NIHR Funding Calls
Please get in touch with MedConnect North if you would like to apply for any of these funding opportunities. We can put you in touch with the appropriate teams to assist you with your application.
i4i Programme
The invention for innovation (i4i) programme is a dedicated MedTech translational funding scheme for academics, clinicians and small- medium-sized enterprises(SME), which will advance innovative medical technologies and interventions for increased patient benefit in areas of existing or emerging clinical need. Projects must have already demonstrated proof of concept as a minimum. Applicants are expected to have generated experimental data to support the case for further development and illustrate technical feasibility, have sufficient research and activities planned (e.g. regulatory or health economics), and have a clear pathway towards adoption and commercialisation. Contact details for queries: i4i@nihr.ac.uk
EME programme
The Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation (EME) programme primarily funds clinical trials and other robustly designed studies that test the efficacy of interventions. It covers both new and repurposed interventions, including diagnostic tests and decision-making tools, therapeutics, psychological treatments, medical devices, and public health initiatives delivered by the NHS. EME also supports hypothesis-driven research within clinical trials into the mechanism of action of interventions. Applications are required to demonstrate some initial evidence that the technology may be efficacious in patients (i.e. a signal of efficacy in a relevant human population has already been achieved) but a large-scale study is needed to determine definitive proof of clinical efficacy. Contact details for queries: eme@nihr.ac.uk
HTA programme
The Health Technology Assessment (HTA) programme supports research that is immediately useful to patients, clinical practice, and policy or decision makers. It supports research into a wide range of technologies with the potential to improve health outcomes, including procedures, drugs, devices, diagnostic tests, settings of care and screening programmes. Studies funded by HTA aim to establish the clinical effectiveness or accuracy and cost-effectiveness of technologies in comparison with the current alternative(s) or within existing pathways. Applications to HTA are required to demonstrate that efficacy has already been established. Contact details for queries: htafunding@nihr.ac.uk
Research for Patient Benefit: Competition 52
The NIHR Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) programme is inviting stage 1 applications for research proposals that are concerned with the day-to-day practice of health service staff, and that have the potential to have an impact on the health or wellbeing of patients and users of the NHS.
As a researcher-led programme, RfPB does not specify topics for research but instead encourages proposals for projects that address a wide range of health service issues and challenges.
The programme aims to fund high quality quantitative and qualitative research with a clear trajectory to patient benefit. It particularly encourages applications that have a strong element of interaction with patients and the public and that have been conceived in association with a relevant group of service users.
The submission deadline for applications is 1pm on 06 March 2024.
NIHR i4i and OLS Real World Evidence Programme
The aim of the NIHR i4i and OLS Real World Evidence Programme call is to support consortia to address real world evidence gaps to accelerate widespread adoption of technologies recommended for early use in the NHS through NICE Early Value Assessment (EVA). Funding will be deployed to generate real world evidence for product(s) to achieve a full NICE evaluation, generate further evidence required by commissioners to increase uptake, and to capture generalisable learnings to support future innovators. Applications that align with the Life Sciences Vision, published in July 2021, are particularly welcomed.
The application window will open 31 January 2024 and will close at 1pm on 27 March 2024.
Other medical device research funding opportunities
Creative Catalyst
UK registered micro or small businesses in the creative industries sector can apply for funding of up to £50,000 with a package of tailored support to grow their business. This fully funded Creative Catalyst grant programme is from Innovate UK.
The competition closes on 6 March 2024 at 11am.
UK Research and Innovation Awards
Visit the UK Research and Innovation website to find out about current and upcoming funding calls for medical research.