Funding for service development can come through research programmes, local NHS commissioning, charities and appropriately governed industry partnerships. Each route has its own purpose, eligibility criteria, application process and reporting requirements.
This guide explains how to assess a potential opportunity. It is not a list of grants currently open to every practice: availability and deadlines must be checked with the named funder before an application is prepared.
What innovation funding can cover
A proposed project may involve a new care pathway, medicines optimisation, evaluation or digital service development. Start by deciding whether it is research, service evaluation or service improvement, and seek the appropriate governance advice. That distinction affects the funding route and approvals needed.
Routes to investigate in 2026
- Local NHS opportunities: ask the relevant ICB about currently advertised programmes and their eligibility rules.
- Research funding: use the NIHR funding opportunities directory to identify relevant calls and check the applicant and research requirements.
- Charities and innovation support: check the funder’s published opportunities and local health innovation support for the proposed condition or pathway.
- Industry collaboration: assess the proposed arrangement under the applicable code, governance and written agreement; it is not an automatic funding route.
Record the scheme name, source link, closing date, eligible applicants and allowable costs. A closed programme or a previous local award is not evidence of funding available now.
What evaluators look for
Assessors use each scheme’s published criteria. There is no universal scoring order, automatic zero score for a particular phrase, or application length that wins funding.
A practical proposal explains the patient need, who the project will reach, what care will change, how it will be delivered and how the result will be assessed. Choose clinically appropriate outcomes, including patient experience and safety, rather than treating prescribing volume as the goal.
The application work that matters
- Delivery: define the work, responsible people, protected time and dependencies.
- Evaluation: establish the question, baseline, measures and analytical support before delivery.
- Governance: identify clinical, information-governance, confidentiality and ethics requirements.
- Budget: show eligible costs, milestones and the plan after funding ends.
- Risks: describe practical constraints and how they will be managed.
Follow the funder’s actual word or page limit. Clear, relevant evidence matters more than an arbitrary target length.
Industry-funded work and data
Pharmaceutical collaborations must follow the applicable ABPI Code and agreed governance. A project’s internal patient-level analysis is distinct from sharing information with a sponsor. The approved arrangements must specify the reporting outputs and any permitted data sharing; sponsorship does not itself authorise disclosure of identifiable patient information.
Funding decisions, approvals and results cannot be guaranteed. Obtain the relevant clinical and information-governance advice before committing to a project or data-sharing arrangement.
Where to get help
Our innovation funding service can support the agreed application, implementation and evaluation work. Contact us with the proposed cohort, pathway and funding opportunity.
Primary references
NIHR funding opportunities; ABPI Code of Practice 2024. Always use the specific funder’s current call documents for eligibility, scoring and submission limits.
Frequently asked questions
Where can a practice look for funding?
Relevant routes may include local NHS opportunities, NIHR research calls, charitable programmes and appropriately governed industry collaborations. Check the named scheme’s current status and eligibility; availability is not universal.
What makes an application strong?
Address the scheme’s published assessment criteria with a defined need, delivery plan, evaluation, governance and budget. There is no universal scoring order or winning page count.
Does industry funding require patient-level data to be sent to the sponsor?
No automatic entitlement to patient-level data follows from funding. Internal analysis and external disclosure are different activities. Reporting and any data sharing must follow the approved governance arrangements and applicable requirements.
Can Virtual Pharmacist guarantee funding?
No. We can support agreed application and delivery work, but eligibility and funding decisions remain with the relevant funder.
