The Global Health Research Centres programme funds research-driven partnerships between institutions in low and middle income countries (LMICs) and in the UK.
The centres undertake high quality research and strengthen LMIC institutional capacity to undertake, manage and disseminate high-quality applied health research.
Guidance on impact of COVID-19 on NIHR funded and supported research
The Global Health Research Centres programme funds high quality applied health research in LMICs and supports the development of a critical mass of sustainable, competitive research capacity.
By delivering high quality research evidence and strengthening research capacity at all levels, our Global Health Research Centres will improve health outcomes for people in LMICs and support sustainable growth of the LMIC research ecosystem.
The Global Health Research Centres programme funds ambitious, transformative, innovative and collaborative consortia of research institutions in the UK and in LMICs that are eligible for Official Development Assistance (ODA). High quality research and research capacity strengthening in LMICs are equally essential components of the programme.
Each funding call addresses an area where there is a need for coordinated, high quality research in LMICs to increase the global evidence base. The first funding call will fund and designate NIHR Global Health Research Centres in non-communicable diseases.
Centres also have a focus on capacity building and training in partner LMIC institutions, through:
Funding awards of up to £10 million over five years (with an option to add two extra years) are available to consortia led by a director based in an LMIC and made up of one UK institution and up to four LMIC institutions.
The Global Health Research Centres programme holds two-stage funding calls. See the dates of our funding calls.
At stage 1, applicants submit an outline of the proposed research plan. Applicants who are successful at stage 1 are invited to submit a stage 2 application, which requires more detailed information.
An independent international Funding Committee reviews, scores and shortlists eligible applications at stage 1 and stage 2.
Research proposals should be submitted online through the Research Management System. We supply guidance for applicants on filling in the stage 1 application form and the financial information required as part of an application.
Global Health Research Centres are consortia of up to five institutions, led by a director based in an LMIC lead institution in a country eligible for Official Development Assistance (ODA). Consortia should have a UK joint lead administering institution.
The lead LMIC institution and UK join lead are expected to have an established track record in the topic for the call. The LMIC partner institutions - of which there can be up to three - do not need to have a strong track record in the relevant research topic, but should be keen to build expertise in the area.
Applicants must demonstrate how their proposal meets ODA compliance criteria.
Find out more about ODA eligibility
The key criteria for Global Health Research Centres programme are:
The Global Health Research Centres programme will support applications that:
The Global Health Research Centres programme will not support applications that:
Applications to the Global Health Research Centres programme are reviewed by professional and public reviewers on an independent International Funding Committee.
The committees recommend which centres should be funded to the Department of Health and Social Care, which approves the funding awards.
Members of NIHR committees are required to declare any interests which conflict, or may be considered to conflict, with NIHR business, or may be perceived as influencing decisions made in the course of their work within NIHR programmes.
All members are asked to complete the Register of Interest form (annually), which is intended to capture long term predictable interests that could be perceived to lead to conflicts of interest. These and other interests are judged on a case by case basis at individual meetings.
The Global Health Research Centres programme will hold its first funding call in 2020. See the dates for our funding calls.
Call 1 will fund and designate NIHR Global Health Research Centres in non-communicable diseases.
Call 1 launched on 14 October 2020. The centres awarded funding will be announced in Spring 2022.
We offer a wide variety of assistance during all stages of the research process. If in doubt, please get in touch.
Tel: 020 8843 8057
Email: ghrcentres@nihr.ac.uk
Our operating hours are 09:00 to 17:00 GMT.
The fourth call of the Research and Innovation for Global Health Transformation (RIGHT) programme will fund research on unintentional injuries, and urgent and emergency care, in low and middle income countries.
The first call of the Global Health Research Centres programme will fund and designate NIHR Global Health Research Centres in non-communicable diseases.
This award gives applicants the opportunity to plan a personalised presentation, training (skills/techniques/career development) and networking experience in another part of the NIHR (within the UK or a LMIC).
These awards will provide funding to a well-established, equitable research partnership or network of universities and research institutes in LMICs and the UK with an existing track-record of delivering internationally recognised applied global health research.
These awards will provide funding to collaborations of specialist researchers within universities and research institutes in LMICs and the UK who wish to establish new programmes of applied health research.
All global health research funding opportunities