Scheme at a glance 

• Opportunity status: Closed
• Funders: Population Research UK
• Funding type: Grant
• Maximum individual award: £5,000 
• Total fund: £20,000 
• Funding duration: Up to 18 months 
• Opening date: 31 July 2026 10:00am UK time
• Closing date: 16 September 2026 4:00pm UK time

Last updated: 16 September 2026

This funding call aims to fund innovative and/or collaborative Communities of Practice that address key challenges and opportunities facing the Longitudinal Population Study (LPS) community. 

It provides an opportunity to bring together people from across the community to address community need by sharing best practice and co-developing solutions.

Applications should be focused around specific objectives in relation to a specific community need and describe how relevant stakeholders may come together to address that need. Applications should articulate how they are distinct from existing Communities of Practice, e.g. CLOSER or DARE UK.

The PRUK hub will be able to provide administrative support to bring the relevant community together – this may include in person and online events, mailing lists, or online collaboration platforms (e.g. a Microsoft SharePoint Team Site).

The funding could support a contribution to additional administrative salary, travel, events or logistic costs as detailed below.  

This is a UKRI flexible funding award administered by Population Research UK (PRUK).  

The full economic cost (FEC) of your project can be up to £5,000. PRUK will fund 80% (up to a maximum of £4,000) of the FEC.  

Your project must start by 1 January 2027.  

To apply, please submit your funding application form (Word, 255 KB) to info@pruk.ac.uk by 4:00pm UK time on 16 September 2026. 

Who can apply? 

Standard UKRI eligibility criteria apply. Proposals are invited from eligible UK-based organisations, in accordance with standard UKRI practice. Before applying for funding, check eligibility of your organisation and eligibility as an individual. 

Who is eligible to apply 

To be eligible to apply for this funding opportunity you must: 

• be a researcher or specialist employed by an eligible research organisation 
• show that you will lead the project and be actively engaged in the work  
• have the relevant expertise and experience to lead or contribute to the proposed activities 

For applicants who do not have a contract of employment for the duration of the proposed project, by submitting an application the research organisation is confirming, if it is successful: 

• contracts will be extended beyond the end date of the project 
• all necessary support for you and the project will be provided, including mentorship and career development for early career researchers 

Individuals may be project lead on only one application. However, individuals can act as project co-leads on any number of applications. 

Host research organisations 

Applications can be from a single eligible organisation or a partnership of organisations. When there are two or more eligible organisations involved, for administrative purposes it is necessary to identify a single lead researcher or specialist as activity lead who must be affiliated with the lead research organisation. 

However, the balance of activity and leadership across the participants and partner organisations can be equally shared if desirable. What is critical is for the approach to leadership and decision making across multiple organisations to be clearly specified where applicable. 

A research organisation may lead or partner on more than one application. 

International applicants 

PRUK will consider the inclusion of international applicants as activity co-leads if they provide expertise not available in the UK and make a major intellectual contribution to the design or conduct of the activity. 

You must justify in your application why their expertise is required (within the applicant and team capability to deliver section of the application form) and provide clear indicators of commitment to delivering innovative policy engagement mechanisms within the UK. If you wish to include funding for international applicants, you should seek guidance from the PRUK hub team in advance of submitting the application. 

Equality, diversity and inclusion 

We are committed to achieving equality of opportunity for all funding applicants. We encourage applications from a diverse range of researchers. 

We support people to work in a way that suits their personal circumstances. This includes: 

• career breaks 
• support for people with caring responsibilities 
• flexible working 
• alternative working patterns 

Find out more about equality, diversity and inclusion at UKRI. 

You are encouraged to leverage the full strengths of the UK’s diverse research and innovation community from the earliest stages of assembling your teams through to the delivery of awarded activities. 

Consideration of equality, diversity and inclusion is important for all applications to PRUK for funding, but particular care should be taken for activities taking a team approach involving multiple co-applicants. 

What we are looking for 

Aim and scope  

PRUK is an initiative that aims to maximise the use and impact of UK LPS across biomedical and social sciences. We are an initiative co-developed by the University of Bristol, University College London, and Swansea University. Our leadership team includes both CLOSER and UK Longitudinal Linkage Collaboration, who provide specialised services that support and strengthen the LPS research community. Collectively the PRUK team is balanced across social, economic, and biomedical research expertise and representation.  

Over the past year, Population Research UK (PRUK) has initiated a set of major infrastructure-building activities that were set out in the PRUK delivery plan, as part of our commitment to support the UK’s longitudinal research ecosystem. Communities of Practice supported through this funding opportunity will complement this PRUK work programme.  

This funding call aims to fund Communities of Practice that address key challenges and opportunities facing the Longitudinal Population Study (LPS) community. It provides an opportunity to bring together people from across the community to address community need by sharing best practice and co-developing solutions.

Applications should be focused around specific objectives in relation to a specific community need and describe how relevant stakeholders may come together to address that need and support the delivery of PRUK’s five key objectives, which are to:  

• coordinate and advocate for the LPS community 
• enhance discovery capabilities for LPS
• streamline data access processes and systems 
• facilitate linked data use across LPS 
• build capacity and skills within the LPS community

We may exceptionally support projects that do not fit into the five key PRUK objectives: please speak to us first. 

At PRUK, our vision is to foster a simplified and interconnected data landscape where data users benefit from a more seamless journey from data discovery to analysis and to translating those research findings into meaningful societal impact, while policymakers can apply robust evidence from LPS in decision-making, LPS are supported to maximise the visibility and longevity of their data, and skills are enhanced by training across the sector.  

Proposals are expected to align to this vision, and to:  

• be innovative, demonstrating novelty, and complementing (not duplicating) existing work 
• respond to emerging needs and opportunities 
• enhance the use and benefits of a broad range of LPS of different types and sizes, rather than serving a single study or narrowly defined researcher group 
• be inclusive, engaging stakeholders across different sectors, academic disciplines, study sizes, career types and stages, wherever possible 
• be generalisable, delivering value beyond the immediate project 

For example, co-developing solutions to community need to a wider set of studies, or data users could form a good basis for a proposal. 

We anticipate funding at least five awards to support a portfolio of work that will benefit both biomedical and social science researchers. You are encouraged to apply for the funding you require rather than applying for the maximum amount. Your application will be assessed relative to the resources requested. 

Evidencing community need 

Your project should provide evidence of the need for the proposed work. You may wish to refer to the PRUK prospectus, PRUK’s consultation report, findings from the ESRC Future Data Services report or any other relevant strategies, consultations, or recommendations. 

Collaboration 

We encourage projects that are collaborative in their nature or will foster greater collaboration (e.g. between studies, services, researchers) in their aims. Given the funding limit, collaboration does not require a large number of applicants to be involved in your project but it should be clear how the project will work with others in a collaborative spirit to deliver its aims. 

Alignment to PRUK activities 

Our delivery plan sets out in detail the work we’ll do to support and strengthen the UK’s longitudinal research ecosystem. Building on the PRUK prospectus, and developed following  extensive consultation with a broad community of LPS study teams, researchers, service providers and non-academic users, our plan sets out the practical steps we’ll take through to 2028. You can find out about the latest PRUK updates in our newsletter. Your project should not duplicate ongoing work being supported by PRUK or within the data infrastructure landscape (e.g Communities of Practice support by CLOSER or DARE UK).  

PRUK is funded by the UKRI Infrastructure Fund. This funding opportunity is to support infrastructure projects. Research projects or primary data collection are not eligible. 

Who Should Apply  

Applications are particularly encouraged from early-mid career researchers/professionals working within or alongside the LPS community.  

Applicants should consider the following requirements as part of their approach and its justification.  

Connecting stakeholders 

Applicants should describe how they will work with relevant stakeholders in the LPS community to address specific needs.  

Applicants should be able to explain how their application is distinctive to existing work and how it adds value without being duplicative or increasing complexity for stakeholders.  

PRUK activity integration 

Applicants should describe how the proposed work will complement the wider PRUK work programme and to look for opportunities to add value to and engage with the other funded activities set out in its delivery plan. 

Sustainability 

Applicants should make reference to the sustainability and future development of the proposed work beyond the period of funding proposed here. This should include how relevant outputs will be managed and made available to the community beyond the life of the funding. It is a requirement of the award that a functional and fully documented copy of relevant outputs are handed over to PRUK for sustainable hosting and upkeep beyond the lifetime of this award.  

Development  

Successful applicants will deliver their proposed Community of Practice for PRUK and the benefit of the UK LPS community. It is a requirement of the award that outputs are shared with PRUK as an outcome of the project, in order to support future developments in this area.   

Public, patient and practitioner involvement and engagement 

Applications should adhere to best practice in public, patient, and practitioner involvement and engagement. Applicants may wish to consider UKRI guidance on engaging the public. 

Duration 

The duration of the award is up to 18 months (and can be less than this). You should ensure that when completing the project details section of your application, you indicate a start date of no later than 1 January 2027 (it can be earlier) and duration of up to 18 months. We anticipate issuing award letters by November 2026. All PRUK projects must end by 31 December 2028.  

Funding available 

The full economic cost (FEC) of your project can be up to £5,000. PRUK will fund 80% (up to a maximum of £4,000) of the FEC. Find out more about full economic costing. 

What we will fund 

You can request funding for costs such as:  

• a contribution to administrative or coordination salary (e.g. £4,000 should support a junior administration at 0.1FTE for 18 months)
• travel and event costs (e.g. in person community events where justified)
• knowledge transfer and dissemination costs (to support specific solutions emerging from the community)
• administrative and logistical costs
• external stakeholder activities including Public Engagement and Involvement
• costs for innovative training and capacity building when not available elsewhere 

What we will not fund 

We will not fund:  

• a contribution to the salary of the project lead and co-leads
• work that is duplicative of existing funded activities
• any kind of studentships including stipends
• publication costs
• data collection or research
• funding to use as a ‘bridge’ between grants

International collaboration 

PRUK is committed in ensuring that effective international collaboration in research and innovation takes place with integrity and within strong ethical frameworks. PRUK is therefore aligned with UKRI principles relating to Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I), a UKRI work programme designed to help protect all those working in our thriving and collaborative international sector by enabling partnerships to be as open as possible, and as secure as necessary. UKRI’s TR&I Principles set out expectations of organisations in receipt of UKRI-derived funding in relation to due diligence for international collaboration. 

How to apply 

We are running this funding opportunity via submission of an application form to the PRUK Hub team (University of Bristol as lead institution for PRUK operations).  

The activity lead is responsible for completing the application process and submitting the application form, but we expect all team members and activity partners to contribute to the application.  

Only the lead research organisation can submit the application to PRUK.  

Application form 

Please complete the funding application form (Word 255 KB).

Completed application forms should be submitted to PRUK via email as a single PDF attachment, to: info@pruk.ac.uk. Please use the subject line ‘PRUK Communities of Practice’. You will receive confirmation of your submitted application within 2 working days. 

References 

Applications should be self-contained, and hyperlinks should only be used to provide links directly to reference information. To ensure the information’s integrity is maintained, where possible, persistent identifiers such as digital object identifiers should be used. Assessors are not required to access links to carry out assessment or recommend a funding decision. Applicants should use their discretion when including reference and prioritise those most pertinent to the application. 

Reference should be included in the appropriate question section of the application and be easily identifiable by the assessors for example, (Smith, Research Paper, 2019). 

You must not include links to web resources to extend your application. 

Deadline 

PRUK must receive your application by 16 September 2026 4:00pm UK time. 

You will not be able to apply after this time. 

Make sure you are aware of and follow any internal institutional deadlines. 

Following the submission of your application to the funding opportunity, your application cannot be changed, and applications will not be returned for amendment. If your application does not follow the guidance, it may be rejected. 

Personal data 

Processing personal data

PRUK will need to collect some personal information to manage your application and the registration of your funding application. This will entail personnel from the University of Bristol, University College London, Swansea University, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, University of Edinburgh and University of Stirling (each part of the PRUK Coordination Hub) having access to your application to facilitate the formal panel assessment. 

We will handle personal data in line with UK data protection legislation and manage it securely. For more information, including how to exercise your rights, read our privacy notice. 

PRUK will need to share the application and any personal information that it contains with the nominated members of the assessment panel, who will include external personnel to the PRUK Coordination Hub, so that they can participate in the assessment process and post-award management. 

Publication of outcomes 

PRUK will publish the outcomes of this funding opportunity on its website. 

Application form guidance 

Applicants will be asked to address the following questions in the application form – drawing from the description of the planned and PRUK Board approved focus of work outlined above. The application form must not exceed 2 pages, plus permitted annexes (see details below). 

Need

What are you hoping to achieve with your proposed Community of Practice? Explain how the proposed work: 

• complements and does not duplicate existing work?
• builds on emerging or unmet community need and opportunity?
• serves a broad user base rather than a single study or narrowly defined group? 

Approach

How are you going to deliver the proposed Community of Practice?  

• describe how the approach is inclusive, engaging stakeholders across different sectors, academic disciplines, study sizes, career types and stages wherever possible?
• describe how the project will produce outputs and outcomes which are generalisable, delivering value beyond the immediate project?  

Deliverability

Why are you the right individual and team to deliver the proposed Community of Practice? 

• provide evidence that the proposed team and any partners included in the application have the experience, capabilities and resources to conduct the planned work
• make the case that the resources required to deliver the proposed work are justified
• describe your resource/support requirements from the PRUK hub 

Scalability

How will your proposed work and community be scaled to meet the needs of a broad user base?  

How we will assess your application 

Assessment process 

We will assess your application using the following process. 

Examination of applications 

Following the close of the funding opportunity, all submitted applications will be examined by the PRUK Hub team to ensure the proposed application meets standard UKRI eligibility criteria and is within scope of the funding opportunity.  

Following our completion of the application examination process, all those with an application outside of the scope of the funding opportunity, will be advised their application has been rejected by the end of September 2026.  

Applications within scope of this funding opportunity will be taken forward to the expert review panel meeting planned for October 2026. 

Expert review panel 

The review panel will be comprised of members of the PRUK Hub and invited individuals with expertise in maximising the potential of LPS. The panel will collectively review your application against the criteria of this funding opportunity. Applications will rank alongside other applications after which the panel will make a funding recommendation. The panel will be empowered to support the strongest overall portfolio work that will benefit both biomedical and social science researchers. The expert review panel will use the following criteria to assess your application:  

Need

What are you hoping to achieve with your proposed Community of Practice?  

• to what extent does the proposal describe a project which complements and does not duplicate existing work?
• to what extent does the application provide evidence of building on emerging or unmet community need and opportunity?
• to what extent does the application demonstrate that the work will serve a broad user base rather than a single study or narrowly defined group? 

Approach

How are you going to deliver the proposed Community of Practice?  

• to what extent is the approach inclusive, engaging stakeholders across different sectors, academic disciplines, study sizes, career types and stages wherever possible?
• to what extent does the application demonstrate that the project will produce outputs and outcomes which are generalisable, delivering value beyond the immediate project?  

Deliverability

Do you have the capacity and capability to deliver your proposed work?  

• to what extent do the team and any partners included in the application have the experience, capabilities and resources to conduct the planned work?
• to what extent are the resource required to deliver the proposed work justified?
• to what extent are the resource requirements for the PRUK hub realistic? 

Scalability

How will your proposed work be scaled to a broad user base, and/or to a broader set of UK LPS data resources?  

Principles of assessment

PRUK supports the San Francisco declaration on research assessment (DORA) and recognises the relationship between research assessment and research integrity. 

PRUK is aligned to the UKRI principles of assessment and decision making. 

Using generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in peer review

Reviewers and panellists are not permitted to use generative AI tools to develop their assessment. Using these tools can potentially compromise the confidentiality of the ideas that applicants have entrusted to UKRI to safeguard. 

PRUK is aligned to the UKRI policy on the use of generative AI.

Timescale

The expert review panel meeting will take place approximately 8 weeks after the closing date. 

Get help with developing your proposal

For help and advice on costings and writing your proposal please contact your research office in the first instance, allowing sufficient time for your organisation’s submission process. 

Ask about this funding opportunity 

Population Research UK Hub team 

Email: info@pruk.ac.uk  

We aim to respond within three working days.