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Researchfish will close permanently on 31 July 2027, bringing an end to the research outcomes reporting platform used by NIHR, UKRI and many other research funders. However, researchers should continue using Researchfish and completing required submissions until told otherwise by their funder.
Elsevier, which owns Researchfish, has announced that the platform will be discontinued from 31 July 2027.
For researchers with current or previous NIHR, UKRI and other funded awards, the important message for now is simple: nothing changes immediately.
Researchfish will remain operational and supported until its closure, and existing reporting requirements and submission periods will continue.
What does the Researchfish closure mean for NIHR researchers?
The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has confirmed that it intends to continue using Researchfish until the platform closes in July 2027.
NIHR uses Researchfish to collect information about the outputs, outcomes and impact arising from the research it funds. Researchers are normally asked to provide information while an award is active and for at least five years after it has ended.
The 2026 NIHR annual submission window has already closed. NIHR says its 2027 submission window will run for six weeks between early February and mid-March 2027.
Researchers who are required to report should therefore expect to complete their 2027 submission as normal.
NIHR is now working with the Department of Health and Social Care and other research funders to consider how research outputs, outcomes and impact will be collected after Researchfish closes.
Further guidance will be provided when those arrangements have been agreed.
What about UKRI-funded researchers?
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is also continuing to use Researchfish.
UKRI currently states that its next submission period will run from 1 February until 11 March 2027 at 4pm UK time.
Researchers receiving UKRI funding are generally required to provide annual updates about the outcomes of their projects, normally continuing for at least five years after an award has finished.
The closure of Researchfish does not remove those reporting obligations.
What should researchers do now?
There is no need to take any immediate action specifically because Researchfish is closing.
Researchers should:
- continue adding and updating research outputs and outcomes in Researchfish
- complete any submission requested by their funder
- keep publication information and persistent identifiers such as DOIs up to date
- connect Researchfish with ORCID where appropriate to make transferring publication information easier
- watch for communications from individual funders about arrangements after July 2027.
If you hold awards from several organisations, remember that each funder may make its own arrangements for replacing Researchfish.
What happens after Researchfish closes?
This is the big unanswered question.
Researchfish has been used for many years to collect information including publications, collaborations, further funding, engagement activities, intellectual property and other research outcomes.
Funders will still need this information after the platform disappears.
NIHR has confirmed that it is considering its longer-term approach, while other funders will also need to establish replacement reporting arrangements.
Researchers should therefore not assume that the Researchfish closure means the end of research outcome reporting. It means the system used to collect that information is changing.
We’ll share further information when NIHR, UKRI and other major research funders confirm what will replace Researchfish.
Researchfish closes: 31 July 2027
NIHR 2027 reporting: Early February to mid-March 2027
UKRI 2027 reporting: 1 February – 11 March 2027, 4pm UK time
Read the Researchfish announcement
