You may be considering undertaking research yourself, perhaps for the first time as a master’s degree or a PhD, or maybe as a principal investigator on a funded research study. Wherever you are in your career, there are opportunities to apply for funding to support your development as a researcher.
National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR)
The NIHR provides a huge range of funding opportunities for researchers undertaking studies centred on England but collaborating closely with the administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
NIHR Integrated Clinical Academic Programme
The Integrated Clinical Academic (ICA) Programme is open to health visitors at different career stages – funded by Health Education England but managed by NIHR.
The ICA Programme comprises four schemes that each support individuals at different stages of their research career:
- HEE Internship Scheme
- HEE/NIHR Pre-doctoral Clinical and Practitioner Academic Fellowship (PCAF) Scheme
- HEE/NIHR Doctoral Clinical and Practitioner Academic Fellowship (DCAF) Scheme
- HEE/NIHR Advanced Clinical and Practitioner Academic Fellowship (ACAF) Scheme
In addition, doctoral and post-doctoral award holders can access funded career mentorship through the ICA Programme’s bespoke Mentorship Scheme.
The programme also offers short duration Bridging Awards, which support development of doctoral or post-doctoral award applications.
NIHR Local Authority Academic Fellowship Programme
The NIHR Local Authority Academic Fellowship Programme is open to Local Authority and LA commissioned service staff, which includes health visitors.
The training opportunities include four schemes:
- Local Authority Short Placement Award for Research Collaboration (LA SPARC) Scheme
- LAAF Programme Pre-Doctoral Local Authority Fellowship (PLAF) Scheme
- LAAF Programme Doctoral Local Authority Fellowship (DLAF) Scheme
- LAAF Programme Advanced Local Authority Fellowship (ALAF) Scheme
NIHR Fellowship Programme
The NIHR Fellowship Programme supports individuals on their trajectory to becoming future leaders in health and social care NIHR research. The fellowships support individuals at various points of their development, from initial pre-doctoral training to senior post-doctoral research.
The programme includes four schemes:
- Pre-Doctoral Fellowship launch date: Late January / February annually
- Development and Skills Enhancement Award launch dates: January, May, September annually
- Doctoral Fellowship launch dates: April, October annually
- Advanced Fellowship launch dates: April, October annually
Funding bodies
For smaller projects, look for charities that have a special interest in your topic, or for wider health care topics try the following:
