Topic: mechanistic hypothesis

Supports academically led human studies testing causal biological and psychosocial mechanisms underlying gambling activities, products and interventions. Projects must test a mechanistic hypothesis through an experimental intervention or challenge in humans and remain independent of gambling-industry influence. Teams must incorporate diverse expertise and lived or learned experience of gambling harms. This is the open first-stage route. Applications close at 16:00 UK time.

This invited full-application stage funds mechanistic human research into why biomedical prevention interventions work differently across people. Projects must test an experimental intervention or challenge in pre-disease or early-disease states, focus on a mechanistic hypothesis and use validated biological readouts to improve the targeting and effectiveness of precision-prevention strategies. Applicants must already have submitted the mandatory expression of interest and been invited to apply. Projects may request up to £5 million in full economic cost over five years; MRC normally funds 80%