicine | 01-Sep-26 | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/2025-clinical-lectureships-medicine/97046 | IAT - Postoctoral - Medicine | ||
| NIHR | Predoctoral Award cohort 1 | 20-Mar-25 | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/predoctoral-award-cohort-1/2025212 | Nurses - Midwives - AHPs - | develop a competitive PhD award application | |
| NIHR | Pre-Application Support Fund round 5 | 27 March 2025 | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/pre-application-support-fund-round-5/2025213 | |||
| NIHR | 2025 Clinical Lectureships in Dentistry | 31-Mar-26 | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/2025-clinical-lectureships-dentistry/97040 | |||
| NIHR | IAT Clinical Lectureships in Medicine 2024 | 1 September 2025 | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/iat-clinical-lectureships-medicine-2024/34518 | facilitate applications for further research funding for doctors working towards gaining a certificate of completion | ||
| UKRI | UKRI Metascience AI early career fellowships | 10-Apr-25 | https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/ukri-metascience-ai-early-career-fellowships/ | und a cohort of early career fellows to build our understanding of how the growing adoption of AI is changing the research landscape | ||
| BBSRC | 2025 BBSRC Fellowships scheme | 07-May-25 | https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/2025-bbsrc-fellowships-scheme/ | |||
| UKRI | Future Leaders Fellowships: round 10 | 18-Jun-25 | https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/future-leaders-fellowships-round-10/ | new investigator award, designed primarily to assist newly employed university lecturers, researchers in research council institutes | ||
| BBSRC | BBSRC new investigator award: 2025 round 2: responsive mode | 23-Apr-25 | https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/bbsrc-new-investigator-award-2025-round-2-responsive-mode/ | |||
| MRC | Postdoctoral clinical research training fellowship | 09-Apr-25 | https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/post-doctoral-clinical-research-training-fellowship/ | healthcare professional | reacquire research skills. | |
| MRC | Clinician scientist fellowship | 09-Apr-25 | https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/clinician-scientist-fellowship/ | become an independent researcher in a medical research field | ||
| MRC | Predoctoral clinical research training fellowship | 09-Apr-25 | https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/pre-doctoral-clinical-research-training-fellowship/ | healthcare professional - PhD | ||
| MRC | Career development award | 16-Apr-25 | https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/career-development-award/ | become an independent researcher | ||
| EPSRC | EPSRC programme grant outline stage | Open - no closing date | https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/epsrc-programme-grant-outline-stage/ | world-leading research groups addressing significant major research challenges | ||
| UKRI | Daphne Jackson fellowship | Open - no closing date | https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/daphne-jackson-fellowship/ | ellowships are for those looking to return to a research career after a break of two or more years for family, health or caring reasons | ||
| Wellcome | Wellcome Career Development Awards | 03 April 2025 | https://wellcome.org/grant-funding/schemes/career-development-awards | mid-career researchers from any discipline who have the potential to be international research leaders | ||
| Wellcome | Wellcome Discovery Awards | 08-Apr-25 | https://wellcome.org/grant-funding/schemes/discovery-awards | established researchers and teams from any discipline who want to pursue bold and creative research ideas to deliver significant shifts in understanding related to human life, health and wellbeing | ||
| Wellcome | Wellcome Early-Career Awards | 22-May-25 | https://wellcome.org/grant-funding/schemes/early-career-awards | early-career researchers from any discipline who are ready to develop their research identity. | ||
| Bone Cancer research Trust | Skill development grants | all year round | https://www.bcrt.org.uk/research/for-researchers/ | Travel | ||
| Bone Cancer research Trust | Clinical Trials Support Scheme | all year round | https://www.bcrt.org.uk/research/for-researchers/ | clinical trials | ||
| CRUK | Black Leaders in Cancer PhD Scholarship Programme | Autumn 2025 |