MRC supports research into human infectious diseases and disorders of the human immune system and translation of these insights towards health benefits.
We aim to develop scientific knowledge that transforms our understanding of human infectious disease and the role of the immune system in inflammation, immune-mediated disease, cancer and wider health issues.
This includes research into human pathogens and their mechanisms of infection, diseases of the human immune system, conditions where altered immune regulation leads to pathology and other disease states.
Our science areas
Our ambition is to support a diverse portfolio of research relevant to UK and global health needs, addressing and refining longstanding research questions, and emergent threats, and catalysing and delivering against higher risk, truly innovative opportunities. Our funding mechanisms, including applicant led programmes and strategic investment, support a portfolio of research including the following science areas.
Human pathogens
Understanding pathogen biology, transmission routes and human host responses for bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi, to elucidate mechanisms of disease and inform diagnosis, treatment and prevention of infection
Immune-mediated disease and multimorbidity
Understanding how our immune status can contribute to disease, including research into allergies, transplantation immunology, systemic immune disorders, auto-immune disease and immuno-oncology
Immunology and inflammation
Research into the development, function and disorders of the immune system, including inflammation and immune homeostasis, where this informs understanding of the causes and mechanisms of immune pathology or immune dysfunction
Resistance to treatment
Investigating the mechanisms and drivers of resistance at the pathogen, human, and population levels, including research to allow for the prevention, detection, and control of resistance
Chronic infections
Research into how long-term infection can interact with and affect the host immune system over the life course, how the immune system might be modulated to better target persistent infections and what triggers emergence from latency (including co-infections)
Co-infection
Understanding how infections (both commensal and invasive) affect the host immune system and interact with other pathogens
Epidemiology and transmission
Understanding the mechanisms of immune mediated disease or pathogen evolution and transmission using epidemiological approaches to elucidate disease risk, including identifying factors impacting immune regulation, disease susceptibility, and discovering emerging risks (including zoonotic, resistant and re-emerging pathogens)
Vaccines
Early vaccine development, comparative vaccinology, early development and understanding of adjuvants and immunomodulation, human challenge models and the role of therapeutic and protective antibodies.
Biomarkers and diagnostics
Research to inform biomarker discovery and provide pathways towards novel diagnostic tools and approaches relevant to infection, preparedness and resistance.
Therapeutics
Early development research to investigate novel mechanisms and strategies for preventing and controlling infectious and immune disease, including immunomodulation and novel immunotherapies.
Global health
Infection and immunity research of global health relevance, including the needs of people in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) which should include equitable collaborations with researchers based in those countries.
Translational development programmes
For studies undertaking the development, validation or evaluation of new products or interventions towards specific infection or immune-related clinical indications, see our translational schemes.
What we will not fund
We will not fund:
- applications focused on delivery of surveillance and detection programmes – such work could only be eligible as a minor, facilitating component if critical to enable a wider holistic programme of research
- proposals focused on the optimisation of an existing surveillance technology to different circumstances, without a focus on driving new insights into pathogen biology or epidemiology
- proposals aiming to investigate plant or animal infections without direct linkage to human disease, which should be directed to the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
- proposals investigating mechanisms underpinning normal tissue physiology or healthy human immune function, which should also be directed to BBSRC
MRC welcomes queries from potential applicants. Questions on remit, scope or fit to our funding schemes should be directed to the relevant Programme Manager (see ‘Who to contact’).
Strategic activities and partnerships
Where concerted action is needed, MRC invests through major investments, including institutes, units and MRC Centres of Research Excellence (CoRE). These incorporate strong leadership, challenge-focused research, training or capacity-building, and the application of innovative technology and methodology to tackle major research challenges. Many of these involve strategic partnerships, including co-funding.
Additional activities
Infectious and immune diseases are major global threats, requiring a strategic and integrated response. Accordingly, alongside providing core funding, we also support and enable a broad portfolio of related activity within MRC, across UKRI and in partnership with the UK and international landscape.
Preparedness
The global disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, further outbreaks of MPox and H5N1 avian influenza, and the ongoing global burden of malaria, tuberculosis and HIV, illustrate the large-scale challenges that infectious diseases continue to pose to human health.
In addition to contributing to preparedness research for a future outbreak through underpinning research, we also coordinate other relevant research including work representing UKRI through the following activities.
International programmes
BE READY: European partnership for pandemic preparedness
Shaping UK and international research agendas
UK Research and Development Framework for pandemic preparedness, prevention and response: the framework outlines the strategic themes and governance for research funding prior to and in the event of a pandemic.
GloPID-R: a global alliance of research funding organisations enabling knowledge generation to inform policy and practice by decision makers for preparedness and response to infectious disease threats
Find out more about MRC’s response to COVID-19.
Antimicrobial resistance
Pathogens naturally evolve resistance mechanisms to drugs, and this can have potentially catastrophic health implications. The importance of preventing and treating resistance in bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungi, and vectors now has global recognition.
In addition to contributing to AMR research through underpinning research, MRC engages closely with domestic and international research and policy programmes in this space.
International programmes
OH AMR: European partnership on One Health Antimicrobial Resistance
UK and International research agendas
UK AMR National Action Plan: MRC plays a key role in coordinating UK research programmes in support of the UK’s second five-year national action plan setting out ambitions and actions for the next five years, as part of a 20-year vision for antimicrobial resistance (AMR)