This cross-NIHR theme will include specific, commissioned and researcher-led funding opportunities.
Research should focus on developing, evaluating and understanding how to implement interventions that will optimise a public health, NHS, social care and wider health workforce that is effectively structured, trained, deployed and supported to deliver future effective and efficient models of healthcare which meet the needs of the UK’s ageing population.
PRIORITY AREAS
Building a sustainable workforce
Understanding the barriers to recruiting and retaining staff in the NHS and social care settings. This includes identifying solutions to sustain a workforce that thrives in a supportive working culture.
Key evidence gaps and areas of research:
- Which proven effective workforce interventions can be rolled out and tested in new settings?
- How can we increase research capability and capacity in the workforce?
- What changes do we need to make to core and specialist training to prepare for a modern, efficient, future health and social care system?
- How can we support those in management and leadership positions to lead well, improve efficiency and optimise staff wellbeing and patient outcomes?
- How can we best improve working conditions and create inclusive workplaces free from bullying and harassment?
Developing new ways of working
Identifying how to best structure the workforce to meet future health needs, including developing and evaluating interventions to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of staff and teams. This could involve, for example, skills-mix, task-shifting and service integration.
Key evidence gaps and areas of research:
- How can we best measure and increase productivity, and how does this relate to other workforce factors?
- How can we better understand the needs of the public health workforce to support effective delivery of the shift from treatment to prevention?
- What do we know about the optimum staffing levels and skills mix and how does this relate to patient and staff outcomes?
- What is the impact of developing new roles and how and where do they work effectively?
Growth through innovation and technology
Developing and evaluating technology-assisted workforce solutions to reduce burden on staff while maintaining health outcomes. This could involve, for example, diagnoses assisted by artificial intelligence, remote care through hospital at home and virtual wards.
Key evidence gaps and areas of research:
- What can we do to support technology up-take and roll out?
- What is the impact of health innovation and technology on workforce burden?
- What is the baseline competence and confidence in using diagnostic or health intervention technology?
- What more can we learn from the public and those using care services that will inform the effective and feasible delivery of technologically-driven interventions?
HOW TO APPLY
The above research topics will be addressed through a series of specific but linked research funding opportunities across the relevant NIHR research programmes and infrastructure.
Applications are currently being invited to the following funding opportunities:
- NIHR Work and Health Research Awards (outline application deadline: 11 March 2026)
- Work and Health highlight notice (multiple funding programmes involved: various deadlines)
- Programme Grants for Applied Research – October 2025 (outline application deadline: 2 December 2025)
- i4i Product Development Awards (PDA) – October 2025 (outline application deadline: 3 December 2025)
This list will be added to as new funding opportunities open.
NIHR is also interested in receiving applications on this theme via its researcher-led workstreams at any time. Simply specify in your application that you are responding to this themed topic.
All research proposals should consider engagement, impact and knowledge mobilisation strategies, in addition to the following cross-cutting themes:
- reducing health inequalities, by addressing the social determinants of health, the clustering of risk factors in the most disadvantaged populations with the greatest disease burden, ensuring equitable access to services and tailored interventions designed to reduce disparities
- promoting economic growth in the broadest sense, including a healthier workforce, a more efficient NHS, a higher skilled health, public health and social care workforce, and through investment in the life sciences
- accelerating the speed and adoption of innovation in the health and care system
View the original call here.