NIHR GOSH BRC Theme New Projects Funding Call 2025

Applications submitted through this call should align with the BRC objectives and propose novel research ideas related to therapies, biomarkers, diagnostics, data or surgical innovations. This may include proof-of-concept studies, validation studies, new methodologies, novel uses of data and/or Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) and/or Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) activities aligned with one or more of the BRC’s strategic research themes.

We would expect successful applicants to generate preliminary data to support future grant and patent applications, ultimately accelerating the likelihood of new interventions delivering patient benefit. Projects may be based in the lab, the clinic, or be data-driven, but they must focus on human cells, tissues, participants, or data. NIHR funding does not permit research involving animals; therefore, research projects must not include any animal work.

Applications are welcome from all staff substantively employed by either Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) and the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health (UCL GOS ICH), including clinicians, non-clinical staff, nurses and allied health professionals (AHPs), and others not specifically mentioned here. Project funding will be available from mid-October 2025.

The individual remit for each of the themes has been proposed by its leadership team. Each theme has also outlined the type of funding you are able to apply for and the upper limit for the amount requested. A summary of remits, call structures and budgets available can be found in the guidance document (see the 'How to apply' section below).

You can apply for a project focused solely on Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) to support activities working with people and communities. These projects should help researchers actively involve and/or engage patients and the public in translational research aligned with one of our strategic themes.

Applications are also welcome for research Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) projects. These should aim to address barriers to research inclusion and/or reduce health inequalities, for example by ensuring inclusive participation of underserved populations, reflecting and supporting diversity within the research team or design, tackling health inequalities through the research itself, and incorporating EDI training or recognised frameworks.

The GOSH BRC team will be holding two webinars and will present briefly about the funding call, expectations for applicants and common areas of feedback from previous calls for successful and unsuccessful applications. The webinars will last for around one hour and we encourage all applicants to join one of the webinars. The webinars will be held over Zoom, please click on the relevant session below to join a webinar. Details of the Zoom meetings can also be found in the guidance document below.

• To apply, please read and complete the Guidance and Application Form and submit as a word document to brc@gosh.nhs.uk.
• The deadline for applications is Monday 08 September 2025, 5p.m.
• Applications must be registered with the R&D office, and formal costings obtained. Please ensure this is done in sufficient time, as the R&D Office requires at least 15 working days to provide costings.
• Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application by early October 2025, and the funding will be available from mid-October 2025.
• A Review Panel will assess applications. The panel will include representatives from the BRC Leadership Team, each BRC Theme, the Paediatric Excellence Initiative, the BRC Junior Faculty, and both internal and external academic staff.
• Lay members of the Panel will review the plain English summary and PPIE section of each application to ensure patient and public perspectives are considered in the selection process.
• Applications will be anonymised before being sent to the review panels. However, if an application receives a low PPIE review score, a member of the BRC Core Management Team will check whether the applicant has previously received similarly low PPIE scores in other BRC applications. If so, this will be flagged to the final review panel, although the application will remain anonymous.

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