Experimental medicine stage one
Medicine and Pathophysiology experimental medicine research grant from Medical Research Council, UK Research and Innovation
Closed on Wednesday, Oct 7
About
MRC funding for academically led research using experimental interventions or challenges in humans to investigate mechanisms of disease. Projects should address an important mechanistic question and show a credible route to clinical impact. The opportunity covers all disease areas and supports established and new investigators. Purely efficacy-focused trials and untargeted observational studies do not meet this mechanistic remit.
Applicants must be based at a research organisation eligible for MRC funding; international project co-leads may participate under UKRI rules. There is no fixed award ceiling or project-duration limit: applicants must justify resources and timescales. MRC normally funds 80% of full economic cost and 100% of permitted exceptions. Submit stage one through Funding Service opportunity OPP1248 by 7 October 2026 at 16:00 Europe/London (BST). Successful applicants are invited to stage two. This listing concerns the October 2026 round.
Eligibility
Career stage: Early independent researcher · Mid-career researcher · Established researcher
Institution applies
Host location: United Kingdom
Reviewed Sep 24, 2026. Check the funder’s full conditions before applying.
Applicants at organisations eligible for MRC funding; established and new investigators; international co-leads subject to UKRI policy.
Topics
Source: ukri.org