Researching ME/CFS: Priority Area
Medical Research Council (MRC) · United Kingdom
Funding priority encouraging research into myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Applications can be submitted through any suitable Medical Research Council (MRC) grant or fellowship funding scheme that falls within the MRC remit. (UK Research and Innovation)
Summary
Deadline
Rolling
Updated
16 Oct 2026
Funding priority encouraging research into myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Applications can be submitted through any suitable Medical Research Council (MRC) grant or fellowship funding scheme that falls within the MRC remit. (UK Research and Innovation)
Eligibility
Applicant types
See eligibility requirements
Industries
Biomedical and health research related to ME/CFS.
Match funding
Not specified beyond the standard funding rules of the selected MRC funding scheme.
Eligible applicants
Applicants must meet the eligibility criteria of the specific MRC funding opportunity being applied to and be affiliated with a recognised research organisation or business eligible for UKRI funding. (UK Research and Innovation)
Funding and scope
Benefit amount
Determined by the specific MRC funding scheme used
Total fund available
Not specified
Funding intensity
MRC will usually fund up to 80% of the Full Economic Cost of the project. (UK Research and Innovation)
Payment type
Not specified
Eligible scope
Research addressing priority areas such as causes of post-exertional malaise, diagnostic tool development, immune system involvement, disease stratification, post-infection disease, neurological symptoms, genetic links, disease severity, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxygenation dysfunction and drug repurposing. (UK Research and Innovation)
Eligible expenses
- Research staff salaries, research costs, equipment, travel, and other eligible project costs according to the selected MRC funding scheme.
Ineligible costs
Not specified
Application and risks
Application platform
Applications must be submitted through the relevant UKRI funding opportunity used for the project.
Competitiveness
Not specified
Decision timeline
Determined by the standard timelines of the selected MRC funding scheme.
Assessment process
Applications are assessed through the standard MRC peer review and panel decision process associated with the selected funding scheme. Applications under this priority area receive prioritisation against other applications achieving the same median ranking score. (UK Research and Innovation)
Application sections
- Determined by the specific MRC funding scheme used.
Application components
Not specified
Decision risks
Applications may be rejected if they fall outside MRC remit, fail to meet eligibility criteria, or do not demonstrate strong scientific quality and relevance to ME/CFS research priorities.
Timeline and partners
Opening date
1 May 2003
Project duration
Determined by the specific MRC funding opportunity used
Project start
Not specified
Project end
Not specified
Co-funders
Not specified
Collaboration rules
- Collaborative and multidisciplinary research teams are encouraged, including partnerships with researchers who are new to the ME/CFS field.
Consortium requirements
- Not mandatory, but multidisciplinary teams are encouraged to address complex research challenges.
Additional guidance
Document research last revised 2026-08-13.
International Collaboration Requirement
International project co-leads may be included if they provide expertise not available in the UK. (UK Research and Innovation)
Research Category
Medical and biomedical research focused on ME/CFS.
Research Organisation Funding
Host organisations must provide appropriate research infrastructure and support for the project.
Subcontractors
Not specified
Interview Stage
Determined by the specific MRC funding scheme used
Key Requirements
Applications should address key research priorities identified by the ME/CFS Priority Setting Partnership and aim to advance understanding, diagnosis or treatment of ME/CFS. Multidisciplinary research and meaningful involvement of people living with ME/CFS in developing proposals are encouraged. (UK Research and Innovation)
Important Notes
Applications under this priority area may receive prioritisation for funding compared with other proposals achieving the same assessment score. Applicants are encouraged to include patient and public involvement in the research design. The priority area has been in place since 2003 and was updated in 2025 to reflect the current ME/CFS research priorities. (UK Research and Innovation)
Application deadline in source document
Open, no fixed closing date
Official source
Quick facts
- Status
- Open
- Deadline
- Rolling
- Funding amount
- Determined by the specific MRC funding scheme used
- Funding band
- Not specified
- Funding type
- Grant, Fellowship
- Payment type
- Not specified
- Audience
- See eligibility requirements
- Industry
- Biomedical and health research related to ME/CFS.
- Last updated
- 16 Oct 2026
- Published
- 1 May 2003