# HSDR Researcher-Led

**Funder:** NIHR
**Consortium:** No
**Application:** 2-stage: outline application → full application
**Eligible countries:** GB
**Official call:** https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/hsdr-researcher-led/2026489
**Last updated:** 30 Aug 2026

## Eligibility & scope

Researcher-led funding for health and social care delivery research (HSDR Programme). No fixed limits on project duration, funding amount, or number of co-applicants. Outline requires a max 5-page research plan plus flow diagram and references. UK-based researchers; inclusive research design and sex/gender considerations required throughout.

## Summary

The NIHR Researcher-Led HSDR Programme funds investigator-initiated research on health and social care delivery systems in the UK. The call is open to UK-based researchers and supports projects of any duration and budget within the programme's scope, with mandatory inclusive research design and sex/gender considerations built into all applications. This is a 2-stage process beginning with a concise 5-page outline application.

## Who should apply

- UK-based researchers conducting health and social care delivery research
- Teams designing projects with inclusive and co-productive elements
- Applicants with explicit consideration of sex and gender across study design
- Researchers comfortable with flexible project structures (no fixed duration or budget ceiling)

## Key dates

- Two-stage process: outline application followed by full application (check NIHR website for specific deadlines)
- Outline applications limited to 5 pages plus flow diagram and references

## Tips for applicants

- The outline stage is your filter: clarity and feasibility matter more than scope. Use the 5-page limit to demonstrate a coherent research question, not to compress a full proposal.
- Inclusive research design and sex/gender analysis are mandatory, not optional add-ons. Evidence of co-applicant or co-investigator involvement from service users or populations affected strengthens both stages.
- The flow diagram can carry weight in the outline stage, use it to signal complexity and stakeholder touchpoints clearly.

## Frequently asked questions

### Is there a budget cap for NIHR Researcher-Led HSDR projects?

No, the call has no fixed limits on funding amount or project duration. Budget flexibility is set by the HSDR programme scope.

### How many co-applicants can I include in a Researcher-Led HSDR application?

There is no fixed limit on the number of co-applicants, allowing teams to structure their research partnership as the project demands.

### What is required in the outline application for NIHR Researcher-Led HSDR?

A maximum 5-page research plan, a flow diagram, and references. The outline feeds into a full application stage for successful proposals.

### Who is eligible for the NIHR Researcher-Led HSDR Programme?

UK-based researchers designing projects that include inclusive research design and sex/gender considerations throughout the study.

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

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