Medical Research Council (MRC)

MRC funds world-leading discovery and translational research to accelerate diagnosis, advance treatment and prevent human illness.

MRC content

• About MRC
• Funding, assessment and award management
• Strategy, remit and programmes
• People, skills and fellowships
• Innovation and collaboration
• Investments, impacts and engagement
• Institutes, facilities and resources

Featured

MRC impact showcase

Video: we are the Medical Research Council

News

19 December 2025

MRC invests in experimental medicine dementia studies

MRC

19 December 2025

Could sound waves help slow brain ageing?

MRC

19 December 2025

Depressive symptoms in midlife linked to increased dementia risk

MRC

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Blog

14 January 2026

Why evidence matters in health research

MRC

10 December 2025

Making sense of MRC translational funding: a simple guide

MRC

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Funding opportunities

Metascience sandpit: scientometrics for research assessment

Apply to attend a four-day interactive sandpit to co-develop research projects that develop, validate, and critique novel scientometric indicators for use in research assessment and in future metascience research.

The sandpit will take place in April 2026.

• Opportunity status: Open
• Funders: UK Research and Innovation, Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Medical Research Council (MRC)
• Co-funders: Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT)
• Funding type: Grant
• Total fund: £3,000,000
• Publication date: 20 January 2026
• Opening date: 20 January 2026 9:00am UK time
• Closing date: 26 February 2026 4:00pm UK time

Early independence: career development fellowship

Apply for an early independence fellowship if your research focus is within Medical Research Council (MRC) remit.

You must:

• have a PhD or equivalent
• show evidence of career consolidation and productivity
• show clear plans for establishing your own research niche that enables a step-change towards independence

• Opportunity status: Open
• Funders: Medical Research Council (MRC)
• Funding type: Fellowship
• Publication date: 15 January 2026
• Opening date: 15 January 2026 9:00am UK time
• Closing date: 21 April 2026 4:00pm UK time

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Address

Medical Research Council (MRC)
Polaris House,
North Star Avenue,
Swindon,
SN2 1FL

MRC content

• About MRC
• Funding, assessment and award management
• Strategy, remit and programmes
• People, skills and fellowships
• Innovation and collaboration
• Investments, impacts and engagement
• Institutes, facilities and resources

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Events

Embedding public partnerships in MRC funding applications

24 March 2026

Online

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