Research Project Grants
When applying for a project grant, the Principle Investigator and the research team should have a record of successfully delivering high quality research.
There are a range of opportunities offered throughout each year by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), Medical Research Council (MRC) and Wellcome.
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. For further information about where to begin with the funding, application process, and study set up please contact us.
National Institute Health Research
NIHR Artificial Intelligence Funding
The NIHR has three funding streams to support health and care research that involves artificial intelligence (AI).
The Artificial Intelligence in Health and Care Award (AI Award) supports AI solutions across the whole development pathway, from initial feasibility to clinical implementation. It is funded by NHS England and NHS Improvement and the NIHR in partnership with the Accelerated Access Collaborative and NHSX.
The Artificial Intelligence for Multiple Long-Term Conditions (Multimorbidity) call (AIM) supports research to spearhead the use of AI and data science to address the challenges of multiple long-term conditions (multimorbidity) or MLTC-M. The call is part of the NHSX’s NHS AI Lab and is enabled by the NIHR.
The Artificial Intelligence and Racial and Ethnic Inequalities in Health and Care call supports research to advance AI and data-driven technologies in health in ways that better meet the needs of minority ethnic populations. The call is jointly funded by NHSX’s NHS AI Lab and The Health Foundation and enabled by the NIHR.
For further details, please see the NIHR Artificial Intelligence funding website.
Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB)
The Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) is researcher-led and supports research that is concerned with the day-to-day practice of health service and social care staff. Research proposals should have a clear trajectory towards benefiting the health or wellbeing of patients and users of the NHS and social care services. The RfPB programme does not specify topics for research. Research proposals should have a clear trajectory towards benefiting the health or wellbeing of patients and users of the NHS.
Key information
Open to: All, medical and non-medical and other health professionals.
Two stage process? - Yes.
Launch dates expected in November, March and July annually.
Competition 47 Deadline: 09th March 2022
Research for Social Care (RfSC)
An annual competition for social care proposals, run by the NIHR RfPB programme. The aim of the annual RfSC call is to fund topics and research methodologies that increase the effectiveness of social care services, provide value for money and benefit service users and carers. Applications should have: a clear trajectory to immediate and long-term social care benefits, a strong link with service users, carers and organisations which provide adult social care services and a team consisting of social care researchers, professionals/practitioners, carers and service users.
Key information
Open to: All, medical and non-medical and other health professionals.
Two stage process? - Yes.
Medical Research Council
Experimental Medicine Funding Opportunities
You should address gaps in our understanding of the causes, progression and treatment of human disease through experimental intervention, or challenge, in humans.
- Researchers at eligible organisations can submit proposals for academically-led projects.
- Awards are made every year and there are deadlines every six months.
- There will be an annual budget of £10million and we will support a range of award sizes
You can apply for academically-led experimental medicine projects, conducted in humans, based round a clearly articulated gap in understanding of human pathophysiology, with a clear path to clinical impact. These grants will produce new mechanistic insights, identifying opportunities to modify disease pathways and enabling novel therapeutic or diagnostic approaches for future development. All disease areas and interventions are welcomed by the Panel.
Launch date: 19th January 2022.
Closing date: 16th March 2022.
Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme
Designed for for academically led pre-clinical development and early clinical testing of novel therapeutics, devices and diagnostics, including repurposing of existing therapies.
Awards are made every year and there are deadlines every four months. We generally fund 80% of the full economic costs of your research, and your research organisation must agree to find the balance.
You should be based at an eligible research organisation, which include:
- higher education institutions
- UKRI-approved independent research organisations or NHS bodies
- government-funded organisations
- MRC institutes
- MRC units and partnership institutes
- institutes and units funded by other research councils
- public sector research establishments (PSREs).
Key information
Two stage process? - Yes.
Launch date: 7th February 2022.
Closing date: 23rd March 2022.
Research Project Grants
MRC research grants are suitable for focused research projects that may be short- or long-term in nature. In addition, they can be used to support method development or the development and continuation of research facilities and may involve more than one research group or institution. Research project grants are considered three times each year.
Key Information:
Open to: The minimum academic qualification required is a graduate degree, although usually a PhD is required. Less experienced researchers should apply in collaboration with a more senior colleague.
Two stage process? - No.
Full application closing date - Depending on the remit of the science, Programme grants should be submitted to one of the four research boards rounds: Infections & Immunity, Molecular & Cellular Medicine, Neurosciences & Mental Health, Population & Systems Medicine. Deadlines for the Boards can be found here: https://mrc.ukri.org/funding/deadlines/
Outcome: Various, please see the funding call page for further details.
Open/Closed: Application deadlines are usually in January, May and September.
Deadlines for the Boards can be found on the MRC deadlines page.
Wellcome
Joint Health Systems Research Initiative
This scheme supports research based in low- and middle-income countries to improve health systems in those locations. The scheme is jointly supported by the Department for International Development (DFID), the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the Medical Research Council (MRC) and the Wellcome Trust. The Medical Research Council considers applications once a year. Research grants last up to three years. Foundation grants last up to two years.
Currently closed.
