MRC Infections and Immunity New Investigator Grant

MRC Infections and Immunity New Investigator Grant is sponsored by Medical Research Council (MRC). This grant supports early-career researchers in the area of infections and immunity, aiding their transition to independence. It funds research that deepens understanding of human infectious diseases and immune-related disorders.

Infections and immunity: new investigator – UKRI Funding opportunity: Infections and immunity: new investigator Medical Research Council (MRC) 2 May 2025 9:00am UK time 4 September 2025 4:00pm UK time Last updated: 8 September 2025 - see all updates research Infections and immunity take the next step towards becoming an independent researcher the skills and experience to ‘transition to independence’ the support of a host research organisation eligible for Medical Research Council (MRC) funding There is no limit to the funding you can apply for, but the typical full economic cost of a project is under £1 million.

MRC will usually fund 80% of the full economic cost. This funding usually lasts three years and covers up to 50% of your salary. To lead a project, you must be based at an eligible organisation.

Check if your organisation is eligible .

To be eligible to apply as a new investigator you must: have research organisation support be able to show that your skills and experience match those in the ‘transition to independence’ stage of the MRC applicant skills and experience table use this grant to support your long-term career goals and chosen career route be able to demonstrate you are the sole intellectual leader of the application and the proposed work focus your application within the research area of Infections and immunity If you meet the eligibility criteria, you can also apply if you: are employed as a postdoctoral research assistant, although this grant cannot start until your current work finishes hold a lecturer appointment, a junior fellowship or another research staff position hold, or have held, an early career training fellowship such as an MRC skills development fellowship are not currently based at the eligible research organisation that has agreed to host your new investigator award are either a non-clinical or clinically active researcher have any number of years of experience For applicants who do not have a contract of employment for the duration of the proposed project, by submitting an application the research organisation is confirming, if it is successful: contracts will be extended beyond the end date of the project all necessary support for the project and the applicants will be provided, including mentorship and career development for early career researchers Who is not eligible to apply You are not eligible to apply if you have already achieved independence.

New investigator grants support individuals who have not previously led a research team or been awarded a substantial grant as fellow or project lead (formally known as principal investigator). A substantial grant is typically defined as for three or more years and including salary support for one or more additional team members.

You are also not eligible to apply if you: already hold or have held an award that facilitates the transition to independence have applied for an MRC new investigator grant twice before have an application for any UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) fellowship currently under consideration, including a career development award , clinician scientist fellowship or future leaders fellowships If you are unsure whether you meet the eligibility criteria or have any questions about your eligibility you should contact iib@mrc.

ukri. org to find out whether you can apply. You are not eligible to apply for this funding opportunity as a project lead if you are based at an international research organisation.

This does not include project leads from MRC Unit The Gambia or MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Project co-leads and other team members We recognise and support the value of team science and interdisciplinary research, which may be important to your career development.

Therefore, project co-leads, specialists and other team roles may be included within your new investigator application. Your team members should bring essential complimentary research, technical expertise or skills to the project, that you as the new investigator project lead cannot provide, or you are aiming to develop.

We encourage you to use the appropriate application sections, such as ‘Applicant and team capability to deliver’, to make your leadership role clear and justify the team around you. It is not usually appropriate for a current or recent supervisor or lab head of the new investigator to be part of the applicant team, as this may make your leadership unclear. If this is essential to the proposed work, it must be specifically justified.

International researchers As MRC is a lead funder for this funding opportunity, international researchers, can apply as project co-lead (international). Project co-leads (international) make a major intellectual contribution to the design or conduct of the project. Their contribution and added value to the research should be clearly explained and justified in the application, see Applicant and team capability to deliver.

Read the UKRI project co-lead (international) eligibility for more details. Please contact us if you are uncertain about eligibility. You should include all other international collaborators as project partners.

Equality, diversity and inclusion We are committed to achieving equality of opportunity for all funding applicants. We encourage applications from a diverse range of researchers. We support people to work in a way that suits their personal circumstances.

This includes: support for people with caring responsibilities alternative working patterns UKRI can offer disability and accessibility support for UKRI applicants and grant holders during the application and assessment process. We are looking to fund new investigators who are capable of becoming independent researchers and are now ready to take the next step towards that goal.

We’re looking for new investigators with a proposal for research that increases understanding within the field of infections and immunity. The Infections and Immunity Board (IIB) aims to develop scientific knowledge that extends our understanding of human infectious disease and the role of the immune system in inflammation, immune-mediated disease, and cancer.

This includes research into human pathogens and their mechanisms of infection, diseases of the human immune system, and conditions where altered immune regulation leads to pathology. The board seeks to support a diverse portfolio of research that is relevant to the UK and the wider world and spans the full remit of the board, addressing established questions and areas while catalysing investigation of emergent opportunities.

Research we fund includes discovery research relating to the following areas: immune-mediated disease and multimorbidity immunology and inflammation epidemiology and transmission biomarkers and diagnostics Find out more about the infections and immunity areas of investment . We encourage you to contact us first at iib@mrc. ukri.

org to discuss your application, especially if you believe your research may cross MRC or research council interests. If your application fits another research board remit better, we may decide to transfer it there to be assessed. For more information on the background of this funding opportunity, go to the ‘Additional information’ section.

New investigator grants are intended to support a research project, combined with a range of other academic or clinical activities, during the transition to independence, such as: time spent on other research grants research organisation administration duties other time spent in faculty This means we expect you to apply for support for a proportion of your contracted working time, up to 50% of your time.

The proportion you request should be justified in the application and suitable for leading the research project as you transition to independence. A new investigator grant is distinct from a fellowship that supports 100% of the fellow’s time. The duration of a new investigator grant should be determined by what the research project needs and the case supporting the transition to independence.

In this funding opportunity three years is typical. You may apply for a longer duration project and justify why this is necessary. New investigator grants do not normally last for less than three years, because it is unlikely the transition to independence could be achieved in that time.

Projects should start one to six months after the funding decision date. New investigator research grants are not renewable. There is no limit to the funding you can apply for.

Your application must be for an amount that: is appropriate to the project you can justify in order to deliver the objectives of the proposed research We will fund 80% of the full economic cost and 100% of permitted exceptions. Find out more about full economic costing .

You can request funding for costs such as: a contribution to your salary, up to 50% of your total working time a contribution to the salary of any co-leads support for other posts such as research and technical staff data preservation, data sharing and dissemination costs estates and indirect costs NHS research costs , when they are associated with NHS studies public partnerships and related activities, including payments to public contributors The salary requested should be in line with the research organisation’s usual new investigator levels.

New investigator salary costs will be funded at 80% of the full economic cost for the proportion of time requested. You can also request costs for work to be undertaken at international organisations by international project co-leads. We will fund 100% of the eligible costs.

The total of such costs requested for international applicants from high-income countries (those not on the OECD DAC List of ODA Recipients ), India and China must not exceed 30% of the total resources requested. There is no cap on costs requested for international applicants from DAC list countries.

For more information on international costs and what we will and will not fund see costs we fund and the Collaborate with Researchers in Norway guidance .

research involving randomised trials of clinical treatments costs for PhD studentships funding to use as a ‘bridge’ between grants You may include team project partners that will support your research project through cash or in-kind contributions, such as: recruitment of people as research participants providing samples, such as human tissue, for the project Each project partner must provide a statement of support.

If your application involves industry partners, they must provide additional information if the relationship falls within the industry collaboration framework . Find out more about subcontractors and dual roles . Who cannot be included as a team project partner Any individual included in your application core team cannot also be a project partner.

Any organisation that employs a member of the application core team cannot be a project partner organisation, this includes other departments within the same organisation. If you are collaborating with someone in your organisation, consider including them in the core team as project co-lead, or specialist. They cannot be a project partner.

Supporting skills and talent We encourage you to follow the principles of the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers and the Technician Commitment . Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I) UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is committed in ensuring that effective international collaboration in research and innovation takes place with integrity and within strong ethical frameworks.

Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I) is a UKRI work programme designed to help protect all those working in our thriving and collaborative international sector by enabling partnerships to be as open as possible, and as secure as necessary. Our TR&I Principles set out UKRI’s expectations of organisations funded by UKRI in relation to due diligence for international collaboration.

As such, applicants for UKRI funding may be asked to demonstrate how their proposed projects will comply with our approach and expectation towards TR&I, identifying potential risks and the relevant controls you will put in place to help proportionately reduce these risks. Further guidance and information about TR&I , including where applicants can find additional support.

We are running this funding opportunity on the new 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.

Four grant types are available, research , new investigator , programme and partnership . Before you select ‘Start application’, check you are applying for the appropriate grant type. Applications submitted to the incorrect grant type will be rejected.

Select ‘Start application’ near the beginning of this Funding finder page. Confirm you are the project lead. Please allow at least 10 working days for your organisation to be added to the Funding Service.

We strongly suggest that if you are asking UKRI to add your organisation to the Funding Service to enable you to apply to this opportunity, you also create an organisation Administration Account. This will be needed to allow the acceptance and management of any grant that might be offered to you. 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. 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 counts towards your word limit) insert each new image onto 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 may be rejected if you include: sentences or paragraphs of text 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: how applicants use the Funding Service how research offices use the Funding Service how reviewers use the Funding Service 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 . MRC must receive your application by 4 September 2025 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 the funding opportunity, your application cannot be changed, and applications will not be returned for amendment. If your application does not follow the guidance, it may be rejected.

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 .

If you or a core team member need to tell us something you wish to remain confidential, email iib@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) 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 .

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 . 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: the wider research community Guidance for writing a summary Clearly describe your proposed work in terms of: the challenge the project addresses potential applications and benefits List the key members of your team and assign them roles from the following: project co-lead (UK) (PcL) project co-lead (international) (PcL (I)) professional enabling staff research and innovation associate Only list one individual as project lead.

If you include more than one project lead your application will fail at the checking stage. Project co-leads, specialists and other team roles may be included. Team members should bring essential complimentary research, technical expertise or skills to the project, that you cannot provide, or are aiming to develop.

To make your leadership role clear and justify the team around you, we encourage using the appropriate application sections, such as: applicant fit to the funding opportunity applicant and team capability to deliver It is not usually appropriate for your current or recent supervisor or lab head to be part of the applicant team, as this may make leadership unclear.

If this is essential to the proposed work, it must be specifically justified. 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 . Select the primary MRC research area your application most closely aligns to.

In the text box, copy the number corresponding to your selected area: Infections and Immunity Board bacterial disease and host response to bacterial pathogens fungal disease and host response to fungal pathogens parasitic disease and host response to parasitic pathogens viral disease and host response to viral pathogens immune disease and immunology integrated understanding of human physiology and disease myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome This is for administrative purposes to help with the initial application processing.

We will check your choice and make a final decision on which board will lead the assessment of your application. Applicant fit to the funding opportunity How do you consider yourself eligible for this funding opportunity? What the assessors are looking for in your response Give a clear description of why you are eligible for funding through this funding opportunity.

In your response you should consider, where relevant: that you have not already achieved independence.

See MRC applicant skills and experience criteria that you have not been awarded a substantial grant as fellow or project lead, that is three or more years duration and includes salary support for one or more additional team members that you have not already held a transition to independence award that you have independently devised and will lead on the delivery of the proposed work, and any project co-leads and other team members are providing essential complimentary expertise (If applicable) Find out more about MRC new investigator award eligibility .

What are you hoping to achieve with your proposed work?

What the assessors are looking for in your response Explain how your proposed work: is of excellent quality and importance within or beyond the fields or areas has the potential to advance current understanding, or generate new knowledge, thinking or discovery within or beyond the field or area is timely given current trends, context, and needs impacts world-leading research, society, the economy, or the environment Within the Vision section we also expect you to: identify the potential direct or indirect benefits and who the beneficiaries might be identify potential improvements in human or population health, whether through contributing to relieving disease or disability burden, improving quality of life or providing benefit to the health service or health-related industry 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. How are you going to deliver your proposed work?

What the assessors are looking for in your response Explain how you have designed your approach so that it: is effective and appropriate to achieve your objectives is feasible, and comprehensively identifies any risks to delivery and how they will be managed uses a clearly written and transparent methodology (if applicable) summarises the previous work and describes how this will be built upon and progressed (if applicable) will maximise translation of outputs into outcomes and impacts describes 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 Within the Approach section we also expect you to: demonstrate access to the appropriate services, facilities, infrastructure, or equipment to deliver the project provide a project plan including milestones and timelines, in the form of an embedded Gantt chart or similar explain and justify how you will approach diversity and inclusion in the study population and follow the MRC embedding diversity in research design policy (if applicable) show how you will use male and female animals or tissues and cells from female and male donors (if applicable) in your research.

If you are not proposing to do this justify why explain and justify the inclusion of public partnerships (if applicable) and the added value these offer 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 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: 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 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 ‘Research involving the use of animals’ section. Use the ‘Research involving the use of animals’ 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.

Data management and sharing 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, as follows: 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 How will this award contribute to your career development as the project lead?

What assessors are looking for in your response Explain why you are applying for this new investigator award and demonstrate how it will support you in achieving your: long-term career goals and chosen career route plans to develop your own research profile independence, as the sole intellectual leader of the proposed work plans to secure further grant support during or after this award plans to establish and lead a research team We also expect you to demonstrate how you will instigate positive change in the wider research and innovation community, for example through: equality, diversity and Inclusion advocacy or advisory roles participation in expert review public engagement or outreach Applicant and team capability to deliver 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 1,650 words: 1,150 words to be used for R4RI modules (including references) and, if necessary, a further 500 words for Additions.

Use the Résumé for Research and Innovation (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 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 you need to make your leadership role clear and justify the team around you 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.

Research organisation support What support will be provided by the research organisation for your new investigator award?

What assessors are looking for in your response Considering your career trajectory and how the support offered forms a cohesive career development package for you, provide a clear statement of commitment and support from the research organisation to you and the project covering: how your expertise fits within the wider interest and strategies of the research organisation and department development and training opportunities to be provided and how they form a cohesive career development package tailored to you mentoring and support arrangements proposed and how they are appropriate to you, include the name of any current or future mentors financial support to be provided, including the contribution to your salary, and how this improves the application This statement of support should also provide: the name and role of the person providing the statement, who should be the head of department or other senior manager how they will support you following the end of the award how they recognise and value you as part of their team and will integrate you into the research organisation, enabling you to develop your independence and the focus of your research guidance and training on setting up a research group, building partnerships and collaborations, or with public engagement rapid access to resources at the research organisation through knowledge of appropriate processes and systems access to career development support and advice to enable future career transitions support for any proposed leadership activities access to laboratory space or investment in equipment to establish your laboratory, and access to communal departmental resources 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. Their