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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NIHR | HTA Researcher-led: primary research | 06-May-26 | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/hta-researcher-led-primary-research/2026337 | OUTLINE | Highlight Invasive lobular carcinoma (lobular breast cancer) | HTA Remit |
| NIHR | Improving mobility and quality of life after stroke | 06-May-26 | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/improving-mobility-and-quality-life-after-stroke/2025454 | OUTLINE | Neuro - Stroke | We are interested in funding a clinical trial that assesses the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of therapies that can improve walking post-stroke, a key factor of independence, quality of life, and overall health. |
| NIHR | Alternate day caplacizumab for immune thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura | 06-May-26 | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/alternate-day-caplacizumab-immune-thrombotic-thrombocytopenic-purpura/2025376 | OUTLINE | TTP | nterested in applications for a randomised controlled trial which aims to investigate alternate vs standard everyday caplacizumab for TTP following plasma exchange. |
| NIHR | HSDR - Researcher-led | 14-May-26 | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/hsdr-researcher-led/2026393 | OUTLINE | HSDR Remit | |
| NIHR | Evidence Synthesis Programme (ESP): Researcher-Led – Evidence Synthesis | 18-May-26 | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/evidence-synthesis-programme-esp-researcher-led-evidence-synthesis/2026361 | Full application | health and wellbeing of service users and their carers | identifies, appraises and combines data from existing research studies to address questions of importance to policymakers, practitioners and the public |
| NIHR | Programme Development Grants - March 2026 | 20-May-26 | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/programme-development-grants-march-2026/2026372-2026373-2026374-2026375 | Full application | highlight notices on brain tumours, invasive lobular carcinoma (lobular breast cancer), and work and health. | |
| NIHR | 2026 NIHR Incubator Competition (Cohort 4) | 04 June 2026 | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/2026-nihr-incubator-competition-cohort-4/2026358 | Full application | transition of care from hospital to the community by promoting research within the community and in wider care settings | |
| NIHR | BMBR Programme researcher-led | 23-Jun-26 | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/bmbr-programme-researcher-led/2026406 | Full application | methodological sub-study, which can help significantly improve methodology of future research as well as the host study | |
| NIHR | HSDR - Researcher-led | 08-Jul-26 | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/hsdr-researcher-led/2026412 | OUTLINE | looking to fund high-quality, well-designed research to provide findings that meet the needs of NHS and social care managers and leaders | |
| NIHR | Transabdominal ultrasound surveillance for gallbladder cancer in patients with gallbladder polyps | 15-Jul-26 | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/transabdominal-ultrasound-surveillance-gallbladder-cancer-patients-gallbladder-polyps/2026405 | OUTLINE | gallbladder cancer | transabdominal ultrasound surveillance for gallbladder cancer in patients with gallbladder polyps. |
| NIHR | HTA - Target trial emulation: utilising routine data to answer key health and care questions | 15-Jul-26 | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/target-trial-emulation-utilising-routine-data-answer-key-health-and-care-questions/2026384 | OUTLINE | trial emulation | looking to fund target trial emulation studies. |
| NIHR | HTA - Early intervention programmes for infants with an increased chance of neurodisability | 15-Jul-26 | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/early-intervention-programmes-infants-increased-chance-neurodisability/2026382 | OUTLINE | peads - neurodisability | looking to fund research about early intervention programmes for infants with an increased chance of neurodisability. |
| NIHR | EME Programme researcher-led | 05-Aug-26 | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/eme-programme-researcher-led/2026407 | OUTLINE | Highlight: traumatic brain injury (TBI) | |
| NIHR | Loneliness in the community | 18-Aug-26 | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/loneliness-community/2025451 | OUTLINE | Mental Health: loneliness | health and health inequality impacts of community initiatives that aim to address loneliness at a population level. |
| NIHR | PHR Development Awards - women in the armed forces | 18-Aug-26 | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/phr-development-awards-women-armed-forces/2026376 | OUTLINE | Armed forces | |
| NIHR | PHR: School readiness and the home learning environment | 18-Aug-26 | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/school-readiness-and-home-learning-environment/2026378 | OUTLINE | seeking to improve the home learning environment and school readiness for children in the UK. | |
| NIHR | Active travel facilitators and barriers within different populations | 18-Aug-26 | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/active-travel-facilitators-and-barriers-within-different-populations/2026377 | OUTLINE | und research into the health and health inequality impacts of interventions that affect active travel behaviours at a population level. | |
| NIHR | PHR: Women’s health communication | 18-Aug-26 | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/womens-health-communication/2026379 | OUTLINE | Women and girls health/ health inequalities | Fund research into how effective public health messaging is in improving the health of, and reducing health inequalities experienced by women and girls. |
| NIHR | Public Health Research Programme Rapid Funding Scheme | 16-Dec-26 | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/public-health-research-programme-rapid-funding-scheme/20247 | OUTLINE | 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. | |
| NIHR | i4i FAST - April 2026 | 29-Apr-26 | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/i4i-fast-april-2026/2026387 | Full application | Support real-world integration of preventive technologies into the workflow of community care settings, | |
| NIHR | Tackling bacterial and fungal antimicrobial resistance in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia | 08-Jul-26 | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/tackling-bacterial-and-fungal-antimicrobial-resistance-sub-saharan-africa-and-south-asia/2026402 | OUTLINE | ||
| MRC | MRC: partnership grant: applicant-led | Open - no closing date | https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/mrc-partnership-grant-applicant-led/ | 1-stage | novel collaborative activities between researchers, to transform our understanding of causes and mechanisms of disease and help accelerate diagnosis, advance treatment and prevent human illness. | |
| MRC | MRC: new investigator research grant: applicant-led | Open - no closing date | https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/mrc-new-investigator-research-grant-applicant-led/ | 1-stage | ||
| MRC | MRC: research grant: applicant-led | Open - no closing date | https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/mrc-research-grant-applicant-led/ | 1-stage | ||
| MRC | Pre-clinical translational models hub | 21-May-26 | https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/pre-clinical-translational-models-hub/ | OUTLINE | establish a UK Hub for the development of pre-clinical translational human in vitro models. | |
| Innovate UK | Advancing innovation in drug and alcohol addiction healthcare | 06-May-26 | https://apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk/competition/2394/overview/33b56af8-353f-46ac-bb66-a0928731c0fc | OUTLINE | collaborations | |
| NIHR | PHR: Domestic violence against women and girls | 21-Apr-26 | [Domestic violence against women and girls | NIHR](https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/domestic-violence-against-women-and-girls/2025450?utm_source=chatgpt.com) | OUTLINE |
| Funder/Programme | Scheme/Call | Closing deadline | link | Stage | Key words | Brief Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NIHR | 2025 Clinical Lectureships in Medicine | 01-Sep-26 | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/2025-clinical-lectureships-medicine/97046 | 1-stage | Postdoctoral | awards of up to 4 years duration that provide 50% protected academic time for doctors in specialist training, or GPs that have completed their vocational training, that have completed a higher research degree (PhD or MD). |
| NIHR | 2026 Clinical Lectureships in Dentistry | 31-Mar-27 | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/2026-clinical-lectureships-dentistry/97049 | 1-stage | postdoctoral | provides a clinical and academic training environment for dentists to establish themselves as independent researchers and leaders. |
| NIHR | 2026 Academic Clinical Fellowships in medicine | 31-Mar-27 | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/2026-academic-clinical-fellowships-medicine/97050 | 1-stage | Masters-level research training | The post has a standard duration of 3 years (up to 4 years for GPs). As an ACF you will have access to Masters-level research training to develop academic skills and spend 25% of your time in research or educationalist training. |
| NIHR | 2026 Academic Clinical Fellowships in dentistry | 31-Mar-27 | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/2026-academic-clinical-fellowships-dentistry/97048 | 1-stage | Masters-level research training | spend 25% of your time in research or educationalist training. The ACF is a 3 year fellowship with a flexible entry level tailored to the career stage of the applicant |
| NIHR | 2026 Clinical Lectureships in Medicine | 1 September 2027 | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/2026-clinical-lectureships-medicine/97057 | 1-stage | Postdoctoral | |
| NIHR | NIHR Global Advanced Fellowship - Cohort 2 | 30-Jun-26 | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/nihr-global-advanced-fellowship-cohort-2/2026411 | 1-stage | Postdoctoral | early to mid-career Global Health researchers to develop leadership capability and research expertise - Application must focus on addressing Global Health security threats and challenges, improving the ability of health systems to protect the health of the poorest, most vulnerable populations in ODA eligible countries |
| NIHR | Global Health Research Professorship (Cohort 9) | 30-Jun-26 | https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/global-health-research-professorship-cohort-9/2026423 | 1-stage | Postdoctoral | Pofessorial-level funding opportunity. You can apply if you are an outstanding academic who is on track to become a future Global Health research leader. |
| UKRI | Future Leaders Fellowships: round 11 | 16-Jun-26 | https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/future-leaders-fellowship-round-11/ | |||
| BBSRC | International Travel Award Scheme for the Biological Sciences | Open - no closing date | https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/bbsrc-international-travel-award-scheme/ |