This page offers a list of major funding sources for research in topics relevant to academic primary care, primarily for those applying for graduate study at PCU, our early career researchers, and clinicians/allied health professionals who want to conduct research with us.
We hope this will be a helpful resource, relevant to those with the very highest academic qualifications who are interested in making applications to competitive sources of funding to work with us at doctoral or postdoctoral level.
- More sources of doctoral funding
- More sources of postdoctoral funding
- Interested in healthcare improvement research? Find out more at THIS Institute’s fellowship programme.
Help and Advice
Apply for postgraduate funding through the University of Cambridge here.
Find out more about submitting an application to NIHR, including choosing the right programme, submitting a strong application and eligibility requirements here.
The Research Design Service East of England (RDS EoE) is funded to help health and social care researchers seeking funding for health research. Find out how to request advice from their team for your project here.
Explore the UKRI Funding Opportunities here.
Resources from the MRC Interactive Career Framework on career choices, funding and the Vitae Researcher Development career resource may also be useful.
NIHR Latest Funding Opportunities
Find out which NIHR programmes are currently open for applications, from topic specific calls, to career development funding with NIHR Academy here.
Follow the latest NIHR funding news and details of new funding opportunities with the monthly Funding and Support Newsletter and weekly Funding Bulletin
The NIHR offers three awards through the Integrated Academic Training (IAT) Programme specifically for doctors (and dentists). The programme supports individuals to gain research experience as part of their clinical training.
- Academic Clinical Fellowship (ACF)
- Clinical Lectureship (CL)
- In-Practice Fellowship (IPF)
Find out more on the IAT webpage: https://www.nihr.ac.uk/explore-nihr/academy-programmes/integrated-academic-training.htm
See more about ACFs at PCU: Academic Clinical Fellows in General Practice – Primary Care Unit (cam.ac.uk)
The NIHR Fellowship Programme support individuals on their trajectory to becoming future leaders in NIHR research.
The four fellowships have been designed to support individuals at various points of their development in becoming leading researchers, from initial pre-doctoral training to senior post-doctoral research.
- Pre-Doctoral Fellowship launch date: February annually
- Development and Skills Enhancement Award launch dates: usually January, May, September annually
- Doctoral Fellowship launch dates: April, October annually
- Advanced Fellowship launch dates: April, October annually
NIHR are also partnering with a number of charitable organisations to offer jointly-funded Partnership Fellowships at both Doctoral and Advanced levels.
Learn about these awards and how to apply: https://www.nihr.ac.uk/explore-nihr/academy-programmes/fellowship-programme.htm
Read about NIHR awards made to PCU members Dr Hannah Harrison and Dr Juliet Usher-Smith in 2020: NIHR awards for Dr Hannah Harrison and Dr Juliet Usher-Smith – Primary Care Unit (cam.ac.uk)
The PCU is home to the Clinical Nursing Research Group, led by Professor Christi Deaton. The remit of the CNRG is to conduct research focusing on improving outcomes in people with long-term conditions, and to build research capacity and capability among nurses, midwives and allied health professionals in Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUHFT) and the School of Clinical Medicine.
For allied health professionals, including nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists, speech and language therapists. The Health Education England (HEE) and National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Integrated Clinical Academic (ICA) Programme provides research training awards for healthcare professionals, excluding doctors and dentists, who wish to develop careers that combine clinical research and research leadership with continued clinical practice and professional development.
The programme offers five levels of awards and also funds HEE administered ICA Bridging Schemes, which support members of the ICA eligible professions to build on their previous academic training and develop proposals for a pre or post-doctoral award.
Learn about this funding programme here: https://www.nihr.ac.uk/explore-nihr/academy-programmes/hee-nihr-integrated-clinical-academic-programme.htm
Check the full list of eligible health professionals here: https://www.nihr.ac.uk/documents/heenihr-ica-programme-eligible-professions-and-regulators/12204
MRC funds research at the forefront of science to prevent illness, develop therapies and improve human health. See the website: Medical Research Council (MRC) – UKRI
MRC Funding Finder: search for funding here: Opportunities – UKRI
For new postgraduate students. Every year the University of Cambridge awards over £100m in scholarships to new postgraduate students. This money is made up of a number of generous University and College endowments as well as government Research Council (UKRI) funds. Many of our students are also able to fund their studies from external sources, such as loans, charities or government schemes.
Applying for funding is a key part of applying for postgraduate study at University of Cambridge, as this is usually awarded separately. Therefore, we recommend you carefully read these pages to help you understand what is required of you and what funding opportunities Cambridge offers.
Our major internal sources of funding are: Cambridge Trust, Gates Cambridge Trust, Harding Distinguished Postgraduate Scholars Programme, Research Councils and collectively College and departmental schemes.
Read more about the funding opportunities and how you could apply: How to apply for funding | Postgraduate Admissions (cam.ac.uk)
For clinicians and allied health professionals. The Cambridge Clinical Research Fellowships scheme provides an entry point into a career in clinical academia. It provides salary support and a consumable allowance for up to one year, during which time it is anticipated that successful candidates will apply for nationally competitive fellowships, with a view to completing a PhD. Learn more
Dr Stephen Barclay at the PCU leads the Palliative and End of Life theme at the ARC and you can read about Dr Barclay’s research group here.
The ARC Fellowship, which now provides a flat rate of £12,500 per fellow per year, is aimed at clinicians, health & social care practitioners, voluntary sector staff and NHS managers across the East of England. Research or Implementation fellowships are available. ARC Fellowship 2022 Applications open on 18 October 2021 | ARC east of England (nihr.ac.uk)
Several members of the Primary Care Unit are holders of substantial awards from Wellcome, including Dr Robbie Duschinsky, who leads the Applied Social Science Group (ASSG). Robbie is happy to offer advice to potential candidates seeking Wellcome funding opportunities. Contact him by email here and read about the Living Assessment programme of research funded by Wellcome.
Wellcome is a major funder offering a wide range of funding schemes, including schemes that support careers in research.
Browse Wellcome’s grant schemes here: https://wellcome.ac.uk/grant-funding/schemes
An independent charity committed to bringing about better health and health care for people in the UK, the Health Foundation funds a number of fellowship programmes to support individuals to develop quality improvement and leadership skills, while sharing their skills and knowledge with others: Fellowship opportunities – The Health Foundation.
This philanthropic organisation has a range of schemes including Early Career Fellowships.
See the range of grants on this page: https://www.leverhulme.ac.uk/schemes-at-a-glance
The PCU is home to the Cardiovascular Group, headed by Professor Jonathan Mant; and the Prevention Group led by Professor Simon Griffin, which focuses on reducing the burden of common chronic conditions in which primary care plays a central role in diagnosis and management such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. The Clinical Nursing Research Group, led by Professor Christi Deaton, has a focus on cardiovascular health.
Search the Stroke association website for latest news on research awards: Get funding for stroke research | Stroke Association
The PCU is home to the Cancer Group, which has a focus on the role of primary care in cancer prevention, diagnosis and follow-up care; and the Prevention Group led by Professor Simon Griffin, which focuses on reducing the burden of common chronic conditions in which primary care plays a central role in in diagnosis and management, including cancer. The Cambridge Palliative and End of Life Care Group, led by Dr Stephen Barclay, conducts research in Palliative and End of Life Care (not just for cancer patients) to improve the well-being of patients and their families, the care provided by clinicians, and the decisions made by commissioners, organisational leaders, and policy makers.
See an overview of CRUK research awards here: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/funding-for-researchers
The PCU is home to the Prevention Group led by Professor Simon Griffin, which focuses on reducing the burden of common chronic conditions in which primary care plays a central role in in diagnosis and management such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer.
See an overview of Diabetes UK research grants here: https://www.diabetes.org.uk/research/for-researchers/apply-for-a-grant
The PCU is home to the Cardiovascular Group, headed by Professor Jonathan Mant; and the Prevention Group led by Professor Simon Griffin, which focuses on reducing the burden of common chronic conditions in which primary care plays a central role in in diagnosis and management such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. The Clinical Nursing Research Group, led by Professor Christi Deaton, has a focus on cardiovascular health.
The BHF provides personal support for clinical and non-clinical cardiovascular researchers at all stages of their career.
Four years postdoctoral funding: https://www.bhf.org.uk/research/information-for-researchers/what-we-fund/immediate-postdoctoral-basic-science-research-fellowship
Postdoctoral funding after a career break: https://www.bhf.org.uk/research/information-for-researchers/what-we-fund/career-re-entry-research-fellowship
Clinical research leave fellowship: https://www.bhf.org.uk/research/information-for-researchers/what-we-fund/clinical-research-leave-fellowship
Funding overview: https://www.bhf.org.uk/for-professionals/information-for-researchers/what-we-fund
Browse the grants and fellowships offered by the Royal Society: Research Grants | Royal Society
See also
Information on further doctoral funding.
Information on further postdoctoral funding.