MRC Research Grant: Applicant-led
Medical Research Council (MRC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) · United Kingdom
Funding to support ambitious, investigator-led research within the Medical Research Council (MRC) remit that advances understanding of human health and disease through discovery and early translational research. Supports both focused projects and large multidisciplinary research programmes. (UK Research and Innovation)
Summary
Deadline
Rolling
Updated
16 Oct 2026
Funding to support ambitious, investigator-led research within the Medical Research Council (MRC) remit that advances understanding of human health and disease through discovery and early translational research. Supports both focused projects and large multidisciplinary research programmes. (UK Research and Innovation)
Eligibility
Applicant types
See eligibility requirements
Industries
See eligibility requirements
Match funding
No institutional match funding beyond the standard 20% FEC contribution.
Eligible applicants
Researchers employed by eligible UK research organisations who can lead and actively contribute to the proposed research.
Funding and scope
Benefit amount
No funding limit. Funding requested must be fully justified and appropriate to the proposed research. (UK Research and Innovation)
Total fund available
Not specified
Funding intensity
80% of Full Economic Cost (FEC) funded by MRC, plus 100% of eligible exceptions. (UK Research and Innovation)
Payment type
Not specified
Eligible expenses
- Salaries for project lead and co-leads, research and technical staff, consumables, equipment, travel, dissemination, data management and sharing, estates and indirect costs, NHS research costs where applicable, and other justified project expenses. (UK Research and Innovation)
Ineligible costs
Not specified
Application and risks
Application platform
UKRI Funding Service
Competitiveness
Not scored
Decision timeline
Funding panels meet regularly throughout the year. Applicants are informed shortly after the relevant funding decision meeting. (UK Research and Innovation)
Assessment process
Eligibility checks, expert peer review, applicant response where applicable, shortlisting panel, funding panel and final funding decision. (UK Research and Innovation)
Application sections
- Summary, Vision, Approach, Applicant and Team Capability, Ethics and Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI), Resources and Cost Justification, Project Partners, Data Management Plan, International Collaboration and Trusted Research and Innovation.
Application components
Not specified
Required documents
Not specified
Appendices
Not specified
Assessment criteria
- Vision, scientific quality, originality, applicant and team capability, feasibility, research environment, ethics, value for money, potential impact and contribution to MRC strategic priorities.
Timeline and partners
Opening date
7 Apr 2026
Project duration
18 months to 5 years
Project start
Not specified
Project end
Not specified
Additional guidance
Document research last revised 2026-08-06.
Expected Project Start
Typically 9 to 18 months after application submission. (UK Research and Innovation)
Eligible Research Areas
Infections and immunity, molecular and cellular medicine, neurosciences and mental health, population and systems medicine, and other research within the MRC remit.
International Participation
International project co-leads and project partners are permitted under UKRI international collaboration policies. Applications may also be submitted through international lead agency agreements with countries including Brazil, Luxembourg and Norway. (UK Research and Innovation)
Collaboration Model
Supports single investigators, multidisciplinary teams, multiple research groups and collaborations across organisations. Team science approaches are encouraged.
Eligible Activities
Discovery research, hypothesis-driven studies, early translational research, proof-of-principle studies, feasibility research, multidisciplinary programmes and projects addressing interconnected scientific questions. (UK Research and Innovation)
International Cost Limit
Up to 30% of total project costs may support international collaborations in eligible high-income countries, including India and China, where fully justified.
Application Submission
Applications must be submitted by the lead UK research organisation through the UKRI Funding Service.
Core Team Roles
Project Lead, Project Co-Lead (UK), Project Co-Lead (International), Specialists, Professional Enabling Staff, Technicians, Research Associates, Visiting Researchers and Project Partners.
Key Requirements
Research must align with the MRC remit, demonstrate scientific excellence, include an appropriate research team, justify requested resources and comply with UKRI policies on ethics, data management and trusted research.
Industry Collaboration
Projects involving industry partners must comply with the MRC Industry Collaboration Framework (ICF).
Data Management Requirement
A detailed Data Management and Sharing Plan is required in line with MRC policies.
Ethical Compliance
Applicants must address ethics, responsible research and innovation, regulatory approvals where relevant, and Trusted Research and Innovation requirements.
Application Limit
Maximum of two applications as Project Lead across MRC applicant-led funding opportunities within a rolling 12-month period. (UK Research and Innovation)
Resubmission Policy
Uninvited resubmissions of unsuccessful applications submitted after 1 April 2026 are not accepted. Older applications may be resubmitted after the required waiting period under previous policy. (UK Research and Innovation)
Important Notes
MRC has introduced a simplified, always-open applicant-led funding model with no submission deadlines. Applicants should submit proposals when ready and monitor the opportunity page for any policy updates or procedural changes. (UK Research and Innovation)
Application deadline in source document
No closing date. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year. (UK Research and Innovation)
Official source
Quick facts
- Status
- Open
- Deadline
- Rolling
- Funding amount
- No funding limit. Funding requested must be fully justified and appropriate to the proposed research. (UK Research and Innovation)
- Funding band
- Not specified
- Funding type
- Grant
- Payment type
- Not specified
- Audience
- See eligibility requirements
- Industry
- See eligibility requirements
- Last updated
- 16 Oct 2026
- Published
- 7 Apr 2026