Health and life sciences funding

Here you'll find a range of funding opportunities available to support health and life sciences public engagement activities. Many universities will also have internal funds you can access.
Eating for Eye Health project (UCL)

If you are aware of a funding source that we've missed, please let us know by emailing nccpe.enquiries@uwe.ac.uk.

Alzheimer's Research UK, Inspire Fund
The Inspire Fund provides up to £25,000 funding for innovative projects that engage the public with dementia and the life-changing research going on into the condition.

Antibodies.com, Quarterly Travel Grants
Each quarter, Antibodies.com offers a travel grant up to £500 to help cover the cost of attending a conference. These travel grants are open to PhD candidates, lab managers, and post-docs from academic research institutions in the US or Europe. 

Biochemical Society, Scientific Outreach Grants
The Society wishes to support scientific outreach activities that communicates the excitement of molecular bioscience to young people and the community. Applications are invited for up to £1000 to assist with the direct costs associated with an event and expenses incurred (e.g. transport and teacher cover).

British Society of Immunology, Communicating Immunology Grants
The aims of the Grants are to stimulate interest, discussion and understanding of immunology amongst a wider audience, support formal and informal learning about immunology and target a wide range of audiences. Multiple deadlines throughout the year. 

The Ideas Fund
The Ideas Fund is a grants programme run by the British Science Association and funded by Wellcome, which enables the UK public to develop and try out ideas that address problems related to mental wellbeing by working with researchers. Rather than a full application, they request Expressions of Interest (EOI) from both community groups and researchers. 

Medical Research Foundation (MRC): Changing Policy and Practice Award
Supports the dissemination of MRC and Foundation-funded research results beyond the scientific peer reviewed press, to patients, participants, practitioners and policy makers. Applicants may apply for up to £30,000 over a flexible time period, typically across one year.

Microbiology Society, Education and Outreach Grants
Grants of up to £1,000 are available to support relevant science teaching or promotion initiatives, or to support developments likely to lead to an improvement in the teaching of any aspect of microbiology. Application deadline: 2nd October 2023

National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Programme Development Grants 
This new NIHR funding call aims to improve health and care in the community, through supporting innovative and inclusive ways of partnership working between researchers, people and communities, and other key stakeholders. 

Physiological Society Institutional Engagement Award
Up to £500 funding available to support Society Representatives and members to co-host events at their organisation, including internal conferences, teaching symposia, seminars or outreach events. 

The Society for Experimental Biology Outreach Grant
The Society for Experimental Biology (SEB) aims to empower members to contribute to the public understanding of science, and to promote engagement with all forms of experimental biology. The Outreach and Engagement Grant provides funding to support outreach events and activities that will reach a variety of public audiences. Members can apply for up to £1000, and non-members £200 to cover the costs associated with holding or participating in an outreach event or activity. There are two application deadlines per year: 1st June and 1st October.

Society for Endocrinology, Public Engagement Grant
Up to £1000 is available to support organisation and delivery of outreach activities, aimed at school children and/or the general public. Application deadline: 20th September 2023.

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Community Research Networks
Funding from UKRI, supported by The Young Foundation, to develop and sustain Community Research Networks, designed by community groups and partnerships that exist outside the current research and innovation system.