Funding opportunities
A number of prizes, grants and other awards are available to early and senior primary care academics, several of which are supported by SAPC. These are designed to encourage high-quality research and education, and to recognise the importance role that academic primary care plays in improving health services and patient care.
Current Awards/Funding opportunities
Research Paper of the Year
Established in 1996, these annual awards are given to recognise an individual or group of researchers who have undertaken and published an exceptional piece of research relating to general practice or primary care.
Have you had a published paper in 2025 related to primary care that you think could be the next Research Paper of the Year?
There are three Research Paper of the Year categories you can submit your paper under:
1) Clinical research
2) Health service research - including public health and implementation
3) Medical education - related to primary care
SAPC Principal Investigator or Principal Medical Educator of the Year Prize
How good is your Principal Investigator or Principal Medical Educator?
Please submit your nomination here.
Deadline
Submissions have now closed for 2026
Clinical Impact Awards
For Senior Academic General Practitioners
The National Clinical Impact Awards 2026 round will open on 1 April. The application window will remain open for seven weeks, closing at 17:00 on 20 May.
Applicants do not need permission from their employer to apply. However, employers will be asked as part of the process to confirm the accuracy of the information included in the application.
NHS England encourage anyone who is not sure about applying to contact england.medicalstaff@nhs.net who will be able to talk you through the application process and offer support if needed.
Deadline
Applications for NCIAs 2026 will be open from Wednesday 1 April 2026 for seven weeks, closing at 17:00 on Wednesday 20 May 2026.
For senior academic GPs in England with an honorary contract with NHS England, an NHS England deadline for applications received for sign-off is set at 17:00 on Monday 4 May 2026, before the ACCIA application deadline, which (as noted above) is Wednesday 20 May, 17:00.
SAPC Medical Student Prize
We are offering a prize for Medical students which will enhance their CV - this award is open to Medical students and Foundation Year 1 doctors, and we would like students to submit a short essay (maximum 1000 words) on the topic 'a consultation in primary care that changed my practice'. The winner will be awarded one year's free membership to SAPC and a (free) ticket for one day of the next SAPC ASM
No patient details should be included without the patients written consent
The essay should be completely anonymised
Please include your institution and study year in your covering email
To submit your essay please email: office@sapc.ac.uk
Deadline
Submission have now closed for 2026
SAPC Doctoral Prize
The SAPC Doctoral prize is open to health service researchers and clinical academics, within 18 months of their PhD or Doctorate being awarded.
Judging criteria will include impact on primary care and implications for future research.
The prize is:
- one year's annual subscription to SAPC
- a presentation slot and attendance for one day at the next SAPC ASM
Deadline
Submissions have now closed for 2026
Scientific Foundation Board Annual Research Grants
- The RCGP Scientific Foundation Board (SFB) accept applications for their annual research grants. They offer funding for high-quality primary care research studies that directly relate to patients' care in the general practice setting.
- We support applications from both GPs and primary care scientists
Deadline
Please check RCGP website for details
SAPC Annual Conference Prizes
Prize winners for the awards and prizes listed are selected from presentations of abstracts submitted to the SAPC annual scientific meeting in June.
- SAPC Senior Investigator Research Prize (2 awarded)
- SAPC Junior Investigator Research Prize (1 awarded)
- SAPC ASM Distinguished paper (2 awarded)
- SAPC/ASME Education prize (1 awarded)
- SAPC ASM Best poster prize
Deadline
Submissions have now closed
RCGP-SAPC Annual Elective
An annual prize of £500 is awarded for the best proposal by a medical student for an elective based in Primary Care/General Practice which includes a significant academic element. This may be in the form of research, audit or educational innovation on a student-led topic.
Find out more on this page - scroll down and click on "training prizes"
Deadline
31st May 2026 - Midnight
John Fry Award
The John Fry Award is an award by nomination normally presented each year by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP), in consultation with the Society of Academic Primary Care (SAPC). The John Fry Award is presented to a Member or Fellow of the College who has promoted the discipline of general practice through research and scholarship. The award is intended to encourage people to undertake research as a practising GP, within 20 years of qualification as a GP, and not holding a professional role. The award is a silver medal which is normally presented at a RCGP award ceremony.
The award recognises the contributions of John Fry and his work in research and scholarship. It was established in 1995 and the first award presented to Professor Mike Pringle. The award offers recognition by the clinical community of the contribution of clinicians who, at an earlier stage in their career, undertake research relevant to the discipline and whilst working as a practising GP.
Deadline
Submissions have now closed for 2026
SAPC/RCGP awards for Outstanding Early Career Researchers (Academic General Practitioner and Primary Care Scientist)
RCGP Scientific Foundation Board (SFB) and the Society for Academic Primary Care (SAPC) collaborate to deliver Outstanding Early Career Researcher awards.
These awards recognise researchers who have made significant contributions to academic primary care. Previously known as the Yvonne Carter Award, named after Professor Yvonne Carter CBE, whose research a huge impact on academic general practice.
1) Academic General Practitioner
2) Primary Care Scientist
Each year our two winners are invited to the RCGP conference where they are awarded a trophy as well as a £500 cash prize. Find out if you are eligible and submit an application on our website: RCGP awards
Deadline
Submissions have closed for 2026
SAPC ASM Bursaries
SAPC is offers a limited number of £100 bursaries for qualifying delegates to attend the ASM.
Those eligible to request a bursary:
• SAPC member - PHoCuS or Extended Primary Care Workforce
• First-time attender
• Below the level of senior lecturer
OR
• PPI co-presenter
The bursary is available to SAPC members only. Unless for PPI co-presenters, the bursary cannot be used by delegates registering at one of the reduced conference rates e.g. Medical-training, retired, LMIC, student.
Deadline
6th May 2026