Science Strategy Board oversees MRC’s investments and provides integrated strategic advice to maintain a holistic investment portfolio. It makes recommendations on the strategic budget to enable timely funding for new strategic initiatives.
The board is chaired by MRC’s Deputy Executive Chair, it brings together input from MRC’s boards and panels and a diversity of perspectives from a range of external advisors.
Responsibilities
Science Strategy Board provides scientific expert advice for:
- the development of overall MRC scientific strategy through co-development with MRC Council
- horizon scanning, informing MRC’s long-term research agenda and identifying areas of scientific opportunity for new investments
- effectively involving partners and stakeholders, including internationally
- detailed planning and implementation of strategic initiatives
- networking and outreach opportunities to maximise the value and impact of MRC strategic and major investments
The board has delegated decision-making responsibilities for developing and overseeing the strategic direction of MRC Centres of Research Excellence (CoRE), including:
- making decisions on MRC CoRE funding opportunities, to create synergy with other strategic investments
- overseeing the periodic review of MRC CoRE investments
- taking decisions on the opening, maintenance or closure of CoRE investments
The board also oversees MRC institutes and overseas units, taking decisions on their funding levels and scientific structure. These decisions are informed by recommendations from the periodic review panels.
Interim membership
- Dr Glenn Wells, Deputy Executive Chair, MRC (Chair)
- Professor Patrick Chinnery, Executive Chair, MRC
- Dr Louise Jones, Director of Investigator-Led Portfolio, MRC
- Dr Ceri Williams, Director of Challenge-Led Portfolio, MRC
- Professor Wendy Barclay, Infections and Immunity Board Chair, Imperial College London
- Professor Perdita Barran, Infrastructure and Capital Strategic Advisory Group Deputy Chair, The University of Manchester
- Professor David Ford, Data Science Strategic Advisory Group Chair, Swansea University
- Professor Matthew Freeman, University of Oxford
- Professor Graham Hart, Applied Global Health Research Board Chair, University College London
- Professor Louise Kenny, Population and Systems Medicine Board Chair, University of Liverpool
- Professor Marcus Munafo, Neurosciences and Mental Health Board Chair, University of Bristol
- Professor Peter Parker, Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme Chair, Francis Crick Institute
- Professor Maddy Parsons, Molecular and Cellular Medicine Board Chair, King’s College London
- Professor Ruth Plummer, Newcastle University
- Professor Aziz Sheikh, University of Oxford
- Professor Rosalind Smyth, Training and Careers Group Chair, University College London
- Professor Nick Wareham, Population Health Sciences Group Chair, University of Cambridge
See the science strategy board conflicts of interest register.
Meeting dates
2025
- 12 March 2025
- 30 June 2025 to 1 July 2025
- 2 October 2025
- 1 to 2 December 2025
Ask a question about the Science Strategy Board
Email: sciencestrategyboard@mrc.ukri.org
Last updated: 17 February 2025