Small Molecule High Throughput

Animal Research Rule: If involving animals, must comply with Animals Scientific Procedures Act and UKRI guidance. Appropriate templates required.

Appendices Required: Research involving animals template if applicable. Project partner letters of support.

Application Limit: Not specified

Application Platform: UKRI Funding Service

Application Sections: Summary. Vision. Approach. Resources and cost justification. Applicant and team capability to deliver. Project partners. Facilities. Data management and sharing. Ethics and RRI. Genetic and biological risk. Animal research. Human tissue research.

Assessment Process: Panel assessment only. No external peer review. AstraZeneca panel member confirms technical feasibility and screening suitability.

Co-Funders: None stated. AstraZeneca participates in assessment and collaboration but is not listed as a funder.

Collaboration Rules: AstraZeneca is a de facto project partner on all awards. Standard collaboration agreement required. No additional commercial collaborations permitted.

Competitiveness: Up to four projects funded per year. Capacity limited.

Decision Risks: Application may be rejected if not following guidance. Feasibility assessment by AstraZeneca required. Funding contingent on signed collaboration agreement.

Decision Timeline: Assessment completed within three months of submission.

Eligible Expenses: £150,000 exception costs for execution of HTS. £20,000 exception costs for optimisation. Up to £100,000 FEC for work at research organisation including follow up assays and researcher visit to AstraZeneca. Travel, accommodation and subsistence for up to three months embedding at AstraZeneca.

Eligible Scope: High throughput screening using AstraZeneca facilities. Assay optimisation. Execution of screen. Follow up assays at host institution. Must demonstrate therapeutic relevance and viable assay design.

Funding Intensity: 100% FEC for AstraZeneca conducted work. 80% FEC for research organisation costs.

Funding Rate: 100% FEC for work conducted at AstraZeneca. 80% FEC for work conducted at the research organisation.

Important Notes: AstraZeneca may independently choose to fully fund a project outside MRC route. Research organisation retains IP. AstraZeneca has first right to negotiate exclusive licence.

Ineligible Applicants: Commercial entities cannot lead. Applications cannot include additional commercial collaborators. Project leads based at international research organisations are not eligible except specified MRC units.

Ineligible Projects: Conference attendance costs not funded. Applications led by commercial entities.

Interview Stage: Not specified

Key Requirements: Must include AstraZeneca as project partner. Must use standard collaboration agreement. Must embed researcher at AstraZeneca unless justified otherwise. Must meet assay feasibility criteria.

Match Funding Requirement: No matched funding required beyond standard 20% FEC for host institution costs.

Project Duration: Typically 15 months. Minimum 12 months. Maximum 18 months.

Publication Date: 2026-01-30 00:00:00

Renewal Rules: Not specified

Research Category: Experimental therapeutic discovery research

Sanctions Rule: Not specified

Subcontractors: Not specified

Subsidy Scheme: Not specified

Total Fund Available: £1,000,000