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Funding
PIONEERING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN NURSING
The AI Nurses Network seed funding scheme supports the development of innovative and translational nurse-led clinical research on artificial intelligence which needs financial support to transform into competitive applications for larger research funding. The network also offer student scholarships to nursing students opportunities to learn about AI to progress their careers. Our monthly newsletter also highlights other funding opportunities related to AI in healthcare. The newsletters are archived on our news and events webpage and shared on our LinkedIn group.
Seed funding call
Artificial intelligence in nursing
Our seed funding call welcomes proposals that showcase clinical research on artificial intelligence (AI) in nursing which identifies and tackles a clear health and care challenge. The call supports nurses to work together and with partners and communities with relevant expertise on applications covering the full spectrum clinical research and areas of AI from smaller, focused projects through to larger collaborations to address new or emerging health and care problems.
This can include but is not limited to:
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research which develops and validates AI predictive models in healthcare,
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deploys new or existing AI tools in professional practice, and
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examines the benefits, limitations or risks of AI in nursing.
Funding call criteria
Artificial intelligence in nursing
The seed fund encourages applications from all areas of nursing that break disciplinary silos and integrate various types of clinical research activities into the proposed programme of work.
Award-winners should use the seed-funding to work towards a significant research grant application, submitted to a major UKRI funding body e.g., National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), Medical Research Council (MRC), Innovate UK, or a charity funder.
Setting out your pathway to a research grant application that is sustainable, scalable and will generate impact is a core part of the AI Nurses seed funding application and will be carefully scrutinised by the panel. Successful projects will ensure the work has a viable forward trajectory (funding and delivery structure) beyond the funded period via the most appropriate means.
Funding available
The AI Nurses Network seed funding has two tiers of investment available up to £20,000 and we aim to support as many projects as possible. It is important that all applications include a breakdown of costs; value for money is one of the assessment criteria.
Tier 1 - Scoping project that seeks to undertake a small scale clinical research study focusing on AI in nursing.
This may be:
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a type of rapid review (e.g., scoping, narrative, realist)
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a primary study that collects or analyses data
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a Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) activity
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the secondary analysis of an existing dataset
A maximum of £10,000 is available to support Tier 1 projects over a maximum of 6 months.
Tier 2 - Pilot project that seeks to undertake a more substantial clinical research study focusing on AI in nursing.
This may be:
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a more in-depth and rigorous evidence synthesis (e.g., systematic review, qualitative evidence synthesis)
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a primary study that collects or analyses data incorporating Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE)
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the secondary analysis of an existing dataset
A maximum of £20,000 is available to support Tier 2 projects over a maximum of 6 months.
Application process
Artificial intelligence in nursing
Our seed funding call is now closed for 2025 and we awarded funding to three nurse-led research projects. You can read more about our funded projects here. We hope to reopen the next seed funding call mid/late 2026.
Please read through the seed funding guidelines before submitting your application. Seed funding guidelines are available to download here. Proposals should be submitted by one lead applicant via the formal application form below. The application round closed at 12.00 noon on the 28th February 2025. The seed funding application form is also available to download here.
To apply, return your completed and signed seed funding application form to ainurses@kcl.ac.uk before 28th February 2025 at 12:00 noon. If you have any questions about the application process, please read through the seed funding guidelines or contact ainurses@kcl.ac.uk
Student Scholarship 2025
Artificial intelligence in nursing
The AI Nurses Network Student Scholarship aims to give undergraduate students enrolled on a pre-registration nursing programme the opportunity to work on a research project with leading academics during the summer break.
The scholarship scheme gives nursing students an insight into various areas of research through active contribution in experiential learning towards academic research. Undertaking the AI Nurses Network Student Scholarship will also be advantageous for nursing students interested in postgraduate study or clinical research careers. The scheme enhances their employability and provides them with an opportunity to reflect on the knowledge, attributes, skills and experience gained.
With the guidance of an academic supervisor, students are required to produce an academic output (e.g. publication, academic paper, poster etc.) at the end of the scheme. Moreover, participation in the scheme is supported by a financial bursary.
Our student scholarship is now closed for 2025 and Alice Hurcombe was awarded the inaugural student scholarship. You can read more about her scholarship here. We hope to reopen the student scholarship call mid/late 2026.
