Up to £25,000 to Tackle Health Inequalities – MSD UK Grants Programme 2026

The MSD UK 2026 Grants Programme is currently in its second application window, offering funding to healthcare and patient organisations for projects tackling health inequalities and improving patient and population outcomes across the UK.

Here’s what you can expect:

• £15,000–£25,000 for eligible Healthcare Organisations

• £5,000–£15,000 for eligible Patient Organisations

• MSD expects to make approximately 8–12 grants during each 2026 application window

• Funding for projects addressing health inequalities

• Community and neighbourhood-based healthcare projects

• Prevention-focused initiatives

• Digital innovation supporting healthier living and behaviours

• Patient education, disease awareness, advocacy and peer support

• Projects across all disease areas can be considered, although oncology, public health (vaccines or HIV), and cardiovascular disease are priority areas.

Who can apply?

• Healthcare organisations directly involved in patient care, such as NHS Trusts and Primary Care Networks

• Healthcare professional membership organisations and Learned Societies

• Eligible not-for-profit patient organisations

• Patient organisations must be legally registered and have an established organisational structure

• Grants are awarded to organisations, not individuals

• Applicants must have other sources of annual revenue, as MSD cannot act as the organisation's sole funder

• Projects must deliver outcomes within the UK.

Funding is project-based rather than general core funding. Eligible costs can include non-clinical research, creative services, materials, websites, advertising, logistics, venues and staff time specifically attributable to delivering the project. Capital expenditure and normal organisational overheads aren't eligible.

Deadline: 8 September 2026 at 5:00pm UK time.