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

Public and community partnerships funding award

Opportunity for local authorities to apply for up to £10,000 to explore new and improved ways of involving people and communities in public health research.

Funded projects will explore new or improved ways that local authorities can involve people and communities in public health research. The aim is that they will generate evidence and insights that can be shared with other local authorities to strengthen public health outcomes through inclusive research practices.

Successful local authorities will receive up to £10,000. This fund will not cover capital costs. The project should be a minimum of 12 months and a maximum of 18 months.

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 are not eligible to apply but can be listed as a supporting partner. NHS based/related public health research and public and community partnership (PCP) groups are not eligible to apply.

Find out more about the funding award by watching the webinar.

Application timeline:  

opening date for applications: Monday 29 September 2025
closing date for applications: 5pm on Friday 5 December 2025
panel meeting dates: February 2026
decisions announced: Friday 20 February 2026
projects must start between 1 April and 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 Pre-application support fund (cohort 7)

This award can provide up to 12 months of flexible funding. It will help you prepare a competitive application to an NIHR career development award.

The Pre-Application Support Fund offers extra support to prepare a competitive application for an NIHR career development award.

It provides funding to support those who might not otherwise be able to apply for one of our awards. In doing so, the scheme aims to create more opportunities for groups and professions currently under-represented within NIHR.

They particularly encourage applications from public health professionals.

Applications close: 4 December 2025 at 1pm

Find out more about the NIHR Pre-application support fund

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 Postdoctoral Award (cohort 2)

The NIHR Postdoctoral Award is aimed at anyone with a PhD or a submitted PhD thesis under assessment who hasn’t yet been appointed to a professorial post. This award provides funding to help you develop your research career across a broad range of postdoctoral career stages.

The award will support you to undertake research in any scientific discipline or sector. You'll need to demonstrate a contribution to improving health and care within the NIHR’s remit.

It also supports individuals who wish to develop their academic careers while continuing as practitioners, including health and care professionals and PhD holders in local authority settings.

Applications close: 16 December 2025 at 1pm

Find out more about the NIHR Postdoctoral Award

Short Placement Award for Research Collaboration (SPARC), Round 12

Take the next step in developing your career with NIHR

The NIHR is providing opportunities for NIHR Academy Members to undertake short placements within a local authority setting; to enhance their research training experience and develop their knowledge, skills and expertise to work at the interface between practice and academia.

Individuals will gain an insight and understanding into strategic commissioning, and the opportunities and challenges of implementing research in fast moving and politically led environments, as well as an opportunity to work together on a collaborative project or activity. The placements include funding of up to £15,000 per individual and offer an opportunity to work alongside service commissioners and providers in a local authority setting.

Applications close: 20 November 2025 at 1pm

Find out more about the NIHR Local Authority Short Placement Award for Research Collaboration

NIHR Academy Fellowship programmes 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: