Call for applications: funding scheme to explore faith-system role in global epidemic preparedness

The funding scheme seeks self-formed groups of three to five researchers, practitioners, policy experts, and faith actors.

The University of Leeds is inviting expressions of interest from international research groups for up to £270,000 in funding to generate critical evidence on how global health actors and governments can better collaborate with faith systems during health emergencies.

Led by Professor Emma Tomalin at the University of Leeds and funded by the Templeton Religion Trust, the call opened on 25 September 2026 for six interdisciplinary author groups, each eligible for up to £45,000. The 17-month projects will produce research papers for a forthcoming Lancet Global Health Series and inform a World Health Organisation (WHO) Faith Commission, helping to address longstanding evidence gaps regarding faith-based health infrastructure and community engagement ahead of future pandemics.

"Faith actors own and run a substantial proportion of health and education infrastructure globally, historically working alongside governments in service delivery," said project lead Professor Emma Tomalin. "Yet engagement with faith systems remains fragmented, and significant evidence gaps persist on how global health actors can partner with them effectively and rigorously. This project asks that global health actors and governments engage the faith system with the same rigour applied to other complex systems, through evidence that is balanced — capturing both positive contributions and risks.”

The funding scheme seeks self-formed groups of three to five researchers, practitioners, policy experts, and faith actors. Each group must represent a balance of Global South and Global North institutional affiliations, cross-career stages, and interfaith or multifaith perspectives. Applications are open to both academic and non-academic institutions, provided the team demonstrates the capacity to produce a rigorous 6,000-word peer-reviewed paper and complete a literature review.

Successful applicants will address one of six thematic priorities, covering topics such as faith-owned health facilities, spiritual and mental health care, risk communication, and government partnership models. One open theme allows applicants to propose their own focus area aligned with the series' broader objectives.

At least 70% of each £45,000 award must directly support researcher and practitioner time, prioritising early-career researchers and Global South partners over tenured Northern academic staff.

Interested groups must submit an Expression of Interest form by 23 October 2026 at 12pm BST, following an informational webinar on 5 October 2026. Shortlisted teams will be notified on 6 November 2026 to submit full proposals ahead of project commencement in February 2027.

For more information, download the Expressions of Interest form and the Paper Outlines, and contact Professor Emma Tomalin at e.tomalin@leeds.ac.uk.