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
Open
Fellowship
15 January 2026
15 January 2026 9:00am UK time
21 April 2026 4:00pm UK time
Apply for funding to reacquire research skills.
Your research can focus on any area of Medical Research Council (MRC)’s remit to improve human health.
You must:
be a registered healthcare professional
be a PhD graduate working outside of research, usually five or more years ago
show plans to pursue a research career
Open
Fellowship
15 January 2026
15 January 2026 9:00am UK time
8 April 2026 4:00pm UK time
Apply for funding to undertake a PhD.
Your research can focus on any area of Medical Research Council (MRC)’s remit to improve human health.
You must:
be a registered healthcare professional
be at an appropriate point in your training to undertake a PhD
show plans to pursue a research career
Open
Fellowship
15 January 2026
15 January 2026 9:00am UK time
8 April 2026 4:00pm UK time
Apply for an early independence fellowship if your research focus is within Medical Research Council (MRC) remit.
You must:
be a registered healthcare professional
have a PhD or equivalent
show evidence of career consolidation and productivity
show clear plans for establishing your own research niche
Open
Fellowship
15 January 2026
15 January 2026 9:00am UK time
8 April 2026 4:00pm UK time
Apply for fellowship funding to build artificial intelligence (AI) capability.
This funding opportunity is for established researchers from across UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)’s remit, without a background in core AI research, who want to build domain relevant AI capability.
You may apply only if invited to do so following a successful outline application.
Open
Fellowship
£22,000,000
£500,000 - £2,187,500
16 December 2025
16 December 2025 9:00am UK time
24 February 2026 4:00pm UK time
Apply for funding to support partnerships to carry out novel collaborative activities between a team of researchers.
You must be employed by an eligible research organisation.
Upcoming
Grant
27 November 2025
To be confirmed
Open - no closing date
Apply for funding to support research within the remit of the Medical Research Council.
You must be employed by an eligible research organisation.
You can involve more than one research group or organisation in the project.
Upcoming
Grant
27 November 2025
To be confirmed
Open - no closing date
Apply for funding to take the next step towards becoming an independent researcher.
Your research must be in the remit of the Medical Research Council.
You must have:
the skills and experience to ‘transition to independence’
the support of an eligible host research organisation
Upcoming
Grant
27 November 2025
To be confirmed
Open - no closing date
Apply for funding to develop and test novel therapeutics, medical devices, diagnostics and other interventions.
You must be employed at a research organisation eligible for Medical Research Council (MRC) funding.
Open
Grant
£11,000,000
26 November 2025
10 December 2025 9:00am UK time
4 March 2026 4:00pm UK time
Apply for funding to undertake cutting-edge Metascience research into more effective ways of conducting and supporting research and development (R&D), including the impact of AI and the challenges of measuring research excellence.
You must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for UKRI funding.
Upcoming
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT)
Grant
£6,000,000
£350,000
25 November 2025
12 February 2026 9:00am UK time
23 April 2026 4:00pm UK time