Consultant Research Awards
Consultant Research Awards support NHS consultants with protected time and project resources to lead substantial cardiovascular research alongside clinical work and progress towards scientific independence.
Funder: British Heart Foundation
Due Dates: January 13, 2027, 17:00 (Application) | June 16, 2027 (Following application)
Funding Amounts: Salary backfill up to 2 years full-time equivalent, plus other costs up to £35,000 annually; up to 5 years part-time
Summary: Protected time and project resources for NHS consultants to lead substantial cardiovascular research alongside clinical work.
Key Information: Applicants must hold substantive NHS consultant posts; locums and university-based clinicians with substantial research contracts are excluded.
Description
The British Heart Foundation’s Consultant Research Awards provide protected time for NHS consultants to undertake substantial cardiovascular research alongside their clinical roles. The scheme supports spending between 20% and 50% of working time on research over 2 to 5 years. Applications must propose a distinct research programme that the applicant clearly owns and leads, rather than simply requesting time to prepare future funding proposals or additional funding for other schemes.
Awards can support clinical-session backfill and practical project resources, including research staff, professional support, consumables and essential equipment. Travel, professional development and contributions towards caring expenses also support the fellowship experience. A second award may support progression towards scientific independence where a compelling case is made.
