The Medical Research Council (MRC) works with charities and third sector organisations to bring together expertise, funding, networks and lived experience to improve the quality, reach and impact of medical research.
Benefits of charity partnerships
Working together can help charities and funding applicants:
- bring together research, clinical and lived experience to strengthen research
- combine funding and resources to support research at a greater scale
- involve people affected by health conditions and the wider public in research
- connect research with relevant communities and networks to broaden its reach and impact
Co-fund MRC research
Charities can work with MRC to co-fund research where their priorities align with research we fund. MRC does not set aside funding for specific disease areas. We fund research across the full breadth of MRC’s remit, from fundamental discovery through to translational research.
MRC onboards new charity partners twice a year, typically in May and October.
All MRC funding opportunities can be co-funded by charity partners, including applicant-led, translational schemes and fellowships.
To become a co-funding partner, you must be able to contribute between 25% and 50% of the amount funded by MRC.
Charities must normally be a member of the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC). We will consider charities that are not AMRC members case-by-case.
If you are an applicant applying for MRC funding
Applicants are encouraged to identify charities whose priorities align with their research and contact them early to discuss potential co-funding or other forms of support.
MRC is currently onboarding charity co-funding partners. We will publish a list of participating charities when it is available.
If you already have a charity you would like to work with, you do not need to wait for the list to be published. Email partnership@mrc.ukri.org with the name of the charity and MRC will explore eligibility with the charity directly.
Share expertise and help shape research
Charities can share their expertise and insights with MRC and researchers through engagement activities, workshops and feedback sessions. We share opportunities to get involved through networks such as the AMRC.
You need to be an AMRC member to receive these updates. Find out about becoming an AMRC member.
Support research centres and infrastructure
Charities can work with MRC to support large-scale research and research infrastructure, including MRC Centres of Research Excellence and MRC institutes.
See examples of MRC institutes to understand the types of partnerships that are possible and how you can utilise the data and tools these institutes generate.
Ask a question about charity partnerships
If your charity or third sector organisation is interested in working with MRC, email partnership@mrc.ukri.org to discuss partnership opportunities.
We aim to respond within five working days.
Last updated: 5 October 2026