# HSDR Programme Researcher-Led

**Funder:** NIHR
**Application:** 2-stage: outline application → full application
**Eligible countries:** GB
**Official call:** https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/hsdr-researcher-led/2026456
**Last updated:** 6 Sept 2026

## Eligibility & scope

NIHR Health and Social Care Delivery Research (HSDR) Programme, researcher-led track. No fixed limits on project duration, funding amount, or number of co-applicants. Research must address health/care needs relevant to NHS and social care. Proposals must demonstrate generalisable findings with prospects for impact on NHS/social care delivery.

## Summary

The NIHR HSDR Programme Researcher-Led track funds UK-based research addressing health and social care delivery questions relevant to the NHS and social care system, with no fixed cap on project duration, funding amount, or number of co-applicants. It suits research teams proposing generalisable findings with a clear route to influencing how care is delivered. Applications go through a two-stage process: an outline application followed by a full application for those shortlisted.

## Who should apply

- Researchers based in the UK (GB-eligible institutions)
- Teams addressing NHS or social care delivery questions rather than purely clinical or biomedical questions
- Applicants with flexible project scope, since duration and budget are not capped
- Multi-investigator teams, as no limit is placed on number of co-applicants
- Projects designed to produce generalisable findings with practical impact on care delivery

## Key dates

- Two-stage process: outline application, then full application by invitation
- No fixed project duration, set by the applicant according to project scope

## Tips for applicants

- Frame the research question around a clearly stated NHS or social care delivery need, not just a scientific gap.
- Because there's no fixed budget ceiling, justify the requested amount and duration against the scale of the delivery problem being addressed.
- Use the outline stage to make the case for generalisability and impact pathway clearly, the full application builds on but does not replace this framing.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much does the NIHR HSDR Researcher-Led programme fund?

There is no fixed funding cap; the amount awarded depends on the scale and scope of the proposed project.

### How long can an HSDR Researcher-Led project last?

There is no fixed limit on project duration, applicants set the timeline appropriate to their research question.

### Who can apply to the NIHR HSDR Researcher-Led programme?

Researchers based in the UK working on health and social care delivery questions relevant to the NHS or social care system can apply, with no restriction on number of co-applicants.

### Is the HSDR Researcher-Led application a single submission?

No, it is a two-stage process: an outline application is reviewed first, and only successful applicants are invited to submit a full application.

### Does HSDR Researcher-Led require NHS relevance?

Yes, proposals must address a health or social care need relevant to the NHS or social care system and show generalisable findings with clear prospects for delivery impact.

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

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