Pre-application stage: new applications and renewals
The standard of applications for programme grants is very competitive. You must contact us before you apply to check if your application is suitable. You can do this at any time, and we encourage you to contact us as early as possible and at least eight weeks before you apply. The latest date we will consider a pre-application is published within each Medical Research Council (MRC) programme grant funding opportunity.
When you contact us attach a brief description of your application. The document may be up to four pages, including two pages outlining the proposed programme, one page for track record and up to one page of references.
The document should include:
- the title of the potential programme
- the project lead and co-leads and their organisations
- your collaborators (if known at this stage)
- an estimate of the likely cost to MRC
You should explain why you need programme grant funding, and the strategic fit and suitability of your programme for a major investment, including:
- justification for the proposed work as a programme (a coordinated and coherent group of related projects to answer an interrelated set of questions)
- why the proposed work needs long-term and extensive support
- how the proposed work fits an MRC area of high strategic priority
- the case for a major investment in the context of the board portfolio and budget
- your and your team’s track record, demonstrating you have the potential to successfully manage and deliver a major research programme, based on your research track record, outputs and funding history
It is important that you clearly state your aims, but we do not expect this initial document to contain a detailed research application.
Send your pre-application to the MRC programme manager covering the MRC science area most relevant to your proposed programme grant. Explore the relevant MRC area of investment and support to view the contact details:
- infections and immunity
- molecular and cellular medicine
- neurosciences and mental health
- population and systems medicine
If you are unsure who to contact, contact our Research Funding Policy and Delivery (RFPD) team.
Email: rfpd@mrc.ukri.org
Longitudinal population studies
If you want to apply for funding for longitudinal population study (LPS) core infrastructure support, follow the pre-application stage process and timeline for LPS-SAP approval.
All applications for funding for new or existing LPS are required to submit an outline application for joint review by LPS-SAP and the research board. A decision on whether a full application is invited will then be made, with feedback. You must speak to the relevant programme manager at least six weeks before the LPS-SAP outline application closing date to confirm the eligibility of your application.
Contact populationcohorts@mrc.ukri.org for more information.
Renewals
Applicants wishing to renew their programme grant should contact the programme manager of the relevant MRC research board during year four of the programme to discuss this further. A four-page case is not required for renewals.
Full application stage: new applications and renewals
If your pre-application is approved, you will be invited to submit a full application using the UKRI Funding Service. If you are applying to renew a programme grant, a progress report is no longer required.
Read the guidance on the relevant programme grant funding opportunity page for information on how to complete an application:
Infections and immunity: programme
Molecular and cellular medicine: programme
Neurosciences and mental health: programme
Population and systems medicine: programme
The project lead is responsible for completing the application process on the Funding Service, but we expect all team members and project partners to contribute to the application.
Only the lead research organisation can submit an application to UKRI.
If the programme grant will involve a collaboration with one or more industry or company project partners (who may be providing cash and or in-kind contributions) then you will need to comply with MRC guidance on the Industry Collaboration Framework (ICF).
Closing dates
This is an ongoing funding opportunity with multiple closing dates every year. For further information see the relevant programme grant funding opportunity.
To ensure that your application reaches us in time, give your administrative department at least two weeks’ notice of your application before the published closing date.