NextGen Paediatric Innovation and Impact Challenge (NPIIC) 2026

Early-stage paediatric innovation led by early career researchers (ECRs), with a focus on translating ideas into fundable concepts. We are particularly keen to support ideas that could lead to collaboration with industry or may present opportunities for commercial impact. You could use the award to:

• De-risk high-potential ideas at concept stage
• Build interdisciplinary teams
• Create a pipeline for future funding opportunities through NIHR programmes (including i4i and RfPB), charities, or industry funding

Applicants will progress through a structure three-stage process. A two-month open call that closes 30 September 2026. Teams must a submit a completed application form. Applications will be reviewed and shortlisted by a panel representing all five GOSH BRC themes, patient, and public representatives. We will assess innovativeness, translational potential, collaboration strength, feasibility, and alignment with the priority areas. For more information on the assessment criteria for the shortlisting and conditions of award, see the Guidance and Application Form Document

Shortlisted teams will advance to the live NPIIC (Dragons' Den style) event in December 2026, where they will deliver a five-minute pitch followed by panel Q&A. The panel will include BRC theme leads, senior investigators, industry partners, and patient/public representatives.

The competition centres on generating high-quality innovative ideas aligned with the priority areas highlighted below. Each submission requires at least one clinical and one non-clinical co-applicants; both must be ECRs. We are keen to see submissions that strengthens cross-theme and cross-institute collaboration and encourage solutions that combine scientific creativity with clinical relevance.

Innovative projects must align with at least one of the following priority areas. Applicants are expected to have generated experimental or have secondary data to support the case for further development and illustrate technical feasibility.

• Rare disease therapeutics
• AI/ML-enabled diagnostics
• Biomarkers
• Precision medicine and genomics
• Regenerative/advanced therapies

Each team must include at least one clinical and non-clinical ECR with a substantive employment with GOSH, UCL GOS ICH or the Paediatric Excellence Initiative Partners (i.e. Alder Hey, Birmingham and Sheffield). Researchers from all professional backgrounds are welcome to apply, including non-clinical staff, clinicians, nurses, allied health professionals (AHPs), pharmacists, health care scientist staff, and any others not mentioned here. Multidisciplinary collaboration is strongly encouraged.

For the purposes of this call, an early career researcher is defined as someone who:

• holds a PhD (or equivalent)
• has received no more than £250,000 in total grant income as Primary Investigator across their career (excluding their own salary e.g. a fellowships grant), and
• does not hold a tenured academic position.

Please contact the BRC (brc@gosh.nhs.uk) if you have any queries regarding your eligibility for this call.

Applicants will compete for a total prize fund of £30,000 with awards of £15,000, £10,000, and £5,000 for the top three winners. In addition, winners will be offered grant-development support to strengthen future funding bids (e.g., NIHR, MRC, or charitable sources).

• 1st Place Winner - £15,000
• 2nd Place Winner - £10,000
• 3rd Place Winner - £5,000

Funds will be awarded in December 2026. NPIIC 2026 winners will be expected to participate in a NPIIC Showcase event to be held in November 2027, where they will present the progress of their projects.

The GOSH BRC team will be holding two webinars on 12 August and 26 August to support your application. The sessions will include a brief overview of the challenge, guidance on eligibility and application requirement, and examples of innovative ideas from representatives from the NIHR innovation programmes. We encourage all applicants to attend, at least, one of the webinars.

Meeting ID: 828 9980 1463

Passcode: 392723

Meeting ID: 868 4224 3644

Passcode: 856362

• To apply, please read and complete the application form and submit as a word document to brc@gosh.nhs.uk
• The deadline for applications is Wednesday 30 September 2026, 5p.m.
• Applicants will be informed of the outcome of the shortlisting in mid-November 2026. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to the NPIIC (Dragons' Den) Live Event
• NPIIC (Dragons' Den) Live Event - December 2026

Please contact the BRC if you have any questions about the scheme.