MRC New Investigator Research G

Application Platform: UKRI Funding Service

Application Sections: Summary, core team details, applicant eligibility statement, research vision, research approach and methodology, reproducibility and statistical design, data management plan, career development plan, applicant and team capability, research organisation support, project partners, ethical considerations and resource justification.

Assessment Process: Applications are examined for eligibility and scope, undergo expert peer review, are shortlisted by a panel and then considered by a funding panel for final funding decisions. MRC_ new investigator research …

Co-Funders: None specified

Collaboration Rules: Collaborative teams are permitted. Project co-leads, specialists and technical staff may be included where they provide essential complementary expertise to the project.

Competitiveness: Not specified

Consortium Requirements: Not mandatory. Projects may be led by a single investigator with optional collaborators or co-leads where necessary.

Decision Risks: Applications may be rejected if they fall outside the MRC remit, fail eligibility checks, exceed submission limits, or do not demonstrate the applicant’s readiness for research independence.

Decision Timeline: MRC aims to complete the full assessment process within approximately 10 months from submission. MRC_ new investigator research …

Eligible Expenses: Investigator salary contribution (up to 50% of working time), research staff salaries, consumables, equipment, travel costs, data management and dissemination, estates and indirect costs, and NHS research costs where relevant.

Eligible Scope: Research proposals must advance understanding of human health and disease and align with one of the MRC research areas including infections and immunity, molecular and cellular medicine, neurosciences and mental health, or population and systems medicine. MRC_ new investigator research …

Funding Intensity: MRC generally funds 80% of the full economic cost (FEC) of the project. MRC_ new investigator research …

Important Notes: Applicants are limited to two submissions as project lead across MRC applicant-led funding opportunities within a rolling 12-month period. Resubmission of unsuccessful applications is normally only allowed after a 12-month waiting period unless early resubmission is permitted

Ineligible Projects: Projects outside the MRC remit, infrastructure-only proposals, late-phase clinical trials, PhD studentships or applications from researchers who have already achieved research independence.

International Collaboration Requirement: International project co-leads and collaborators are allowed where they provide significant intellectual contribution to the project.

Interview Stage: Not specified

Key Requirements: Applicants must demonstrate readiness to transition to independence, lead the project intellectually, and provide a strong research proposal aligned with MRC research priorities and supported by their host organisation.

Lead Organisation Requirement: The project must be hosted and submitted by an eligible UK research organisation registered on the UKRI Funding Service.

Match Funding Requirement: Host organisations cover the remaining 20% of full economic cost through institutional contributions.

Project Duration: Typically 3 years (longer duration may be justified depending on project needs).

Project End Date: Determined by project duration approved during funding decision.

Project Start Date: Projects should start approximately 9 to 18 months after application submission.

Publication Date: 2025-11-27 00:00:00

Renewal Rules: New investigator research grants are not renewable. MRC_ new investigator research …

Research Category: Discovery research and fundamental biomedical research within the MRC remit.

Research Organisation Funding: Research organisations receive 80% FEC funding for eligible project costs associated with the research project.

Subcontractors: Subcontracting is allowed where required for specific elements of the research project and must be justified in the application budget.

Total Fund Available: Not specified