In September 2025, the UK Government announced that the SSA would lead a new programme to develop the next generation of leaders in addiction science. Read more about the flagship research leadership programme below.
Beginning in 2025, the SSA will deliver the Addiction Healthcare Goals flagship research leadership programme – “providing funding for academic and career development programmes tailored to the specific demands of the addiction research field”.
What is Addiction Healthcare Goals?
Addiction Healthcare Goals aims to foster the development of innovative interventions for addiction, and to bring charities, NHS services, the criminal justice system, and community organisations together to test, evaluate, and roll out new treatments and technologies. It is one of five programmes that the UK Government’s Office for Life Sciences established to tackle major health and social challenges. These programmes were: (1) Addiction Healthcare Goals; (2) Cancer Healthcare Goals; (3) Dementia Goals; (4) Mental Health Goals; and (5) Obesity Healthcare Goals.
To date, activities from Addiction Healthcare Goals have included:
- Collaborating with the Mental Health Research Incubator to offer research placements, internships, and development opportunities
- Conducting a priority-setting partnership with the James Lind Alliance to identify ten priority questions for addiction research
- Launching the Addiction Healthcare Goals flagship research leadership programme to build research leadership capacity, expand the scale of addiction research, and develop a diverse cohort of addiction research leaders across the UK
What will the flagship research leadership programme entail?
The Addiction Healthcare Goals flagship research leadership programme will include up to £10 million of funding towards training, qualifications, and projects for researchers in addiction science. The SSA will lead the programme, delivering:
- Master’s bursaries
- Pre-doctoral support
- PhD studentships
- Post-doctoral support
- Fellowships
- Leadership training grants
The National Institute for Health and Care Research and Medical Research Council will also facilitate career development through funding opportunities from pre-doctoral to post-doctoral levels.
In line with the broader Addiction Healthcare Goals programme, all funding through the flagship research leadership programme will support people and projects that drive innovative responses to addiction to illicit drugs and alcohol. Research that solely focuses on primary prevention, nicotine, tobacco, or behavioural addictions will not be eligible for funding. However, the SSA will continue to offer other funding opportunities for researchers who support the Society’s mission to advance the scientific understanding of addictive products and behaviours and the use of this knowledge in policy and practice.
Strong applications for funding through the flagship research leadership programme will demonstrate how the research aligns with:
- the ten priority questions for addiction research
- the aims of Addiction Healthcare Goals
- the aims of the UK Government’s 10-year drug strategy, ‘From Harm to Hope’
What can I expect next?
In 2026, the SSA will be inviting applications for the following:
- Master’s bursaries (opened 8 April 2026; no closing date)
- Pre-doctoral and post-doctoral support (9 April 2026–4 July 2026)
- PhD studentships and fellowships (27 May 2026–30 July 2026)
- Leadership training grants (dates to be announced)
