Applications in progress

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. The call closed on 12 June 2025 and the review process is now underway.

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 closed 30 May 2025 and the review process is now underway.

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 panel review meeting took place on Friday 20 June.

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 was held 11-12 June 2025, and panel recommendations will be brought to the HRB Board on 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 submission deadline for full proposals was 19 June 2025 and review processes are underway.

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 submission deadline for full proposals was 24 June 2025 and review processes are underway.

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

This is a two-stage call. The submission deadline for full proposal was 26 June 2025 and review processes are underway.

Open Calls

Conference and Event Sponsorship Scheme (CES) 2025  

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

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.

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. Please note the submission deadlines for Cycle 2 and Cycle 3 have now been extended.

The submission deadline for Cycle 2 has been extended to 30 July 2025, and for Cycle 3 to 12 December 2025. The HRB website and GEMS have been updated to reflect these changes. Full details on the call are available on the Funding Page of the HRB website.

The PPI Ignite Network (PPI-IN) 2026

The PPI Ignite Network will support and further build capacity for high-quality PPI in health and social care research throughout Ireland. This grant will provide funding for a further 5-year phase of a PPI Ignite Network. This call closes on 16 July 2025 at 13:00.

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.

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 closed on 30 May 2025. Cycle 2 will open for applications on 1 September 2025 and close on 9 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 Projects (ILP) 2026 

The ILP scheme aims to support highly innovative and internationally competitive investigator-led projects that can respond to existing and emerging challenges for health and social care. The ILP provides funding for clearly defined research projects in: (i) Patient-oriented research (POR), (ii) Population health research (PHR), and (iii) Health services research (HSR).

ILP 2026 is planned to open for applications on 5 August 2025 at 13:00.

Information regarding the previous ILP call, including Guidance Notes and Webinar, is still available on the call webpage.

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.