Applications in progress

Capacity Building for Evidence Synthesis (CBES) 2025

This call aims to strengthen capacity building and support for evidence synthesis on the island of Ireland while contributing to the development of a co-ordinated global infrastructure. The call closed in April 2025 and applications are under review. A funding decision is expected in September.

Fulbright-HRB Health Impact Awards 2025  

A review of the 10 applications submitted to the Fulbright Commission is underway. The commission manages the call. The outcome was notified in March and the official announcement by the Fulbright Commission will be in June 2025.

Applied Partnership Awards (APA) 2024  

The Applied Partnership Awards (APA) are designed to bring knowledge users and researchers together to develop research projects that address a documented need within the Irish health or social care system.

The APA 2024 Scheme has two separate application cycles. Cycle 1 projects have been funded and are underway. Cycle 2 closed on 18 December 2024. 43 applications were deemed eligible in Cycle 2. The panel meeting to review applications will be held 11-12 June 2025, and the HRB Board will approve awards 27 June 2025. Applicants will be notified following the board meeting.

European Partnership on Transforming Health and Care Systems (THCS) 2025 

This is a two-stage call. The first stage of review is complete and applicants have been informed of the outcome. Successful consortia must submit a joint full proposal by 19 June 2025 at 1 pm (IST).

European Rare Diseases Research Alliance (ERDERA) 2025 

This is a two-stage call. The first stage of review is complete, and applicants have been informed of the outcome. Successful consortia must submit a joint full proposal by 9 July 2025 at 1 pm (IST).

Joint Programme – Neurodegenerative Disease Research (JPND) 2025 

This is a two-stage call. The first stage of review is complete and applicants have been informed of the outcome. Successful consortia must submit a joint full proposal by 24 June 2025 at 11 am (IST)

Network of European Funding for Neuroscience Research (ERA-NET NEURON) 2025

This is a two-stage call. The first stage of review is underway, and applicants have been informed of the outcome. Successful consortia must submit a joint full proposal by 26 June 2025 at 1 pm (IST)

Open Calls

HRB-DOH Evidence for Policy (EfP) Programme 2025

The Evidence for Policy (EfP) Programme is a collaborative initiative between the HRB and the Department of Health (DOH) to support research projects that aim to strengthen the evidence base for policy development and evaluation of policy implementation by the DOH. Applications are invited in three topic areas with a closing date of 12 June 2025 at 13:00.

Collaborative Research Network in Mental Health 2025 (CRN 2025)

The aim of the Collaborative Research Network in Mental Health call is to bring together stakeholders to promote and advance research in mental health and ensure its application to policy and practice, informed by the National Mental Health Research Strategy.

The call will fund a single collaborative research network in mental health, and applications should be made on behalf of a team of researchers, knowledge users, and people with lived experience. The call closes 30 May 2025.

Secondary Data Analysis Projects (SDAP 2025)  

The Secondary Data Analysis Projects (SDAP) are designed to bring together researchers, knowledge users and data controllers to develop research projects that answer policy and/or practice-relevant questions by using secondary data.

The SDAP 2025 Scheme has two separate application cycles. Cycle 1 is currently open for applications until 30 May 2025 at 13:00. Cycle 2 will open for applications on 01 September 2025 and close on 09 January 2026 at 13:00.

The HRB hosted an in-person SDAP Seminar on 26 March 2025. Slides from the event are available on the call web page, which also includes a summary of the event. There were several presentations from previous SDAP grant holders which provided an insight into the depth of projects that can apply to the scheme and excellent inspiration regarding the impact these projects have had. Several data holders also presented their datasets and how they could be utilised in the scheme-their contact details are available on the slide decks.

Investigator-led Clinical Trials (ILCT) Programme 2025 (formerly DIFA).

The Investigator-led Clinical Trials (ILCT) Programme, formerly DIFA, supports feasibility studies and definitive intervention studies. The ILCT Programme is currently open as a rolling call, where applications can be submitted anytime up until October 2025. There are 3 pre-agreed submission deadlines in April, July and October 2025, after which the assessment process will commence.

An information webinar took place on Thursday 27 February 2025.

US-Ireland Research and Development Partnership Programme  

This is a rolling call. Check the scheme notice for full details.

Upcoming Calls

Capacity building and research careers grants

The Board of the HRB has kick-started planning towards development of its new Strategy (2026-2030). To feed into that process, we have been reviewing our investments in capacity/careers to date, and we wish to thank those who kindly provided feedback through surveys and interviews. We have presented our analysis and future direction to the Board in April 2025, and we are working towards calls at post-doctoral level, which we hope to open in the autumn. We will provide updates as the timelines become clearer.

Conference and Event Sponsorship Scheme (CES) 2025  

Cycle 2 of the Conference and Events Sponsorship Scheme (CES) 2025 will open June 23 and close on 22 July 2025. The CES scheme aims to create an opportunity to host health research related events, workshops, or conferences in Ireland.

Other European research funding opportunities

See our EU funding updates story for information on more European research funding opportunities. 

See also general information on the Horizon Europe and EU4Health programmes.