# Definitive Social Care Evaluations

**Funder:** NIHR
**Consortium:** No
**Application:** 2-stage: outline application → full application
**Eligible countries:** GB
**Official call:** https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/definitive-social-care-evaluations/2026474
**Last updated:** 30 Aug 2026

## Eligibility & scope

NIHR HTA Programme call for definitive evaluations of health technologies (interventions, diagnostics, or services) in NHS or social care settings, using PICO-structured research questions. Applicants expected to be UK-based; multidisciplinary teams required, including health economists and patient/public involvement leads. Outline research plan limited to 5 A4 pages.

## Summary

The NIHR HTA Programme funds definitive evaluations of health technologies in social care and NHS settings across the UK, with outline and full application stages. Multidisciplinary teams must frame research questions using PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome) logic to address health and social care populations. Economic evaluation components are encouraged.

## Who should apply

- UK-based multidisciplinary research teams
- Health services researchers, clinicians, and social care specialists
- Teams with capacity to conduct rigorous technology evaluations using PICO framing
- Projects integrating health economic evaluation alongside clinical evidence

## Key dates

- Two-stage process: outline application followed by full application
- Applicants shortlisted after outline stage proceed to full application

## Tips for applicants

- Frame your research question explicitly using PICO structure, reviewers screen for clarity on population, intervention, comparator, and outcome from the outset.
- Include a named health economist or economic evaluation lead; this funder values cost-effectiveness data alongside clinical evidence.
- Multidisciplinary authorship matters: evidence a clinical, research, and (where relevant) social care team at outline stage.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the NIHR HTA Programme looking for in this call?

Definitive evaluations of health technologies in NHS and social care settings, using rigorous methods and PICO-framed research questions, ideally with an economic evaluation component.

### Who can apply to the NIHR HTA Definitive Social Care Evaluations call?

UK-based multidisciplinary teams including researchers, clinicians, and social care specialists working collaboratively.

### Is the NIHR HTA call a single-stage or multi-stage application?

It is a two-stage process: applicants first submit an outline application, and those shortlisted then proceed to submit a full application.

---

Source: [The Great Grantsby](https://grantsby.eu/grants/nihr-definitive-social-care-evaluations-2026) — EU grant monitoring for academic researchers. Always verify details on the funder's website before applying.

**See which EU calls match your profile.** [Preview your matches in 30 seconds, no signup](https://grantsby.eu/demo?ref=llm_grant_md).