NIHR
Research for Patient Benefit
July 2026 round; no specific deadline date stated on page
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.
NIHR Research for Patient Benefit funds applied health research with near-term clinical impact, up to £500,000 over up to three years. The call is open to NHS bodies and NHS service providers in England (not universities as lead applicants), and requires research to be grounded in a systematic evidence review. The funding is tiered: observational and proof-of-concept studies up to £200k, feasibility and pilot studies up to £300k, and trials up to £500k.
Details
| Funder | NIHR |
| Budget | Up to £500k (+ up to £10k for inclusive research practices) |
| Duration | Up to 36 months |
| Application | 2-stage: outline application → full application |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Eligible countries | GB |
Eligibility & scope
Contracting organisation must be an NHS body or other provider of NHS services in England; lead applicant requires honorary contract with that body if not already employed there. Max 11 team members. Tiered budget guidance: up to £200k (observational/proof-of-concept), up to £300k (feasibility/pilot), up to £500k (e.g. RCTs). Early career researchers encouraged to apply with a senior mentor as Joint Lead Applicant.
Who Should Apply
- •NHS bodies or NHS service providers in England with research capacity
- •Lead applicants holding an honorary contract or employment with the NHS lead organisation
- •Researchers conducting primary applied health research grounded in systematic evidence review
- •Teams targeting observational, feasibility, pilot, or trial-phase research with defined patient benefit within three years
Key Dates
- •July 2026 round (exact deadline to be confirmed on NIHR website)
- •Two-stage: outline application (5-page research plan) then full application (15-page research plan)
- •Project duration up to 36 months
Tips for Applicants
- ✓Lead applicant must hold an honorary NHS contract if not directly employed by the NHS lead body; confirm contractual status early.
- ✓Anchor your proposal in a systematic evidence review; this is mandatory and panels check it closely.
- ✓Use the tiered budget guidance to set realistic scope: observational work tops £200k, pilots/feasibility up to £300k, trials up to £500k.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can be the lead applicant on a Research for Patient Benefit grant?
The lead applicant must work for an NHS body or NHS service provider in England and hold an honorary or employment contract with that organisation; universities cannot be the lead applicant.
What is the maximum funding for a Research for Patient Benefit grant?
Up to £500,000 over up to 36 months, with a further £10,000 available for inclusive research practices; funding is tiered by study type (£200k observational, £300k feasibility/pilot, £500k trials).
Is my research eligible if it's not informed by a systematic evidence review?
No, all proposals must be grounded in a systematic evidence review to be eligible.
How often does the Research for Patient Benefit call open?
The call is annual, with a July 2026 round confirmed; exact future deadlines should be checked on the NIHR website.
Summary generated by AI based on published grant information. Always verify details on the funder's website.
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