MSD UK 2026 Grants Programme for Health Inequalities

The MSD UK Grants Programme 2026 supports UK-based healthcare and patient organisations working to reduce health inequalities and improve patient and population outcomes. Grants support healthcare, research, education, prevention, community care, patient engagement, and digital innovation projects, with awards ranging from £5,000 to £25,000 depending on the applicant type.

About the MSD UK Grants Programme

The MSD UK Grants Programme is designed to help organisations address persistent inequalities in healthcare access, health outcomes, and wellbeing across the United Kingdom.

The programme prioritises projects that respond to the needs of underserved communities and people experiencing social, cultural, or other barriers to healthcare.

Funded projects should demonstrate a clear connection between the proposed activities and measurable improvements in patient or population outcomes.

Key Objectives of the Grant

The programme has two central objectives:

• Address health inequalities affecting individuals or communities across the UK.
• Deliver meaningful patient and population impact through practical and sustainable interventions.

Projects should place the needs of patients and communities at the centre of their design.

Funding may support initiatives involving:

• Healthcare delivery
• Patient education
• Health awareness
• Disease prevention
• Advocacy
• Peer support
• Research
• Community engagement
• Digital health solutions
• Sustainable patient pathways
• Improving access to healthcare services

2026 Priority Themes

The 2026 programme focuses on three major themes.

Community and Neighbourhood Care

Projects can focus on bringing healthcare and support closer to communities, particularly populations that experience difficulties accessing conventional healthcare services.

Potential activities may include:

• Community-based health initiatives
• Targeted outreach
• Culturally appropriate healthcare engagement
• Support for underserved populations
• Improved referral and patient pathways

Prevention-Focused Approaches

The programme encourages initiatives that help prevent illness and promote healthier behaviours.

Examples may include:

• Increasing awareness of preventative healthcare
• Encouraging uptake of preventative medicines
• Disease prevention education
• Community health campaigns
• Early intervention initiatives

Digital Innovation

Digital tools and technologies can be used to improve access to healthcare and encourage healthy living.

Projects may explore:

• Digital patient support
• Technology-enabled health education
• Digital engagement with underserved communities
• Tools supporting healthy behaviours
• Technology that improves access to services

Priority Health Areas

Priority may be given to projects aligned with MSD’s areas of interest.

These include:

• Oncology
• Public health, including vaccines and HIV
• Cardiovascular disease, particularly pulmonary hypertension and hypercholesterolaemia

Applicants should clearly explain how their proposed project addresses a relevant health need and contributes to improved patient or population outcomes.

How Much Funding Is Available?

The grant amount depends on the type of applicant.

• Healthcare Organisations: £15,000 to £25,000 per grant
• Patient Organisations: £5,000 to £15,000 per grant
• The programme expects to award approximately 8 to 12 grants during each open application window in 2026.

Applicants should ensure that their requested amount is proportionate to the proposed activities, expected outcomes, and project requirements.

Who Is Eligible?

The MSD UK Grants Programme is open to legally registered organisations based in the United Kingdom.

Eligible applicants generally fall into two categories.

Healthcare Organisations

Healthcare Organisations are entities directly or indirectly involved in patient care.

Examples can include:

• NHS Trusts
• Primary Care Networks
• Healthcare professional membership organisations
• Other eligible organisations involved in healthcare delivery or patient care

Patient Organisations

Patient Organisations must be not-for-profit organisations that represent or support patients and/or caregivers.

They should have:

• Legal registration in the UK
• An established organisational structure
• A clear patient or caregiver support role
• Capacity to manage and deliver the proposed project

What Types of Projects Can Be Supported?

The programme is suitable for projects that address a clearly identified healthcare inequality or patient/population need.

Potentially relevant activities include:

• Community health and wellbeing programmes
• Patient education initiatives
• Disease awareness campaigns
• Peer-support programmes
• Healthcare access projects
• Preventative healthcare initiatives
• Community outreach
• Digital health interventions
• Advocacy and patient empowerment
• Research linked to healthcare improvement
• Culturally tailored healthcare solutions

The strongest proposals should demonstrate a clear problem, a practical intervention, identifiable beneficiaries, and measurable outcomes.

Why the MSD UK Grants Programme Matters

Health inequalities can result from differences in healthcare access, socioeconomic circumstances, cultural barriers, health literacy, and other factors.

The MSD UK Grants Programme aims to support organisations that can develop practical responses to these challenges.

The programme is particularly relevant for projects that:

• Reach underserved populations
• Improve access to healthcare
• Address barriers to prevention
• Strengthen patient support
• Improve health literacy
• Create sustainable patient pathways
• Use digital innovation to improve engagement
• Generate measurable improvements in health and wellbeing

How to Apply

Applicants should develop a project proposal that clearly connects the proposed activities with the programme’s objectives.

A strong application should generally address the following areas:

1. Identify the health inequality or unmet need.
   Clearly describe the population or community experiencing the problem.
2. Define the target beneficiaries.
   Explain who will benefit and why they require additional support.
3. Describe the proposed solution.
   Explain what activities will be delivered and how they will address the identified problem.
4. Connect the project to a 2026 priority theme.
   Show whether the project relates to community care, prevention, or digital innovation.
5. Explain the expected impact.
   Provide measurable outcomes that demonstrate improvements for patients or communities.
6. Demonstrate organisational capability.
   Explain why the organisation has the experience, expertise, partnerships, and resources required to deliver the project.
7. Prepare a realistic budget.
   Ensure the requested grant amount is appropriate for the proposed activities and expected results.
8. Demonstrate sustainability.
   Where relevant, explain how successful approaches can continue or be integrated into existing services after the grant period.

Tips for a Strong Application

Applicants can strengthen their proposals by:

• Using evidence to demonstrate the health inequality being addressed.
• Clearly identifying underserved or disadvantaged populations.
• Setting specific and measurable project outcomes.
• Demonstrating meaningful patient or community involvement.
• Explaining how the project will improve access, prevention, care, or wellbeing.
• Linking the proposal directly to one or more 2026 priority themes.
• Providing a detailed and realistic budget.
• Demonstrating relevant partnerships and delivery experience.
• Explaining how impact will be monitored and evaluated.
• Showing how successful interventions could create sustainable improvements.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid proposals that:

• Do not clearly address a health inequality.
• Lack a defined target population.
• Describe activities without explaining their expected impact.
• Have unclear or unrealistic budgets.
• Fail to demonstrate organisational capacity.
• Do not explain how patients or communities will benefit.
• Are poorly aligned with the programme’s priority themes.
• Provide broad health objectives without measurable outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can apply for the MSD UK Grants Programme?

Legally registered organisations based in the UK can apply, including eligible Healthcare Organisations and not-for-profit Patient Organisations representing or supporting patients and caregivers.

How much funding can Healthcare Organisations receive?

Healthcare Organisations can apply for grants ranging from £15,000 to £25,000.

How much funding is available to Patient Organisations?

Patient Organisations can apply for grants ranging from £5,000 to £15,000.

What are the main priorities for the 2026 programme?

The three main themes are community and neighbourhood care, prevention-focused approaches, and digital innovation to support healthy living and behaviours.

Can projects focus on health inequalities?

Yes. Addressing health inequalities is one of the programme’s two core objectives. Proposals should demonstrate a clear understanding of the inequality or barrier and explain how the project will address it.

Which health areas may receive priority?

Priority areas include oncology, public health such as vaccines and HIV, and cardiovascular disease, particularly pulmonary hypertension and hypercholesterolaemia.

How many grants will be awarded?

The programme expects to award approximately 8 to 12 grants during each open application window in 2026. The actual number may depend on the quality and eligibility of applications.

Conclusion

The MSD UK Grants Programme 2026 provides funding for UK healthcare and patient organisations developing practical solutions to health inequalities and unmet patient needs. With grants of £5,000 to £25,000, the programme offers an opportunity to support community care, prevention, patient education, digital innovation, and other initiatives that can produce measurable and sustainable improvements in health and wellbeing.