Programme Grants

Programme grants provide larger, longer term (up to 5 years) and renewable funding to leading research groups to address significant research challenges. They are intended to support researchers to undertake a variety of activities focusing on 1 strategic research theme.

In response to the BHF strategy refresh, we will be championing larger and more ambitious research projects across our funding schemes. Recognising the significant impact that increased resources can have on scientific discovery, we acknowledge that historical funding thresholds may have limited the ambition of BHF Programme Grant proposals.

To help unlock the full potential of cardiovascular research, we will consider larger proposals with no formal cap. Costs will be considered in relation to the scale, scope, ambition and potential for impact.

Our peer-review process will continue to focus on scientific excellence, potential for impact and value for money.

Requirements

In line with the new BHF Research Strategy, BHF encourages ambitious, imaginative, interdisciplinary and collaborative proposals focused on 1 strategic research theme.
Proposals may bring in expertise from disciplines beyond the traditional biomedical fields.
We acknowledge that truly ambitious and impactful research may require greater levels of financial support.
The principal investigator will be a senior, or talented mid-career researcher working in an established research institution in the UK. They must have a strong track record of project grant support, usually from us, and an internationally recognised research profile.

Grant duration

Five years initially, with an interim review at the half way point. Programme Grants offer long-term support on a 5-year rolling basis, extendable by a successful renewal application (see later details).

Award may include:

staff salaries, for example: technician, research assistant, postdoctoral salaries. This excludes PhD studentships
research consumables directly attributable to the project
research equipment essential for the project
travel funding of up to £2,000 per year to present research at or attend scientific meetings relevant to the grant.

If you have a pre-application query about budgets, please contact [email protected]

How to apply

Preliminary applications

Prospective applicants must have submitted a preliminary outline at least 18 months before the expected start date and received our approval to submit a full application. Full applications will not be considered without our prior approval to submit.

In addition to completing the online form, you will be asked upload a PDF preliminary Case for Support containing the following information:

title of proposed research
abstract of the proposed investigation in 200 words or less
background to your proposal and pilot data
original hypothesis
experimental details and design of proposed investigation
your objectives in the longer term
expected value of results
an explanation of why the research requires programme rather than project grant support
summary of expected costs
name and type of contribution from any commercial collaborators (e.g. drug company) if relevant. See BHF Commercial Company Guidelines for further information.
list up to 6 relevant research outputs and up to 6 grants from the primary applicant and from each co-applicant (research outputs can include - but not limited to - datasets, inventions, preprints, software, protected IP and citations in policy documents, in addition to journal articles. Where possible, please provide a DOI or other unique identifier such as PMID). For research outputs, please also articulate in a single sentence the supervisors’ contribution to the work. CRediT – Contributor Roles Taxonomy terminology may be useful in describing the applicants' contribution to the output.

Sections 1-10 must not exceed three A4 sides.

Please ensure Arial font size 12 is used. If this font size is not used, the application will be rejected prior to formal consideration.

Outline proposals should be submitted at least 18 months before the expected start date of any award. Allow 1 month for your outline to be considered.

Full applications

Once a preliminary application has been approved, the applicant will be able to complete a full online application form.

In addition to completing the online form, you will be asked upload a PDF full Case for Support containing the following information:

for resubmissions, the Case for Support should be prefaced by a section containing an unedited copy of the original Committee feedback and peer reviews, followed by a detailed response (maximum 3 A4 sides) explaining how you have addressed any concerns and how the revised application has changed from the original submission. It is not necessary to include your original rebuttal.
title of proposed research
abstract of the proposed investigation in 200 words or less
background to the project and pilot data
original hypothesis
experimental details and design of proposed investigation
power calculations
expected value of results
outline plan of research after 5 years
list of references relevant to the proposed project
list up to 6 relevant research outputs and up to 6 grants from the primary applicant and from each co-applicant (research outputs can include - but not limited to - datasets, inventions, preprints, software, protected IP and citations in policy documents, in addition to journal articles. Where possible, please provide a DOI or other unique identifier such as PMID). For research outputs, please also articulate in a single sentence the supervisors’ contribution to the work. CRediT – Contributor Roles Taxonomy terminology may be useful in describing the applicants' contribution to the output.
appendices (maximum of 3 sides A4) containing only tables or figures essential to the understanding of the application. Research papers whether published, in press or in preparation may not be attached (although hyperlinks can be provided).

Sections 2-9 must not exceed 10 A4 sides. Please ensure Arial font size 12 is used. If this font size is not used, the application will be rejected prior to formal consideration.

Additional document upload checklist:

supporting letters from collaborators
intellectual property agreements where relevant
valid copy of ethical approval if relevant
CV for lead applicant
letters of support from Head of School/Faculty and any other relevant letters of support
the most recent mid-term or final report from the previous award if you are applying for a renewal of a Programme Grant
brief CV (two A4 sides) of named staff for whom salary is requested
quotes obtained for any requested equipment with a value of £5,000 or more.

Programme Grant renewals

If you are renewing your Programme Grant for a further period, in addition to items 1 to 15 above, you must also complete and include the Progress and Final Report Form in the PDF attachment.

Principal investigators must discuss with us the timing of renewal applications 18 months before the end date of their current award, as we will not be responsible for costs incurred after the end date during the renewal process. The application process, beginning with an outline proposal, is otherwise the same.

Decision process

There are no closing dates. Please submit the application when it is ready and allow up to 9 months from submission to decision.

We will acknowledge receipt of your application within 24 hours and we will advise you when you can expect the result. A decision will be reached by the Chairs and Programme Grants Committee (four meetings a year) after it has considered external peer review reports.

As Programme Grants are rarely awarded without revision, the application should be submitted 12 months before the expected start date.

The flowchart below shows the application journey.

Independent expert review

To help applicants better understand how their proposals are assessed, please see BHF independent review guidelines and blank review form.

Apply online