Funding opportunities vary from small sums of funding to attend conferences, fund research specific equipment, and to incorporate patient & public involvement into the research, to larger sources of funding for research career development opportunities as well as research project and programme grants throughout the year.
National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR)
The NIHR offers funding for a variety of researcher-led, commissioned, and themed-call research in health, social care and public health, and global health; career development is greatly supported through the NIHR as personal awards and practitioner academic training. The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) infrastructure provides a plethora of support, including research expertise and support services such as the Research Design Service.
Research funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), medical research charities, the life sciences industry (biopharmaceuticals, MedTech, genomics, diagnostics, and digital health), and other relevant industries all benefit from the network of services and support that the NIHR provide.
UK Research & Innovation (UKRI)
UKRI can provide investments into research grants, education funding, skills & training, infrastructure, institutes, centres, facilities & catapults and public engagement to name a few.
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) provides a dynamic portfolio of investments on behalf of the UK taxpayer, delivering a creative and agile research and innovation system, providing opportunities for all and creating economic, social, environmental and cultural benefits. Working collaboratively across councils and communities, UKRI can recommend investments to support long-term, high-level priorities for an excellent research and innovation system in the UK.
Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC)
The Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) is dedicated to saving and improving lives through research and innovation, uniting the sector and improving the research and health landscape by bringing together and supporting health and medical charities to ensure research being performed is of the highest quality.
The Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) is a membership organisation, bringing together and supporting health and medical charities to ensure research being performed is of the highest quality. The AMRC are dedicated to saving and improving lives through research and innovation, uniting the sector and improving the research and health landscape.
AMRC registered charities can benefit from a range of support including:
- An open publishing platform, e-newsletters, job circulation mailing
- Indirect costs of university research can be covered by the Charity Research Support Fund
- Direct costs of clinical research within the NHS can be covered by NIHR Clinical Research Networks (CRNs) under the Attributing the costs of health and social care Research and Development (AcoRD) agreement.
There are many charities which are members of the AMRC, and the member directory can be accessed on their website.
Only a handful of charities have been highlighted on this page, however there are many more to choose from. Not all charities are AMRC members, therefore it is important to do the background research to ensure you find the right charity for your research.
Leeds Hospitals Charity
Leeds Hospitals Charity works in partnership with Leeds Teaching Hospitals and partners to fund high quality research and innovation.
Leeds Hospitals Charity (previously Leeds Cares) provides support for eight areas:
- Leeds General Infirmary
- Leeds Children’s Hospital
- Leeds Cancer Centre
- St James’s University Hospital
- Chapel Allerton Hospital
- Seacroft Hospital
- Wharfedale Hospital
- Leeds Dental Institute.
The charity supports NHS staff to deliver the best care for patients and their families each year. Collaborating with local communities, schools, and businesses across the city and beyond, annually they provide £5 million in additional funding for Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.