Established Research and Leadership Opportunities
The NIHR, Wellcome and Medical Research Council schemes available are highlighted below. For details of eligibility, duration and costs included, please click on the relevant scheme.
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Research and innovation department have a dedicated team to support the research funding application process. Further information about where to begin with the funding application process, and study set up please contact leedsth-tr.researchfundingopps@nhs.net
National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)
NIHR Visiting Speaker award (VSA)
Key information
NIHR Academy Members based in the NIHR Infrastructure or NIHR Schools who are fully or partly funded can apply for the NIHR VSA for up to £300 to support the costs of presenting their work in another NIHR Infrastructure centre or NIHR School.
Launch date: 04th February 2020
Closing date: 29th January 2021
Future Focused Leadership Programme Cohort 3 - Leaders stream
The Future Focused Leadership Programme (FFLP) is a 12-month programme designed to enhance skills in leading across organisational boundaries, leading strategy and change and influencing others to achieve the strategic aims of NIHR.
The programme has been developed specifically for the NIHR and is based around research on what makes a successful leader, offering participants the opportunity to explore new thinking on how to lead in the 21st century. The programme is designed around exploring Leading Yourself, Leading Others and Leading Beyond Authority.
Opened; 02nd November 2020
Closing date; 07th January 2021
This scheme is open to all professions and all Higher Education Institutions (HEI), in partnership with NHS organisations, based in England only, to nominate health researchers and methodologists with an outstanding research record of clinical and applied health research and its effective translation for improved health. The nominating (lead) organisation must be a HEI.
A maximum of two nominations will be permitted per HEI for the NIHR Research Professorships.
The following conditions apply:
Where two nominees are put forward for consideration for the NIHR Research Professorship, at least one of these must be female;
Where only one nominee is put forward for consideration for the NIHR Research Professorship, this could be male or female.
Open to: Medical, non-medical and other healthcare professionals.
Two stage process? - Yes
Current call - Round 11, opened 24th September 2020
Launch date Stage 1 - 24th September 2020
Closing date Stage 1 - 26th November 2020
Stage 2 invitation - Late March/ Early April 2021
Closing date stage 2 - Late April/ Early May 2021
Interviews: June 2020
NIHR Global Health Research Professorship
This scheme is open to all professions and all Higher Education Institutions (HEI), in partnership with NHS organisations, to nominate health researchers and methodologists with an outstanding research record of clinical and applied health research and its effective translation for improved health. The nominating (lead) organisation must be a HEI.
A maximum of one nomination will be permitted per HEI for the NIHR Global Health Research Professorships.
The NIHR Global Health Research Professorship nomination must be for a candidate undertaking research which aims to specifically and primarily benefit individuals in countries on the OECD DAC list.
The following conditions apply:
Where only one nominee is put forward for consideration for the NIHR Global Health Research Professorship, this could be either male or female.
NIHR Global Health Research Professorship nominees will be required to have existing strong collaborations or links with collaborators or partners in institutions in countries on the OECD DAC list and that the award should plan to strengthen these/support training and capacity development/mentorship in these partners.
Open to: Medical, non-medical and other healthcare professionals.
Two stage process? - Yes
Next call - Round 4, open now
Launch date Stage 1 - 24th September 2020
Closing date Stage 1 - 26th November 2020
Stage 2 invitation - Late March/ Early April 2021
Closing date stage 2 - Late April/ Early May 2021
Interviews: June 2021
NIHR Senior Investigators - Call 14
NIHR Senior Investigator competitions are managed by the NIHR Central Commissioning Facility.
Our Senior Investigators are among the most prominent and prestigious researchers funded by the NIHR and the most outstanding leaders of patient and people-based research within the NIHR research community. Collectively, Senior Investigators constitute the NIHR College of Senior Investigators, and are members of the NIHR Academy.
Open to: Medical, non-medical and other healthcare professionals.
Two stage process? - No
Next call - Round 14, Now open!
Launch date - 29th June 2020
Closing date - 26th August 2020
Selection Committee meeting: January 2021
Notification date: February 2021
Wellcome
Senior Research Fellowships support independent researchers who want to tackle the most important questions in science and who are leaders in their field. We consider applications three times a year.
Open to: You can apply for a Senior Research Fellowship if you're already leading your own independent research programme.
Two stage process? - No
Full application closing date - 10th November 2020
Shortlisting: January 2021
Interviews: 13th - 15th April 2021.
Outcome - TBC
Open/Closed - Open.
Principal Research Fellowships
Principal Research Fellowships are the most prestigious of our personal awards and provide long-term funding for researchers of international standing.
Open to: An independent researcher of international standing with an established track record in research at the highest level
Two stage process? - No
Full application closing date - You can express an interest at any time
Open/Closed - Open
Medical Research Council
Senior Non-Clinical Fellowship (SNCF): Transition to Leadership
The SNCF supports researchers with a track record of effectively leading their own independent research to make the transition to research leadership and become an internationally recognised leader in their field.
Open to: You can apply for a Senior Research Fellowship if you're already leading your own independent research programme.
Two stage process? - No
Launch date - 06th August 2020
Closing date - 16th September 2020
Open/Closed - Closed. Opening soon!
