MRC partnership grant applicant

Unsectioned_Text: Opportunity Status

Funder

Funding Type

Publication Date

Opening Date

Closing Date

Project Duration

Expected Project Start

Funding Range

Funding Rate

Programme Objective

Research Focus

Eligible Research Areas

Eligible Applicants

Ineligible Applicants

International Participation

Collaboration Model

Eligible Activities

Activities Not Funded

Eligible Costs

International Cost Limit

Match Funding Requirement

Application Platform

Application Submission

Core Team Roles

Key Application Sections

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Process

Project Partners

Industry Collaboration

Data Management Requirement

Ethical Compliance

Additional Compliance

Application Limit

Resubmission Policy

Sustainability Expectation

Upcoming (applications currently paused for alignment updates)

Medical Research Council (MRC), part of UK Research and Innovation

Grant

2025-11-27 00:00:00

To be confirmed

No fixed closing date. Applications accepted on a rolling basis once open.

18 months to 5 years

Typically 9 to 18 months after submission

Typically £400,000 to £2 million (100% full economic cost)

80% of Full Economic Cost funded by MRC

To support applicant-led partnerships that establish novel collaborative activities or capabilities and add value to existing research or underpin future research funding.

Research partnerships aimed at improving understanding of human health and disease.

Infections and immunity, molecular and cellular medicine, neuroscience and mental health, population and systems medicine.

Researchers employed by eligible UK research organisations who can lead and contribute to the academic leadership of the partnership.

Project leads based at international research organisations (except specific MRC units).

International researchers may participate as project co-lead (international).

Multi-researcher partnerships encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration and team science.

Establishing collaborative partnerships, shared infrastructure, specialist data or software platforms, training and capacity building, networking activities, and small pump-priming projects.

Projects primarily focused on research, networking without defined activities, inward-looking collaborations, PhD studentships, bridge funding between grants.

Salary contributions for leadership roles, technical staff, consumables, equipment, travel, dissemination costs, data management and sharing, estates and indirect costs.

Up to 30% of total costs for international applicants from high-income countries, India and China.

No matched funding required beyond standard 20% institutional contribution under FEC.

UKRI Funding Service

The lead research organisation submits the application through the UKRI Funding Service.

Project lead, project co-lead (UK), project co-lead (international), specialist, grant manager, professional enabling staff, researcher co-lead, visiting researcher.

Summary, vision, approach, applicant and team capability, data management plan, ethics and RRI, resources and cost justification, project partners, trusted research and innovation, international collaboration.

Quality and importance of the vision, feasibility of the approach, capability of the team, impact potential, and value of the partnership.

Expert peer review followed by panel review and funding decision meetings.

Partners may contribute cash or in-kind support such as facilities, data, equipment, or staff time.

Must comply with the Industry Collaboration Framework (ICF) if industry partners are involved.

Applicants must provide a detailed data management and sharing plan aligned with MRC policies.

Applicants must address ethical considerations and responsible research and innovation implications.

Trusted Research and Innovation principles and export control considerations may apply.

Maximum of two applications as project lead across MRC applicant-led opportunities within a 12-month period.

Unsuccessful applications cannot be resubmitted within 12 months unless explicitly permitted.

Applicants should outline how the partnership will continue beyond the grant period.

https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/mrc-partnership-grant-applicant-led/

https://www.nesd.co.uk/opportunity/mrc-partnership-grant-applicant-led/r/recCgG0AnTj4cPYW1

https://www.engbio.cam.ac.uk/mrc-partnership-grant-applicant-led-no-closing-date