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
​Hospital at home/virtual wards: integration opportunities, improving service delivery and evaluating impact
Funder: NIHR
​​The Health and Social Care Delivery Research (HSDR) Programme is interested in funding research on hospital at home (also known as virtual wards) acute care services for adults or children and young people. This funding opportunity covers optimising service design, improving service equity and delivery, evaluating the impact on health and social care, and innovations in service integration.
More information here.
Opens: 6 May 2025
Closes: 1pm, 5 August 2025
Sector: Healthcare
Gap fund for early-stage development of new healthcare interventions
Funder: MRC
Opens: 7 May 2025
Closes: 4pm, 9 July 2025
Sector: Healthcare & Life Sciences
Total fund of £3m, each award (FEC) will be between £50,000 and £300,000. The funding is at 80% of the FEC and 100% of permitted exceptions. Duration of 6-18 months per project..
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Apply for funding to generate critical data that builds confidence in developing a new or repurposed medicine, medical device, diagnostic test, or other medical intervention.
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The concept for the product should be backed by prior funding. Projects should focus on one high-risk step, not multiple, to ensure efficient management. This step must address the crucial missing evidence needed to rapidly de-risk onward development or determine failure.
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To apply, you must be based at a research organisation eligible for MRC funding.
The Gap Fund bridges the smaller Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) and the larger Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme (DPFS).
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You can apply for academically led translational projects that aim to undertake a single-step package of work that will bridge the gap between the inception of a new idea and substantive funding through schemes such as the DPFS to:
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help prevent disease
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help improve speed and accuracy of diagnosis of disease
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develop new treatments for disease
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help to improve outcome monitoring of patients receiving treatment
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help to improve the management of diseases and conditions
All human diseases and medical interventions are eligible for support, both in the context of UK healthcare and addressing global health issues.
More information here.
EIC Pathfinder
Funder: European Commission - Horizon
Opens: 21 May 2025
Closes: 29 October 2025
Sector: ALL
There are two types of Pathfinder grants:
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‘EIC Pathfinder Open’ open to support projects in any field of science, technology or application without predefined thematic priorities. The overall budget for the EIC Pathfinder Open in 2025 is €142 million.
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‘EIC Pathfinder Challenges’ to support coherent portfolios of projects within predefined thematic areas with the aim to achieve specific objectives for each Challenge. The overall budget for the EIC Pathfinder Challenges in 2025 is €120 million.
Open Call: Grants up to EUR 3 million
Challenge Call: Grants up to EUR 4 million.
Higher amounts if duly justified. Projects to achieve the proof of principle and validate the scientific basis of breakthrough technologies (starting from early TRLs aiming at achieving TRL3 or 4).
Who can apply
Consortia from EU Member States and countries associated to the Horizon Europe programme:
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Consortia of at least three different independent legal entities
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At least one legal entity established in a Member State
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At least two other independent legal entities, each established in different Member States or Associated Countries
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Additionally, single applicants, small and larger consortia (two partners) for EIC Pathfinder Challenges only.
Your proposal must meet all the following essential characteristics:
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Ambitions long-term vision for a radically new technology that has the potential to create new market and provide solutions for global challenges
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High-risk/high-gain breakthrough research that provides the foundations of the technology that you envisioning
EIC Work Programme 2025 - here
More information here.
EIC Transition
Funder: European Commission - Horizon
Opens: TBC
Closes: 17 September 2025
Sector: ALL
The EIC Transition is a funding programme under Horizon Europe targeting innovation activities that goes beyond the experimental proof of principle in laboratory. It supports both the maturation and validation of novel technologies from the lab to the relevant application environments.
The EIC Transition offers support to SMEs, start-ups and organisations that:
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have identified EU-funded project result(s) with promising commercial potential that could be the basis for innovation and promising new businesses
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envision novel promising technology that is ready for the next steps towards its maturation and validation, to be further developed and validated for some specific, high potential, commercial applications
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have conducted a preliminary market research to identify potential markets for their innovation and explored potential competitors
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envisage building a motivated and entrepreneurial team with a mix of skills, including researchers, business people, marketers etc. to develop and drive the idea towards commercial success
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Grants of up to EUR 2.5 million to validate and demonstrate technology in application-relevant environment (starting at TRL 3/ 4 aiming at achieving TRL 5/ 6) and develop business and market readiness.
More information here. (2024 info, yet to be updated)
Current Funding Calls
Electronic Patient Records – Evaluation of Implementation and Delivery in the NHS (Frontline Digitisation)
Funder: NIHR
Opened: 18 March 2025
Closes: 1pm, 23 April 2025
Sector: Digital Health
​The NIHR Policy Research Programme (PRP) invites applications for a single research project to conduct a multi-phase evaluation of Electronic Patient Record (EPR) systems in England. This study aims to address gaps in the available evidence base, and to provide insights to inform both national policy and local implementation of EPRs. Value of the funding - £1million. Duration - up to 36 months.
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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.
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Key objectives of the research are to:
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Assess the extent of EPR adoption across NHS trusts, identifying variations in adherence to national standards, including (but not limited to) digital, cybersecurity, clinical risk management and interoperability standards.
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Examine how different EPR systems and vendors are implemented. Where multiple trusts have adopted a shared or standardised EPR system, this should focus on exploring how they are integrated and delivered across NHS trusts (including the extent and impact of convergence).
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Evaluate the impact of EPRs on key operational and clinical outcomes, examining both tangible benefits and potential disbenefits to provide a balanced assessment of the overall effectiveness of EPR systems.
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Identify key enablers and barriers to successful EPR adoption, exploring the factors that have helped or hindered successful implementation and uptake, including leadership, training, technical infrastructure and cultural factors within trusts.
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Assess the cost-effectiveness and return on investment (ROI) of EPRs, providing a detailed economic analysis to understand the financial implications of EPR systems across NHS trusts, considering both direct and indirect costs and long-term value for money.
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Explore the perceptions and experiences of EPR users, including NHS staff and patients, to understand their satisfaction, challenges and the overall user experience with EPR systems.
Mass Media Content
Funder: NIHR
Open: 28 November 2024
Closes: 1pm, 25 April 2025
Sector: Healthcare and Communications
​The Public Health Research (PHR) Programme is looking to fund research which evaluates the health and health inequality impacts of mass media content. It is expected that there will be a focus on online/ digital content.
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.
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There is a webinar on Tuesday 11 February 2025, 1:15pm to 2:30pm, and will focus on each funding opportunity as well as general tips for applying. There will be a Q&A at the end. Please complete the online form to sign up.
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Research specification here.
Suicide prevention
Funder: NIHR-HTA
Opened: 28 November 2024
Closes: 1pm, 25 April 2025
Sector: Healthcare
HTA's Public Health Research (PHR) Programme is looking to fund research which evaluates interventions aimed at reducing suicide attempts and suicide.
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.
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Which interventions are effective in reducing the rate of suicide and suicide attempts?
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HTA is interested in commissioning research to evaluate interventions aimed at reducing suicide attempts and suicide. Please note that interventions aimed at non-suicidal self-harm, or interventions for people accessing NHS mental health services, are not in remit for this funding opportunity. HTA is predominantly interested in interventions operating at a population level rather than at an individual level, and interventions should aim to influence the wider determinants of suicide and suicide attempts.
Examples include (but are not limited to):
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Multiagency interventions aimed at preventing suicide and/or suicide attempts.
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Interventions to prevent suicide and/or suicide attempts by restricting access to the means and methods of suicide.
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Interventions to increase levels of support to people in different forms of crisis which may put them at risk of suicide or suicidal ideation.
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Interventions to prevent suicide and/or suicide attempts in people in contact with the criminal justice system (a single setting or a range of custodial settings may be considered)
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Interventions for groups where there are evidence gaps, such as minority ethnic groups including Gypsy Roma traveller groups; refugees and asylum seekers, people who are LGBTQ+, people who have experienced domestic abuse and people who have experienced harmful gambling.
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Interventions aimed specifically at a high-risk group. (For example, this may include, but is not limited to, people where financial difficulty/cost of living concerns or alcohol/substance use is increasing the risk of suicide/suicide attempt)
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Interventions aimed at promoting online safety and content to reduce harms, improve support and signposting, and provide helpful messages about suicide.
More information here.
Innovation Grant
Funder: University Hospitals Birmingham Charity
Closes: 25 April 2025
If you are a member of staff at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust and you are interested in applying for funding from the hospital charity to benefit your patients then please contact the Grants team on 0121 371 4852 or email charities@uhb.nhs.uk. They will only consider new grant applications.
Sector: Healthcare
Cyber Local 2025-2026
Funders: Innovate UK, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Opened: 17 March 2025
Closes: 11am, 30 April 2025
Sector: ALL
This competition is open to single applicants and collaborations. Can be led by an SME, academic institution, charity or public sector organisation. Award range: £25,000 - £150,000. Total fund is £1.8m.
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The aim of this competition is to develop impactful regional activities and events that focus on supporting the growth of the cyber security sector and the development of cyber security skills. These projects will be to resolve geographical disparities in the development and growth of the cyber security sector and to reduce the skills gap in the sector.
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Your project must:
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be delivered in one of the nine specified geographical areas
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demonstrate clear impact in the cyber security sector of the region through the development of strong and innovative cyber security ecosystems or increasing opportunities for activities to reduce the skills gap
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have endorsement of your area steering group
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The nine specified geographical areas are:
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North West England
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South West England
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Yorkshire and Humber
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North East England
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East Midlands
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West Midlands
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South East England
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East of England
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London
Specific themes
Your project must focus on one or more of the following:
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strengthening the local cyber security sector through area partnerships and forging links between industry, public sector and academia
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supporting the development of strong and innovative cyber security ecosystems
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increasing opportunities for local people to pursue a career in cyber security, paying particular attention to underrepresented communities
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cyber security skills for local people or communities to reduce the skills gap
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upskilling underrepresented demographics in the cyber security sector
More information here.
​Transformative and disruptive innovations to reduce waiting lists and waiting times
Funder: NIHR
Opened: 9 April 2025
Closes: 1pm, 7 May 2025
Sector: Healthcare
NIHR invites applications to enhance timely access to care through the development, clinical validation and/or real-world evidence generation of transformative and disruptive technologies. This funding opportunity, therefore, supports the development of innovative health technologies aimed at reducing waiting times and waiting lists for individuals in need of care, in any setting.
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Types of eligible innovations include, but are not limited to, medical devices, in vitro diagnostics, NICE classified digital health solutions, software, behavioural interventions and new models of care. Innovations incorporating or employing a game-changing technology (artificial intelligence, quantum sensing, engineering biology, genomics or wearables including smart phones) are particularly welcomed, as well as innovations addressing NHS systemic reforms proposed by the government: analogue to digital; sickness to prevention; hospital to community.
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Projects are expected to last between 12-36 months. Projects must include a collaboration of at least two organisations and may include two or more of the same organisation type. No maximum funding level. The lead applicant should be an HEI, SME, NHS or social care provider, or not-for-profit organisation, based in the UK.
More information here.
Contracts for Innovation: READ-OUT digital cognitive dementia assessments
Funder: Innovate UK
Opened: 14 April 2025
Closes: 11am, 14 May 2025
Sector: Healthcare
Organisations can apply for a single award of up to £600,000, inclusive of VAT. To implement and assess a dementia based digital cognitive assessment to be evaluated as part of the Real-world dementia outcomes (READ-OUT) study being managed by the University of Oxford. This is a single stage process. This competition supports the government’s Dementia Goals programme.
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This competition is a demonstrator and aims to accelerate innovation in dementia based digital cognitive assessments (DCA). High maturity DCA innovations will be deployed and assessed as part of the READ-OUT (REAl-world Dementia OUTcomes) blood based biomarker study and feed into the Davos Alzheimer's Collaborative System Preparedness project.
Your proposed DCA must demonstrate significant accuracy and specificity to the progression and correlation of diseases that can cause dementia. The University of Oxford will support and facilitate the real world use of the DCA test at READ-OUT clinical sites.
You must demonstrate how proven DCA technologies can be integrated into an NHS environment for the first time as ‘first of a kind’ demonstrations. This competition will support innovative suppliers in preparation for market readiness.
More information here.
Advancing Healthcare - Small Grants
Funder: Barts charity
Open
Closes: 15 May 2025
Sector: Healthcare & Life Sciences
Barts charity's Advancing Healthcare Small Grants provides funding for its staff to pilot new ideas, technologies and ways of working within Barts Health NHS Trust that could advance healthcare delivery and improve the health of its local community.
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Grants are for £5,000 up to £75,000. Projects can last up to 18 months.
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More information here. This grant is run several times a year.
i4i THRIVE - April 2025
Funder: NIHR
Opened: 14 April 2025
Closes: 1pm, 16 May 2025
Sector: Healthcare & Life Sciences
​The NIHR Invention for Innovation (i4i) programme is accepting applications to their new researcher and clinician-led THRIVE (Translate Healthcare Research through InnoVation and Entrepreneurship) funding and training opportunity. Led by UK-based academics and clinicians.
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THRIVE offers up to £150,000 over 9 months to support the development of the technology and a structured programme of entrepreneurial training, mentoring, peer support and networking. Through the programme the innovators will explore the market for their innovation and identify potential routes for commercialising (spin-out vs licensing) or sustaining their innovation (Intrapreneurship).
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The programme supports innovations that can reduce health inequalities and meet needs in underserved communities. This is a one stage application process. The minimum entry point is Critical Function or Proof of Concept Established (TRL3).
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More information here.
Japan-UK joint call for collaborations in advancing human-centred AI
Funder: Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
Opened: 20 March 2025
Closes: 22 May 2025
Sector: ALL
Apply for funding to form world-leading partnerships with collaborators in Japan in the field of artificial intelligence and data science.
Your application must involve researchers from both Japan and the UK. UK applicants must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for EPSRC funding. Japan-based applicants must be eligible for JST funding.
You may request up to:
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£1.5 million (80% full economic cost (FEC)) UK project component
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¥280 million/project (incl. 30% overhead expenses) Japan project component
There will probably be funding for up to four projects for a duration of five years per project.
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All proposals must include plans for promoting international talent mobility and development of the next generation of AI researchers. Proposals are also expected to contribute to and demonstrate how collaborative efforts between the researchers in Japan and the UK will advance human-centred AI.
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Proposals related to one or more of the following research topics are encouraged, but submissions are not limited to these areas:
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next-generation AI: improving machine learning (deep learning) algorithms, establishing reliable AI and responsible AI systems, and applied research in areas such as computer vision and speech recognition and natural language processing
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robotics: research on autonomous systems, autonomous driving, industrial robots, communication robots, companion robots, and robots capable of teaching advanced skills (for example, craftsmanship) (excluding purely control-based or mechanical engineering research)
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AI for health: future predictive research for a healthier population, covering novel AI, automation and data science techniques to creating a healthier state. This includes advanced diagnostics, visualisation of invisible disease lesions and prediction and prevention of lifestyle-related diseases, frailty and early detection of cognitive decline
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human-computer interface: research related to novel technologies to allow humans to interact with digital technologies, for example through virtual reality (VR) and metaverse; and to enhance human physical and cognitive capabilities using information science technologies such as VR, AI, robotics and information communication technologies (ICT)
More information here.
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i4i - Product Development Award, Call 30
Funder: NIHR
Opened: 9 April 2025
Closes: 28 May 2025
Sector: Healthcare & Life sciences
The i4i Product Development Awards (PDA) support collaborative research and development projects of medical devices, in vitro diagnostic devices and high-impact patient-focused digital health technologies for use in the NHS or social care systems. The PDA are researcher-led and aim to de-risk innovations, supporting early product development through to real-world evaluations, to make innovations more attractive for follow-on funding and commercial investment. The expected focus of a project funded by PDA is one or more of the following:
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Product development required to enable technologies for clinical use or use in social care
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Clinical development of a laboratory-validated technology
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Real-world evaluations to accelerate the development and uptake of innovative products, which already have demonstrated safety and efficacy
The aim is to achieve benefits to patients and end users, de-risk technologies and make them attractive to follow-on funders, investors and buyers, in particular NHS commissioners and national guidance bodies.
All proposals must involve one of the following, and you are expected to state the classification of your technology very clearly in the application:
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Medical devices or in vitro diagnostic devices
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Digital health technologies
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AI as a medical device
Minimum number of co-applicants: 2
Funding level: No maximum, NIHR is encouraging ambitious projects with the potential to make a real impact.
Project duration: Up to 36 months
More information here.
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Proof of Concept
Funders: Multiple agencies within UK Research and Innovation
Opened: 12 March 2025
Closes: 4pm, 29 May 2025
Sector: All
Apply for proof of concept to support the commercialisation of research to enable spinouts or social ventures, licencing or other commercialisation pathways.
Applications from any disciplines are welcomed. No pre-existing UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funding is required. The programme will not support discovery-driven research. You must be based at a UK research organisation.
The full economic cost (FEC) can be up to £250,000 for 12 months duration with a minimum of £100,000 for 6 months. UKRI will fund 80% FEC. Only UKRI eligible research organisations can apply.
The intention to submit was a mandatory step and the deadline was 3 March 2025 at 4:00pm (UK time).
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More information here.
Advancing Healthcare - Large Grants
Funder: Barts charity
Open
Closes: 5 June 2025
Sector: Healthcare & Life Sciences
Barts charity's Advancing Healthcare Large Grants provides funding for its staff to pilot new ideas, technologies and ways of working within Barts Health NHS Trust that could advance healthcare delivery and improve the health of its local community.
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Grants are from £75,000 up to £500,000. Projects can last up to 36 months.
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More information here. This grant is run several times a year.
​DARE UK next-generation trusted research environment capabilities
Funder: UKRI
Opened: 4 April 2025
Closes: 4pm, 5 June 2025
Sector: ALL
Apply for funding to prototype the ‘next generation’ capabilities for federated trusted research environments (TREs) currently missing from the landscape.
Applications from across all disciplines and research councils’ remits are welcomed.
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You must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funding. Applications may also challenge current assumptions about TRE federation.
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The full economic cost (FEC) of your project can be up to £390,000. MRC will fund 80% of the FEC. The project will be funded for 12 months from September 2025 to September 2026.
More information here.
Research Programme for Social Care (RPSC)
Funder: NIHR
Opened: 26 February 2025
Closes: 1pm, 25 June 2025
Sector: Social Care
​A two stage process, this is the first (outline application) stage. RPSC aims to fund 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. Research will cover both adults and children's social care.
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Applications are invited from higher education institutions, charities, local authorities/governments and relevant third sector organisations across the UK.
There are three different funding opportunities with separate applications on the awards management system: RPSC researcher-led; RPSC Commissioned NIHR NICE Rolling Funding; RPSC Commissioned NIHR JLA Funding.
There is an online webinar on Monday 7 April, 10am - 12pm for potential applicants. Join to find out more about this funding opportunity. Register now.
More information here.
​Supporting researchers to involve public at pre-application stage
Funder: MRC
Opened: 24 April 2025
Closes: 4pm 26 June 2025
Sector: Healthcare & life Sciences
Apply for funding to run a scheme at your research organisation (RO) to reimburse public partners who work with researchers to develop Medical Research Council (MRC) research funding applications. You must be based at a RO eligible for MRC funding.
Your RO scheme must:
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support research applications to MRC
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support researchers to develop, plan and deliver their public partnership activity
The full economic cost (FEC) of your scheme can be up to £20,000 and over a duration of up to 18 months. MRC will fund 100% of the FEC.
You must have completed the mandatory expression of interest stage to be invited to this full stage.
More information here.
Advancing Healthcare - Small Grants
Funder: Barts charity
Open
Closes: 26 June 2025
Sector: Healthcare & Life Sciences
Barts charity's Advancing Healthcare Small Grants provides funding for its staff to pilot new ideas, technologies and ways of working within Barts Health NHS Trust that could advance healthcare delivery and improve the health of its local community.
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Grants are for £5,000 up to £75,000. Projects can last up to 18 months.
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More information here. This grant is run several times a year.
Research for Patient Benefit - March 2025
Funder: NIHR
Opened: 12 March 2025
Closes: 1pm, 9 July 2025
Sector: Healthcare & Life Sciences
The NIHR Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) Programme is inviting outline applications for research proposals that are concerned with the day-to-day practice of health service staff, and that have the potential to have an impact on the health or wellbeing of patients and users of the NHS. This is a two stage process.
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As a researcher-led programme, RfPB does not specify topics for research but instead encourages proposals for projects that address a wide range of health service issues and challenges.
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The programme aims to fund high quality quantitative and qualitative research with a clear trajectory to patient benefit. It particularly encourages applications that have a strong element of interaction with patients and the public and that have been conceived in association with a relevant group of service users.
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There are three strands to the RfPB.
1. Researcher-led - currently focusing on West Midlands and East Midlands.
2. NIHR/ NICE rolling funding opportunity.
3. James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnerships - focus is on digital technology in mental health care
More information here.
​Developmental pathway funding scheme: stage one
Funder: Medical Research Council
Opened 20 March 2025:
Closes: 4pm, 16 July 2025
Sector: Healthcare & Life Sciences
Apply for funding to develop and test novel therapeutics, medical devices, diagnostics and other interventions. Your project can start and finish at any stage on the developmental pathway from early development, through pre-clinical refinement and testing to early-phase clinical studies and trials (up to phase 2a).
You must be based at a research organisation eligible for MRC funding.
There is no limit on the amount of funding you can apply for, but it should be appropriate to the project. MRC usually funds 80% of a project’s FEC.
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You can apply for academically-led translational projects that aim to either:
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improve prevention, diagnosis, prognosis or treatment of significant health needs
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develop research tools that increase the efficiency of developing interventions
All diseases and interventions are eligible for support. You can also address global health issues.
More information here.
Mental Health Award: Leveraging longitudinal data to transform early intervention in mental health
Funder: The Wellcome Trust
Opened: 23 April 2025
Closes: 22 July 2025
Sector: Healthcare
£2m - £5m per project lasting 3-5 years.
This call will fund projects (led by a research organisation) that utilise existing longitudinal datasets and integrate experimental research to predict the onset or progression of symptoms of anxiety, depression or psychosis. You can explore thousands of longitudinal datasets through the Atlas of Longitudinal Datasets. Longitudinal datasets include, but are not limited to:
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cohorts
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electronic health records
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data from experimental research collected over time
Projects will have the potential to enrich existing longitudinal datasets, including linkage to other sources, harmonisation and collection of additional data. Establishing entirely new cohorts will be out of scope.
More information here.​
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Australia-UK platform studies in areas of unmet clinical need
Funder: NIHR
Opened: 24 October 2024
Closes: 10am, 23 July 2025
Sector: Healthcare & Life Sciences
The Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Australia, the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Australia and National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) UK are inviting applications for ambitious platform studies in areas of unmet medical need. The platform must be internationally collaborative, with joint leads based in Australia and the United Kingdom.
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This call is for either Phase 2 or Phase 3 focused platforms, where there is a pipeline of technologies which justifies a platform approach. This call will not support funding for studies aiming to run platforms seamlessly from phase 2 into phase 3.
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Phase 2 platforms should focus on establishing the efficacy of multiple interventions in a defined patient group or circumstance (which may include sub-groups). The study must focus on interventions with convincing human clinical proof of concept which suggests they may be efficacious. By robustly evaluating efficacy, the study should have the potential to inform future Phase 3 (comparative and cost-effectiveness) trials.
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Phase 3 platforms should aim to efficiently generate high-quality evidence around the clinical and cost-effectiveness of multiple interventions in a defined patient group or circumstance. The focus must be on candidate therapies which have demonstrated some clinical efficacy but which require further testing in a multi-centre, pragmatic trial to compare against current best practice.
Interventions must have an appropriate level of supporting evidence for the phase of the platform, although it is recognised that there may be some variation in the amount of evidence for the interventions across a platform.
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For the purposes of this call, unmet medical need arises where individuals have a serious health condition where there are limited satisfactory options for prevention, diagnosis or treatment to support improved health outcomes. Applications are welcomed across all areas of health which meet these criteria.
Areas of particular interest include, but are not limited to:
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Childhood, brain and prostate cancers
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Stroke and traumatic brain injuries
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Neurodegenerative diseases
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Cardiometabolic conditions, including obesity
The total funding available through this funding opportunity is in the region of $30 million AUD/ £15.5 million GBP with contributions from each funder.
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for the Australian-based component the maximum grant amount that can be requested is up to $5 million AUD over 7 years, with a total contribution of up to $15m AUD.
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for the NIHR UK-based component, there is approximately £2.6m per award over 7 years, with a total contribution of up to £7.8 million GBP.
MRFF, NHMRC and NIHR are aiming to fund 1 to 3 platforms for up to 7 Years.
ore information here.
Novel non-pharmacological approaches for diagnosis and treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Funder: NIHR
Opened: 23 January 2025
Closes: 1pm, 5 August 2025
Sector: Healthcare
The MRC-NIHR Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation (EME) Programme is inviting applications to evaluate the efficacy of novel non-pharmacological approaches to improve the diagnosis, treatment and/or management of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children and adults.
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Under this funding opportunity, the EME Programme is interested in evaluating novel non-pharmacological approaches that focus on improving the diagnosis, treatment, and/or management of ADHD in children and adults. The funding opportunity will consider applications that target the core symptoms of ADHD, as well as those that focus on associated conditions, e.g. emotional dysregulation and common co-morbidities. For this funding opportunity, applications with significant industry involvement beyond monetary or in-kind contributions are particularly welcome.
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All proposals submitted must describe an evaluation of an intervention or technology, which falls within the remit of the EME Programme. Applications are expected to detail the clinical need, scientific rationale and proof of concept for the intervention. Specifically, there must be convincing human, clinical evidence to suggest that the approach may be efficacious and beneficial to the proposed study outcomes. For proposals evaluating a diagnostic technology, this might be a promising signal in terms of sensitivity, specificity or predictive values in the target population.
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Areas of interest include (but are not limited to):
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psychological interventions
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non-invasive brain stimulation (including peripheral nerve and sensory stimulation)
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digital therapeutics
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neurofeedback and cognitive training
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technology to increase the speed and accuracy of diagnosis
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remotely delivered interventions (where the intervention is scientifically novel)
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transdiagnostic mechanistic approaches to treatment
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precision medicine
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exercise, e.g. use of VR exercise and exergaming
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immersive extended reality, including virtual reality and augmented realised intervention approaches
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role of remote measurement and wearables in assessment and management
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combining AI/machine learning and biomarker approaches to assessment and diagnosis
More information here.
Children and young people’s mental health
Funder: NIHR
Opened: 18 March 2025
Closes: 1pm, 15 August 2025
Sector: Healthcare
NIHR's Public Health Research (PHR) Programme is looking to fund research which evaluates the effectiveness of interventions in supporting the promotion and protection of the mental health of babies, children and young people. 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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There is a webinar on Tuesday 3 June 2025, 1:30pm to 2:45pm. Register here.
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Research question: Which interventions are effective and cost effective in supporting the promotion and protection of the mental health of babies, children and young people?
This funding opportunity is predominantly interested in the evaluation of interventions that operate at a population level rather than at an individual level.
More information here.
Innovation Grant
Funder: University Hospitals Birmingham Charity
If you are a member of staff at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust and you are interested in applying for funding from the hospital charity to benefit your patients then please contact the Grants team on 0121 371 4852 or email charities@uhb.nhs.uk. They will only consider new grant applications.
Closes: 25 August 2025
Sector: Healthcare
Swiss-UK investigator-led randomised controlled clinical trials in areas of unmet clinical need
Funder: NIHR
Opened: 2 April 2025
Closes: 9 September 2025
Sector: Healthcare & Life Sciences
The Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) and the NIHR are looking to fund investigator-led randomised controlled clinical trials in areas of unmet clinical need.These should address research priorities in areas that can only be effectively tackled through collaborative cross-country efforts. Trials must be delivered through sustainable collaborations with joint leads based in Switzerland and the UK.
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This funding opportunity is for late phase 2 or phase 3 applied randomised controlled clinical studies which address areas of unmet need both in Switzerland and the UK, and where there are benefits to conducting studies in multiple sites in Switzerland and the UK. Examples might include research in areas where the relevant population in each country is limited, such as for rare diseases; conditions with rare subgroups; studies evaluating precision medicine approaches in small populations; or other hard to recruit ​studies which require expanded recruitment beyond the UK or Switzerland alone.
For the purpose of this funding opportunity, unmet medical need arises where individuals have a serious health condition with limited satisfactory options for prevention, diagnosis or treatment to support improved health outcomes. Applications are welcomed across all areas of health which meet these criteria.
More information here.
​Experimental medicine stage one
Funder: MRC
Opened: 17 April 2025
Closes: 4pm, 1 October 2025
Sector: Life Sciences
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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’.
There is no limit to the amount of funding you can apply for or the length of your project. The MRC will fund 80% of your project’s full economic cost.
This is an ongoing funding opportunity. There are two stage. Application rounds close every April and October.
Apply here.
EIC Accelerator
Funder: European Commission - Horizon
Open
Closes: 1 October 2025
Sector: ALL
The EIC Accelerator is a funding programme under Horizon Europe that offers support to start-ups and SMEs that:
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have a innovative, game changing product, service or business model that could create new markets or disrupt existing ones in Europe and even worldwide,
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have the ambition and commitment to scale up,
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are looking for substantial funding, but the risks involved are too high for private investors alone to invest.
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Grant: maximum €2.5 million.
Investment component: Between €0.5M and €10M. Applicants can choose to apply for a blend of grant and equity, grant only, grant first or equity only.
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The grants application is a 3 stage process.
The first stage is a short proposal that can be done any time.
Next is the full proposal - deadline 1 October 2025
Lastly, interview rounds: They will be held approximately 8-9 weeks after the cut-off dates. Open to single SMEs and start-ups (and individuals intending to establish a start-up/SME) established in EU Member State Countries.
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Titles of the five EIC Accelerator Challenges:
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Acceleration of advanced materials development and upscaling along the value chain
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Biotechnology driven low emission food production systems
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GenAI4EU: Creating European Champions in Generative AI
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Innovative in-space servicing, operations, space-based robotics and technologies for resilient EU space infrastructure
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Breakthrough innovations for future mobility
More information here.
Innovation Grant
Funder: University Hospitals Birmingham Charity
If you are a member of staff at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust and you are interested in applying for funding from the hospital charity to benefit your patients then please contact the Grants team on 0121 371 4852 or email charities@uhb.nhs.uk. They will only consider new grant applications.
Closes: 30 November 2025
Sector: Healthcare
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.
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.​