The NIHR Team Science Award gives newly formed interdisciplinary research teams up to £100,000 to work together on a future application to a larger research programme, grow their network and build research capacity. It is deliberately different from traditional investigator-led funding, recognising the contribution of every member of the team. Cohort 4 is open now and closes at 1pm on 27 January 2027.
The award is designed for teams tackling complex health and social care challenges from several disciplinary angles at once, and it sits alongside the NIHR Team Science Camp. Teams formed at the camp can apply, but you don’t need to have attended or registered interest in it.
This round’s themes
The new theme for Cohort 4 is data-science driven health and social care research. Applications are also welcome under any of the previous themes:
- multiple long-term conditions (multimorbidity)
- applied health and social care research methodology
- decarbonising the healthcare, social care and research system
Your team’s work must focus on a clear gap or national need within one of these themes, and on building research capacity in that area.
Who can apply
Applications must come from newly formed interdisciplinary teams. To be eligible, the team must:
- be hosted by a university, NHS body, social care organisation or other provider of health or care services in England (team members can be based anywhere in the UK, but the lead applicant must be hosted in England)
- have experience of team science or interdisciplinary research, or show a real interest in it
- have experience of, or an interest in, the theme you are applying under
- propose work within NIHR’s remit for personal awards
What the award can pay for
Teams can use the money flexibly to get a strong future bid off the ground, for example:
- pilot research, or securing access to the data you need
- training and development for the team, including travel, accommodation and subsistence for courses and workshops
- going to relevant UK events and conferences
- setting up collaborations and partnerships
- a contribution to team members’ salaries to buy out time to work on the next application
- dissemination costs and open access publishing charges
Does it fit dementia research?
Dementia rarely comes on its own. Most people living with dementia have at least one other long-term condition, so the multimorbidity theme is a natural home for dementia teams, and the new data science theme suits groups working with routine health records, cohorts or linked care data. If you are already talking with colleagues from other disciplines about a shared question, this could fund the groundwork for a bigger bid.
What to upload
You’ll need a Gantt chart or project management plan, a letter of support, narrative CVs for every team member, and NIHR’s flexible upload template, which you can download from the funding page.
Key dates
- 4 November 2026: opens
- 27 January 2027, 1pm: closes
- February to April 2027: funding committee review
- May to June 2027: interviews (to be confirmed)
- From September 2027: awards start
How to apply
This is a single-stage application through NIHR’s awards management system, where you may need to create a new account. Shortlisted teams are invited to interview. Your application needs to explain how training in inclusive health and social care research will be built in, and how equality, diversity and inclusion will shape how the team develops and recruits. Read the Team Science Programme page, the assessment criteria and the finance guidance. If you need a reasonable adjustment, or have any other questions, email ipps@nihr.ac.uk.
The free NIHR Research Support Service can help with designing your application, refining the research question, methods and public involvement, and connecting you with methodologists.
Before you start
For a researcher’s view of working across fields, read Collaborating Across Borders and Disciplines in Dementia Research, and listen to our podcast on starting and managing academic collaborations. Our guide on how to pick a great collaborator is worth a look before you put your team together.
Read the full details and apply
Visit funding web page
(https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/team-science-award-cohort-4/2026540)