Funding
We have listed below some of the key funding calls (mainly grants) that are applicable to companies in UK healthcare. For more information, please contact us.
Past funding calls can be viewed using these links:
Upcoming Funding Calls
Growth Catalyst December 2025
Funder: Innovate UK
Opens: 10 December 2025
Closes: 11am, 3 February 2026
Sector: All
Innovate UK Growth Catalyst is an Innovate UK programme designed to help startups and scaleups with high growth potential to grow faster. This Innovate UK Growth Catalyst competition combines grant funding, aligned private investment and structured support services to help innovators progress through key growth milestones.
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Up to £900k per company to support late-stage R&D and commercialisation, aligned with private investment from an Innovate UK Investor Partner.
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You should have established traction with at least one Innovate UK Investor Partner. Your Investor Partner must be identified in your application and confirm their support through an Expression of Interest (EOI) before the application close date. See directory of Investor Partners.
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Your project must fall into one of the following categories:
Feasibility studies
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Total project costs: £50,000 to £300,000
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Duration: 6 to 12 months
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Grant funding: up to 70% of costs
Industrial research
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Total project costs: £100,000 to £1million
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Duration: 6 to 24 months
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Grant funding: up to 70% of costs
For feasibility studies and industrial research projects, aligned private investment must be at least equal to the grant amount. This investment does not need to directly fund the project but must be committed to the business before the grant can be made.
Experimental development
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Total project costs: £250,000 to £2million
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Duration: 12 to 24 months
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Grant funding: up to 45% of costs
More information here.
Prosperity Partnerships 2027
Funder: EPSRC
Open: TBC
Closes: TBC
Sector: ALL
The EPSRC Prosperity Partnerships 2027 funding call supports ambitious, collaborative research programmes designed to create long-term prosperity for the UK through business-led innovation. The scheme specifically targets projects that will catalyse lasting benefits, such as job and revenue growth or the tackling of broad societal and sustainability challenges.​
Scope
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Proposals must be for substantial, collaborative research partnerships between businesses and academic institutions.​
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The projects must be co-created and co-delivered by both types of partners, with a strong focus on delivering impact that is aligned with UK priorities.​
Eligibility
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Projects must be business-led and involve one or more academic partners.​
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Both business and academic partners must play significant roles in shaping and delivering the work.​
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The business partner’s cash contribution must at least match the amount funded by EPSRC.​
Process, Value & Timings
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EPSRC will fund up to 80% of the full economic cost (FEC) of the academic portion of the project.​
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The business cash contribution is required to match the EPSRC funding, ensuring substantial co-investment from the private sector.​
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This is a pre-announcement; the full call details and application guidance will be published in early February 2026.​
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A pre-announcement webinar is scheduled for 9 December 2025 for potential applicants interested in learning more about the call.​
This scheme is designed to foster large-scale, sustainable business–academic collaboration aligned with national prosperity and innovation goals.
More information here.
Current Funding Calls
Commercial practices and gambling
Funder: NIHR
Opened: 15 July 2025
Closes: 1pm, 9 December 2025
Sector: Healthcare
NIHR's Public Health Research (PHR) Programme is looking to fund research which evaluates the impacts of the commercial practices associated with gambling on health and health inequalities.
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This is a 2-stage funding opportunity. To apply for the first stage you should submit an outline application. If invited to the second stage, you will then need to complete a full application.
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Research question: What are the impacts of the commercial practices associated with gambling on health and health inequalities?
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Funding opportunity scope:
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Interventions aimed at preventing or reducing the impact of commercial determinants
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Gambling industry practices as the intervention
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Evaluations should aim to develop understanding on the complex interactions between the availability and uptake of gambling activities and the related harms to health. Interventions should be carefully evaluated for both intended and unintended consequences.
More information here.
Biomedical Catalyst 2025: Industry led R&D large projects
Funder: Innovate UK
Opened: 10 November 2025
Closes: 11am, 10 December 2025
Sector: Healthcare & Life Sciences
UK registered micro, small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) can apply for a share of up to £25 million for the development of innovative solutions to health and healthcare challenges.
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Your project’s total eligible costs can be up to £4 million, and your total grant funding request must not exceed £2 million and last between 6 and 36 months
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​The aim of this industry led R&D competition is to support micro, small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to develop innovative solutions to address health, and healthcare, challenges.
Your proposal can focus on:
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disease prevention and proactive management of health and chronic conditions
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earlier and better detection and diagnosis of disease, leading to better patient outcomes
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tailored treatments that either change the underlying disease or offer potential cures
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transforming the delivery of healthcare
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the development of digital health technologies
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consumer focused self care
This list is not intended to be exhaustive.
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This competition is split into two strands:
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Biomedical Catalyst 2025: Industry led R&D small projects: up to £500,000 grant funding
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Biomedical Catalyst 2025: Industry led R&D large projects: over £500,000 grant funding (this strand)
More information here.
Biomedical Catalyst 2025: Industry led R&D small projects
Funder: Innovate UK
Opened: 10 November 2025
Closes: 11am, 10 December 2025
Sector: Healthcare & Life Sciences
UK registered micro, small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) can apply for a share of up to £25 million for the development of innovative solutions to health and healthcare challenges.
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The aim of this industry led R&D competition is to support micro, small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to develop innovative solutions to address health, and healthcare, challenges.
Your proposal can focus on:
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disease prevention and proactive management of health and chronic conditions
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earlier and better detection and diagnosis of disease, leading to better patient outcomes
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tailored treatments that either change the underlying disease or offer potential cures
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transforming the delivery of healthcare
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the development of digital health technologies
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consumer focused self care
This list is not intended to be exhaustive.
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This competition is split into two strands:
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Biomedical Catalyst 2025: Industry led R&D small projects: up to £500,000 grant funding (this strand)
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Biomedical Catalyst 2025: Industry led R&D large projects: over £500,000 grant funding
More information here.
Research Programme for Social Care (RPSC)
Funder: NIHR
Opened: 3 September 2025
Closes: 1pm, 10 December 2025
Sector: Social Care
This scheme funds research that generates evidence to increase the effectiveness of social care services, provides value for money and benefits people who need or use social care services, and carers.
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RPSC welcomes high-quality proposals that are focused on but not limited to:
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Primary, secondary and evidence synthesis research, including qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods designs
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Studies of social care needs, circumstances and relevant outcomes related to adults, children or young people who need or use social care and carers, including studies of inequalities in any of these domains
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Evaluation of existing or new social care services, addressing their effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and distributional consequences
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Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness evaluations of interventions, including adaptations or refinements of existing interventions/technologies
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Feasibility, pilot and definitive trials
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Research examining consequences for social care users of provision of other services (e.g., health, education, criminal justice, family courts, housing, benefits)
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Studies that involve secondary data analysis or record linkage
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Systematic or other reviews of evidence
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Research on approaches to support and strengthen the social care workforce.
More information here.
Public Health Research Programme Rapid Funding Scheme
Funder: NIHR
Open
Closes: 27 December 2025
Sector: Healthcare
The Public Health Research (PHR) Programme funds research to generate evidence to inform the delivery of non-NHS interventions, intended to improve the health of the public, and reduce inequalities in health.
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Proposals submitted to the RFS will
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make a convincing case of the urgency to undertake the research and justify why the data collection needs to start within a timescale which can’t be accommodated by the programme’s normal research commissioning processes, taking advantage of an unanticipated, time limited, natural experiment opportunity
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be clear why the work could not have been proposed earlier
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meet the remit of the PHR programme, with a view to generate evidence to inform the delivery of non-NHS interventions
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lead to the submission of a proposal for a full evaluation, which would generate research findings that are generalisable and have clear utility for public health decision makers with the potential to change practice
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be deliverable for a total cost £50,000 or less
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be for a duration of six months or less
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be for base line data collection or urgent feasibility work
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have a study team established and ready to start work if the application is successful
More information here.
NIHR/NICE rolling funding opportunity (HTA Programme)
Funder: NIHR
Opened: 4 September 2025
Closes: 1pm, 7 January 2026
Sector: Healthcare & Life Sciences
The Health Technology Assessment Programme (HTA) is inviting outline applications via the commissioned workstream. We are interested in receiving applications to meet recommendations in research identified in NICE guidance that has been published or updated in the last 5 years.
Applications must be within the remit of the HTA Programme, and the primary outcome measure must be health related. The following research programmes are also participating in this funding opportunity:
After checking the programme remit, you should apply directly to the relevant programme funding opportunity.
This is a 2-stage funding opportunity. To apply for the first stage you should submit an outline application. If invited to the second stage, you will then need to complete a full application.
More information here.
​Quarterly Research Grant Funding Programme
Funder: Cure Parkinson's
Open:
Closes: 12 January 2026
Sector: Healthcare
This scheme is providing grants for scientists and clinicians from universities, hospitals and commercial organisations to help them fund preclinical and clinical research focused on slowing, stopping, or reversing Parkinson’s.
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There are grants of up to £250,000 which prioritise projects that are likely to lead to clinical trials in people with Parkinson’s within 5 years. For clinical research, CP funds clinical trials and sub-studies of trials in people with Parkinson’s. The grant amount is flexible but please contact CP ahead of submission if you are thinking of applying for a clinical trial.
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2025/2026 application deadlines:
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Monday 3 November 2025
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Monday 12 January 2026
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Monday 13 April 2026
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Monday 22 June 2026
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Monday 12 October 2026
More information here.
Programme Development Grants - November 2025
Funder: NIHR
Opened: 19 November 2025
Closes: 1pm, 14 January 2026
Sector: Healthcare & Life Sciences
NIHR Programme Development Grants (PDG) is inviting applications for funding (up to £250K) to undertake preparatory work to develop a future programme of research (stream A). PDGs are also available for researchers to develop and enhance the quality and value of an ongoing or recently completed Programme Grants for Applied Research (PGfAR) award (stream B).
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This is a one-stage, researcher-led funding opportunity. To apply you will need to submit a full application.
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The programmes are:
2025/440 PGfAR PDG researcher-led - stream A - pre-programme grant
2025/439 PGfAR PDG commissioned - stream A - NIHR NICE rolling funding opportunity
2025/438 PGfAR PDG commissioned - stream A - NIHR JLA rolling funding opportunity
2025/437 PGfAR PDG researcher-led - stream B - post-award programme grant
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More information here.
UNITE Open Call
Funder: European Commission
Open
Closes: 15 January 2026
Sector: Scottish Healthcare
​​The first UNITE Open Call invites digital health innovators from seven participating European regions to develop high-impact solutions that can transform healthcare delivery, empower patients and strengthen European digital health ecosystems. With a total budget of €4 million, the call supports collaborative projects that advance personalised remote care and data-driven healthcare.
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Maximum budget per project: €1,000,000. Maximum budget per organisation: €600,000. Support rate: 100 percent (lump sum model)
More information here.
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Major Projects Awards
Funder: Rosetrees
Opened: 3 November 2025
Closes: 4pm, 19 January 2026
Sector: Healthcare and Life Sciences
Rosetrees Major Project Awards provide up to £210,000 over three years (maximum £70,000 per year) to support advanced translational research with established proof-of-concept. Projects must demonstrate robust supporting data and aim for clinical translation to address a significant unmet need in the UK patient population. Applications focused on rare diseases may be considered if there is potential for broader clinical benefits. No dementia-related projects will be accepted.
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Eligibility:
Lead applicants should hold a PhD (or equivalent), have a strong track record in research management, and normally a tenured position or confirmed salary for the grant period.
Funding Covers:
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Salaries for post-docs/research assistants/technicians
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Research consumables, sequencing, animal costs
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Some small equipment costs
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(Exceptionally) PhD stipends as part of wider research/programmes
Key Features:
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Matched funding is required (secured grants or in-kind support). Applications with pending matched funding may be considered but Rosetrees funding is conditional on match confirmation.
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Projects must have a realistic plan for patient benefit within 5–10 years post-grant.
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Two-stage application: preliminary application, then full application if shortlisted; peer-review included.
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Highly competitive; clear justification of costs and strong patient impact essential.
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Applications for small patient groups must demonstrate broader applicability potential.
More information here.
Early action and prevention within Health and Social Care Services
Funder: NIHR
Opened: 26 September 2025
Closes: 1pm, 21 January 2026
Sector: Healthcare, Social Care
The Health and Social Care Delivery Research (HSDR) Programme is looking to fund high quality research about early action and prevention within Health and Social Care Services. This is a 2-stage, commissioned funding opportunity. To apply for the first stage you should submit an outline application. There are no specific eligibility requirements or restrictions for applicants to this funding opportunity.
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Although not an exhaustive list, some examples of interest for evaluative research are:
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the pathway, flow, and coordination of patients through prevention services and the broader configuration of prevention services for those with long-term conditions and rehabilitation following acute care
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innovative ways of providing, commissioning, or streamlining prevention services, for example:
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the integration of preventative approaches and initiatives within health and social care services (such as original/novel research on NHS vaccination programmes, social prescribing, smoking cessation, preventative clinics/hubs in hospital and primary care settings)
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the effectiveness of service delivery models enabled by emerging technologies and the trade-off between administrative efficiency and patient/staff experiences
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how data can be used to proactively offer preventative support and how data can be linked across health, social care, and other systems
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models of effective systems leadership and funding mechanisms to embed prevention into the commissioning and provision of health and social care.
We are looking to fund research which has the potential to inform prevention services at a national level, and therefore local or regional evaluations are unlikely to be fundable.
More information here.
James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnerships rolling funding opportunity
Funder: NIHR
Opened: 1pm, 14 October 2025
Closes: 1pm, 28 January 2026
Sector: Healthcare & Life Sciences
​The JLA Priority Setting Partnerships facilitate patients, carers and clinicians to work collaboratively to identify research priorities in particular areas of health and care.
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Write a maximum of 5 A4 pages for your research plan. When reviewing applications, NIHR will not consider any additional information over this 5 page limit.
Applicants should clearly state how their proposed research addresses a current evidence gap and how the research adds value to the existing NIHR research portfolio.
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The top 10 priorities (for multiple years and countries) of the JLA priority setting partnerships are shown here. 2025 priorities include:
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Bone marrow transplantation in paediatrics
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Burn injury
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Co-existing dementia and hearing conditions
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Diverticular disease
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East London Pandemic PSP for Ethnic Minority Communities
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Epidermolysis Bullosa
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Faecal Incontinence in Adults
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Mental Health and the Body Clock
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Midwifery Practice and Maternity Care
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Palliative and End of Life Care Refresh
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Perianal Crohn’s Disease
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Prehabilitation for Hip & Knee Replacement Surgery
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Premature Babies born <25 weeks' gestation
More information here.​​​
Polyphonic™ AI Fund for Surgery QuickFire Challenge
Funder: J&J
Open
Closes: 30 January 2026
Sector: Healthcare
The Polyphonic AI Fund for Surgery QuickFire Challenge seeks innovators developing cutting-edge artificial intelligence solutions with potential to transform surgical care. Proposals may target clinical workflow, surgical decision-making, patient outcomes, or the broader surgical ecosystem through responsible AI technologies.
The programme is open internationally and welcomes entries from startups, SMEs, academic teams, and entrepreneurs aiming to address unmet needs in surgery through AI.
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Funding:
Eligible innovators with the best potential solutions will have the opportunity to receive grant funding up to $100,000 and mentorship from experts across Johnson & Johnson. Awardees may also be eligible to receive computing tools and technologies to help advance their innovations, including access to: GPUs and related software for accelerated computing, cloud platform and application services, Machine Learning (ML) and AI modeling toolkits and other Software Development Kits (SDKs).
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Eligibility:
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Individuals or teams from startups, SMEs, academic institutions, and other relevant organisations.
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Solutions must focus on integrating AI in surgical care.
Innovators interested in bringing responsible AI to surgical practice can view full details and apply to the challenge here.
Women in Innovation Awards 2025/26
Funder: Innovate UK
Open: 26 November 2025
Closes: 11am, 4 February 2026
Sector: ALL
Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), is offering up to 60 Women in Innovation Awards for women founders or co-founders of UK-registered SMEs. Each successful applicant will receive up to £75,000 in grant funding plus 12 months of bespoke business support. A number of highly commended applicants who do not receive funding may still be offered a year of tailored business support.
The competition aims to back women leading late-stage start-ups with scalable, investment-ready innovations aligned to three high-growth sectors in the UK’s Industrial Strategy: Advanced Manufacturing, Digital and Technologies, and Life Sciences. Applicants should already have a prototype or MVP, evidence of early customer interest or revenue, an understanding of their market, and a growing team beyond the original founders.
Innovations must be new to market or a significant improvement over existing solutions. Projects must address a clear market need and demonstrate strong potential for commercial growth. Award holders must also contribute at least four hours of role-modelling activity to inspire other women innovators over the 12-month award period.
Innovate UK uses a portfolio approach to fund a diverse range of women innovators across regions and the three growth sectors. Priority areas include zero-emission vehicles, batteries, aerospace, space, advanced materials, agri-tech, AI, cybersecurity, quantum technologies, semiconductors, engineering biology, 5G/6G, biotechnology, MedTech, pharmaceuticals, and health data/AI.
Eligibility
Projects must request no more than £75,000, run for 12 months, and start on 1 July 2026, ending 30 June 2027. Work must be carried out in the UK, with exploitation of results intended in or from the UK. Only eligible project costs may be included, and applicants must not exceed the Minimal Financial Assistance limit.
To lead a project, applicants must be:
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A woman founder or co-founder of a UK-registered micro, small, or medium-sized enterprise.
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A UK resident.
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Able to commit to 10+ hours of training and development and four hours of role-modelling.
Previous recipients of Women in Innovation Awards or certain other Innovate UK programmes are not eligible. Only one woman per organisation may apply. Subcontractors are allowed, with costs capped at 50% of the grant; overseas subcontracting must be robustly justified.
The success rate in 2024/25 was 3.4%, and a suitability checker is required before applying.
More information here.
​MRC Centre of Research Excellence: round four: outline application
Funders: MRC and MoD
Opened: 1 October 2025
Closes: 4pm, 4th February 2026
Sector:
Total fund: £50,000,000
Maximum award: £26,250,000
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Apply for MRC Centre of Research Excellence (MRC CoRE) funding to tackle complex and interdisciplinary health challenges. You must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for Medical Research Council (MRC) funding.
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MRC CoREs will be funded for up to 14 years. Your award will initially last for seven years, with a further seven years based on successful review. The full economic cost (FEC) of your MRC CoRE can be up to £26.25 million for the first seven years.
MRC will fund 80% of the FEC. The maximum MRC contribution will be £21 million.
This is an annual funding opportunity. MRC expects to fund one or two MRC CoREs every year.
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MRC CoRE challenges are expected to:
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be bold, ambitious, and innovative, and address a gap or opportunity which is not being adequately addressed elsewhere
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address substantial unmet needs in understanding or modifying human health and disease
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be specific, with major strategic objectives achievable within the 14-year timeframe which, if achieved, will transform the research field or area of health research
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align to the MRC mission
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require coordinated and flexible, major long-term funding
More information here.
Application Development Award for Health and Care Professionals
Funder: NIHR
Opened: 17 September 2025
Closes: 1pm, 4 February 2026
Sector: Healthcare & Life Sciences
NIHR is looking to commission up to 10 Application Development Awards (ADAs) to carry out development work prior to research applications, with a requirement for applicant teams to involve a specific group of Health and Care Professionals (HCP).
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To be eligible for this funding opportunity as an early-mid career researcher HCP, you must be a registered professional within 1 of the following eligible HCP groups: nurses (including nurses that work in social care); midwives; pharmacists; healthcare scientists; allied health professions.
Funding of up to £150,000, over a maximum of 12 months, is available for each ADA. Applicants will need to justify how funds are to be used.
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ADA funding aims to create collaborative teams of health professionals (HCPs) to design a future research project. A key goal is to develop the research leadership of an underrepresented HCP by pairing them with experienced academics. The funding also supports building research networks and conducting preparatory work to inform a subsequent full application to a national research programme.
More information here.
​BBSRC 2025 Transformative Research Technologies
Funder: Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
Opened: 26 November 2025
Closes: 4pm, 11 February 2026
Sector: BioTech
​Apply for funding to pursue early-stage development of cutting-edge research technologies with transformative potential in the biosciences. You must be a researcher or research technical professional based at a UK research organisation eligible for Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) funding.
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You can only apply as project lead (PL) on one submitted application. You can be project co-lead (PcL ) on multiple applications. The full economic cost (FEC) of your project can be up to £225,000. BBSRC will fund 80% of the FEC.
Applications must be between six and 18-months duration.
More information here.
Local Innovation Partnerships Fund
Funder: UKRI
Opened: 6 October 2025
Closes: 4pm, 12 February 2026
Sector: ALL
This programme earmarks at least £20 million for each of ten regions across the UK, including one in each of the devolved nations. The intention is to attract a further £1 billion additional investment, including from the private sector, and £700 million of additional value to local economies. The maximum duration of this award is for five years.
Partnership and co-creation are at the heart of the Local Innovation Partnership Fund. It is open to collaborative proposals co-created between UKRI and locally led triple-helix partnerships/consortia of civic authorities, industry and research organisations.
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This is a closed funding opportunity, for applications from the places selected by the UK government:
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Greater Manchester
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West Midlands
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South Yorkshire
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West Yorkshire
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Liverpool City Region
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North East England
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Greater London
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Cardiff Capital Region
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Glasgow City Region
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an innovation corridor spanning Belfast and Derry/Londonderry
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This will not run as a typical UKRI funding opportunity. Partnership and co-creation are at the heart of the Local Innovation Partnership Fund. It is open to collaborative proposals co-created between UKRI and locally led triple-helix partnerships/ consortia of civic authorities, industry and research organisations.
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The programme is designed to support places that have an identifiable innovation ecosystem, with high-potential innovation clusters aligned to national policy priorities.
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Proposals must build on local innovation strengths and opportunities giving places a strong role in determining their priorities, with UKRI providing a national perspective, technical expertise and support.
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To apply on behalf of your triple helix partnership you must be based at an eligible organisation as follows:
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higher education providers
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research institutes
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public sector research establishments
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NHS bodies
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independent research organisations
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a Mayoral Strategic Authority, or other local government partner that has been granted non-standard eligibility for this funding opportunity
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The primary objectives of the LIPF are to:
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foster the growth of mature innovation clusters by deepening their capabilities and expanding their reach
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support emerging clusters, to grow and mature their ecosystems enhancing their capability of generating substantial economic value
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support the adoption, diffusion, and commercialisation of new technologies
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strengthen local partnerships and governance to deliver place-based innovation
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A competition will run for all other parts of the UK to bid for support to grow their innovation ecosystems. UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) will work with regional partnerships between civic authorities, businesses and research organisations to co-create a portfolio of investment in each region.
More information here.
Pump-priming Grant
Funder: Asthma + Lung UK
Open
Closes: 13 February 2026
These are small size grants to kickstart your research. These support proof of concept studies in new or original areas of research. Funding - up to £100,000 (£40,000 for mesothelioma research projects).
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More information here.
Sector: Healthcare & Life Sciences
​Strategic Innovation Open Call
Funder: EIT Urban Mobility
Opened: 24 September 2025
Closes: 28 February 2026
Sector: Various
EIT Urban Mobility invites innovators from across Europe to submit a proposal to its Strategic Innovation Open Call, designed to accelerate the deployment of impactful solutions that address the most pressing challenges in urban mobility.
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The call focuses on supporting ambitious, market-critical projects that tackle clearly defined problems faced by cities, public authorities, and mobility providers. EIT aims to de-risk development and enable large-scale deployment by backing solutions with a clear path to market and the potential to scale across Europe.
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Through this call, EIT Urban Mobility fosters innovation and strengthens Europe’s competitiveness by encouraging collaboration across the EIT Knowledge Triangle—education, research, and business—alongside a fourth essential partner: cities.
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The Call will focus on five sectors which have the potential to innovate and create impact:
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Urban logistics,
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Public transport,
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Mobility data management,
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Electrification of transport and alternative fuels, and
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Health and mobility.
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Each project may receive up to 2 million EUR of EIT funding. EIT Urban Mobility will reimburse up to 65% of the eligible project costs, while the minimum co-funding rate for all proposals is 35%.
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"Solutions that promote active mobility as a foundation for healthier urban lifestyles, by improving safety, convenience, inclusivity and integration within the urban environment, facilitating a modal shift towards active modes."
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More information here.
Research for Patient Benefit - November 2025
Funder: NIHR
Opened: 12 November 2025
Closes: 1pm, 4 March 2026
Sector: Healthcare & Life Sciences
The NIHR Research for Patient Benefit programme funds high-quality, applied health and care research that aims to improve the health and wellbeing of patients, service users, carers and the public. Studies can take place in NHS, public health, or social care settings. Projects are expected to be designed with significant patient and public involvement, and show clear relevance to those directly affected by the research. This is a two-stage, commissioned funding opportunity. To apply for the first stage you should submit an outline application. If invited to the second stage, you will then need to complete a full application.
Eligibility:
Lead applicants must be based at eligible organisations, including NHS bodies, universities, local authorities, and social care providers across England. Multidisciplinary collaboration is encouraged.
Funding covers:
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Research costs, support for patient/public involvement, and dissemination activities.
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There is no fixed maximum funding per project, but awards are typically between £150,000–£500,000, lasting up to three years.
This round welcomes studies addressing important health and social care challenges, with a focus on benefiting patients and service users in England. For full details, refer to the official call here.
Work and Health Research Awards Round 2
Funder: NIHR
Opened: 12 June 2025
Closes: 1pm, 11 March 2026
Sector: Healthcare & Life Sciences
The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) invites applications for work and health research awards. The purpose of these awards is to enable research teams to receive funding for larger programmes of research or large scale and ambitious projects to tackle priorities in work and health research. These awards can cost up to £2 million over 3 years.
This competition aims to:
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bring together teams representing different disciplines, professions and sectors to submit plans for ambitious research and to catalyse future research capacity;
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fund large scale, ambitious and transdisciplinary projects or programmes of research addressing key priorities and substantial areas of need in work and health and occupational health.
More information here.
Gap Fund: single-step support for medical product development
Funder: MRC
Opened: 13 November 2025
Closes: 4pm, 11 March 2026
Sector: Life Sciences
The MRC Gap Fund provides targeted, single-step support for researchers developing a new or repurposed medicine, medical device, diagnostic, or other medical product. The fund enables projects to address a high-risk development milestone, helping to generate critical data needed to advance or end a product’s development. It acts as a strategic bridge between the MRC’s smaller Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) and the larger Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme (DPFS).
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Eligibility:
Applicants must be based at an MRC-eligible UK research organisation.
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Funding covers:
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Key high-risk development steps
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Activities to generate data essential for onward progression or decision-making
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The Gap Fund supports MRC’s strategic priorities including:
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precision prevention to reduce disease risk in targeted populations
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early and accurate diagnosis to improve speed and accuracy of disease detection
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advanced treatments offering novel therapeutic approaches
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improve outcome monitoring of patients receiving treatment
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better management of diseases and conditions through innovative technologies
All human diseases and medical interventions are eligible for support, both in the context of UK healthcare and addressing global health issues.
For full details and guidance on how to apply, visit the official call here.
Genomics in Context Awards
Funder: Wellcome
Open
Closes: 16 March 2026
Sector: Genomics
The Wellcome Genomics in Context Awards fund interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research teams exploring genomics in combination with the humanities, social sciences, or bioethics. Projects must build novel collaborations and shape new research agendas at the intersection of genomics and its wider contexts, with stakeholder involvement encouraged throughout.
Teams should include at least one researcher from the life sciences, one from the humanities/social sciences/bioethics, and one wider stakeholder, and may be based anywhere in the world except mainland China.
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Eligibility:
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Lead applicant must hold a PhD or equivalent and be based at an eligible institution.
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Teams must include 1–4 coapplicants from relevant disciplines and a wider key stakeholder.
Funding covers:
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Up to £500,000 per award for 12–24 months.
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Research costs, collaborative activities, stakeholder involvement, and dissemination.
The scheme seeks creative approaches to co-leadership and emphasises equity, engaged research, and the co-development of discovery-led research agendas. For full details and application guidance, see the official call here.
Developmental pathway funding scheme: stage one
Funder: MRC
Opened: 20 November 2025
Closes: 4pm, 18 March 2026
Sector: Healthcare & Life Sciences
Apply for funding to develop and test novel therapeutics, medical devices, diagnostics and other interventions.
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Your project can start and finish at any stage on the developmental pathway from prototype development, through pre-clinical refinement and testing to early-phase clinical studies and trials (up to phase 2a).
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You must be based at a research organisation eligible for Medical Research Council (MRC) funding.
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There is no limit on the amount of funding you can apply for, but it should be appropriate to the project. We usually fund 80% of a project’s full economic cost (FEC).
More information here.
Early Detection and Diagnosis Primer Award
Funder: Cancer Research UK
Open:
Closes: 26 March 2026
This scheme aims to support new and pioneering research ideas and pilot studies of high scientific risk to stimulate and develop the early detection field. Funding is for up to £100,000 for projects lasting up to 1 year led by a scientist, clinician or healthcare worker based in a UK university, medical school, hospital or research institution.
More information here.
Sector: Healthcare & Life Sciences
RfPB Under-represented disciplines and specialisms: Nurses and Midwives 2025/26
Funder: NIHR
Opened: 19 November 2025
Closes: 1pm, 8 April 2026
Sector: Healthcare & Life Sciences
This Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) funding opportunity is part of ring-fenced funding in support of the NIHR strategy to strengthen the careers of under-represented disciplines and specialisms in health and care professions.
Applicants must submit an expression of interest form by 2 March 2026
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To support capacity building, all applications to this funding opportunity must be led by a nurse or a midwife at an early stage of their research career. For this funding opportunity, an early career researcher is a researcher who has not yet been the lead investigator for a substantial project award (>£100,000).
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The early career nurse or midwife is expected to apply as lead applicant supported by a senior colleague fulfilling the role as joint-lead applicant. The joint-lead mentor can have any relevant professional background as long as they are experienced researchers in a field relevant to the proposed research. The mentor is expected to have led at least one large research project (at a value of >£100,000) to completion and have relevant experience of mentoring an early career researcher.
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The RfPB programme is researcher-led and does not specify topics for research, so applications can be primary, secondary and include quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods designs. The topic of the projects funded in the previous funding opportunity supporting nurses and midwives can be found in the news story on the website.
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More information here.
​Quarterly Research Grant Funding Programme
Funder: Cure Parkinson's
Open:
Closes: 13 April 2026
Sector: Healthcare
This scheme is providing grants for scientists and clinicians from universities, hospitals and commercial organisations to help them fund preclinical and clinical research focused on slowing, stopping, or reversing Parkinson’s.
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There are grants of up to £250,000 which prioritise projects that are likely to lead to clinical trials in people with Parkinson’s within 5 years. For clinical research, CP funds clinical trials and sub-studies of trials in people with Parkinson’s. The grant amount is flexible but please contact CP ahead of submission if you are thinking of applying for a clinical trial.
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2025/2026 application deadlines:
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Monday 3 November 2025
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Monday 12 January 2026
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Monday 13 April 2026
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Monday 22 June 2026
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Monday 12 October 2026
More information here.
Experimental medicine stage one
Funder: MRC
Opened: 2 October 2025
Closes: 4pm, 15 April 2026
Sector: Life Sciences
Apply for funding to investigate the causes, progression and treatment of human disease.
Your project must:
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focus on a mechanistic hypothesis
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include an experimental intervention or challenge in humans
You must be a researcher based at a research organisation eligible to apply for MRC funding. If you are taking the next step towards becoming an independent researcher, you may be eligible to apply as a ‘new investigator.
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There is no limit to the amount of funding you can apply for (Total fund is £10m) or the length of your project. The MRC will fund 80% of your project’s full economic cost.
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This is an ongoing funding opportunity. Application rounds close every April and October.
More information here.
Veterans' health
Funder: NIHR
Opened: 15 July 2025
Closes: 1pm, 21 April 2026
Sector: Healthcare & Life Sciences
This scheme aims to support research which evaluates the effects of interventions on the mental, physical, or both aspects of Veterans' health.
NIHR is seeking research that evaluates interventions which can have an impact on the mental and physical health outcomes of veterans through community-based public health approaches. This can include both targeted, small-scale initiatives and larger community-level strategies that enhance access to health and well-being services for veterans, as well as other policy decisions in areas outside of health that may impact health. NIHR is particularly interested in interventions that address key barriers to healthcare access, promote early intervention, and support veterans' transition to civilian life.
Evaluations should clearly define the nature of the intervention from the outset, avoiding broad generalisations and ensuring a precise understanding of the mechanisms at play.
More information here.
Men’s mental health
Funder: NIHR
Opened: 15 July 2025
Closes: 1pm, 21 April 2026
Sector: Healthcare
​​NIHR's Public Health Research (PHR) Programme is looking to fund research which evaluates the health and health inequality impacts of interventions aimed at promoting good mental health or preventing poor mental health among men.
This is a 2-stage funding opportunity. To apply for the first stage you should submit an outline application. If invited to the second stage, you will then need to complete a full application.
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Research question: What are the health and health inequality impacts of interventions aimed at promoting good mental health or preventing poor mental health among men?
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This funding opportunity focuses on research evaluating mental health interventions (excluding individual-level mental health treatments) for men at different stages of the life-course. NIHR's Public Health Research (PHR) Programme prioritises interventions at a population or group level, rather than individual interventions, with a focus on addressing health inequalities and the wider determinants of health.
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Suggested research areas include, but are not limited to, evaluations of:
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interventions that utilise lifestyle behaviours or changes to improve men’s mental health
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community-based interventions
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programmes adopting a whole-community approach to men’s mental health. This could include interventions:
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based in specific settings, such as schools, colleges, universities, workplaces, leisure venues, places of worship, community groups and services, health centres, or criminal justice settings
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focused on specific population groups, such as men from particular ethnic minority groups, men from sexual and gender minorities, or men experiencing different forms of disadvantage
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for which the primary focus of the intervention is not necessarily on improving mental health, but the activity or mechanism might impact mental health (positively or negatively)
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interventions that address the multiple, interacting disadvantages affecting the most marginalised men
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trauma-informed and trauma-specific interventions
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interventions or initiatives aimed at proactively addressing help seeking behaviour among men at risk of perpetrating violence and their impact on mental health
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interventions related to the influence of societal and cultural norms, gender roles and beliefs across diverse male populations
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evaluation of public health campaigns and educational initiatives designed to challenge harmful gender stereotypes and to support healthy relationships
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intergenerational interventions
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Interventions that take a holistic, person-centred approach
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peer support interventions
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interventions related to social media, or online images, messages, or digital content
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the impact of drugs and alcohol
More information here.
​Quarterly Research Grant Funding Programme
Funder: Cure Parkinson's
Open:
Closes: 22 June 2026
Sector: Healthcare
This scheme is providing grants for scientists and clinicians from universities, hospitals and commercial organisations to help them fund preclinical and clinical research focused on slowing, stopping, or reversing Parkinson’s.
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There are grants of up to £250,000 which prioritise projects that are likely to lead to clinical trials in people with Parkinson’s within 5 years. For clinical research, CP funds clinical trials and sub-studies of trials in people with Parkinson’s. The grant amount is flexible but please contact CP ahead of submission if you are thinking of applying for a clinical trial.
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2025/2026 application deadlines:
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Monday 3 November 2025
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Monday 12 January 2026
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Monday 13 April 2026
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Monday 22 June 2026
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Monday 12 October 2026
More information here.
​Quarterly Research Grant Funding Programme
Funder: Cure Parkinson's
Open:
Closes: 12 October 2026
Sector: Healthcare
This scheme is providing grants for scientists and clinicians from universities, hospitals and commercial organisations to help them fund preclinical and clinical research focused on slowing, stopping, or reversing Parkinson’s.
​
There are grants of up to £250,000 which prioritise projects that are likely to lead to clinical trials in people with Parkinson’s within 5 years. For clinical research, CP funds clinical trials and sub-studies of trials in people with Parkinson’s. The grant amount is flexible but please contact CP ahead of submission if you are thinking of applying for a clinical trial.
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2025/2026 application deadlines:
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Monday 3 November 2025
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Monday 12 January 2026
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Monday 13 April 2026
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Monday 22 June 2026
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Monday 12 October 2026
More information here.
Rolling opportunity seeds
Funder: ARIA
Ongoing
Sector: Mathematics for Safe AI
Breakthroughs require finding people who think differently about what’s possible – and empowering them to follow their vision. To support scientific and technological breakthroughs, ARIA Programme Directors can award funding to small but highly ambitious projects, “opportunity seeds”, to support ambitious research aligned to their opportunity spaces. To understand how opportunity seeds work within ARIA's broader funding model and complement its programme funding, see ARIA's research model.
For opportunity seed projects, ARIA's Programme Directors are looking for bold ideas that could change the conversation about what is possible or valuable and provide steps towards new capabilities. If you have an important idea you’re obsessed with, but you don’t currently have the resources or support to take it forward, ARIA would like to hear from you. Ideas could come from anywhere, so they welcome proposals from individuals and teams who are early in their career or who have atypical backgrounds. They care more about your idea and your intrinsic motivation than they do about your CV.
More information here.
Impact in Healthcare Fund
Funder: Peter Sowerby Foundation
Ongoing
Sector: Healthcare
Initial discussions with prospective organisations will take place before an invitation to submit a formal application is made. If you believe that you have an idea for a project that is closely aligned with the Foundation's aims and recent grants, please submit a brief synopsis, including a summary budget and proposed timeline, using the form here. The Foundation cannot respond to all the ideas it is sent, but they do read all proposals and get in touch with those they feel could be a good fit.
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The Foundation is currently seeking to fund projects which:
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Tackle a clear and demonstrable need* across a range of health condition
AND
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Are proven to be impactful and where additional funds could EITHER increase the scale or depth of impact OR sustain projects ‘at risk’.
The Foundation will prioritise applications which focus on:
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outreach and delivery in the community, as opposed to formal healthcare settings OR
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work with a digital or data focus OR
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preventative health care to improve patient well-being.
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The Foundation is seeking projects where:
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there is clear evidence of the need for a specific health intervention OR
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there is a gap in the availability of treatment or support OR
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the quality of support available is not up to a required standard.
Applicants may look to evidence need in different ways. This might include empirical evidence, academic or sector-led research or consultation (for example, with beneficiary groups or health professionals).
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There are two strands of grants:
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Grant 1
Grants of up to £500,000, potentially over multiple years - for projects which are (projects must fit all of the below):
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proven
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ready to scale
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run by organisations with compelling track records and an established leadership team.
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backed by clear evidence of need.
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sustainable in the long-term following the Foundation’s investment.
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Grant 2
Substantial Grants ~£2-3million over multiple years.
From time to time, the Foundation will invite organisations to develop projects which are impactful in a specific area of the Foundation’s interest, and which align with the aims and objectives of the Impact in Healthcare Fund.
It is envisaged that funds could be spent in a range of different ways for example:
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supporting infrastructure OR
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core staffing posts OR
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existing impactful initiatives and which could be sustained over a long-term period thanks to funds from the Foundation OR
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scale-up of pilot activities which show proven impact OR
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other means suggested by the applicant.
Impact Jersey Innovation Programme
Funder: Impact Jersey
Open
Closes: Ongoing
Sector: Healthcare
Whether you’re developing a pilot, a proof of concept, or a scalable solution, the programme offers:
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Applications open all year round
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Flexible funding aligned to Jersey’s strategic priorities
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1-to-1 support to shape stronger proposals
From application guidelines to funding info and FAQs, everything you need is now live on the application page.
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Up to £500,000 will be available per quarter (with a maximum of £1 million available in 2025 and £2 million during 2026).
Impact Jersey focuses on funding a range of technology solutions to key issues and addressing strategic priorities defined by the Government of Jersey. To delve deeper into Ministerial Priorities click on pages 6 & 7 of the Impact Jersey Strategic Programme Proposal.
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Key health ones are:
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Ageing Population - How can we help people live independently for longer?
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Health & Wellbeing - How can we monitor and identify hazards to health and provide interventions at the earliest opportunity?
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Global Innovation Fund- Grants
Funder: Global Innovation Fund
Open, no closing date
Sector: All
The Global Innovation Fund is a non-profit, impact-first investment fund headquartered in London with offices in Washington, D.C. and Nairobi. It invests in the development, rigorous testing, and scaling up of new products, services, business process, or policy reforms that are more cost-effective than current practice and targeted at improving the lives of the world's poorest people.
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It accepts applications from organisations working in any sector in any developing country. Any type of organisation may apply. This includes social enterprises, for-profit companies, non-profit organisations, government agencies, international organisations, and research institutions in any country. It is recommended that individual innovators, entrepreneurs, or researchers apply through an affiliated organisation.
Big Ideas
Funder: CW+
Open, no closing date
Sector: Healthcare & Life Sciences
If you're an employee of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, then you can apply for this grant.
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The programme is designed to: promote innovation, transformation and new service development; support staff in the delivery of front line patient care. Awards are usually up to £50,000.
More information here.
Pre-Seed Challenge Fund
Funder: Lyva Labs
Ongoing
Sector: Healthcare & Life Sciences
Businesses and start-ups working in the Diagnostics/Med Tech/Health Tech/Digital Health space can apply for funding to support idea development and commercialisation.Innovative businesses and start-ups across the region (Liverpool City) can apply for investment of £25,000 to £250,000 for idea development and commercialisation. Total fund of £6m. Businesses must be based or willing to relocate to Liverpool City Region.
More information here.
Catapult/RTO Grants
Funder: Innovate UK Business Growth
Open, no closing date
Sector: All
Up to £15,000 grants available for:
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Sector specific advice on expertise;
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Testing and/or development work;
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Market analysis, cost modelling etc;
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Identifying opportunities for R&D, partnership building & collaboration, and more.
More information.​