Applying if you are based in England

To apply, you should be a leading researcher funded by the NIHR and based in England. To be eligible, you must:

• have made a substantial contribution to the NIHR with ongoing contribution planned
• have part or all your salary funded as a research cost from the NIHR
• have current, active and eligible NIHR funding at the time of application, which must extend beyond 30 June 2026
• be employed by an organisation based in England
• be undertaking high-quality and internationally leading applied health, public health or social care research

You are eligible to apply if you are an NIHR Research Professor or a Global Health Research Professor and your term ends before 1 April 2026, as long as you meet the other eligibility criteria.

If your salary is being funded as a core cost, in-kind, or matched funding by an organisation in association with an NIHR infrastructure award, please contact NIHR  to discuss your eligibility.

Applying if you are based in Northern Ireland

You can apply for a Senior Investigator award if you are a senior researcher leading applied health, public health or social care research based in Northern Ireland. This is a change in eligibility for this cohort.

You must demonstrate how you have made, and continue to make, a meaningful contribution to the delivery of Northern Ireland’s strategy for Research and Development in Health and Social Care Research or to the NIHR.

If you are based in Northern Ireland, please contact Dr Sorcha Finnegan before starting an application: Sorcha.Finnegan@hscni.net. Submitted applications and applicant details will be shared with the HSCNI office following the submission deadline to confirm eligibility and throughout the review and award period.

Key dates

24 June 2025 – Application opening date

8 September 2025 – Applications close

February 2026- Notification of outcome

1 April 2026 – Award start date

19 May 2026 – Mandatory in-person induction meeting

October 2026 (TBC)- Mandatory in-person Senior Investigator and Research Professorship annual meeting

Applying for a second term

If you are a current NIHR Senior Investigator, you can serve up to two terms, which is a maximum of eight years in total.

If your first term ends on 31 March 2025, you are eligible to apply for a second term, as long as you still meet the eligibility criteria. You should only apply for a second term during the final year of your first term.

Your application will be assessed through the same process as new applicants. However, we will specifically consider the contributions and activities you have made as a Senior Investigator so far, including how you have supported our work and priorities.

Further information

For more information and details on the application process, please visit the NIHR Website here