NIHR Impact Prizes 2026

The NIHR Impact Prizes recognise major improvements in health and care over the last 2 decades, driven by research and scientific advances. The prizes celebrate researchers and teams who have had a significant impact on the health and wealth of the nation, as well as globally.

The Impact Prizes recognise research that has received NIHR funding or support across the range of areas NIHR funds, including health, public health, social care, and global health research.

NIHR will award NIHR Impact Prizes for research teams and for early-career researchers. Winners will be nationally recognised at an in-person award ceremony, hosted by Professor Lucy Chappell, the Department of Health and Social Care Chief Scientific Advisor and NIHR CEO.

Eligibility:

All submissions must either be from current or previous NIHR award holders OR individuals/teams whose research has benefited from funding and/or support from NIHR programmes, NIHR research infrastructure funding or Academy funding. For NIHR Global Health Research award holders, researchers from HEIs and Research Institutions based abroad are eligible.
There must be a clear, demonstrable link between NIHR funding and support, the research undertaken, and the impact achieved.
There must be evidence of realised impact (i.e. demonstrable change(s) has been achieved/has happened, rather than potential impact).
If you submitted an application for the 2025 NIHR Impact Prizes and were unsuccessful, you can resubmit for the 2026 prizes only if there has been additional impact demonstrated since your initial application.

Any queries please contact: impact-prizes@nihr.ac.uk

NIHR Impact Prizes 2026

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