The Medical Research Council’s research grant is its main route for funding investigator-led discovery and early translational research. It is deliberately flexible: a focused project, a longer programme tackling a series of linked questions, or proof of principle work to test whether a new direction is worth pursuing. Since October 2026 it has run continuously, so you can submit whenever the application is ready, with 14 April 2027 as the date to aim for.
The scheme opened in its new applicant-led format on 12 October 2026, replacing the old responsive mode rounds alongside the partnership and new investigator grants. Applications are processed continuously, with shortlisting panels and interviews usually held twice a year, in November and May.
What it funds
Research should drive new insight into the causes and mechanisms of disease and help speed up diagnosis, improve treatment or prevent illness. Team science and interdisciplinary projects are welcome, as are projects with a global health angle, provided partners outside the UK are involved equitably.
There is no upper limit on cost. The MRC pays 80% of the full economic cost (100% of permitted exceptions) for up to five years, and projects start between nine and 18 months after submission. You can request salary for the project lead and co-leads, research and technical staff, consumables, equipment, travel, data costs, NHS research costs and public involvement. Work by international co-leads is funded at 100%, within a 30% cap for high income countries, India and China. Later phase clinical trials, studentships, infrastructure-only requests and bridging funding are not covered. If you are planning a large budget, contact the relevant programme manager first.
Charities that are part of the MRC Charity Co-funding Framework can now co-fund research grants, and you can name an agreed co-funder in your application.
Two rules to know before you start
- You can only be project lead on one application at a time across the MRC research, partnership and new investigator grants. A second submission while one is under assessment will be rejected.
- Uninvited resubmissions of applications submitted after 1 April 2026, to the MRC or anywhere else in UKRI, are rejected, including lightly revised versions. Applications submitted before that date can still be resubmitted after 12 months under the old policy.
Our blog on changes to the UKRI funding strategy explains why these rules have come in, and The Grant Funding Lottery looks at the odds more broadly.
How applications are assessed
Members of the MRC college of experts first shortlist on three things: the ambition of the vision, expected impact and deliverability. Applications that are not shortlisted receive panel feedback, usually with a decision within three to five months. Shortlisted applications go to expert review, with 14 days for you to respond, then to an interview with the project lead and up to two co-leads, followed by a funding decision meeting. The scheme is piloting a new way of assessing support for people and teams, so think about how you will develop the staff on your project and say so in the approach, team capability and costs sections. If you reach the review stage, our guide on how to respond to peer reviewers will help with that 14-day response.
How to apply
Apply through the UKRI Funding Service, making sure you choose the research grant type, as applications made to the wrong grant type are rejected. Remit questions go to the programme manager for your area, which for most dementia work will be the neurosciences and mental health team, and anything else to applicantleddiscovery@mrc.ukri.org.
Read the full details and apply
Visit funding web page
(https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/mrc-research-grant-applicant-led/)