Funding calls

Public Health Grassroots Awards - funding call 3

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

The vision for the Public Health Grassroots Award 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 improves 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-based practice, with support from local and national infrastructure.

Application timeline:

• opening date for applications: Tuesday 14 April 2026

• closing date for applications: 5pm on Tuesday 9 June 2026

• panel meeting date: Thursday 9 July 2026

• decisions announced: w/c 13 July 2026

• funding commences: from 20 July and no later than 30 November 2026

Highlight notice: Public Health Engagement Leads - funding call 4

Opportunity for colleagues working in local authorities in *specific regions* to apply for funding (0.1FTE) for a 24-month period to be a PHEL starting on 1 July 2026.  

This call is open to colleagues working in local authorities in England, including those with NIHR Health Determinants Research Collaborations (HDRC) or Local Authority Research Practitioner (LARP) funding. Those in the devolved nations should speak with relevant funders to explore similar opportunities.  Applications are to be submitted at an individual level and are open to existing local authority employees.

Application timeline:

• opening date for applications: Monday 27 April 2026

• closing date for applications: 12 noon on Friday 22 May 2026

• decisions announced: w/c 15 June 2026

The NIHR Public Health Research Programme has the following funding calls open:

• Women’s health communication

• PHR Development Awards - women in the armed forces

• Housing, place and the built environment for an ageing population

• Active travel facilitators and barriers within different populations

• School readiness and the home learning environment

• Gambling evaluation team

Remember, speak to us early to access support for NIHR Public Health Research Programme funding calls by completing our online contact form.

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.