Support for MRC employees
The information on this page only applies to Medical Research Council (MRC) employees.
If you are a researcher not employed by MRC and are looking for information on funding available to external organisations to support the commercialisation of their research, see our section about research commercialisation.
MRC is responsible for the development and commercialisation of the research and knowledge assets created by MRC employees in MRC-owned research establishments as well as MRC head office. All knowledge assets (including intellectual property) created by MRC employees are owned by UK Research and innovation (UKRI).
Commercialisation of research enables the development of new products and services which can have societal and economic impact and supports MRC to achieve its mission of improving human health. These can include:
- therapies
- diagnostics
- devices
- research tools
Commercialisation support from LGC Group
Commercialisation of MRC-owned research and knowledge assets (including intellectual property) is supported by life science tools company LGC Group, who can help to:
- evaluate the translational and commercial potential
- advise on development pathways and access to funding
- facilitate engagement and collaboration with industry and investors
- commercialise MRC assets via licensing, collaboration and spin-out formation
- protect knowledge assets by registering rights, for example through patents
- provide support on agreements with industry related to all these areas
Each MRC research establishment has a dedicated LGC contact person who work with MRC employees to identify and develop inventions and knowledge assets.
If you think your research might have translational or commercial potential, or would like to know more about the support on offer, contact:
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, email: james.richards@lgcgroup.com
- MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences, email: lee.allen@lgcgroup.com
- Mary Lyon Centre at MRC Harwell, email: andrew.pearson@lgcgroup.com
- MRC Nucleic Acid Therapy Accelerator, email: lee.allen@lgcgroup.com
If you are an employee in MRC head office and would like to know more about the support on offer or believe you have created a knowledge asset, contact LGC’s intellectual property support:
Email: mrc_ip_support@lgcgroup.com
Income from commercialisation of MRC-owned intellectual property
MRC researchers contributing to the development of an invention, knowledge asset or research tool may be eligible to receive a portion of any income MRC receives from the commercialisation of that invention or research tool. This is through the Awards to Inventors scheme, which is covered in our Intellectual Property and Commercialisation Policy.
MRC sometimes needs to share the income it receives from commercialisation activities with other organisations, for example when there is joint ownership of the intellectual property between MRC and another organisation. In this situation a revenue sharing agreement is put in place between MRC and the other organisation to confirm how the income will be shared.
After sharing income as needed with other organisations and with relevant MRC employees, the remaining income is used to support the delivery of our mission.
Last updated: 7 March 2025