Programme and large project funding
Examples of Programme or large project funding opportunities are listed below. Doctoral and post-doctoral opportunities may be available through institutions awarded.
Medical Research Council and Innovate UK include a range of large programme grant funding opportunities. These are listed on the UKRI funding opportunities website - Deadline: Various.
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) is the main funding body for engineering and physical sciences research in the UK. Their diverse portfolio includes the use of digital technologies in health. For example the recently funded EPSRC Digital Health Hub for Antimicrobial Resistance
NIHR funds a range of research programmes for example Research for Patient Benefits, Health Technology Assessment, and Public Health Research. These are available here
Funders of Healthcare Research (people and project funding)
Pharmacy Research UK
PRUK is the largest pharmacy research funder in the UK, dedicated to supporting UK registered pharmacists and pharmacy technicians from all sectors of practice. Personal awards, fellowships and bursaries are available for the development of projects relating to the practice of pharmacy. PRUK works to build research capacity and capability in pharmacy, so they are keen to fund good quality research undertaken by early career researchers.
FIP Foundation
The FIP Foundation supports and fosters research activities through grants, research incubation, and the development of collaborative research partnerships among and between the Foundation and other FIP units as well as other external organisations.
Medical Research Council (MRC) - UKRI
The largest funder of research in 2022 who provides investment and support for researchers, project and fellowship funding opportunities. These opportunities are available three times a year.
National Institute for Health Research
NIHR is the lead funding body in the NHS supporting innovation in health, public health and social care. They fund a variety of commissioned, researcher-led and themed call research, as well as personal awards such as fellowships.
NIHR also have an extensive Research Support Service that provides free and confidential advice to develop funding applications within the remit of the NIHR, including clinical, applied health and social care research, and post-award advice to award holders. Access to support, advice and expertise is available for all researchers across England applying to NIHR research programmes or research training awards as well as to non-NIHR funders such as charities.
NIHR Biomedical Research Centres (BRCs) are collaborations between NHS organisations and universities. They bring together academics and clinicians to translate scientific discoveries into potential new treatments, diagnostics and technologies.
The Wellcome Trust
Wellcome improves health for everyone by funding research, leading policy and advocacy campaigns, and building global partnerships. This funding is available on an annual basis.
NIHR & Wellcome also offer opportunities to health practitioners who are based outside the UK through their global health programmes
Funding Bodies
These organisations also provide funding not specific to healthcare research.
Innovate UK
Provides grants towards business-led innovation in all sectors and technologies.
Royal Society
Offers fellowships and grants across various disciplines and career stages to scientists pursuing discovery-led and applied research.
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
EPSRC fund a variety of research projects with aims to benefit the economy, environment and society, some of these being healthcare and pharmacy focussed. The organisation have recently funded development of a Digital Health Hub for Antimicrobial Resistance, more information on this project can be found here.
Industry Funders of Clinical Projects
Pfizer
Pfizer supports the global healthcare communities' independent initiatives to improve patient outcomes in areas of unmet medical need.
Gilead UK and Ireland Fellowship and Medical Grants Programme
The programme supports local innovation and best practices in caring for people living with HIV, cancer, invasive fungal diseases and viral hepatitis.
Charity Funders
The Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) Directory contains leading medical and health research charities in the UK and is a useful resource for finding suitable charity funding, this can be found here.
The following charities provide funding within a specific area of research.
Cancer Research UK
Funds research aimed at discovering and developing clinical applications and prevention of cancer.
British Heart Foundation
Provide grants for projects, fellowships and partnership funding on focused areas of cardiovascular science.
Diabetes UK
Funds research into the causes, prevention and treatment of diabetes and its complications.
Antibiotic Research UK
This charity provides grants to resolve gaps in research funding for antibiotic use and resistance.
Alzheimer's Society
Fund research in the pursuit of breakthroughs in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.
These charities provide funding across multiple areas of research.
NHS Charities
There are over 200 NHS charities across the UK supporting hospitals, ambulance trusts, mental health trusts, and community services. Together, they provide extra support for NHS staff, patients, and volunteers.
Barts Charity
Research Project Grants support innovative, health-related research that could improve the lives of people in East London. The outputs of this research should be internationally significant and could form the basis of substantial ongoing support from other funders. Please check your NHS Trust to see the scope of funding opportunities available.
The British Academy
The charity invests in researchers and projects across the UK to support development and engagement within the social sciences.
Harold and Marjorie Moss Charitable Trust Fund
This Trust does not have a website. We recommend speaking to your Pharmacy School for help when applying for a grant with this Trust.
The Dunhill Medical Trust
This Trust provides research funding opportunities for those focussed on improving the health and well-being of older people.
Studentship Opportunities
PhD Opportunities
Many educational institutions offer funding opportunities for PhDs to students and researchers. Additional opportunities can be found via Find a PhD or jobs.ac.uk.
A research funding database for pharmaceutical science research can be found here.
UKRI and research councils such as the Medical Research Council & EPSRC (in full) support doctoral training. More information can be found here.
Hardship funding and bursaries
Pharmacy schools and trusts offer financial support to pharmacy students completing their studies. Find out more about funding available for students using this list collated by Pharmacist Support.
You can find a detailed overview of UK health research funding from all public sectors, including the governments of the four nations of the UK, charities, societies, and professional bodies from the UK Health Research Analysis. Download the 2022-2023 report.
The Science and Research Team are grateful for insights provided by the SRC research across professions working group in developing this page