New BHF Research Development Fund Round Opens with a Special Call for Allied Health Professionals
The latest round of the BHF CRC Research Development Fund (RDF) is officially open and this round is unique: it is a Special Call dedicated exclusively to Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) stepping forward as lead applicants.
As a quick recap, this RDF round offers grants of up to £12,500 to fund preparatory work (pilot data, study design, systematic reviews) needed to develop major future clinical research programmes.
AHP-led teams are encouraged to apply for funding to cover preparatory activities such as:
Collecting meaningful pilot data to prove your clinical concept.
Designing robust study protocols and optimizing research design.
Conducting systematic reviews to solidify your project’s foundation.
Assessing clinical research priorities, including service user and patient reviews.
Important note regarding RG Support:
As with previous rounds, applicants must obtain a letter of support from a BHF CRC integrated research group to ensure their project aligns with national clinical priorities. Please be prepared to hear from interested AHPs seeking your group's endorsement ahead of the deadline.
Key Dates:
- Application Window Opens: 18th May 2026
- Closing Date for Submissions: 17th August 2026
- Notification of Award Decisions: 30th October 2026
You can find the full announcement on the BHF website here.
The application materials can be downloaded here:
If you have any questions about eligibility, the cardiovascular AHP focus, or how to connect with the right Research Group for endorsement, please contact the BHF CRC team anytime at enquiries@bhfcrc.org.