NIHR
Accelerated Commercial Research Delivery Fund
Funded activity to commence 1 October 2026; organisations must be able to sign funding agreement within two weeks of notification of outcomes
Last updated:
No deadline is on file for this call. Check NIHR's own call page for the current round's status before you plan around it.
The NIHR Accelerated Commercial Research Delivery Fund provides up to 30 months of capital and operational funding to NHS Trusts in England to pilot innovative systems that speed patient recruitment into commercial interventional clinical trials. Eligible trusts must meet strict performance thresholds: at least 50% of commercial studies achieving the 150-day setup standard, an average of 40 or more commercial studies open per year, and 80% recruitment to sponsor target in 2025/26. Funding is awarded to a single designated NHS organisation, though funds may flow to partner organisations via subcontract.
Details
| Funder | NIHR |
| Duration | 30 months |
| Consortium | Optional — funds may flow to partner or collaborating organisations via subcontract; joint lead applicants are permissible |
| Application | Single stage |
| Eligible countries | GB |
Eligibility & scope
Infrastructure funding for NHS Trusts in England to develop and test innovative operational models increasing recruitment to commercial interventional clinical trials. Eligibility requires ≥40 commercial studies open/year (2023/24–2025/26), ≥80% recruitment performance, and ≥50% study setup within 150 days. Mandatory letter of support from host Trust CEO and R&D Director; research inclusion is a condition of funding.
Who Should Apply
- •NHS Trusts in England meeting commercial trials performance criteria
- •Organisations with a track record of running 40+ commercial studies annually
- •Trusts achieving ≥50% of commercial studies within the 150-day setup standard
- •Research teams with demonstrable CEO and R&D Director commitment
- •Applicants with plans for sustainable operational innovation in trial delivery
Key Dates
- •Application deadline: <UNKNOWN> (verify on NIHR website)
- •Single-stage evaluation
- •Funded activity must commence 1 October 2026
- •Funding agreement to be signed within two weeks of outcome notification
- •Project duration up to 30 months
Tips for Applicants
- ✓CEO and R&D Director letter of support is mandatory, applications without it will not be considered.
- ✓Focus your proposal on the operational or systems change that will accelerate setup and recruitment; the funder is looking for replicable innovation, not incremental tweaks.
- ✓Demonstrate your baseline performance rigorously: be specific about your current 150-day achievement rate and recruitment target attainment in 2025/26, as these directly gate eligibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for the NIHR Accelerated Commercial Research Delivery Fund?
NHS Trusts in England that run at least 40 commercial studies per year on average, achieve ≥50% of commercial studies within the 150-day setup standard, and meet ≥80% recruitment to sponsor target in 2025/26.
How long can the project last?
Up to 30 months from the 1 October 2026 start date.
Must a single NHS organisation lead, or can there be multiple leads?
Funding is awarded to a single designated NHS organisation, though joint lead applicants are permitted and funds may flow to partners via subcontract.
Is the CEO and R&D Director letter mandatory?
Yes, a letter of support from the CEO and R&D Director is mandatory for all applications.
What does this fund support?
Innovative operational models that accelerate patient recruitment into commercial interventional clinical trials, including capital and operational investment.
Summary generated by AI based on published grant information. Always verify details on the funder's website.
Similar grants
Biomedical Research Centres
NIHREME Programme Researcher-Led
NIHREfficacy and Mechanism Evaluation Programme
NIHRResearch for Patient Benefit
NIHRUp to £500k (+ up to £10k for inclusive research practices)Clinical Research Funding Scheme
Cancer Research UKDeadline: 3 Dec 2026Flexible; module dependent
Browse Related
Could Accelerated Commercial Research Delivery Fund be right for you?
See your personalised match score for this grant and others in 30 seconds. No signup needed to preview.
See my matches free →