All paused funding opportunities have now been reopened. See the UKRI funding finder for funding opportunity details.
We are moving to ‘always open’ for our applicant-led system. Data demonstrates that externally published deadlines cause significant variation in the volume of applications we receive and in reviewer availability. Removing fixed deadlines helps to smooth these peaks and troughs.
To implement the necessary behind the scenes changes, we paused applications for some funding opportunities within the Medical Research Council (MRC) and Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). These have now reopened.
MRC
The following MRC opportunities are now open:
- Applicant-led research grants (reopened 7 April 2026)
- New investigator research grants (reopened 7 April 2026)
- Partnership grants (reopened 7 April 2026)
- Experimental medicine opportunities (reopened 30 April 2026)
The following opportunities reopened in July 2026:
- MRC Proof of Concept (previously the Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme, stage one)
- MRC Impact Acceleration Awards (previously the MRC Gap Fund)
MRC fellowships, studentships and Centres of Research Excellence were not affected.
BBSRC
Applications for applicant-led funding opportunities were paused while BBSRC moved to ‘always open’ funding.
These opportunities have reopened:
Last updated: 5 August 2026