Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme: Invited Stage Two Application
Medical Research Council (MRC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). · United Kingdom. Lead applicant must be based at an eligible UK research organisation. International collaborators are permitted.
Grant funding to support academically led translational research projects that develop and evaluate novel therapeutics, diagnostics, medical devices and other healthcare interventions. Projects may progress innovations from early development through pre-clinical testing to early phase clinical studies and trials (up to Phase 2a). (UK Research and Innovation)
Summary
Deadline
8 Jul 2026
Updated
16 Oct 2026
Grant funding to support academically led translational research projects that develop and evaluate novel therapeutics, diagnostics, medical devices and other healthcare interventions. Projects may progress innovations from early development through pre-clinical testing to early phase clinical studies and trials (up to Phase 2a). (UK Research and Innovation)
Eligibility
Applicant types
See eligibility requirements
Industries
Biomedical research, healthcare technologies, diagnostics, therapeutics, medical devices, digital health and translational medicine.
Match funding
No institutional match funding beyond the standard 20% FEC contribution.
Eligible applicants
Researchers who successfully completed Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme (DPFS) Stage One and received an invitation to submit a Stage Two application. Applicants must be actively directing the project and affiliated with an eligible UK research organisation.
Funding and scope
Benefit amount
No funding limit. Applicants may request funding appropriate and fully justified for the proposed project.
Total fund available
£26,000,000 (updated from the original £11 million). (UK Research and Innovation)
Funding intensity
80% of Full Economic Cost with eligible exceptions funded at 100%.
Payment type
Not specified
Eligible scope
Supports development and validation of therapeutics, diagnostics, vaccines, biologics, regenerative medicine, medical devices, digital health technologies, behavioural interventions, surgical innovations, imaging technologies and early phase clinical studies (up to Phase 2a). Projects should demonstrate a clear pathway towards patient benefit with defined milestones. (UK Research and Innovation)
Eligible expenses
- Investigator and research staff salaries, research consumables, equipment, travel, data management and sharing, dissemination, estates and indirect costs, NHS research costs where applicable, patient and public involvement activities and other justified project costs.
Ineligible costs
Not specified
Application and risks
Application platform
UKRI Funding Service
Competitiveness
Not specified.
Decision timeline
Funding decisions were scheduled following panel meetings, with applicants normally informed within 10 working days of the funding decision meeting. (UK Research and Innovation)
Assessment process
Applications undergo independent expert peer review followed by panel assessment and final funding decisions by the MRC Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme panel. (UK Research and Innovation)
Application sections
- Related Applications, Opportunity and Market, Scientific Background and Development Stage, Development Plan and Route to Patient Benefit, Approach and Methodology, Milestones, Applicant and Team Capability, Intellectual Property Management, Ethics and Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI), Data Management and Sharing, Resources and Cost Justification.
Application components
Not specified
Decision risks
Applications may be rejected if they fall outside the translational remit, fail milestone requirements, do not satisfy eligibility criteria or fail to follow application guidance.
Timeline and partners
Opening date
10 Dec 2025
Project duration
No fixed duration. Project length should be fully justified according to the proposed work.
Project start
Not specified
Project end
Not specified
Co-funders
Not specified
Collaboration rules
- Collaboration with academic, NHS, industry and international partners is encouraged where it strengthens project delivery.
Consortium requirements
- Formal consortium not required. Additional collaborators may be added at Stage Two where justified.
Additional guidance
Document research last revised 2026-08-06.
International Collaboration Requirement
International Project Co-Leads and Project Partners are permitted where they provide significant intellectual contribution and comply with UKRI international collaboration rules.
Research Category
Translational medical research and intervention development.
Research Organisation Funding
Eligible UK research organisations receive funding under standard UKRI FEC rules.
Subcontractors
Permitted where activities cannot reasonably be undertaken within the host organisation and are fully justified.
Interview Stage
Not applicable.
Key Requirements
Applicants must have received a Stage Two invitation following successful Stage One assessment and demonstrate a strong translational development pathway, measurable milestones, commercial or patient benefit potential and a robust project management plan.
Important Notes
This funding opportunity has been superseded by "UKRI Translation: MRC Proof of Concept: Stage Two." Researchers seeking equivalent funding should apply through the replacement scheme after receiving a Stage Two invitation following the new Stage One process. (UK Research and Innovation)
Application deadline in source document
Closed: 8 July 2026, 4:00 PM UK time. (UK Research and Innovation)
Official source
Quick facts
- Status
- Closed
- Deadline
- 8 Jul 2026
- Funding amount
- No funding limit. Applicants may request funding appropriate and fully justified for the proposed project.
- Funding band
- Not specified
- Funding type
- Grant
- Payment type
- Not specified
- Audience
- See eligibility requirements
- Industry
- Biomedical research, healthcare technologies, diagnostics, therapeutics, medical devices, digital health and translational medicine.
- Last updated
- 16 Oct 2026
- Published
- 26 Nov 2025