Small Research Grants

Small Research Grants is sponsored by Healthcare Infection Society (HIS). These grants support small-scale research projects or proof-of-principle research focused on infection prevention and control and nosocomial infections. The aim is to generate preliminary data that can lead to larger grant applications.

Small Research Grant | Healthcare Infection Society - Healthcare Infection Society Archived guidelines and guidance Journal of Hospital Infection Applications are now open. Deadline: 1 September 2026 We believe that excellent research underpins clinical best practice. HIS aims to fund pioneering, innovative research within the scope of infection prevention and control and nosocomial infections.

Applications for funding must show an understanding of the clinical practice of infection prevention and control directly relating to nosocomial infections. Small Research Grants are intended to support small-scale research projects or proof or principle research that may lead to an application for a larger research grant. Up to £10,000 is available for a project of maximum 24 months duration.

The primary grant holder and their institution must the based in the UK or Republic of Ireland. Small grants are normally non-recurring. Please see the HIS Research Innovations Strategy 2025-2030 document for full information on our funding remit.

Total funding: up to £10,000 Availability: one award per year - the ongoing applications are for 2026/27. PI must be UK or Ireland based and a member of HIS at time of submission His Srg Application Form 2026 Frequently asked questions We accept applications from researchers and clinicians, based in the public sector, who are in a career grade or substantive role.

If the Primary Grant Holder is not experienced in research, then the application must include, and be signed by, an experienced researcher as a Co-Investigator who will provide mentoring and oversight of the project.

Applications from a Primary Grant Holder who is an experienced researcher but who does not have experience in IPC research must include a Co-Investigator who is either a: Consultant Microbiologist (or Speciality Registrar on a microbiology pathway) Specialist Clinical Scientist This Co-Investigator shall provide insight and guidance regarding the clinical applications of the project.

HIS welcomes applications to be submitted by an appropriate supervisor with a research student named on the application. If a research student is named on the application, an Educational Sponsor must be identified (trainees, research students, medical students or equivalent are not accepted as primary grant holders) Further information can be found in our Terms and Conditions What research do you fund?

The scheme can be used to: Fund small (local) research projects to answer well-defined and concise IPC/HCAI questions.

Create proof of principle data to underpin external applications for additional funding Build new collaborations between clinicians and researchers Provide access to funds for further hypothesis testing Encourage innovative and interdisciplinary research in infection prevention and control Build consortia for specific funding calls Information on current and past funded Small Research Grants can be found here Restrictions: Funding is not available: For the commercial exploitation of work already being undertaken, or intellectual property protection; For studentships or fee waivers for students; For equipment purchase only To purchase contracted-out services For Indirect and estates costs As Start-up funds for new staff As Honorarium payments to visitors or fees for undertaking teaching Scoring criteria are available in the Grants programme overview and process document.

We will only pay the direct costs of research at UK and Irish Universities. The UK higher education funding bodies provide funding for directly allocated and indirect costs associated with charity-funded research. In England, this funding is called the Charity Research Support Fund.

Similar funding is provided by the Scottish Funding Council, Higher Education Funding Council for Wales and the Northern Ireland government. Higher Education Authority block grants support research costs within the Republic of Ireland.

Research costs in the NHS For research conducted within the NHS, we follow AcoRD principles for non-commercial studies available here For non-commercial studies the normal funding arrangements for research, NHS Treatment and NHS Support costs are: Research Costs - are usually met by grant funders through the award of a research grant.

However, there are some specific research activities where, in England, the costs will be met by the Department of Health. NHS Treatment Costs - met through the normal commissioning process. NHS Support Costs - met from the R&D budget by the Health Departments of the United Kingdom.

Your application must be reviewed and approved by your host organisation. The application and terms and conditions require signatures from an authorised authority within your institution who undertakes financial management of award, in addition to a Director of Research, Dean of Medicine or equivalent. Applications must be sent to grants@his.

org. uk by 11. 59 pm on the application deadline.

The following items MUST be included in your application: Completed application form (including signatures) Abridged 2 page C. Vs for all applicants Ethics applications and risk assessments Terms and conditions signed by all applicants Applications will be triaged for completeness, eligibility and fit to the HIS remit. Applications will be sent the Grants Committee for peer review, who will meet to discuss the applications.

Applicants will be notified of their progress at this stage. After reviewing, the Grants Committee will make a recommendation to the HIS Council regarding the proposal to fund. All applicants will be notified of the outcome.

Project management and monitoring The following Conditions of Funding are absolute and apply in all cases unless otherwise stated: Reporting on project outcomes Successful applicants are required to report on project outcomes (including publications and follow-on funding). Failure to report the outcomes of your project may result in your department being ineligible to receive HIS funding in the future.

In line with the Society’s terms and conditions, publications resulting from the research must be submitted to the Journal of Hospital infection for first refusal. Award holders will be required to acknowledge HIS funding in oral and poster presentations, and may be asked to present at a HIS meeting or conference.

Projects are supported on the understanding that all applicants are familiar with the MRC’s policies and guidance on research ethics and research integrity and that the PI has taken ethical considerations into account in the project design, and has or will receive relevant formal ethical review and sign-off by the relevant research ethics committee and governance committees (and any relevant external committees), prior to the commencement of the research.

The responsibility for identifying and responding to ethical considerations, referring them for review, and securing approval before the research commences lies with the PI: failure to do so can constitute misconduct. Projects should be completed within 24 months of the grant start date. Grant holders may apply for a no cost extension in line with the Society’s terms and conditions.

Timeline for 1 September deadline submission: Application submission deadline RC meeting- discussion of applications Projects must start within six months of award allocation and the funding must be spent within two years of the project starting