Pharmacies can apply for grants of up to £300,000 to support the purchase of equipment, modular buildings such as portacabins, or for refurbishment projects for research delivery.

The funding comes from a £60m sum set aside by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), with £10m of that earmarked for primary care.

It can be used for items that cost at least £1,500 each, with a total minimum grant of £3,000.

Who can apply for the pharmacy research funding?

All non-commercial NHS organisations based in England are eligible to apply including pharmacies, practices, and primary care networks (PCNs).

How do I apply for pharmacy research funding?

Applicants must demonstrate that their organisation is NHS-led, with shareholders or partners actively engaged in NHS primary care services.

And they must include:

  • A brief summary of the research to be carried out using the equipment or in the proposed facilities;
  • A brief summary on how it will support commercial studies (if at all);
  • A brief summary on how it will help reduce health and/or geographic inequalities in trial participation (if at all);
  • How the funding will enhance the research capacity and capability of the organisation
  • How this will contribute to driving innovation, improving patient outcomes, and stimulating economic growth

In particular, the NIHR is looking for applications that address:

  • Pharmacy, imaging and other clinical support services to address systemic bottlenecks and increase timely trial delivery
  • Innovative study delivery including decentralisation across settings through improving capacity and capability
  • Commitment to cross organisational working to enhance collaboration and partnership
  • Reaching underserved communities and improving access to research and research imaging, including in rural and coastal areas

Funding will be awarded over a period of up to 29 months starting on 1 November 2025. All funding awarded must be spent by 31 March 2028.

The call is being funded in partnership with the pharmaceutical industry’s Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing, Access and Growth (VPAG) Investment Programme.

The focus is on ensuring that NHS organisations are well-equipped to meet the needs of industry, the NIHR has said. And although the invitation to bid for funding is mainly for equipment and resources that enhance commercial research, the NIHR has said it ‘would like to support a balanced portfolio’ and is also encouraging applications from researchers leading non-commercial research.

The deadline for applying is 14 May. For more information and details on how to apply, please see here.

Read how research through community pharmacy can help tackle health inequalities:

Mahendra Patel: Community pharmacy’s relationship with clinical research is key to its future

A version of this article first appeared in our sister site Management in Practice.