MRC translational funding can help our researchers turn scientific discoveries into real-world health solutions. Also known as ‘bench to bedside’ funding, it aims to turn lab bench discoveries into new ways to treat patients.
We offer three specific funding opportunities which aim to help researchers progress their work from idea to impact.
Researchers can apply to our:
We’ve heard that our community and blog subscribers would like to know more about these opportunities. And that misconceptions can stop people from applying. So here we explain how our funding types work and share practical tips to help navigate the application process.
We welcome proposals to DPFS with potential health benefits, regardless of commercial potential
The DPFS Panel assesses how your technology or intervention will progress along the translational pathway to clinical impact. Commercialisation is one route to realise impact, but it’s not a requirement.
Tips to strengthen your application
Focus on the clinical need your research addresses and identify who will use or benefit from your work.
Describe how you will ensure your solution will reach its intended users.
Speak to your Tech Transfer Office about future implementation plans, commercial or otherwise.
We fund preclinical studies through DPFS
DPFS supports preclinical research, especially when it’s part of a clear strategy towards clinical testing. This begins at prototype development and refinement. And it goes through to in vivo studies involving animals that determine how well your new technology or intervention works and if it is safe to use.
Tips to strengthen your application
Clearly link your preclinical work to a development pathway.
Demonstrate how it de-risks future clinical stages.
If applicable, include input from clinicians to reinforce the relevance of your solution.
MRC’s translational research schemes aim to manage risk
MRC’s translational schemes are designed to manage risk, not avoid it. We know that projects funded through schemes like DPFS are inherently risky, hence why we use a milestone-based structure. This approach sets out key deliverables with defined success criteria, helping teams navigate uncertainty and adapt their project as needed.
Tips to strengthen your application
Break your project into logical steps with clear, measurable outcomes.
Build your timeline around what is truly needed to complete tasks, not by artificially forcing them into a 36-month timeline.
Be upfront about risks and explain how you’ll mitigate them.
Schedule high-risk tasks early in the project plan where possible.
How to decide if a Gap Fund award or DPFS is right for you
The Gap Fund supports high-risk, single-step projects to generate critical data before seeking larger investment. If you already have strong preliminary data and a clear development strategy, then DPFS is a better fit.
Tips to strengthen your application
For high-risk, single-step, fail-fast experiments, consider Gap Fund.
If your project has a clear development pathway with multiple steps, DPFS is more suitable.
Choose which funding route is best for your experimental medicine study
Experimental medicine explores how diseases work and looks for new ways to treat or detect them, using studies in people or ‘models’ that mimic human biology. Experimental medicine is central to MRC’s clinical and translational research strategy.
The Experimental Medicine Panel supports human studies that test clearly defined hypotheses, using safe interventions to explore disease mechanisms and gain insights into how treatments work.
In contrast, research boards support studies that test treatments in animals, discover and analyse biological markers, or examine human samples to explore disease mechanisms.
Tips to strengthen your application
If your study tests a ‘focused mechanistic’ hypothesis, using an intervention with an established safety profile and involves human participants, apply to the Experimental Medicine Panel. Otherwise, apply via the relevant research board.
Contact the Experimental Medicine Team to discuss your project before applying: experimental.medicine@mrc.ukri.org
Find out more
Learn more about MRC’s translational schemes:
Developmental pathway funding scheme (DPFS)
Gap fund for early-stage development of new healthcare interventions
Florence Théberge is a Programme Manager at MRC with over a decade of experience in research management across NIHR and academia. She leads the translational research portfolio in infectious disease prevention, spanning vaccines, diagnostics, and human challenge models, and serves as experimental medicine panel lead. Florence also acts as the primary liaison with the MRC and NIHR Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation programme.
Sophie Mountcastle is a Programme Manager at MRC, where she supports funding schemes and strategic activities for clinical and translational medical research and serves as the developmental pathway funding scheme panel lead. Her portfolio covers advanced treatments in cancer, including:
- cancer vaccines
- gene therapy
- nucleic acid therapy
- cell therapy
- radiotherapy
- antibodies
As part of her role, she coordinates the Innovation Hubs for Gene Therapies. This involves working with the hubs and funders to deliver the five-year, £18 million investment in UK good manufacturing practice viral vector manufacturing capabilities.