SPIN-D Flexible Funding Scheme

The SPIN-D Network+ is a collaborative effort to improve dementia care and prevention. We aim to bring together researchers, healthcare professionals, people with dementia, and their families to create innovative solutions. We have a Flexible Fund to support various activities, including:

• Scientific Calls: Funding for research projects focusing on dementia prevention and care.
• Sandpits: Workshops where experts can share ideas and co-create projects.
• Micro-challenges: Funding for small projects that explore innovative approaches to dementia.
• ECRs: Support for Early Career Researchers through internships and small grants. Find out more here: Register as an Early Career Researcher.

We will also offer training, mentorship, and knowledge exchange opportunities. We are committed to co-production and involving diverse communities. Contact us to express an interest in our flexible funding activities.

Flexible Funding 2026

Apply for funding to advance research and involve people with lived experience of dementia in reducing risk, delaying symptoms, and improving care.

The first call for SPIN-D flexible funding was opened in January 2025, closing at the end of March 2025. The call resulted in the network awarding funding to 11 projects, and further details about these projects can be found here. The second call for funding was open between 22nd January and 31st March 2026, and funding applications are now in the process of being confirmed. We are pleased to open the funding call again for a third call for Inclusion in Practice Applications. This call, which is specifically for Inclusion in Practice, will be open from late July to October 2026.

Overview: 

Call for applications: Open 27th July 2026, to close October 2026.

SPIN-D is pleased to announce the third call for Inclusion in Practice projects under the Flexible Funding initiative, aimed at Early Career Researchers.  We fund projects that delve deeper into our understanding of dementia, or share findings from previous studies. We are interested in the role that different risk factors can play in determining whether people go on to develop dementia, and how symptoms advance.  We are also interested in projects that test ways to reduce dementia risk and improve care and support for those living with dementia in their own homes. In this round, we are particularly inviting projects that can Implement tools and practices for dementia care and understanding brain health.

‘Implementation’ could include projects that take proven tools, guidance, or interventions and actively work towards putting them into practice within real-world settings. For example, this could involve piloting a digital tool for assessing brain health risk, testing an evidence-based care practice in community or home environments, or evaluating the rollout of existing guidance among healthcare professionals and carers.

Funding is offered at two levels:

• ‘Inclusion in practice’ grants for small projects or events. Funding is provided within an anticipated range of £400-£2,000, with an upper limit of £4,000 (at 80% fEC) – This call is open for a third round
• Proof of Principle Research Project funding for carrying out a small pilot project, with funding up to £24,000 (at 80% fEC) – This funding is not open for further applications at this time.

We also have a dedicated fund for enabling access to the PROTECT data source and other data sources to support dementia related data science research. This funding is not open for further applications at this time.

The Flexible Funding is awarded on a Full Economic Cost (fEC) basis, as per ESRC rules, and so the above figures are indicative of the total value of the project that would be provided by SPIN-D, with the recipient research organisation contributing 20%.

Top Tips on writing an application:

Martin Orrell, Chair of the Proof of Principle Flexible Funding panel, discussed his top tips for writing an application at an early career researcher event in January 2026. This session was recorded and can be viewed here on the SPIN-D YouTube channel. Martin, who is also joined by Chris Fox, Georgina Charlesworth and Katrina Davis, talks about forming new collaborations and how to plan a new funding application.

Webinar, SPIN-D Network + Flexible Fund – Information + Q&A:

A live-stream webinar about the funding call took place on Thursday 22nd January 2026. The recording from this event is available here (the recording from the 2025 webinar is available here). The webinar events were hosted by Dementia Researcher.

Coproduction and Involvement:

In this recorded conversation, Christine Wise, Bettina Wallace, Martin Robertson and Rachael Litherland give their insights into how to involve people with lived experience of dementia in a meaningful way in flexible funded project applications, and in project delivery.

Scheme at a glance: Inclusion in Practice – CALL OPEN

We are looking for projects that facilitate collaboration in the community and with a focus on equity and diversity.
Value   Frequency of call   Lead-applicant   Co-applicants   International co-applicants   Industry   Third sector co-applicants   Duration   Start by	£400-£2,000, with upper limit of £4,000 (80% fEC applied) Annually for 2 years   An early career researcher based at a UK University/research organisation Accepted   Accepted   Accepted   Required for this funding call   12 months   1st January 2027

Examples of outcomes from the ‘Inclusion in Practice’ call could include:

• Develop research involvement and co-production practice
• Inform the development of future funding bids
• Inform and support dissemination of research findings

Scheme at a glance: Proof of Principle Research Project – CALL NOT CURRENTLY OPEN

This funding aims to pump-prime innovative high-quality, prevention studies that support SPIN-D themes and provide pilot or proof of concept work for external funding applications.
Value   Dedicated Data Access Funding Frequency of call   Lead-applicant   Co-applicants   International co-applicants   Industry & Third sector co-applicants   Duration   Start by	£12,000 – £24,000 (80% fEC applied) Up to £5,600 (80% fEC applied) Annually for 2 years   An early career researcher based at a UK University/research organisation Accepted   Accepted   Accepted   12 months   1st October 2026

Examples of outcomes from the Proof of Principle Research Project call could include:

• Secondary research using previously published data
• Secondary analysis of existing large datasets including large research cohort datasets (e.g. PROTECT, 1947 Birth Cohort; ELSA, Understanding Society, BioBank) and datasets within NHS/service delivery organisations (e.g. primary care data/CPRD, hospital episode statistics), commercial organisations and voluntary and charitable organisations
• Pilots and proof-of-concept work which may include data from mobile and e-health applications
• Generation of new evidence including quantitative data (e.g. surveys and questionnaires) and qualitative data (e.g. interviews)

Data Access Funding – CALL NOT CURRENTLY OPEN

The fund for accessing data may be applied for as part of a Proof of Principle project, or as a stand alone application using the Proof of Principle form. If you are interested to know more about data sources and platforms that can be used for brain health and dementia research, you may like to watch this webinar hosted in collaboration with Dementia Researcher on 5th March 2026: Data for Brain Health and Dementia. As well as discussing different data sources, the webinar explored meaningful involvement of people with lived experience in data-driven research with Laura Gray. The event was designed for early-career researchers, clinicians, data scientists and others interested in dementia and brain health research.

How can I apply?

Please read the ‘Guidance information’ before applying.  To apply please complete the application form below and submit the form as a PDF to the email address provided on the form by the deadline. 

The Guidance information is available here.