# HTA Researcher-Led Primary Research

**Funder:** NIHR
**Application:** 2-stage: outline application → full application
**Eligible countries:** GB
**Official call:** https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/hta-researcher-led-primary-research/2026420
**Last updated:** 30 Aug 2026

## Eligibility & scope

Funds primary research assessing health technologies for NHS/social care populations using PICO-framed questions; cost-effectiveness analysis expected. Applicants must be UK-based with multidisciplinary teams. Clinical trials must engage an accredited UKCRC CTU. Evidence the intervention is ready for HTA evaluation is required at application.

## Summary

The NIHR Health Technology Assessment Programme funds researcher-led primary research evaluating NHS and social care technologies through rigorously framed research questions (PICO format). Applicants must be UK-based and lead multidisciplinary teams; clinical trial studies require partnership with an accredited UKCRC Clinical Trials Unit. This call prioritises evidence generation to support clinical decision-making in real NHS settings.

## Who should apply

- UK-based researchers leading multidisciplinary teams
- Clinicians and academic researchers with NHS or social care technology evaluation expertise
- Groups planning primary research with clear PICO-framed research questions
- Clinical trial applicants with access to an accredited UKCRC Clinical Trials Unit

## Key dates

- Two-stage application: outline application followed by full application
- Studies involving clinical trials require UKCRC Clinical Trials Unit partnership

## Tips for applicants

- Frame your research question tightly in PICO terms (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome), HTA panels expect this format and vague framing scores poorly.
- Multidisciplinary team composition is assessed at both stages; include named collaborators with clinical credibility and health economics expertise if budget-relevant.
- If you plan a clinical trial, confirm UKCRC accreditation status of your partnering unit early, missing this gate-keeps the full application.

## Frequently asked questions

### What counts as a health technology in the NIHR HTA Programme?

Any intervention used in NHS or social care settings: devices, medicines, procedures, diagnostics, digital tools, or service models that you plan to evaluate through primary research.

### Is the NIHR HTA call limited to clinical trials?

No; the call funds primary research using any rigorous design framed in PICO terms, though clinical trials must partner with an accredited UKCRC Clinical Trials Unit.

### Can I apply to NIHR HTA if I am based outside the UK?

No; applicants must be UK-based to lead the research team, though co-investigators may be international.

### What does PICO mean in the HTA application?

Population, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome, a structured framework for defining your research question that HTA funders expect all applicants to use.

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

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