Selected funding opportunities

This page provides information about selected funding opportunities. Click here for information about funding organisations in the UK with more comprehensive listings of opportunities.

New calls:

Organisation	Details	Date
NIHR	The Public Health Research (PHR) Programme is accepting applications to their commissioned workstream for the following topics: 24/51 Liver Disease (PHR Programme) 24/26 Climate change and health 24/23 NIHR NICE rolling call (PHR Programme) 24/24 NIHR James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnerships rolling call (PHR Programme) 24/33 PHR Programme researcher-led 24/25 Continuing areas of research interest to the PHR Programme 24/31 Increasing uptake of vaccinations in populations where there is low uptake 24/32 Application Development Award (ADA): Digital Health Inclusion and Inequalities 24/27 Interventions to deliver inclusive economies 4/28 Parenting Interventions 24/29 The health of children and young people in contact with the criminal justice system 24/30 Developer contributions	Closing date: 9 August 2024, 1 pm
NIHR	24/20 NIHR Application Development Award for Health and Care Professionals	Closing date: 26 September 2024, 1pm
NIHR	The Public Health Research (PHR) Programme is accepting applications to their commissioned workstream for the following topics: 24/78 Ultra-processed foods 24/59 Behavioural overweight and obesity management interventions that include long term support in achieving and maintaining weight loss in children and young people 24/60 Unmanageable debt 24/61 Healthy Homes: Overcrowding 24/62 Active Travel facilitators and barriers within different populations 24/63 Workforce health 24/64 Public Health Intervention Responsive Studies Teams (PHIRST) - Process and outcomes evaluation	Closing date: 13 December 2024 1 pm
NIHR	Public Health Research Programme Rapid Funding Scheme The RFS has been set up to provide the public health research community with an accelerated route to funding for small-scale, short and time sensitive proposals that demonstrate a need for a rapid commissioning process to be followed.	Closes: 27 December 2024

Calls added in June:

Organisation	Details	Date
Trinity College Cambridge	Junior research fellowships These enable researchers to pursue research in Cambridge on a topic of their choice for up to four years with no further duties. Fellowships are available in all branches of university studies. Trinity Junior Research (‘Title A’) Fellowships are aimed at you if you are at the beginning of your academic career. In most cases, the fellowship will be your first substantial, paid academic teaching or research post. If you are from the UK, you will usually be at the end of your third or fourth (or, more rarely, second) year of PhD work.	Dept deadline: 21 August 2024 Funder deadline: 29 August 2024
UKRI	BBSRC New investigator award: 2024 round three: responsive mode This scheme supports excellent new investigator-led research across the breadth of Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) scientific remit. Funding is available for: research projects, including data intensive and technology development projects; equipment or use of existing facilities; community resources, new facilities or infrastructure; research networks and coordination; summer schools. Applicants may apply to undertake biotechnology or biological research in plants, microbes, animals and humans, tools and technology underpinning biological research.	Dept deadline: 11 September 2024 ROO deadline: 18 September 2024 Funder deadline: 25 September 2024
Wellcome Trust	Wellcome Trust Early-career awards This scheme provides funding for early-career researchers from any discipline who are ready to develop their research identity. Through innovative projects, they will deliver shifts in understanding that could improve human life, health and wellbeing. By the end of the award, they will be ready to lead their own independent research programme. Your research can be in any discipline – including science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), experimental medicine, humanities and social science, clinical/allied health sciences, and public health – as long as it has the potential to improve human life, health and wellbeing, and aligns with our funding remit.	Dept deadline: 17 September 2024 ROO deadline: 24 September 2024 Funder deadline: 1 October 2024
British Academy	British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowships 2024-25 The British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship is a three-year fellowship for outstanding early career researchers in the humanities and social sciences. The scheme aims to help develop the award holder’s curriculum vitae and boost their prospects of obtaining a permanent university post. The primary emphasis is on the completion of a significant piece of publishable research, and the integration of the award holder into the community of established scholars within their field. Fellowships are tenable in all fields within the humanities and social sciences. This is a highly competitive scheme and success rates are typically no more than 10%. As with last year, the University will not be conducting an internal central selection process, Departments are requested to identify and prioritise the strongest applications to ensure only high-quality proposals are put forward to the funder. The School Research Facilitators will also run an online information session for applicants on 25 July at 2pm. Please encourage potential applicants to register via this link. The Research Facilitators will offer feedback on the first 15 complete applications that they receive before 02 September. Applicants requesting feedback need to have confirmed support from their host Department/Faculties. Departments are asked to follow Small Applications Processes for this scheme, regardless the value of the proposal (NB: this still includes submitting an ‘outline X5 costing’). Please note that departments are expected to notify ROO of an intention to submit any grant applications with a minimum of four weeks’ notice – ROO colleagues will find this early notification incredibly helpful for this scheme. If you have any questions, please contact us at researchstrategy@admin.cam.ac.uk.	deadline for submissions 02 October 2024
	BBSRC IAA Impact Project Call 2024 The BBSRC IAA Impact Project call 2024 is now open to support knowledge exchange and early-stage impact projects to progress research outputs and outcomes to the point at which further translational funding can be sought. To apply, visit the BBSRC IAA Sharepoint for guidance, application forms and terms and conditions. We strongly encourage contacting Dr Carmen Fernandez-Posada and Dr Lauren Maggs (iaa@admin.cam.ac.uk) to discuss your idea in advance so we can provide tailored support and advice to maximise the strength of your application. Please also contact us if you have a potential project which does not fit the timescale or budget for this call, as there may be future funding opportunities.	Call closes: 11 October 2024 at 16:00
The Royal Society	Dorothy Hodgkin fellowships This scheme offers a recognised first step into an independent research career for outstanding postdoctoral scientists who require a flexible working pattern due to personal circumstances, such as caring responsibilities and/or health-related conditions. Research may address all areas of natural sciences, including biological research, chemistry, engineering, mathematics and physics, but excluding clinical medicine. This scheme offers successful applicants: the opportunity to build your independent research career freedom, time and long term flexible support to pursue high quality and innovative lines of scientific research flexibility to accommodate personal circumstances such as caring responsibilities or health-related needs support to develop as a research leader through tailored, high quality professional development, networking and engagement opportunities	Dept deadline: 15 October 2024 ROO deadline: 22 October 2024 Funder deadline: 29 October 2024
EPSRC & UKRI	Pre-announcement: Core research challenges in digital twinning for crisis resilience Apply to lead an interdisciplinary research programme in digital twinning focused on improving government crisis response and resilience. The programme must: address identified digital twinning research challenges develop a proof-of-concept digital twin for crisis response and resilience with relevance to all transport essential services, and their interface with other interconnected critical national infrastructure sectors be delivered in close collaboration with key UK policy stakeholders	Opening June 2024 Deadline: TBC

Calls added in May

Organisation	Details	Date
Wellcome Trust	Wellcome Trust Discovery awards This scheme provides funding for established researchers and teams from any discipline who want to pursue bold and creative research ideas to deliver significant shifts in understanding that could improve human life, health and wellbeing. Your research can be in any discipline – including science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), experimental medicine, humanities and social science, clinical/allied health sciences, and public health – if it has the potential to improve human life, health and wellbeing, and aligns with our funding remit. The research can be in a single discipline or multidisciplinary.	Application deadline: 30 July 2024, 17:00 BST
UKRI	Innovate UK Smart grants: April 2024 UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £25 million for game-changing and commercially viable research and development (R&D) innovations that can significantly impact the UK economy. Proposals must be business focused, and show deliverable, realistic, adequately resourced plans to achieve return on investment, growth and market share following project completion. Applications can come from any area of technology and be applied to any part of the economy.	Dept deadline: 10 July 2024 ROO deadline: 17 July 2024 Funder deadline: 24 July 2024
UKRI	Pre-announcement: Design Accelerators round three Apply for funding to undertake design-led solutions to address the climate crisis or net zero goals. Funding will be provided to support engagement activities with local communities, public and third sector organisations. Design Accelerators connect directly with the wider Future Observatory: Design the Green Transition Programme. The full economic cost (FEC) of your project can be between £35,000 and £65,000. AHRC will fund 80% of the FEC.	Opening date: 1 July 2024 Closing date: 3 October 2024
MRC	Artificial intelligence, engineering biology and quantum technologies This funding is for the application of artificial intelligence (AI), engineering biology, and quantum technologies in biomedical research and development. You should apply through the relevant MRC funding opportunity that is most appropriate for your science area and career stage. Highlight period: This highlight notice will be open from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025. Applications submitted in this window will be considered for this highlight opportunity. For individual application closing dates refer to the relevant MRC funding opportunity.	Closing date: 31 March 2025 4:00pm UK time

Calls added in previous months

Organisation	Details	Date
UKRI	MRC partnership responsive mode Apply for funding to support new partnerships between diverse groups of researchers within the remit of Medical Research Council (MRC). You must be a researcher employed by a research organisation eligible to apply for MRC funding. The grant will allow you to: establish new, high-value collaborative activities or capabilities add value to high-quality scientific programmes that are already supported by grants from MRC and other funders	There are three deadlines a year
Wellcome Trust	Wellcome Trust Early Career Award This scheme provides funding for early-career researchers from any discipline who are ready to develop their research identity. Through innovative projects, they will deliver shifts in understanding that could improve human life, health and wellbeing. By the end of the award, they will be ready to lead their own independent research programme.	Three times a year - Upcoming deadlines October 2024
Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)	Pushing the frontiers of environmental research Apply for funding to pursue an ambitious, high risk and high reward project in environmental research. We welcome: multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research projects delivered in partnership with other research funders and users	Closing date: 17 July 2024 4:00pm UK time
NIHR	24/13 Digital technology enabled interventions in Social Care The aim of the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme is to ensure that high quality research information on the clinical effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and broader impact of healthcare treatments and tests are produced in the most efficient way for those who plan, provide or receive care from NHS and social care services.	deadline: 13:00 on 24 July 2024
NIHR	24/28 Parenting Interventions The Public Health Research (PHR) Programme is accepting Stage 1 applications to their commissioned workstream for this topic. Research question: How do interventions which affect access, engagement and retention of disadvantaged parents in parenting interventions impact health and health inequalities?	Stage one deadline: 1pm on 9 August 2024
NIHR	24/29 The health of children and young people in contact with the criminal justice system The Public Health Research (PHR) Programme is accepting Stage 1 applications to their commissioned workstream for this topic. Research question: What interventions have an impact on the physical or mental health of children and young people in contact with the criminal justice system?	Stage one deadline: 1pm on 9 August 2024
EPSRC	Pre-announcement: Technologies to enable independence for people living with dementia Apply for funding to develop a Network Plus focused on the development and use of novel tools and technologies to enable people to live independently with dementia, including their carers. We are looking to build capacity and bring together new communities across engineering and physical sciences and health and care, to tackle challenges in dementia research.	Closing: 10 September 2024 4:00pm UK time
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)	Accelerating research outcomes to deliver a prosperous net zero: outline Apply for follow-on funding to build on existing engineering and physical sciences research outputs to accelerate economic, societal, policy and environmental benefits. The proposed benefits must contribute to delivering Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)’s Engineering Net Zero (ENZ) priority.	Outline closing date: 16 May 2024 4:00pm Full stage opening: 16 July 2024 9:00am Full stage closing: 24 September 2024 4:00pm
The Royal Society	Pre-announcement – Royal Society Faraday Discovery Fellowships Large Up to £8M over a ten-year period, investigator-led grants awarded to a single Principal Investigator (PI) to enable them to establish an outstanding team of researchers to address challenging research questions. The programme will provide the most talented mid-career researchers with the time and freedom to focus on their research, providing long-term, stable funding to allow them to tackle difficult and intractable problems.	Opens: 14th August 2024 Funder deadline: 2nd October 2024
MRC	MRC Career Development Award Apply for support to become an independent researcher in a medical research field. Your research can focus on any area of Medical Research Council (MRC)’s remit to improve human health. You must: have a PhD or equivalent show evidence of career progression show clear plans for developing as a leader in your area of research	Call closes every April and September.
NIHR	Public Health Research Programme Rapid Funding Scheme The Rapid Funding Scheme (RFS) offers researchers the opportunity to apply for funds to conduct rapid baseline data collection, as well as other feasibility work, prior to intervention implementation, for unique, time-limited opportunities such as a natural experiment or similar evaluations of a new public health intervention. This scheme is not intended to fund studies which provide definitive answers to questions to inform service provision – it is to prepare for such studies.	Closes: 27 December 2024
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)	Pre-announcement: Health Technologies Connectivity Awards Apply for funding to spend time in a different research or user environment to build new connections within health technologies. Novel Engineering and Physical Sciences (EPS) research contributing to the delivery of the Health Technologies Strategy must comprise a proportion of the placement.	Opening date: May 2024 Webinar: TBC Closing date: TBC

Ongoing calls:

Organisation	Details	Date
BBSRC	BBSRC standard research grant Funding can support a range of activities from research projects to technology development, new infrastructure and equipment, use of equipment and facilities, networks, and summer schools.	Open - no closing date
LifeArc Philanthropic Fund	The LifeArc Philanthropic Fund is a multi-million pound grant fund to support translational medical research projects to develop treatments and diagnostics for rare diseases. Projects should be underpinned with a strong, scientific rationale in addressing a rare disease medical need and must be target driven, with a credible delivery plan and led by an academic. If you have a project focused on research into therapeutics, diagnostics or devices that could support people living with a rare disease, please get in touch by completing this form. Further details can be found here.	Ongoing
EPSRC	Standard research grants (EPSRC) Standard research is for unsolicited research proposals submitted by anyone eligible to apply to EPSRC for funding. They can be submitted at any time and in any field of research relevant to EPSRC’s remit. We encourage research collaborations with business and the public sector, particularly where they can help research advances and the take up of results.	Ongoing
Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)	NERC urgency funding Apply for funding to respond quickly to transient and unexpected scientific opportunities. You can only apply for urgency funding if there is an unexpected event you need urgent data on. These may be events affecting the environment created by the occurrence of sporadic natural events such as: earthquakes, droughts, floods, ephemeral events in ecosystems. The aim of this grant is to help you collect valuable data at the start of the event before other events and actions affect the data collection.	Ongoing
EPSRC	EPSRC network grant: Nov 2023: responsive mode Engineering and Physical sciences Research Council (EPSRC) will support costs of building interdisciplinary research communities. Network grants aim to develop new interdisciplinary research communities and topics by supporting interaction between researchers and relevant science, technology and industrial groups.	Open - no closing date

Pre-announcement: Core research challenges in digital twinning for crisis resilience

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