Research Facilitation Fund 2027

Support hard-to-obtain resources that facilitate arthritis research, including existing cohort/sample resources, dedicated technical or coordination staff, networks, scientific exchanges and skills development. Awards are GBP 50,000–250,000 for up to sixty months, with the call’s earliest start in November 2027. This is a single-stage resource-facilitation scheme. PPI network support, PhD/fellowship programmes, new database structures, disease-model support, conference sponsorship and large equipment purchases are excluded.

Lead applicants must be based at an eligible UK university, NHS Trust or recognised academic research institute. The lead need not be permanent, but at least one applicant must hold a substantive/tenured position at the lead host. Commercially employed or salaried individuals cannot lead; international and commercial collaborators may participate. A musculoskeletal track record is not required. The project must show added facilitation value and impact for people with arthritis. Institutional approvals must be complete by 3 February 2027, 4 pm UK time.