The NIHR is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research. Working in partnership with the NHS, universities, local government, other research funders, patients and the public - we fund, enable and deliver world-leading health and social care research that improves people's health and wellbeing and promotes economic growth. Each of our funding programmes has a specific focus, aiming to address key areas in health, social care, and public health.
Social care research funding:
We fund social care research studies through our different funding calls. Our Health and Social Care Delivery Research Programme offers funding for evaluative research to improve social care services. It is open to applications all year round and advertises priority social care topics. Social care research projects are also funded via our Health Technology Assessment Programme. This programme looks at cost-effectiveness and the broader impact of treatments, such as assistive technology to maintain independent living. One of our main funding streams for social care research is the Research Programme for Social Care. This £10m funding programme launched in 2023 and funds studies such as this one into those who self-fund their social care. Funding for projects which inform social care policy making can be awarded via our Policy Research Programme. View the list of open and active social care funding calls on our funding opportunities page on the NIHR website.
If you're completely new to research and don't know where to start, or thinking about how to develop a research idea, free support and advice is available from the Research Support Service. Details for the Research Support Service can also be found on the NIHR website.