The application submission will open on 1 October 2025 (subject to the Board approval).
The scheme is designed to support health and social care practitioners who wish to advance their research skills at post-PhD level while continuing to deliver patient or social care. It targets health and social care practitioners from a variety of professional backgrounds, who are interested in advancing applied health and social care research aimed at finding practical solutions to specific problems. These fellowships replace the ‘Clinician Scientist Fellowships’ (CSF) scheme and is part of the HRB research career path for practitioners.
- For clarity, the HRB defines health and social care practitioners as professionals delivering care to patients and service users in different health and social care settings, such as community, primary and acute. This group includes Dentists, Health and Social Care Professionals (as listed by the National Health and Social Care Professions Office), Medics, Nurses and Midwives and Pharmacists.
The fellowship will suppor tresearch-related costs up to a maximum value of €80,000 and the pro rata salary-related costs of the fellow up to 0.5 FTE over the lifetime of the fellowship. Each award will have a duration between 48 and 60 months. The HRB envisages up to ten fellowships.
For further information please see Research in-Practice Fellowships for Health and Social Care Practitioners (RFP) – Principles available for download on the right-hand side. Full Guidance Notes for the scheme will be made available on 1 October 2025 (subject to the Board approval).
Details of this scheme
The main objectives of the scheme are to:
- Support practitioners to consolidate their research skills and expertise post-PhD and to progressively develop themselves as more independent practitioner researchers.
- Support practitioners to conduct and manage applied health and social care research projects which are aimed at finding practical solutions to specific problems or evidence gaps.
- Provide funding for the prospective fellows and the proposed project, and to support them in enhancing their development and growth as a researcher and as a research manager.
- Enable the prospective fellows to gain experience of working with academic partners and knowledge users in relevant policy and/or practice organisations.
- Provide fellows with direct experience in the conduct of health research projects which reduce the gap between research findings and clinical practice and/or health policy, and which ultimately impact health outcomes.
The scheme will support fellows to advance applied health and social care research projects where specific problems or evidence gaps are documented and where the project is focused on practical solutions with a clear pathway to impact. In line with the strategic remit of the HRB, research projects are welcome spanning the areas of clinical research, population health research and/or health services research.
Who can apply?
The scheme is open to health and social care practitioners from a variety of professional backgrounds to conduct research at post-PhD level while continuing to deliver patient care or social care as practitioner researchers.
A Lead Applicant must:
- Hold a PhD degree or defend their PhD thesis before 1 September 2026 or be able to demonstrate equivalent research experience as defined in the ‘Towards a European Framework for Research Careers’.
- The HRB PhD Equivalency application process is currently under review. It is anticipated that the HRB will start processing applications again in early September 2025. Updated information will be published on the HRB website as it becomes available.
- Have completed their professional training (Medics need to have completed their general training and may be at Specialist Registrar (SpR) level).
- Apply from a HI based in the Republic of Ireland.
- Hold (or will hold at the time of the award being made):
- a clinical post in the Irish health service or social care organisation which covers or will cover the duration of the award if successful (e.g., SpR, hospital consultant, nurse practitioner, public health practitioner, physiotherapist), or
- a clinical post in a private practice (e.g. General Practitioners, private physiotherapy practice, private dentist practice, private pharmacy), or
- a post in a health and social care organisation (e.g. Tusla, Section 38 or Section 39 agencies), or
- a joint clinical and academic teaching/education position without a research element within a Higher Education Institution and the Irish Health Services or other social care organisations, or
- if not currently working in Ireland, have the support of a HRB approved HI and have already obtained or are negotiating a post in a clinical or a social care services organisation in the Republic of Ireland.
Note: Practitioners who are currently engaged in research only or in research combined other academic activities but are not involved in care delivery, are not eligible to apply to this scheme.
How to apply:
The applications must be completed and submitted through the HRB online Grant E-Management System (GEMS) (https://grants.hrb.ie).
The Research in-Practice Fellowships for Health and Social Care Practitioners scheme will use a one-stage application process consisting of an open call for applications from prospective fellows, followed by peer and public review and an applicant response phase to the reviewers’ comments. Based on the international peer-review, a selected number of candidates will be invited then for an interview with an international Panel.
Prior to final submission to the HRB, all applications must first be reviewed and approved within GEMS by the authorised approver at the Host Institution as listed in the application form. It is critical therefore that applicants leave sufficient time in the process for the Research Office (or equivalent) in their nominated Host Institution to review, seek clarifications and approve applications prior to the final submission date. This may involve being aware of and complying with any internal Host Institution deadlines for review and approval, distinct from the HRB deadline.
The application submission period is expected to close in mid-February 2026.
Apply for this award:
Contact us:
Funding previously awarded:
Funding previously awarded under Clinician Scientist Fellowships can be viewed here.
Funding available:
The fellowship will support the research-related costs up to a maximum of €80,000 and pro rata salary-related costs of the fellow up to 0.5 FTE.
Length of Award:
48-60 months