We are running this funding opportunity on the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Funding Service so please ensure that your organisation is registered. You cannot apply on the Joint Electronic Submissions (Je-S) system.
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 lead research organisation is an NHS organisation, check it is available in the Funding Service. You are encouraged to check this early as there may be additional steps for the organisation to be set up before you can apply.
To apply
You can only apply for this funding opportunity if we have invited you to do so following a successful stage one application. The start application link will be provided via email.
- Confirm you are the project lead.
- Sign in or create a Funding Service account. To create an account, select your organisation, verify your email address, and set a password.
- Answer questions directly in the text boxes. You can save your answers and come back to complete them or work offline and return to copy and paste your answers. If we need you to upload a document, follow the upload instructions in the Funding Service. All questions and assessment criteria are listed in the How to apply section on this Funding finder page.
- Allow enough time to check your application in ‘read-only’ view before sending to your research office.
- Send the completed application to your research office for checking. They will return it to you if it needs editing.
- Your research office will submit the completed and checked application to UKRI.
Please be aware that research office and finance teams undertake checks on hosting arrangements and financial eligibility. The ultimate responsibility for ensuring compliance with all opportunity requirements lies with the applicant.
Where indicated, you can also demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant.
When including images, you must:
- provide a descriptive caption or legend for each image immediately underneath it in the text box (this must be outside the image and counts towards your word limit)
- insert each new image on a new line
- use files smaller than 5MB and in JPEG, JPG, JPE, JFI, JIF, JFIF, PNG, GIF, BMP or WEBP format
Images should only be used to convey important visual information that cannot easily be put into words. The following are not permitted, and your application will be rejected if you include:
- sentences or paragraphs of text
- tables
- excessive quantities of images
A few words are permitted where the image would lack clarity without the contextual words, such as a diagram, where text labels are required for an axis or graph column.
For more guidance on the Funding Service, see:
References
References should be included within the word count of the appropriate question section. You should use your discretion when including references and prioritise those most pertinent to the application.
Hyperlinks can be used in reference information. When including references, you should consider how your references will be viewed and used by the assessors, ensuring that:
- references are easily identifiable by the assessors
- references are formatted as appropriate to your research
- persistent identifiers are used where possible
General use of hyperlinks
Applications should be self-contained. You should only use hyperlinks to link directly to reference information. You must not include links to web resources to extend your application. Assessors are not required to access links to conduct assessment or recommend a funding decision.
Generative artificial intelligence (AI)
Use of generative AI tools to prepare funding applications is permitted, however, caution should be applied.
For more information see our policy on the use of generative AI in application and assessment.
Deadline
MRC must receive your application by 4 November 2026 at 4:00pm UK time.
You will not be able to apply after this time.
Make sure you are aware of and follow any internal institutional deadlines.
Following the submission of your application to this funding opportunity, your application cannot be changed, and submitted applications will not be amended. If your application does not follow the guidance, it may be rejected.
Personal data
Processing personal data
MRC, as part of UKRI, will need to collect some personal information to manage your Funding Service account and the registration of your funding applications.
We will handle personal data in line with UK data protection legislation and manage it securely. For more information, including how to exercise your rights, read our privacy notice.
Sensitive information
If you or a core team member need to tell us something you wish to remain confidential, email dpfsanddcs@mrc.ukri.org
Include in the subject line: [the funding opportunity title; sensitive information; your Funding Service application number].
Typical examples of confidential information include:
- individual is unavailable until a certain date (for example due to parental leave)
- declaration of interest
- additional information about eligibility to apply that would not be appropriately shared in the ‘Applicant and team capability’ section
- conflict of interest for UKRI to consider in reviewer or panel participant selection
- the application is an invited resubmission
For information about how UKRI handles personal data, read UKRI’s privacy notice.
Institutional matched funding
There is no requirement for matched funding from the institutions hosting the project lead, project co-leads or other staff employed on the application, beyond the standard 20% FEC. Expert reviewers and panels assessing UKRI funding applications must not consider levels of institutional matched funding as a factor on which to base recommendations. Direct and in-kind contributions from third party project partners are encouraged.
This policy does not remove the need for support from host organisations who must provide the necessary research environment and infrastructure for award-specific activities funded by UKRI. For example, research facilities, training and development of staff.
Publication of outcomes
MRC, as part of UKRI, will publish the outcomes of this funding opportunity at board and panel outcomes.
If your application is successful, we will publish some personal information on the UKRI Gateway to Research.
Summary
Word limit: 550
In plain English, provide a summary we can use to identify the most suitable experts to assess your application.
We usually make this summary publicly available on external-facing websites, therefore do not include any confidential or sensitive information. Make it suitable for a variety of readers, for example:
- opinion-formers
- policymakers
- the public
- the wider research community
Guidance for writing a summary
Clearly describe your proposed work in terms of:
- context
- the challenge the project addresses
- aims and objectives
- potential applications and benefits
Core team
List the key members of your team and assign them roles from the following:
- project lead (PL)
- project co-lead (UK) (PcL)
- project co-lead (international) (PcL (I))
- specialist
- grant manager
- professional enabling staff
- research and innovation associate
- technician
- visiting researcher
- researcher co-lead (RcL)
Only list one individual as project lead. If you include more than one project lead your application will fail at the checking stage. UKRI has introduced a new addition to the ‘Specialist’ role type. Public contributors such as people with lived experience can now be added to an application.
Find out more about UKRI’s core team roles in funding applications.
Application questions
Related applications
Word limit: 2,200
Provide a response to feedback from your stage one Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme (DPFS) application or previous stage two DPFS application. You should include the feedback as part of your response. This counts towards the word limit.
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Ensure you describe:
- how this application differs from the previous application
- how previous feedback has been considered and addressed
Please identify, if applicable, if your application is a resubmission to DPFS, including any invitations from us permitting your resubmission and previous reference number.
You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.
Opportunity and market
Word limit: 1,500
What is the opportunity or challenge you are seeking to address?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Ensure you describe:
- the health or clinical need you are seeking to address
- how your work could lead to the development of a new or improved prototype, product, service or technology
- how meeting this need could significantly reduce disease burden or alleviate an important clinical or translational bottleneck
- the competing solutions and their status, including whether similar or complementary research and development is being undertaken elsewhere
- the key competitive advantages of your proposed solution
- the potential market for your proposed solution. Quantify this in terms of the target product profile, patient numbers and financial parameters
Building on your stage one application, you should also describe in detail:
- the timeliness of your approach
- the end users of your proposed solution, such as clinicians, primary care staff, technical specialists
- any engagement with end users, patients, carers or the wider public in the development of the project
- any further needs that could be addressed by your proposed solution or components of it, such as use as a platform technology
You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form, if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.
Scientific background and current stage of development
Word limit: 2,500
What is the background to this application and evidence to support the proposed solution?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Ensure that you provide:
- a detailed description of the current stage of development
- an overview of the rationale and scientific background of your application
- updated information about your previous or current funding (if applicable) that has enabled and informed the proposed work, include any previous UKRI grant references. If you will have any funding concurrent to this project, explain any overlap and how that funding will support the proposed work
- in the case of applications involving institutes, units or centres with existing core funding, including those funded by UKRI and National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) such as Biomedical Research Centres (BRCs), describe how the proposed work and resources requested builds on, but is distinct from, core funded programmes of research
In this section, you must also provide supporting data (including figures, tables and images where relevant) to demonstrate the current development stage of your project and proof-of-concept to support your application. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.
References may be included within this section.
Small molecule supplementary information
Word limit: 1,500
If you are requesting funding for a hit to lead, lead optimisation or candidate selection project, please provide structures.
What the assessors are looking for in your response
If your application is not about hit-to-lead and lead optimisation, enter ‘N/A’ in the text box, mark this section as complete and move to the next question.
Small molecule supplementary information
You will be asked to provide Chemotype and or series one and two information related to:
- physicochemical properties
- in vitro biological activity
- in vitro DMPK assays
- in vivo DMPK assays
- toxicology and safety Assays
- in vivo date (if available)
Additional guidance will be provided on the Funding Service on how to provide this information, including the required format.
Using the following headings, ensure that you provide target product profile (TPP) or key target compound parameters of the proposed investigational new drug (IND):
- target name
- mechanism of action, such as agonist, antagonist
- route of administration, such as oral, IV, topical
- duration of treatment, such as acute or chronic
- dosage regimen, such as twice daily
Structure and data
You should provide structures for the most promising chemical series being actively developed. Failure to include chemical structures may negatively impact the ability to assess the suitability or strengths of your proposed chemistry plan. Data are requested for any available assays for the lead molecule shown and the range seen within the chemical series, including (but not limited to):
- biological assays
- physicochemical properties
- liabilities and development risks for up to two chemotypes or chemical series
Project tractability
You should:
- summarise the main structure activity or property relationships for each chemical series
- highlight the key challenges to optimisation of the series towards the TPP and outline how these will be addressed
- describe the biological assays and models to be used in the project including their duration and throughput where relevant
- explain how risk associated with the translation between in vivo assays, in vivo models, and activity in humans will be minimised
Development plan and route to patient benefit
Word limit: 1,000
What is the proposed approach for further development, and how will the project progress the innovation or technology towards achieving market or health or patient benefits?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Using the following headings, ensure you describe in detail:
Current development plan
You should describe:
- the project’s primary objectives
- the project endpoint that would indicate that there is a reasonable chance of attracting onward investment
- the expertise or any consultancy required to deliver the proposed work
- how the proposed work will enable development of the innovation or technology
- how the proposed work will inform or deploy the innovation or technology using the most appropriate route to market or patient benefit
Exit strategy
You should describe:
- what further support you may need, following this funding, to deliver your product or technology, such as access to further funding, networks, partnerships, private investment and skills
- the criteria that would need to be met to access the further support
- if you are ultimately seeking to develop a commercial product, how the market value will be realised such as through business development plans
- any engagement planned or that has taken place with potential downstream funders, partners, regulators or commercialisation entities, outlining who they are and the status of discussions. You should justify your engagement plans, such as approaches and timing within the project
- the plans and strategy for further development, outlining the planned route to achieving patient benefits following the end of your project
Approach
Word limit: 3,500
How are you going to deliver your proposed work?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
We suggest you structure your response using the following headings, with approximate word counts for each:
- project plan: 1,500 words
- methodology and experimental design: 750 words
- risk management: 450 words
- environment, infrastructure and equipment: 450 words
- references: 350 words
Do not use the project plan to include information which should be detailed in the other sections of your application.
Project plan
Provide a detailed project workplan which should include:
- project specific deliverables
- a minimum of two key progression milestones (one being the project end)
- the project’s starting point and approaches proposed to deliver the planned objectives
- the resourcing and time necessary to deliver the proposed work, and justification that these will be sufficient
- a description of any contingency planning that has been factored in
- any regulatory approvals required. If you have consulted with the relevant regulatory body or experts, please summarise the outcome of the discussions
You should also include the project management requirements, including the commitment and involvement from your:
- research office
- translational research office, your technology transfer office or both (include key contacts and their positions)
To support your project plan, you must also embed a legible Gantt chart in the text box that includes:
- project tasks with, where relevant, the party responsible for delivering the task and dependency between tasks
- at least two milestones, which are major, specifically timed decision points that are defined by SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and timely) success criteria and detailed, robust ‘go or no-go’ criteria
You should check the readability of your embedded ‘Gantt chart’ using the ‘read view’ on the Funding Service. Sizes of images can be adjusted when editing within the text box.
Methodology and experimental design
As part of your methodology and experimental design, ensure that you describe:
- the use of animals or patients, including justification for why particular animal models or clinical populations have been chosen, following the MRC embedding diversity in research design policy
- if applicable, show how you will use males and females in research involving animals and tissues and cells. If you are not proposing to do this, a strong justification is required
- any consultation with a statistician or methodology hub to the development of the proposal
- the access you will have to statistical support during the project
- for clinical studies, the recruitment and retention strategy, and the evidence that this will be feasible
- explain and justify the inclusion of public partnerships (if applicable) and the added value these offer
Refer to the MRC guidance for applicants, for further information.
Use the ‘Animal Involvement and “3Rs”’ section to provide information on the rationale for using animals, choice of species, welfare and procedure severity.
The National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement, and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) have developed a free online tool to guide researchers through the design of their experiments. It helps to ensure that researchers use the minimum number of animals consistent with their scientific objectives, methods to reduce subjective bias, and appropriate statistical analysis.
Risk management
Describe the key risks to the project and your risk management plan, including:
- how likely the risks are to occur
- what their impact would be on the success and deliverability of the project
- how these risks will be managed, by whom and related escalation or mitigations procedures
You may use a risk table if preferred.
Environment, infrastructure and equipment
Describe how your, and if applicable your team’s, research environment (in terms of the place and relevance to the project) will contribute to the success of the work.
Demonstrate access to the appropriate services, facilities, infrastructure, or equipment to deliver the proposed work, including:
- specialist equipment or infrastructure required to deliver the project objectives
- proposed use of existing joint research facilities
- proposed use of existing clinical infrastructure, for example the Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre Network, NIHR Biomedical Research Centres, NIHR clinical research facilities, patient cohorts
- if not already in place, explain how you will ensure this infrastructure is accessible by the project start date
References may be included within this section.
You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.
Reproducibility and statistical design
Word limit: 500
How will you ensure your proposed work is reliable, robust and reproducible?
What assessors are looking for in your response
Information about reproducibility and how you will ensure reliability and robustness of your proposed work, such as further details of statistical analyses, methodology and experimental design, not provided in your approach.
We expect you to seek professional statistical or other relevant advice in preparing your response, which should include, as appropriate:
- sample and effect sizes
- planned statistical analyses
- models chosen (for example animal model, cell line)
- potential sources of bias and how these will be mitigated during analysis
- how your approach to addressing diversity is reflected in the experimental design and analyses
Ensure you justify your proposed samples and effect sizes, statistical analysis plan and any assumptions used.
Refer to the MRC guidance for applicants, for further information, examples and online tools.
If your proposed work involves animals, and you provide information on animal sample sizes and statistical analyses here, you should not duplicate it in the ‘Animal Involvement and “3Rs”’ section. Use the ‘Animal Involvement and “3Rs”’ section to provide information on the rationale for using animals, choice of species, welfare and procedure severity.
You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.
The length of your response will vary depending on the type of project, you may not need to use 500 words.
Milestones
Word limit: 1,500
Provide details of your project milestones.
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Provide at least two key progression milestones for your project (one of which should be the project end), that:
- delineate the proposed work into costed project phases with clear ‘go or no-go’ decision points
- provides the success criteria that will be used for each milestone, with target and acceptable thresholds
You may add as many milestones as needed for your project, but ensure that these are consecutive rather than concurrent, and reflect key project progression decision points. Proof of concept projects typically have two to four milestones (including the project end).
Milestones must be SMART, that is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-framed.
They should:
- detail robust ‘go or no-go’ criteria (failure to meet these will result in early termination of the project)
- be structured so that the critical questions are addressed as early as possible in the plan
Success criteria should be based on project outputs that, at the given point, need to be achieved in order to justify further continuation of the project. Success criteria should align to project aims and objectives. Success criteria for the final milestone should reflect outcomes representing successful completion of the project.
For each success criterion, specify:
- a quantified target value that you aim to achieve
- a quantified acceptable value, which, if achieved, would support project progression
A brief justification should be provided for the criteria and values selected, explaining why they are suitable for assessing progress at this point in the project. Note that target and acceptable values must be achieved at the same timepoint and that milestones must be sequential.
For clinical studies, this should include a summary of:
- study design
- study participants
- study endpoints
- dose (when applicable)
- analysis plans
Do not include project management meetings or other process-related tasks as milestone success criteria.
Additional guidance will be provided on the Funding Service on how to complete this section, including the required format.
For each milestone, you will be asked to provide the following details:
- duration (in months) from project start and from the previous milestone (not applicable for the first milestone, milestone one)
- milestone full economic costing (FEC) and cumulative FEC from project start
- likelihood of meeting the milestone’s criteria
- objectives
- measurable success criteria with target and minimum acceptable values for each criterion, along with a justification for these choices
Projects involving advanced manufacturing of cell and gene therapy products
Word limit: 1,000
If you are requesting funding for Good Practice (GxP) manufacture of cell and gene therapy products, provide details and justify your approach. The information provided should be appropriate to the development stage of your intervention.
What the assessors are looking for in your response
GxP describes the quality guidelines and standards mandated by regulators to ensure that medicines are safe, effective, and consistent in quality. GxP encompasses several sets of regulations, the most common being:
- Good Laboratory Practice (GLP), governing non-clinical laboratory studies such as stability testing
- Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), as the primary, mandatory standard for production for use in clinical studies
If your application does not involve GxP manufacturing of cell and gene therapy products, enter ‘N/A’ in the text box, mark this section as complete and move to the next question.
Contact us if you are unsure if this question is relevant to your application. Find contacts in the ‘Contact details’ section.
Describe the scale, characteristics, quality standard (such as GLP and or GMP), and intended use (for example, for GLP safety and toxicology studies) of all viral vector and or cell therapy batches to be manufactured. You should:
- provide information on the target quantity and quality of product to be manufactured including, if relevant: titre and fill volume(s), empty to full ratio, number and viability of cells, phenotype and potency
- detail your planned or predicted dose requirements and describe how this informs the proposed scale of manufacture
- provide details of the manufacturer(s), if known, and summarise their expertise and experience in manufacturing the product at the relevant scale and quality. You should also provide information on capacity and anticipated timelines for manufacture
- provide an assessment of the potential manufacturing risks and propose mitigation strategies
Describe how batches will be validated, tested or both. You should:
- confirm whether appropriate assays have already been developed. If assays are not yet developed, you should describe when these assays will be developed and by whom
- confirm where validation will be carried out
- include, if relevant, any recommendations from regulatory agencies. You may upload up to five pages of correspondence with regulators to this section
Applicant and team capability to deliver
Word limit: 2,000
Why are you the right individual or team to successfully deliver the proposed work?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Evidence of how you, and if relevant your team, have:
- the relevant experience (appropriate to career stage) to deliver the proposed work
- the right balance of skills and expertise to cover the proposed work
- the appropriate leadership and management skills to deliver the work and your approach to develop others
- contributed to developing a positive research environment and wider community
You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.
The word limit for this section is 2,000 words: 1,500 words to be used for Résumé for Research and Innovation (R4RI) modules (including references) and, if necessary, a further 500 words for Additions.
Use the R4RI format to showcase the range of relevant skills you and, if relevant, your team (project and project co-leads, researchers, technicians, specialists, partners and so on) have and how this will help deliver the proposed work. You can include individuals’ specific achievements but only choose past contributions that best evidence their ability to deliver this work.
Complete this section using the R4RI module headings listed. Use each heading once and include a response for the whole team, see the UKRI guidance on R4RI. You should consider how to balance your answer, and emphasise where appropriate the key skills each team member brings:
- contributions to the generation of new ideas, tools, methodologies, or knowledge, this may include your previous funding and key outputs such as publications
- the development of others and maintenance of effective working relationships
- contributions to the wider research and innovation community
- contributions to broader research or innovation users and audiences and towards wider societal benefit, including public partnerships
Additions
Provide any further details relevant to your application. This section is optional and can be up to 500 words. You should not use it to describe additional skills, experiences, or outputs, but you can use it to describe any factors that provide context for the rest of your R4RI (for example, details of career breaks if you wish to disclose them).
Complete this as a narrative. Do not format it like a CV.
References may be included within this section.
The roles in funding applications policy has descriptions of the different project roles.
Intellectual property (IP) management and dissemination of project outcomes
Word limit: 1,500
Attachment: International Search Report (five pages)
What IP will be generated and how would it be managed during the project? Do you have freedom-to-operate to carry out the project and any downstream work?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
IP is a collective term for all intangible assets such as data, clinical trial results, software, know-how, materials, inventions, methods, designs and the associated intellectual property rights (including patents, copyright and trademarks).
The generation of protectable intellectual property is not an essential requirement for MRC Proof of Concept. Projects that will not generate patentable materials but that will nevertheless have the potential to provide health benefits are accepted on an equal basis. However, ownership and management of IP must be consistent with our funding requirements.
Projects with no plausible route to exploitation and ultimate health benefit or impact are extremely unlikely to be supportable.
Using the following headings where applicable:
IP generation and management
You should:
- describe any new intellectual property or knowledge that the project is expected to generate
- explain how any intellectual assets generated will be managed throughout the project to enable further development and ensure future success
- etail the organisations or individuals who will own any arising IP and any live, pending or envisioned agreements governing ownership or exploitation of that IP
Prior art
You should:
- list all existing technologies and IP that will be developed or utilised as part of your MRC Proof of Concept project. Please include patent numbers, patent claim coverage, ownership and status where relevant
- provide a summary of the most relevant prior art, with details on the database searched, dates of the searches and the search terms. You may upload a summary of international search report (up to five A4 pages) to support your application
- describe the potential impact of prior art on the strategy for protection of IP, including any disclosure of background IP by the applicants or a third party
Freedom to operate
You should:
- explain if the applicants have freedom to operate for this project, for future development work, or for clinical use. What IP does the project need access to for the project and for future development
- if access to background IP is required, detail the organisations or individuals that hold the relevant background IP rights. If this background IP is held by a third party (or a non-academic applicant), has access been agreed? If not, why do you believe you will be able to access the required IP on reasonable terms
Conflict of interest and management
You should:
- explain if any of the academic applicants have an interest in the commercial owners of background technologies or IP, such as shareholding options or consultancy fee
- if there are material or potential conflicts of interest, explain the nature of these and how they would be managed during the project and during decision-making regarding IP
Project partners
Add details about any project partners’ contributions. If there are no project partners, you can indicate this on the Funding Service.
A project partner is a collaborating person or organisation who will have an integral role in your proposed research. This may include direct contributions for example cash, donated equipment and resources, or staff seconded to the project, or indirect and in-kind contributions for example use of project partner’s equipment, datasets, or facilities. Project partners may be in industry, academia, third sector or government organisations in the UK or overseas, including partners based in the EU.
A project partner is not anyone in your core team or anyone from your organisation or any of the other organisations represented by core team members.
Add the following project partner details:
- the organisation name (searchable via a drop-down list or enter the organisation’s details manually, as applicable)
- the project partner contact name and email address
- the type of contribution (direct or in-direct) and its monetary value
If a detail is entered incorrectly and you have saved the entry, remove the specific project partner record and re-add it with the correct information.
If there are specific circumstances where project partners do require funding for minor costs such as travel and subsistence, these project partner costs should be claimed and justified within the ‘Resources and costs’ section of your application.
Important information
If you are adding a project partner to this section, you must ensure they provide you with a letter or email of support and you should upload it to ‘Project partners: letters or emails of support’.
If your project partners are from industry or a company, you must also complete the ‘Industry Collaboration Framework (ICF)’ section.
Project partners responsible for carrying out animal work
If the project partner is responsible for conducting animal work or providing animals or animal tissue samples, you must ensure that you complete and upload the appropriate forms under the ‘Animal Involvement and “3Rs”’ section (if applicable).
For audit purposes, UKRI requires formal collaboration agreements to be put in place if an award is made.
Project partners: letters (or emails) of support
Word limit: 10
Upload a single PDF containing the letters or emails of support from each partner you named in the ‘Project partners’ section. These should be uploaded in English or Welsh only.
What the assessors are looking for in your response
If you do not have any project partners, you will be able to indicate this in the Funding Service.
What supporting statements we are looking for
We are looking for you to provide letters or emails of support from all your identified project partners.
What we are not looking for
We don’t want any other letters (or emails) of support, from people who are not your identified project partners, such as those simply expressing general support for your project. If these are included by you, they will be ignored by us and will not be used in the assessment process.
Important information
You should only provide letters or emails of support from people you have identified in the project partner section of your application, who will have an integral role in your proposed research.
What each project partner letter or email of support must include
Each project partner letter or email you provide should:
- include the name of the project partner organisation and contact information
- explain the project partners’ commitment to the project
- explain the value, relevance, and possible benefits of the proposed work, to them
- describe any additional value they will bring to the project
- not exceed two sides of A4 per project partner
Project partner letters and emails of support are not required to be on headed paper or include handwritten signatures (electronic signatures are acceptable).
The Funding Service will provide document upload details when you apply.
Project partners from industry or a company
Industry or company project partners are required to download and complete the industry or company letter of support template. If your project partner(s) are from industry or a company, then you must indicate if you intend to apply under the ‘Industry Collaboration Framework (ICF)’ by adding “ICF” to your application title. You must also complete the ‘Industry Collaboration Framework (ICF)’ section. Find out more about ICF.
Project partners responsible for recruiting research participants or providing human tissue or samples
If the project partner is responsible for the recruitment of people as research participants or providing human tissue their letter or email of support should include:
- agreement that the project partner will recruit the participants or provide tissue
- confirmation that what is being supplied is suitable for the proposed work
- confirmation that the quantity of tissue being supplied is suitable, but not excessive for achieving meaningful results (if applicable)
Agreement with your project partners
Ensure you have prior agreement from project partners so that, if you are offered funding, they will support your project as indicated in the ‘Project partners’ section.
For audit purposes, UKRI requires formal collaboration agreements to be put in place if an award is made.
Industry Collaboration Framework (ICF)
Word limit: 1,500
Does your application include collaboration with industry or company project partners?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
The assessors are looking for you to confirm if your proposed work involves collaboration with an industry or company project partner. If it does, you will need to follow the MRC industry collaboration framework (ICF).
By ‘industry or company’ we mean an enterprise that puts or has intention to put goods or services on a market.
For guidance to assist your decision if your proposed work requires you to follow ICF, you should explore the ICF decision tree and find out more about ICF which includes:
- collaboration agreements
- definitions of basic or applied research
- internationally based companies
- subsidy control
- intellectual property (IP) arrangements
- fully flexible and gated contributions
- the ICF assessment criteria
Enter ‘Yes’ in the text box if you have industry or company project partners and you are likely to follow ICF. You should also confirm your answers to the ICF questions one to nine in the text box for each ICF project partner.
Contact us if you are unsure if your application should follow ICF. Find contacts in the ‘Contact details’ section
In addition to the project partner information completed in the previous section, the assessors are looking for information relating to the nature, goals and conditions of the collaboration and any restrictions or rights to the project results that could be claimed by the industry or company project partner.
Confirm your answers to the ICF questions in the text box, repeat this process for each ICF project partner.
- Name the industry or company project partner considered under ICF.
- Indicate whether your application is basic research or applied research.
- Explain why, in the absence of the requested UKRI funding, the collaboration and the planned research could not be undertaken.
- State whether your application is under the category of fully flexible contribution or gated contribution (based on the IP sharing arrangements with the industry or company partner).
- Outline the pre-existing IP (‘background IP’) that each partner, including the academic partner, will bring to the collaborative research project and the terms under which partners may access these assets.
- Outline the IP that is expected to be developed during the collaborative research project (‘foreground IP’) and briefly outline how it will be managed, including:
- who will own this IP
- what rights industry or company partners will have to use academically-generated foreground IP during and after the research project, for internal research and development or for commercial purposes
- any rights of the academic partner to commercialise the foreground IP, including foreground IP generated by industry or company partners
- Outline any restrictions to dissemination of the project results, including the rights of the industry or company partner to:
- review, approve or delay publications (including the time period associated with such rights)
- request or require the removal of any information
- Declare any conflicts of interest held by the applicants in relation to the industry or company project partners and describe how they will be managed.
- Justify collaborating with an overseas industry or company under ICF (if applicable).
Failure to provide the information requested for industry or company partners under ICF could result in your application being rejected.
You are recommended to discuss the goals and conditions of any collaboration with an industry or company with your technology transfer or contracts office before applying.
For audit purposes, UKRI requires formal collaboration agreements to be put in place if an award is made. You must provide us with a copy of the collaboration agreement, signed by all partners, before an ICF award starts.
If this does not apply to your proposed work, you will be able to indicate this in the Funding Service.
Data management and sharing
Word limit: 1,500
How will you manage and share data collected or acquired through the proposed research?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Provide a data management plan which should clearly detail how you will comply with MRC’s published data management and sharing policies, which includes detailed guidance notes.
Provide your response in the text box following the headings in the MRC data management plan template. You are not required to upload the document to your application.
The length of your plan will vary depending on the type of study being undertaken:
- population cohorts’ longitudinal studies, genetic, omics and imaging data, biobanks, and other collections that are potentially a rich resource for the wider research community: maximum of 1,500 words
- all other research, less complex: the plan may be as short as 500 words
Ethics and responsible research and innovation (RRI)
What are the ethical and RRI considerations, implications and issues relating to the proposed work? If you do not think that the proposed work raises any ethical or RRI issues, explain why.
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Demonstrate that you have identified and evaluated:
- the relevant ethical and RRI considerations, including both the research or topic area itself and the design and delivery of the project
- the wider implications of the proposed work, and how you will maximise the positive societal, environmental, and economic benefits arising from the project, whilst minimising unintended negative impacts, such as research misuse or accidental harm
- how you will manage these considerations throughout the lifecycle of the project
Consider the MRC guidance on ethics and approvals.
You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.
Please refer to the UKRI position statement on funding ethical research and Responsible innovation for more information around our expectations on ethical and responsible research and innovation.
Animal Involvement and”3Rs”
You must complete this section about how your proposed project will involve or impact animals.
If your project does not involve or impact animals, you must confirm this on the next page.
You may be asked about:
- what animals you are involving
- the severity of the procedures you are using
- where the procedures will take place
- welfare standards you aim to meet
- the relevance of your project to the development, validation or dissemination of the 3Rs
You may also need to download, complete, and upload at least one set of additional questions. You will be told how to do this towards the end of this section.
To complete this section and check whether your project is in the scope of the questions, refer to the UKRI policy for research and innovation involving animals.
What counts as an animal
UKRI policy relates to all animals in the Kingdom Animalia, including vertebrates and invertebrates.
Genetically modified organisms and biological risk
You must complete this section if your project will include genetically modified organisms or genetic technologies.
If your project does not involve genetically modified organisms or genetic technologies, you must confirm this on the next page.
You may be asked about:
- the type of organism your project will involve and the procedures your project will include
- the intended use of the organism or genetic technology
- the genetic, biological and environmental risks of your project
For more information, see UKRI’s guidance on genetic technologies.
Human participation in Health-related Research
You must complete this section about whether your project will include human participation.
If your project does not involve human participation, you must confirm this on the next page.
You may be asked about:
- what type of human participation your project includes
- the project design for human participation
- the phase of the clinical trial
- whether the project will be in an NHS setting, if so how the project will be registered
- whether diversity and inclusion will be considered
For more information, see UKRI’s guidance for human participants in research.
Resources and cost justification
Word limit: 1,200
What will you need to deliver your proposed work and how much will it cost?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Justify the application’s more costly resources, in particular:
- project staff
- significant travel for field work or collaboration (but not regular travel between collaborating organisations or to conferences)
- any equipment that will cost more than £25,000
- any consumables beyond typical requirements, or that are required in exceptional quantities
- all facilities and infrastructure costs
- all resources that have been costed as ‘Exceptions’
- costs for public and patient involvement and engagement. Costs for public partnerships including payments to public partners
- costs for preserving, long-term storage, or sharing of data
- cost for international co-leads, demonstrating this is within the 30% costs cap for co-leads from high income countries, India and China. There is no cap on costs requested for international applicants from DAC list countries
- NHS research costs, when they are associated with NHS studies
- animal costs, such as numbers that need to be bred or maintained and to maintain high welfare standards
Outsourcing work
We recognise that sometimes it may be appropriate to outsource elements of your work to a subcontractor. If that is the case, provide the following:
- the scope of the outsourced activity: what is being undertaken and what will be delivered
- the relevance of the outsourced activity to the application
- why the outsourced activity cannot be undertaken in-house
- why this provider is the most appropriate
- the costs of the outsourced activity and the tendering process to be followed
- details of any conflicts of interest (potential or actual) between parties and how they will be managed
You can request costs associated with reasonable adjustments where they increase as a direct result of working on the project. For further information see Disability and accessibility support for UKRI applicants and grant holders. Where a funding limit is imposed on the opportunity, requested costs for reasonable adjustments may exceed the maximum funding amount.
Assessors are not looking for detailed costs or a line-by-line breakdown of all project resources. Overall, they want you to demonstrate how the resources you anticipate needing for your proposed work:
- are comprehensive, appropriate, and justified
- represent the optimal use of resources to achieve the intended outcomes
- maximise potential outcomes and impacts
Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I)
Trusted Research and Innovation is the protection of the UK’s intellectual property, sensitive research, people, and infrastructure from potential theft, misuse, and exploitation.
Organisations receiving UKRI funding are obliged to act in line with UK government legislation. They are also expected to undertake appropriate due diligence assessments of organisations involved in research partnerships, collaboration agreements, and commercial contracts.
You will be asked about:
- which areas of the National Security and Investment (NSI) Act your project relates to
- who you intend to collaborate with and how
- if your project requires an export control licence
Your answers may affect the T&Cs of your funding agreement if you are successful. We may use your answers to determine that our current T&Cs are sufficient or if additional T&Cs are required.
