Research Design Service (RDS) provides support to those preparing research proposals for submission to national, open, peer-reviewed funding competitions for applied health or social care research.
For details on each funding stream please click on the relevant box. NIHR Funding Booklet
The Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) programme supports research that is concerned with the day-to-day practice of health service and social care staff. Research proposals should have a clear trajectory towards benefiting the health or wellbeing of patients and users of the NHS and social care services.
Website: RfPB
Deadlines: Research for Patient Benefit
The NIHR Research for Social Care (RfSC) call is an annual competition specifically for social care proposals, run by NIHR's Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) programme.
The aim of the annual RfSC call is to fund topics and research methodologies that increase the effectiveness of social care services, provide value for money and benefit service users and carers.
Website: RfSC
Deadlines: Research for Social Care (RfSC)
NIHR Programme Development Grants (PDG) are designed to enable a research team to carry out targeted preparatory work to develop a competitive Programme Grants for Applied Research (PGfAR) funding application. They can also be used to further develop an existing or ongoing PGfAR-funded programme of research.
Website: PDG
Deadlines: Programme Development Grants
NIHR Programme Grants for Applied Research (PGfAR) funds collaborative, multidisciplinary programmes of applied research to solve health and social care challenges.
Programme Development Grants (PDG) are available for researchers to carry out targeted preparatory work to strengthen a future full PGfAR application and to enhance the outcomes of existing PGfAR awards.
Website: PGfAR
Deadlines: Programme Grants for Applied Research
The Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme funds research about the clinical and cost-effectiveness, and broader impact of healthcare treatments and tests, for those who plan, provide or receive care from NHS, and social care services.
Website: HTA
Deadlines: Health Technology Assessment
Video: What makes a successful HTA application? : how to get funded and tips for success
The Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation (EME) Programme funds ambitious studies evaluating interventions with potential to make a step-change in the promotion of health, treatment of disease and improvement of rehabilitation or long-term care. Within these studies, EME supports research in the mechanisms of diseases and treatments. EME is a partnership between the Medical Research Council (MRC) and the NIHR.
Website: EME
Deadlines: Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation
Video: How to develop an EME funding application
The Health and Social Care Delivery Research (HSDR) Programme aims to produce rigorous and relevant evidence to improve the quality, accessibility and organisation of health and social care services.
Website: HSDR
Deadlines: Health and Social Care Delivery Research (HSDR) Programme
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.
Website: PHR
Deadlines: Public Health Research
Deadlines:
The Evidence Synthesis Programme identifies, evaluates, combines and summarises information from a range of sources to provide decision makers with the best possible information about the effects of tests, treatments and other interventions used in health and social care.
Website: Evidence Synthesis
Deadlines: Evidence Synthesis
Video: Systematic Reviews
The NIHR funds policy research to enable evidence informed policy making in health and social care.
Website: PRP
Deadlines: Policy Research Programme
The NIHR Invention for Innovation (i4i) Programme supports the preclinical and clinical development of medical technologies in areas of existing or emerging patient need.
Website: i4i
Deadlines: Invention for Innovation
The NIHR Global Health Research Portfolio uses UK aid to fund high quality applied health research and training in areas of unmet need.
Our research is for the direct and primary benefit of people in low and middle income countries (LMICs).
Website: GHR
Deadlines: Global Health Research
