Joint Global Health Trials scheme (closed)
This scheme funds late-stage trials of interventions that will provide evidence to help improve health in low- and middle-income countries.
It's a partnership between the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), the UK Medical Research Council (MRC), the National Institute for Health Research and the Wellcome Trust.
We’re changing our funding schemes
The way we fund research is changing to support our new strategy.
See 'key dates' on this page for the next application deadline for this scheme.
Scheme at a glance
This scheme is now closed
- Lead applicant career stage:
- Administering organisation location:
- Funding amount:
Up to £20 million is available to fund several awards. Development grants are up to £200,000 each.
- Funding duration:
Development grants are up to 2 years. Research grants are usually 3 to 4 years, but can be up to 5 years.
Key dates
The Medical Research Council considers applications once a year.
Global health trial research grants
-
Outline proposal deadline
8 October 2020, 16:00 BST
-
Decision about outline proposals
December 2020
-
Invited full application deadline
25 February 2021
-
Final decision
June 2021
Trial development grants
-
Full application deadline
4 February 2021, 16:00 GMT
-
Final decision
June 2021
Who can apply
The Global Health Trials scheme is aimed at funding randomised controlled trials (RCTs), although other types of methodologies can be used alongside RCTs to explore implementation and operational issues.
In Call 11 (2020/21), we're looking for applications for definitive RCTs that provide generalisable data beyond a single country or setting. The evidence generated should be robust and relevant to international and regional policy makers. It should also answer questions that will change policy and guidance.
The scheme focuses on late-stage (equivalent to phase III/IV) clinical and health intervention trials that evaluate efficacy and effectiveness.
The scope of the scheme includes, but is not limited to:
- behavioural interventions
- psychosocial therapies
- disease management
- drugs
- vaccines
- hygiene interventions
- diagnostic strategies.
You can choose between two proposal types:
- global health trial research grants
- trial development grants.
You can read the eligibility criteria for this scheme on the Medical Research Council website.
Other schemes
Joint Health Systems Research Initiative
This year, the Joint Global Health Trials scheme has £20 million to fund several awards. Support includes:
- research expenses of the trial
- trial steering and data monitoring committee costs
- trial management costs (eg salary and training).
The Medical Research Council website has more information about the support we offer.
Please go to the Medical Research Council (MRC) website to find out how to apply.
The MRC processes all applications for this scheme. Please don’t apply to the Wellcome Trust.
There are two types of grant:
- global health trials research grants (a two stage application process)
- trial development grants (a one stage application process).
The Joint Global Health Trials Committee shortlists and recommends applicants. There are no interviews for this scheme.
Dates
The MRC considers applications once a year.
Global health trial research grants
-
Outline proposal deadline
17 October 2019, 16:00 BST
-
Decision about outline proposals
December 2019
-
Invited full application deadline
February 2020
-
Final decision
July 2020
Trial development grants
-
Full application deadline
5 February 2020, 16:00 GMT
-
Final decision
July 2020
Global health trial research grants
-
Outline proposal deadline
8 October 2020, 16:00 BST
-
Decision about outline proposals
December 2020
-
Invited full application deadline
25 February 2021
-
Final decision
June 2021
Trial development grants
-
Full application deadline
4 February 2021, 16:00 GMT
-
Final decision
June 2021
Grants awarded
Find out about some of the people and projects we've funded for this scheme.
Contact us
If you have a question, contact:
Caroline Harris at the Medical Research Council
Elena Netsi at Wellcome
Funding partners
