We support and advance medical research, spending around £800 million each year.
We do this by providing research grants and career awards to scientists. Our funding opportunities are:
Researcher-led
Regular, continuous funding opportunities. Proposals are reviewed at board and panel meetings. Funding is available for any area of science relevant to the MRC, to eligible groups and individuals, offering funding on a range of scales, across career stages, from fundamental to translational research.
MRC strategic
Funding opportunities in a specific research area defined by the MRC, usually for a one-off call or a time-limited period. Proposals may have special application and review mechanisms.
We also support research through our institutes, units and centres. Some are highly focused on specific science areas overseen by a board or panel, others have a very broad research remit.
About our funding opportunities
The MRC Industry Collaboration Framework (ICF) replaced the MRC Industry Collaboration Agreement (MICA) process. The ICF applies to all opportunities opening after 27 April 2022.
Research grant
Focused research projects that may be short or long term in nature
Programme grant
Larger, longer term and renewable programme funding
Partnership grant
Supports novel partnerships between diverse groupings of researchers
New investigator research grant
For researchers who are ready to become independent principal investigators
MRC Industry Collaboration Framework (ICF)
The ICF supports applicants submitting collaborative research projects between academic and industry researchers
MRC Centre of Research Excellence
Challenge-led and time-limited investments that tackle complex and multi- or interdisciplinary health challenges