About this funding opportunity
The PGfAR programme seeks to address the most challenging issues in CYP health, care and wellbeing and follows Government policies highlighting these as key priority areas for improvement. Applicants are encouraged to draw on these ambitions featured in the UK Government Health and Growth Missions, the Fit for the Future 10 Year Health Plan, and other equivalent policy initiatives in the UK.
This funding opportunity is ring-fenced and builds on the success of previous RCPCH-Programme Development Grants (PDG) competitions.
The aim is to build a portfolio of innovative research centred on early years and young people. Some of the key CYP challenges requiring research and innovation include (but are not limited to): health and care inequalities, community child health and care, integration with social care and public health, safeguarding, physical conditions or impairments, neurodivergence and neurodevelopmental issues, mental health conditions, and obesity.
The amount awarded and length of the funding period will depend on the nature of the proposed work, which should offer value for money. In recent times, PGfAR awards attracted funding between £2-3.5 million across four to six years.
This is a two-stage, researcher-led funding opportunity. To apply for the first stage you should submit an outline application and, if invited to the second stage, you will then need to complete a full application.
The funding decisions will be based on several criteria, including quality, timeliness, potential impact, plans to address inclusivity and value for money. Decisions will also be based on the relevant of the research proposal on addressing specific challenges in CYP health, care and wellbeing.
See more about PGfAR on the NIHR website, including scope and eligibility
NIHR hosted this webinar and live Q&A in June 2026:
The funding opportunities
PGfAR is participating in the following funding opportunities with separate applications. Applicants should reach each one carefully before applying to the relevant one.
- PGfAR researcher-led - research to drive transformational change in the health and care of children and young people [2026/345]
This is PGfAR's main funding opportunity. Please see the PGfAR webpage for details about the overall programme remit and eligibility criteria.
A programme grant is an interrelated group of projects focused on a coherent theme which individually and together produce outputs and outcomes likely to realise a transformative stepped change in the way that health and care services can meet the needs of the UK public. For the purposes of this ring-fenced funding opportunity, the focus must be on meeting the needs of children and young people (CYP) and their families.
- PGfAR commissioned - NIHR NICE rolling funding opportunity [2026/346]
NIHR PGfAR is interested in receiving applications in the remit of research to drive transformational change in the health and care of children and young people that also seek to meet recommendations in research identified in NICE guidance that has been published or updated in the last 5 years.
In order to apply you will need to carefully review the NIHR NICE specification document.
Proposals received into this funding opportunity must be within the remit of the Programme Grants for Applied Research (PGfAR) programme, and this ring fenced funding opportunity.
- PGfAR commissioned - NIHR James Lind Alliance (JLA) rolling funding opportunity [2026/347]
NIHR PGfAR is interested in receiving applications in the remit of research to drive transformational change in the health and care of children and young people that also seek to address any of the James Lind Alliance (JLA) Priority Setting Partnerships (PSPs) research priorities.
In order to apply you will need to carefully review the NIHR JLA specification document.
Proposals received into this funding opportunity must be within the remit of the Programme Grants for Applied Research (PGfAR) programme.
Scope
This funding opportunity is open to all proposals within the topic area of children's health, care and wellbeing, with a focus on areas of high need or those which are currently underserved. This includes: safeguarding, physical impairments and conditions, neurodivergence and neurodevelopmental disorders, community child health and care, mental health conditions, health and care inequalities, social care and public health issues, obesity, and more. Applications building on the Core20PLUS5 approach for CYP and its clinical areas of focus are also welcome, ensuring overlap with other funded NIHR research is avoided.
The expectation is that applications focus on early years and young people, but there is flexibility around the upper age limit to be inclusive of health and care and public services that are mandated to go beyond 18 years of age, providing that there is an emphasis on improving health, care and wellbeing pre-19 years of age.
Applications must take into account the following points:
- Identify and justify the child health and care research context in terms of recent and currently funded research in the UK and internationally
- Consider how the work contributes to reducing health and care inequalities nationally. For reference, a series of case studies showcasing existing projects addressing health and care inequalities can be viewed on the RCPCH website
- Be conducted in geographical areas with a high need relative to the problem being studied
- Include at least one team member residing in the high-need area of the subject under investigation
- Actively address barriers to engagement in research and co-production, such as disability and social exclusion
- Collaboration with third sector and non-profit organisations dedicated to improving citizens’ lives is highly encouraged
- Show strong evidence of patient and public involvement (PPI); in accordance with the UK Standards for Public Involvement PPI should be embedded within every stage of the research cycle
- Develop research capacity to support ongoing work, and a pipeline of research beyond the lifetime of the programme grant award
Applicants are encouraged to consider how their proposed research will align with the key priorities and goals of the UK government, devolved administrations, the NHS and with the strategic goals of NIHR and RCPCH. Proposals should focus on outcomes which can demonstrate transformative shifts toward achieving these goals and which can be of immediate utility in policy and practice.
Proposals should be co-produced with policy makers, service commissioners, providers, and service users whenever appropriate. Applicants are advised to read NIHR's guidance on engaging different audiences in your research.
Outputs, duration and costs
Applicants are asked to consider the timing and nature of deliverables in your proposals; and encouraged to maximise the impact of their research by explaining how they will mobilise knowledge and ensure that it is useful and relevant to stakeholders such as:
- Policy makers
- Public health officers
- Social Care
- Special interest groups
- Charities
- Community audiences
- Early years and education services
- Other relevant stakeholders
Value for money is a key criterion that peer reviewers and funding committee members will assess applications against.
For PGfAR, the amount awarded and length of the funding period depends on the nature of the proposed work. In recent funding opportunities, PGfAR awards have attracted funding of around £2 to £3.5 million across the UK.
NIHR expects between 10% to 20% of the overall grant budged to be spent on formal embedded career capacity building. Development and training funds for individuals across the early- and mid-career stages must be included to help build a sustainable network for CYP researchers.
Eligibility
A programme grant is an interrelated group of projects focused on a coherent theme which individually and together produce outputs and outcomes likely to realise a transformative stepped change on the way that health and care services can meet the needs of the UK public. For the purposes of this ring-fenced opportunity, the focus must be on meeting the needs of CYP and their families.
See full eligibility information on the NIHR website - this applies to all funding opportunities unless otherwise stated in the individual research specification.
Research inclusion
Research inclusion is a condition of NIHR funding and of particular relevance to this ring-fenced opportunity as we seek to fund research addressing child health and care inequalities. Applicants are highly encouraged to propose programmes of research which address how child health and care services can better support CYP and families from underserved communities.
See research inclusion guidance on the NIHR website
Key dates and application timeline
How to apply
Applicants should review the relevant NIHR guidance on applications, inclusion, funding and assessment criteria, alongside programme-specific requirements. Applications must be led by an eligible NHS organisation or, for certain public health and social care research, an eligible Higher Education Institution, with appropriately skilled research teams and governance arrangements in place.
Proposals should present a clear, ambitious and deliverable programme of research that addresses important health, public health or social care priorities, demonstrates potential for meaningful improvements in practice and outcomes, and includes robust stakeholder involvement.
Applications should outline a coherent research plan, appropriate methodology, plans for knowledge mobilisation and impact, and, where relevant, opportunities to build research capacity and support career development through the NIHR Academy. Supporting uploads include mandatory logic models and project timelines, alongside optional diagrams and other materials to aid assessment.
Application process
To apply, you will need to log in or create an account to NIHR's awards management system. The closing date is 2 December 2026, 13:00. This funding opportunity is a two-stage application process. If the application is successful, the applicant will then be invited to submit a full application.
NIHR encourages applications from people from all backgrounds and communities bringing diverse skills and experiences.
See application guidance on the NIHR website.
See full stage application guidance for shortlisted applicants on the NIHR website
For help with your application contact pgfar@nihr.ac.uk