The NIHR has launched the Capital Investment funding opportunity funded as part of a partnership between the government and the pharmaceutical industry’s Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing, Access and Growth (VPAG) Investment Programme. The Capital Investment funding opportunity is open to NHS Organisations in England to strengthen research infrastructure, with a specific emphasis on addressing bottlenecks in research delivery.
This investment aligns with the priorities highlighted by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) following a consultation with their members.
By targeting sector-wide research delivery improvements, this funding will address current barriers in accessing equipment and space constraints which hinder commercial trial delivery, including in primary care. Investing in diagnostic and treatment infrastructure will support high value commercial studies, reduce geographic inequalities in trial participation and stimulate economic growth, particularly in primary care settings where there is significant potential for growth in research capacity.
This funding opportunity encourages applicants to propose innovative solutions to enhance accessibility, increase patient recruitment and reduce inequalities. Such initiatives could include deploying mobile units equipped for recruitment, screening, and diagnostic follow-up activities in underserved regions. Additionally, applicants may consider investing in semi-permanent diagnostic infrastructure to support research programmes, such as mobile units to address imaging needs or infusion suites to address systemic bottlenecks and expedite trial delivery.
The funding opportunity is part of a series of NIHR Capital Investment funding opportunities. On this occasion the focus is on ensuring that NHS organisations are well-equipped to meet the needs of industry, thereby reinforcing the UK’s reputation for delivering world-class commercial research.
The number of successful applications has not been predetermined. Applications submitted for this funding opportunity will have to meet the selection criteria and funding will be awarded based on the quality of the application and alignment with the areas of priority once the quality threshold has been reached.
Webinar
The NIHR will be hosting a webinar at 11:00 am on 19 March 2026. This webinar is for prospective applicants to hear more about the funding opportunity and the assessment process. Please register attendance for the webinar via the registration page.
Visit funding web page
(https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/capital-investment-funding-opportunity-2026/2026371)
