# Public Health Research Programme

**Funder:** NIHR
**Consortium:** No
**Application:** 2-stage: outline application → full application
**Eligible countries:** GB
**Official call:** https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/phr-researcher-led/2026417
**Last updated:** 30 Aug 2026

## Eligibility & scope

Researcher-led strand funding primary research and evidence synthesis on public health interventions and policy. Must address health inequalities and include a health economic evaluation component. UK institutions; ethics approval via NRES or ESRC framework required. Outline: 5-page research plan + flow diagram + logic model.

## Summary

The NIHR Public Health Research Programme funds researcher-led primary research and evidence synthesis on public health interventions and policy addressing health inequalities in the UK. Projects must include a health economic evaluation component. This is a two-stage call: outline applications are evaluated first, with successful teams invited to submit full proposals.

## Who should apply

- Researchers at UK academic, NHS, or public health institutions
- Teams ready to address health inequalities as a core research focus
- Research teams with access to health economics expertise or capacity to build it
- Projects combining primary research with evidence synthesis (systematic review or similar)
- Applicants able to obtain NRES or ESRC ethics approval before full application

## Key dates

- Two-stage evaluation: outline application followed by full application for shortlisted teams
- Outline application requires 5-page research plan, flow diagram, and logic model

## Tips for applicants

- The logic model and flow diagram are mandatory outline components; invest time in making causal pathways and implementation steps explicit rather than generic.
- Health economic evaluation is not optional, integrate it into the research design from outline stage; panels flag weak or token health economics.
- Address health inequalities explicitly as a driver of your research question, not as an afterthought in the background section.

## Frequently asked questions

### What are the application stages for the NIHR Public Health Research Programme?

The call is two-stage: outline application first, then full application for teams shortlisted after outline review.

### Must a project include health economic evaluation?

Yes, a health economic evaluation component is mandatory for all projects in this programme.

### Do I need ethics approval before applying?

Ethics approval via NRES or ESRC is required; you must have it in place before submitting the full application.

### Who is eligible to apply to the NIHR Public Health Research Programme?

Researchers based at UK institutions (academic, NHS, or public health bodies) can apply; projects must address health inequalities.

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

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