Funding Call Celebrating 20 Years of NIHR: Research Leaders Prizes
To mark our 20th anniversary, the NIHR have launched two prestigious prizes to celebrate outstanding individuals whose work is shaping the future of health and care research.
NIHR20 Research Leaders Prizes will recognise researchers who demonstrate exceptional leadership, impact, innovation, and a strong commitment to making research more inclusive and relevant to patients, communities, and health and care delivery.
Applications are now open till 18 March 2026 at 13:00.
Prize Categories
This prize celebrates 20 outstanding rising research leaders at early to mid-career level who go above and beyond to advance the mission of the NIHR.
Research Delivery Leaders Prize
This prize celebrates 20 research delivery leaders who have delivered excellence in the NIHR portfolio through principal investigator work or through roles that directly support research delivery. It also recognises leadership that improves research participation, inclusion and performance across clinical and wider care settings.
Winners will receive-
- £10,000 professional development prize, paid to your employer
- Bespoke leadership and development support to strengthen your skills
- Formal recognition at the 2026 NIHR Academy Conference
- Amplification of your profile across multiple channels