Application Deadline: 7 October 2026, 4:00pm
LOCATION: England
Apply for funding to investigate the causes, progression, and treatment of human disease.
Your project must:
Focus on a mechanistic hypothesis
Include an experimental intervention or challenge in humans
This is an ongoing funding opportunity. Application rounds close every April and October.
ELIGIBILITY:
This opportunity is open to organisations with standard eligibility. Check if your organisation is eligible.
To be eligible to apply for this funding opportunity, you must
Show that you will direct the project and be actively engaged in the work
Be looking to investigate the causes, progression and treatment of human disease
If you do not have a contract of employment for the duration of the proposed project, by submitting an application, the research organisation is confirming that, if it is successful:
Contracts will be extended beyond the end date of the project
All necessary support for the project and the applicants will be provided, including mentorship and career development for early-career researchers
They welcome applications from early-career researchers. The new investigator award is aimed at researchers who are capable of becoming independent researchers and who are now ready to take the next step towards that goal.
If you are applying for this opportunity as a ‘new investigator,’ you must also:
Have your research organisation support
Be able to demonstrate that your skills and experience at the time of your application match those of the ‘transition to independence’ career stage, as set out in the MRC skills and experience table
Use this grant to support your long-term career goals and chosen career route
Be able to demonstrate you are the sole intellectual leader of the application and the proposed work
International Researchers:
As MRC is the lead funder for this funding opportunity, international researchers can apply as ‘project co-lead (international).’
Project co-leads (international) make a major intellectual contribution to the design or conduct of the project. Their contribution and added value to the research collaboration should be clearly explained and justified in the application, using the appropriate application sections, such as ‘Applicant and team capability to deliver.’
Read UKRI project co-lead (international) eligibility for more details. Please contact us if you are uncertain about eligibility.
You should include all other international collaborators (or UK partners not based at approved organisations) as project partners.
BENEFIT:
There is no limit to the amount of funding you can apply for or the length of your project. They will fund 80% of your project’s full economic cost.
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