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 2026 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 - 31st March 2027
Open for nominations
Clinical Impact Awards
The awards recognise senior clinicians who deliver national impact over and above the expectations of their job role or other paid work.
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 CIAs 2026 have closed.
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: Transformational Learning: The Consultation/Patient that changed me and 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 - 31st March 2027
Submissions are now open
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
- In-person presentation slot and attendance for one day at the next SAPC ASM
Deadline - 31st March 2027
Submissions are now open
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/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 the RCGP website.
The prize is:
- an in-person presentation slot and attendance for one day at the next SAPC ASM
- a presentation slot and attendance for one day at the next RCGP conference
- £500 cash prize
Deadline - 31st January 2027
Submissions are now open
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
Closing date 1st February 2027
John Fry Award
The John Fry Award is an annual award presented by nomination by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP), in consultation with the Society of Academic Care (SAPC).
The award honours the contributions of John Fry to research and academic scholarship in general practice. Established in 1995, the first award was presented to Professor Mike Pringle.
The John Fry Award is presented to a Member or Fellow of the College who has promoted the discipline of general proactice through research and scholarship. The award is intended to recognise the contribution of a practising GP undertaking impactful research within 10 years of qualifications as a GP and not holding a professorial role.
The recipient receives a silver medal, which is normally presented at an RCGP awards ceremony.
Deadline 31st January 2027
Submissions will open soon.
SAPC Annual Conference Prizes
Prize winners for the awards and prizes listed are selected from submissions or presentations of abstracts submitted to the SAPC annual scientific meeting.
SAPC Senior Investigator Research Prize
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.
SAPC reserves the right to limit the applications per department if the bursaries are over subscribed.
Deadline
4th June 2027