UKRI Launches Global Health Research Fund to Improve Health in LMICs

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has launched an opportunity in partnership with the Medical Research Council (MRC), the Department for International Development (DFID), and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) to support research that will benefit the health of people living in low and middle income countries (LMICs).

The call will support proposals of any size, from small seed-funding proposals to large-scale programme grants, as long as they will be of direct and primary benefit to the health of vulnerable populations living in LMICs. Proposals are particularly welcomed that combine expertise from more than one sector to meet a global health challenge.

Projects should develop practical solutions to health challenges from late-stage intervention development onwards. This includes:

Implementation science

Scale-up activities

Health services research

Health economics

Health policy research

Research with a predominantly applied focus that does not fit within the remit of other MRC boards and panels.

Cross-sectoral research applications are welcomed that combine expertise to meet a global health challenge (such as urban planning, health policy and non-communicable disease research) within a single proposal. The research question might involve different disciplines and approaches from outside the health sector, but the primary objective must be health focused.

Applied research into understanding the effects of COVID-19 in LMICs will be funded.

Proposals are accepted from Principal Investigators (PI) based in LMICs and UK research organisations. If a PI is based in the UK, there must be clear partnership with, and scientific leadership from, Co-investigators based in the LMIC where the project will take place.

LMIC PIs must be based at one of the following:

Higher Education Institutions.

Non-profit Research Institutions.

Non-governmental organisations with sufficient research capacity to manage and deliver research.

Proposals must demonstrate that the research is relevant and directly linked to near-term benefits to the health and economic development of the poorest and most vulnerable populations within LMICs. They must also outline long-term capacity-building goals, as well as planned activities within the research project.

Applicants may not be a principal investigator on more than two proposals submitted to the board at any one time. They may support others as a co-investigator provided they have the capacity to do so.

There is no limit to the amount of funding that may be requested; applicants may submit a proposal of any size, but requested resource should be justified and represent value for money.

Outline proposals should be submitted by the 14 April 2021 deadline. Selected applicants will be invited to submit a full application.

More information about this research funding opportunity and the application process is available on the RESEARCHconnect funding information platform. RESEARCHconnect provides up-to-the minute content, insight and analysis on research funding news and policy. To find out more about how RESEARCHconnect can keep you in the know, and subscription fees, contact us today.