IHE Discovery Award 2025

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
1. Precision Medtech Innovation: Advancing medical technologies to develop innovative devices and solutions that enhance diagnostics, treatment, and patient care.
2. Advanced Medical Imaging: Utilising cutting-edge imaging technologies and computational methods to improve the accuracy and effectiveness of medical diagnostics and interventions.
3. 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.
4. Future Digital Healthcare: Integrating digital technologies to revolutionise healthcare delivery, improve patient outcomes, and enable personalised, data-driven medicine.
5. Quantum Healthcare Technologies: Quantum technologies to transform healthcare through advanced diagnostics, treatment options and improved understanding of complex health conditions.

IHE Cross-cutting Capabilities
1. Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning
2. Data Science & Big Data Analytics
3. Sustainability
4. Robotics & Automation
5. 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 submission of proposal: Tuesday 1 July 2025, 6pm
Communication of results to applicants: By the end of the week on Friday 4 July
Start date of awards: From 14 July onwards

Questions:

If you have any questions about the awards, please contact the team via healthcare-eng@ucl.ac.uk