The UCL Institute of Healthcare Engineering (IHE) exists to enhance the potential of research being developed in the Faculty of Engineering and wider UCL to deliver healthcare solutions with real-world impact. We amplify and connect healthcare engineering research and innovation across the university
In 2025, we are revamping our strategy, and as part of this, we are looking to pump-prime research at the intersection of our new thematic application areas.
The IHE Discovery Award provides seed funds to galvanise interdisciplinary teams to work on proof-of-concept ideas, generate data, focus on translational research and apply for further funding from other bodies.
Up to £10,000 is available for projects.
Key information:
Applicant eligibility
Applications are open to UCL staff members with the following roles:
- Professor/Professorial Teaching Fellow or equivalent
- Reader or equivalent
- Senior Lecturer/Principal Researcher/Principal Research Associate/Senior Teaching Fellow or equivalent
- Lecturer/Senior Research Associate/Teaching Fellow or equivalent
- Post Doc/Researcher/Post Doc Fellow/Research Associate or equivalent are eligible provided the contract covers the spend and activity period
Projects and remit
- Proposals must be interdisciplinary (for example, involving engineering, natural sciences and clinical elements as well as other disciplines such as the social sciences); demonstrate a pathway to impact either in industry or societal impact and/or policy;
- This includes having at least two CO-Principal investigators and a clinical partner
- It can also include participation by industry or not-for-profit organisations (e.g. charities, patient advocacy groups) through in kind or direct contribution
- Proposals will need to cover at least one or more of the IHE Thematic Application Areas and at least one or more of the IHE Cross-Cutting Capabilities. The Thematic Application Areas and Cross- Cutting Capabilities are listed below:
IHE Thematic Application Areas
- Precision Medtech Innovation: Advancing medical technologies to develop innovative devices and solutions that enhance diagnostics, treatment, and patient care.
- Advanced Medical Imaging: Utilising cutting-edge imaging technologies and computational methods to improve the accuracy and effectiveness of medical diagnostics and interventions.
- Next-generation Therapeutics: Pioneering new methods in the production and delivery of pharmaceuticals, biologics, vaccines and advanced therapies to ensure efficient, high-quality, and personalised medical treatments.
- Future Digital Healthcare: Integrating digital technologies to revolutionise healthcare delivery, improve patient outcomes, and enable personalised, data-driven medicine.
- Quantum Healthcare Technologies: Quantum technologies to transform healthcare through advanced diagnostics, treatment options and improved understanding of complex health conditions.
IHE Cross-cutting Capabilities
- Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning
- Data Science & Big Data Analytics
- Sustainability
- Robotics & Automation
- Ethics, Regulatory Science & Policy
All proposals must:
- Have clear line of sight to benefiting patients or the healthcare system
- Sufficient supporting data for the concept of the proposed solution
- Overcome a clear research hurdle
- Have a clear plan, milestones and timescale
- Consider the end-user and community engagement, and the nature of the partnership they wish to develop as part of their project delivery.
Key dates:
Deadline for the submission of your proposal: Friday 30 January 2026, 6PM, UK time
Communication of results to applicants: w/c Monday 9 February 2026
Start date of awards: From 16 February onwards
Questions:
If you have any questions about the awards, please contact the team via healthcare-eng@ucl.ac.uk
Frequently Asked Questions:
Here’s questions and answers from the last funding call:
Question:
My application is complete and the deadline time is looming, but I am still awaiting a signature from my Head of Department.
Given the circumstances, I wanted to enquire whether there might be any flexibility to submit the application without the signature initially, and to provide the signed version shortly thereafter? For context, my Head of Department is supportive of the project and has previously provided approval for related work - this is simply a matter of unfortunate timing.
Answer:
You are welcome to submit the application without the signature so not to miss the deadline.
Please note, that should you be successful, funding will only be awarded if we receive the updated application with the signature of your HoD.
Question:
- I know its not overtly open to PhD students - can we bring one of our relevant PI's into the fold and thereby have an academic on the project?
- There's also a Prof. at Cambridge who we think is interested, is it ok to have other Unis involved?
- According to the website there must be at least two co-PI's and a clinical partner. So, in this case it could be acceptable that myself and my two colleagues are the three co-PIs (two of us from UCL and one from Imperial), and the clinical partner we can figure out. We can and likely will bring on anacademic but just to be sure that I'm understanding correctly
Answer:
You can include colleagues from other Universities but the funds need to be spent on UCL research activities.
As a PhD Student you will need to include a lead academic as PI, and there is a need for a clinical partner as well.
Question:
We've noticed on page 4, when it comes to costs not approvable, it says "PhD Studentships. The latter is not allowed as students at UCL have the right to own IP and publish the results they generate". This leads us to believe that IP is owned by the University in this case, and not the inventors themselves (being us, the researchers)?
Answer:
UCL staff generated IP is owned by UCL. By default, students own the IP they generate whilst a registered student. However, if additional UCL Resources (like this award) have contributed to the development of such IP (whether in connection with or outside the course of the student’s studies), then UCL will own any IP generated by a UCL student. Applicants are invited to consult UCL policy on Intellectual Property for further information: UCL Intellectual Property (IP) Policy | Innovation & Enterprise - UCL – University College London
Question:
The guidance mentions funds to be used by 31 July but funds wont be released until ethics approval letter (if needed). Can we still seek the funding if ethics takes longer than the 31 July? (We are in process of apply for ethics for our project).
Answer:
Unfortunately, due to internal financial year constraints, we’re unable to release or commit funding beyond 31 July. As outlined in the guidance, funds can only be released once ethics approval has been granted (where applicable), and we regret that we’re unable to make exceptions to this requirement.
If the timeline for ethics approval is likely to extend beyond 31 July, I’m afraid this would make the project ineligible for funding in this round.
Question:
The application guidance indicates that applicants do not need to undertake Work Tribe costing, meaning PI time, indirect costs, and estates should not be included. However, the application form itself specifies several cost categories, including Research Staff, and states that consumables should not normally exceed one-third of the overall budget.
Could you please confirm:
- Whether Research Staff costs are expected components of the budget?
- If Research Staff costs are not included, are there still limits for consumables?
Answer:
- Research Staff costs are not *expected* parts of the application, but should you decide to use it, we don't require worktribe.
- No, if research costs are not included, there are no limits for consumables provided a good justification is presented.
Just to add that it will be important to liaise directly with the financial manager in your department as they would be the ones that can help allocate the funds for salary / non-salary budgets.
