Funding for innovative research programmes that aim to have a significant positive impact on patients. This may be through improved understanding, prevention, diagnosis and/or treatment of cardiovascular disease.
The theme for the 2026 competition is AI-powered transformation in cardiovascular health: from discovery to clinical practice, with priority given to proposals addressing significant unmet needs or opportunities in one or more areas.
Research programmes should aim to deliver AI-powered transformational progress in one or more areas such as:
- understanding disease mechanisms
- determining disease risk and implementing preventive measures
- early and accurate diagnosis of evolving disease (when medical intervention is likely to be more effective)
- discovery and development of new drugs and other innovative treatments
- delivery of improved clinical care and information to patients
Teams entering the competition need to mobilise knowledge, talent and resources from multiple fields and sectors, working on a scale that goes above and beyond conventional research programmes. Engagement of partners from multiple disciplines and sectors is expected, particularly where such engagement advances a translational trajectory. Partnership with small or medium-sized enterprises and industry is encouraged.
As dictated by the specific area(s) that they address, proposals should aim to integrate a range of:
- complementary research approaches, such as discovery, translation, clinical validation and epidemiology
- disciplines, such as biomedical/non-biomedical researchers and clinicians
- technologies, in particular, AI and complementary data science approaches
- sectors, such as academia, biotechnology and pharma.
The funder will make at least one award of up to £10 million over five years.
KEY DATES
Webinar and guidance on outline applications: February 2026
Outline application portal opens: April 2026
Outline application deadline: September 2026
More information, including an outline of the decision process and key criteria, can be found in the full pre-call announcement.