Funding calls

Public Health Grassroots Award, Round 2

Opportunity to apply for Public Health Grassroots Awards funding (up to £5000)

This call is open to colleagues who have a contract of employment with a:

• Local authority in England. This includes NIHR Health Determinants Research Collaborations (HDRCs), provided the applicant’s post is not directly funded by the HDRC

• Non-NHS provider, commissioned by a local authority to deliver a public health service or function

• Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprises (VCSEs) in England that receive a grant or are commissioned to deliver public health services by a local authority

The vision for the Public Health Grassroots Awards is to foster a culture of research within public health at the grassroots level, empowering more individuals to contribute to innovative and informed practices that improve public health and reduce inequalities.

By offering short-term, part-time funding, the award is focused on equipping individuals in public health with the research skills necessary to enhance their impact and contribute to evidence-informed practices, with support from local and national infrastructure.

Find out more about the funding call by watching the application support webinar.

Application timeline:   

• opening date for applications: Tuesday 11 November 2025

• book a conversation with the team about your application

• closing date for applications: 5pm on Tuesday 27 January 2026

• panel meeting date: 3 March 2026

• decisions announced: week commencing 9 March 2026

• funding commences: from 16 March and no later than 30 June 2026

Local Authority Research Practitioners (LARPs)  call, Round 5 

Opportunity for local authorities to apply for £52,500 for 24 months (pro rata) or more to appoint a LARP.     

This call is open to colleagues in local authorities in England. Those in the devolved nations should speak with relevant funders to explore similar opportunities.    

NIHR Health Determinant Research Collaborations (HDRCs) and local authorities who have previously submitted a successful LARP application are not eligible for this call.   

Details in this round are slightly different to previous:   

• the latest date a LARP can be recruited and in post is 30 June 2026

• the latest date SCPH can provide funding for a LARP is 30 June 2028 

• submissions for this funding call open 1 September 2025 and can be submitted at any time. We are reviewing and providing outcomes on a rolling basis between 1 October and February 2026

• the earlier a local authority applies, and if they gain a successful outcome, the longer the funding period could be. e.g. if a successfully awarded local authority can recruit and have their LARP in post by 30 January 2026 -30 June 2028, and can match fund for the longer period, they can receive funding for 29 months instead of the original 24

Application timeline:   

• opening date for submissions: Monday 1 September 2025  

• submission date: any time before 5pm on Monday 26 January 2026    

• panel meeting date: periodically between 1 October and February 2026   

• decisions announced: as fast as we can after submission    

• funding commences:  as soon as the local authority can get their LARP in post, must be before 30 June 2026 

NIHR Doctoral Award (cohort 2)

Take the next step in developing your career with NIHR 

The Doctoral Award is a 3-year funding opportunity designed to support the career development of all health and social care professionals through PhD research.

The award supports research in any scientific discipline or sector that contributes to improving health, including public health and social care, within the NIHR’s funding remit.

For clinicians, practitioners, and local authority applicants, 20% of the award can be dedicated to clinical or practice time.

Applications close: 15 January 2026 at 1pm

Find out more about the NIHR Doctoral Award

NIHR Fellowship personal awards and associated opportunities  

NIHR Academy have simplified the fellowship offering, which is moving from NIHR Fellowships, NIHR Integrated Clinical and Practitioner Academic (ICA) Fellowships and Local Authority Academic Fellowships (LAAF) awards to a single award application based on career stage: 

• predoctoral, 

• doctoral and  

• postdoctoral. 

We can help with your application, just fill in our online contact form. 

Find out more about research career funding opportunities.