MRC: Research Grant (Applicant-Led)

Activities Not Funded: Later-phase clinical trials, PhD studentships, infrastructure-only requests, publication costs, and bridge funding between grants.

Additional Compliance: Trusted Research and Innovation principles and export control considerations may apply.

Application Limit: Maximum of two applications as project lead across MRC applicant-led opportunities within a 12-month period.

Application Platform: UKRI Funding Service

Application Submission: The lead research organisation submits the application through the UKRI Funding Service.

Assessment Criteria: Vision of the project, robustness of approach, capability of the research team, ethical considerations, and justification of resources.

Assessment Frequency: Panels expected to run approximately three times per year.

Assessment Process: Eligibility check → expert peer review → shortlisting panel → funding panel decision.

Collaboration Model: Research projects may involve multiple research groups or organisations and encourage interdisciplinary and team-science approaches.

Core Team Roles: Project lead, project co-lead (UK), project co-lead (international), specialist, grant manager, professional enabling staff, research associate, technician, visiting researcher, researcher co-lead.

Data Management Requirement: Applicants must provide a detailed data management and sharing plan aligned with MRC policies.

Eligible Activities: Fundamental discovery research, early translational research, proof-of-concept studies, and research addressing interrelated scientific questions.

Eligible Costs: Salary contributions for project lead and co-leads, research and technical staff, consumables, equipment, travel, dissemination, estates and indirect costs, and NHS research costs where applicable.

Eligible Research Areas: Infections and immunity; molecular and cellular medicine; neurosciences and mental health; population and systems medicine.

Ethical Compliance: Applicants must address ethical issues, responsible research and innovation considerations, and regulatory approvals if relevant.

Expected Project Start: Typically 9 to 18 months after submission

Funding Amount: Usually £400,000 to £3.1 million (100% full economic cost). No strict upper limit if justified.

Funding Rate: MRC typically funds 80% of full economic cost (FEC)

Industry Collaboration: Must follow the Industry Collaboration Framework (ICF) if industry partners are involved.

Ineligible Applicants: Project leads based at international research organisations (except specific MRC units).

International Agreements: Applications may be submitted through international agreements with Luxembourg (FNR), Brazil (FAPESP), or Norway (RCN).

International Cost Limit: Up to 30% of total project costs for international co-leads from high-income countries, India and China.

International Participation: International researchers may participate as project co-lead (international) or as project partners.

Key Application Sections: Summary, vision, approach, reproducibility and statistical design, data management plan, applicant and team capability, ethics and RRI, resources and cost justification, project partners, international collaboration.

Match Funding Requirement: No institutional matched funding required beyond the standard 20% FEC contribution.

Programme Objective: To support applicant-led research that advances understanding of human health and disease, including discovery and early translational research.

Project Duration: 18 months to 5 years

Project Partners: Partners may provide cash or in-kind contributions such as equipment, facilities, data, materials, or staff time.

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

Renewal Rules: Not explicitly defined; projects are expected to plan sustainability beyond the grant rather than rely on renewal.

Research Scope: Projects aimed at accelerating diagnosis, advancing treatment, and preventing human illness.

Resubmission Policy: Previously unsuccessful applications cannot be resubmitted within 12 months unless early resubmission is permitted.

Review Timeline: The assessment process typically takes up to 10 months.