Researchers
Research Capability Funding
NIHR Research Capability Funding (RCF) is a research funding stream awarded to Trusts on an annual basis which helps research-active NHS organisations to attract, develop and retain the research workforce necessary to deliver high quality health research.
For more details about RCF please visit the NIHR website: Research capability funding | NIHR
Applications are now open for the 2026/2027 NIHR Research Capability Funding
The funding will be for a maximum of 12 months, with a funding limit between £10k-£20k depending on the applicant’s planned NIHR call application (for more details please see the guidance information link below).
Applications will be reviewed against the following criteria:
- Likelihood to lead to a NIHR grant application within the next 18 months
- Importance of the problem being addressed, especially in relation to the NNUH research strategy and patients
- The impact of the proposed RCF activities in improving the chance of success of a NIHR grant, including the PPIE and EDI involvement
- That the RCF activities are clear and achievable with the collaborative team and within the proposed timeframe. That any risks have been assessed and mitigated
- That the research team have got the expertise and experience to move the work forward, including beyond the RCF to a NIHR grant
Examples of what RCF could be used for are (not an exhaustive list)
- background literature searches
- pilot work to generate preliminary or underpinning data
- preliminary biomarker testing
- analysis of preliminary or underpinning data
- stakeholder meetings
- workshops with collaborators
- patient and public involvement (PPI) work
Awards can only be used to support the salary of individuals named in the application, and funds have to be spent in year. It is a requirement for successful applicants to provide interim reports during the award.
Successful Applicants for RCF 2025/26:
- Carianne Lewis – Oral Vitamin K2 (menaquinone 7; MK-7) supplementation and its effect on vitamin K status of breastfed infants in early infancy; a four-cohort prospective, part-randomised, proof of concept trial: the OK Daily Trial.
- Emma Webb – HEALTHY-FUTURE: Holistic Evaluation and Analysis of novel Laboratory Tests for Health in Young people living with obesity for FUTURE personalised care.
- Kelda Folliard – PILLOW: ImProvIng sLeep LOss in pregnant Women: a pilot feasibility study of the ‘Sleeping for Two’ CBT insomnia adaptation as a staged intervention to improve pregnancy outcomes in chronic anxiety and depression in women from a disadvantaged rural/coastal population.
- Pinelopi Gkogkou – Quantify analgesia and cost effectiveness in bone oligometastases treated with stereotactic body radiation therapy.
- Ricky Lewis – Developing a Decision-Support Tool for Anaesthetic Care in Pregnant Mothers with Congenital Heart Disease: A Preliminary Study Using Scoping Literature Review, Feasibility Data, and Stakeholder Engagement.
