Early Detection and Targeted Treatments 2026

Please note, we are transitioning to a new grant management system. We anticipate associated guidance materials being available in mid-March and our new grant management system being accessible from 1 April. The call document is available from this page.

Please revisit this page regularly for updates.

Deadline: 16:00 Wednesday 3 June 2026
Costs: Between £100,000 to £1,200,000
Duration: Up to 60 months
Funding Decision: December 2026

Focus

This Call is seeking to support discovery and clinical research that aims to take the guesswork out of treatment of arthritis by increasing effective, reliable and timely drug and non-drug solutions to halt or reverse the impact of disease or treatment.

We recognise that early detection and intervention is very important in optimising disease management, and these areas are not excluded from this Call. However, applications that expand our investment in targeted treatments will be prioritised.

What are we looking for?

We expect the outcomes from this investment to progress toward any of the following:

  • Identification, development or improvement of treatments to optimise management or cure disease
  • Reliable determination of who benefits most from what treatment
  • Development of reliable early and diagnostic disease indicators to inform treatment

Who can apply?

  • The lead applicant must be based at an eligible UK institution.
  • One applicant must have a permanent position within the lead institute.

We welcome applications from fellows and lecturers who are looking to secure project support as a new investigator or mid-career researcher. Whilst there is no separate scheme or eligibility criteria, the panel will be asked to take career stage into account during the assessment process.

If your proposal is suitable for co-funding with another funder, please contact us as early as possible as we may be able to facilitate such partnerships awards@arthritis-uk.org.

For further details on who can apply and other roles in the application, please see Applying for an award for general information and the associated guidance document for information specific to this funding call (anticipated mid-March).

What can you apply for?

  • Costs for salaries, expenses and small items of essential equipment can be requested.
  • Awards of up to 60 months duration, between £100,000-£1,200,000 in value are available.

We plan to invest around £3 million in different sized projects.

For further details on what you can apply for, please see Applying for an award for general information, and the associated guidance document (when available) for information specific to this funding call.

How to apply

Applicants are invited to submit proposals through our new grant management system, where we anticipate the form will be available from Wednesday 1 April 2026.

There is a single stage application process for all applications.

Applicants should carefully read the call document  (PDF 220 KB), guidance documentation (anticipated available mid-March), and application form (anticipated available from 1 April), before starting an application.

Please ensure that the most appropriate language is being used in each section of the form and that the correct sections are completed.

A list of projects previously funded in early detection and targeted treatments can be downloaded here (PDF 114 KB).

The deadline for the receipt of applications is 16:00 Wednesday 3 June 2026. Please allow time for management of appropriate reviewers and signatories to access the system and provide their approvals. Submissions after 16:00 will not be accepted.

If you have any questions about the call, please email awards@arthritis-uk.org