MRC: new investigator research grant: applicant-led

MRC: new investigator research grant: applicant-led is sponsored by Medical Research Council (MRC). MRC: new investigator research grant: applicant-led. Funding opportunity from Medical Research Council (MRC).

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MRC: new investigator research grant: applicant-led – UKRI Funding opportunity: MRC: new investigator research grant: applicant-led Medical Research Council (MRC) 7 April 2026 9:00am UK time Last updated: 6 August 2026 - see all updates Apply for funding to take the next step towards becoming an independent researcher. Doing exciting and ambitious research in the remit of the Medical Research Council (MRC).

To drive important insights into causes and mechanisms of disease and help accelerate diagnosis, advance treatment and prevent human illness. the skills and experience to ‘transition to independence’ the support of an eligible host research organisation There is no limit to the funding you can apply for. MRC will fund 80% of the full economic cost (FEC) and 100% of exceptions.

Funding is available for up to five years, for up to 50% of your salary. This funding opportunity is open to organisations with standard eligibility. 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 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 you and your project will be provided, including mentorship and career development for early career researchers You may apply twice for an MRC new investigator award.

If you are applying for a second time we invite you to resubmit your first application, or your second application may be a new application. We advise you to allow sufficient time between applications to consider and respond to feedback. Who is not eligible to apply You are not eligible to apply if you have already achieved independence.

New investigator awards support individuals who have not previously led a research team or been awarded a substantial grant as fellow or project lead (formerly 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 award twice before have an application for any UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) fellowship currently under consideration, including a Early independence: career development fellowship , Early independence: 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 us to find out whether you can apply.

Find contacts in the ‘contact details’ section. 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 at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) or MRC/UVRI (Uganda Virus Research Institute) and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit.

If you are employed by these organisations you cannot apply as project lead or project co-lead, but can participate as project partners on an application led by an eligible UK organisation: charity and third sector organisations Charities and third sector organisations that are approved UKRI Independent Research Organisations are eligible to apply as project lead or project co-lead.

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 surrounding team.

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. Find contacts in the ‘contact details’ section. You should include all other international collaborators (or UK partners not based at approved organisations) 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. Demand management is being applied to this funding opportunity. Further details are provided in the ‘who can apply’ section.

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 are looking to fund exciting and ambitious research to transform our understanding of human health and disease. Your research should focus on discovery and early translational research within MRC remit that will drive important insights into causes and mechanisms of disease.

We want it to accelerate diagnosis, advance treatment and prevent human illness. We welcome applications that incorporate global perspectives in discovery and early translational research and that have potential to improve global health. Applications involving partners outside the UK should be equitably led and co-designed.

We encourage you to contact us first to discuss your application, especially if you believe your research may cross research council interests. Find contacts in the ‘contact details’ section For more information on the background of this funding opportunity, go to the ‘Additional information’ section.

New investigator awards 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 awards is distinct from a fellowship that supports 100% of the fellow’s time. We will support projects lasting up to five years.

The duration of a new investigator award should be determined by what the research project needs and the case supporting the transition to independence. New investigator awards 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 between nine to 18 months after you submit your application.

New investigator awards 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 FEC 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 .

later phase clinical trials, these are supported by the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) costs for PhD studentships funding to use as a ‘bridge’ between grants A project partner is a collaborating organisation in the UK or overseas, including partners based in the EU, who will have an integral role in the proposed research.

You may include 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 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 . UKRI supports over 25,000 FTE of R&I staff directly on grants, many more if indirect costs, facility charges and strategic funding streams are included.

Those skilled people and teams design our studies, deliver the R&I work and disseminate the outputs. They are the R&I system; and mission critical to delivering the outcomes we invest in. Our expectations for people and teams are collated on the supporting skills and talent section of the good research resource hub .

In this funding opportunity we are piloting a new approach to embedding consideration of people and teams in our assessment. You can find the assessment criteria for integrating support for people and teams in your application (sections; the approach, team capability and resources and costs) in the people and teams assessment guidance .

You should evidence a strong commitment to supporting the development of researchers at all stages of their career. Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I) 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. See further guidance and information about TR&I , including where you 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.

Three applicant-led grant types are available, research , new investigator 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. 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 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 will 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 . Applications are accepted and processed continuously, so there is no need to focus on a specific deadline. You may see a notional future closing date displayed in the Funding Service.

This is a system requirement and does not reflect an actual deadline. You should ignore this date and submit your application whenever it is ready. Due to the continuing development of the Funding Service, we will occasionally need to make changes to this funding opportunity to allow technical updates or new policies to be implemented.

When updates are required, we will communicate changes to this funding opportunity at least eight weeks before they are implemented, to minimise the impact on applications being prepared for submission. Following the submission of your application to the funding opportunity, your application cannot be changed by you or us.

If there is a problem with an application it may either fail our examination checks and be rejected, or your research organisation may request to withdraw your application. You would then need to submit a new revised application. Because there are no closing dates, you can do this more easily.

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 applicantleddiscovery@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 .

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.

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 and how tackling this will deliver real impact in the field(s) or area(s) 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 surrounding team, 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 . Provide up to five keywords that describe your application. What the assessors are looking for in your response Provide up to a maximum of five keywords including the health area, for example: mental health, engineering biology, environmental health, diagnosis, obesity, vaccine development.

Use commas or spaces to distinguish individual terms or phrases This is for administrative purposes to help with the initial application processing and will not affect the overall assessment or influence the outcome 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 application 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 peer 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 2,000 words: 1,500 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.

You are encouraged to include ORCID iDs for individuals where relevant, as this can help to demonstrate and verify their achievements. 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