External research funding opportunities 

Academy Ignition Fund (Deadlines - 5 December 2025, 27 March 2026)

Joint MRC / Vivensa Foundation predoctoral clinical research training fellowship (Deadlines - 14 January 2026, 8 April 2026)

Public, patient and community involvement and engagement awards (Deadlines - 9 January 2026, 31 March 2026, 30 June 2026)

Conference Awards for Ageing Research (Applications accepted up to June 2026, provisional decision within approx six weeks)

Find out more about Vivensa Foundation funding opportunities

Research Facilitation Fund 2026 support for patient and public involvement (PPI) activity in musculoskeletal research (Deadline - 11 February 2026)

Career Development Fellowship 2027 (Deadline - expected May 2026)

Find out more about Arthritis UK funding opportunities 

Themed call - Prevention revolution: early action to prevent poor health outcomes

Public Health Research Programme Rapid Funding Scheme (Public Health Research) (Deadline - 27 December 2025)

Health and Social Care Delivery Research (HSDR) Programme: Early action and prevention within health and social care services (Deadline - 21 January 2026)

NIHR awards Applied Research Collaborations £157 million to support transformation of the health and care system

Find out more about NIHR funding opportunities 

Find out more about Orthopaedic Research UK funding opportunities 

MRC: partnership grant: applicant-led (Open - no closing date)

MRC: research grant: applicant-led (Open - no closing date)

MRC: new investigator research grant: applicant-led (Open - no closing date)

Find out more about UKRI funding opportunities 

Changing Policy and Practice Award 2025/26 (Deadline - 10 December 2025)

Find out more about Medical Research Foundation funding opportunities