# Experimental medicine stage one

**Funder:** MRC
**Application:** 2-stage: stage one → stage two
**Frequency:** Continuous
**Eligible countries:** GB
**Official call:** https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/experimental-medicine/
**Last verified:** 18 June 2026

## Eligibility & scope

MRC experimental medicine awards supporting studies that use human subjects or human-derived material to understand disease mechanisms and test interventions. Clinical and patient-sample focus; UK-based applicants.

## Summary

The MRC Experimental Medicine award funds research using human subjects or human-derived material to understand disease mechanisms and test interventions in clinical settings. The call welcomes UK-based researchers across all career stages and disease areas, with a focus on translational studies that move between lab findings and patient outcomes. This is a continuous call with a two-stage review process (stage one → stage two).

## Who should apply

- UK-based researchers at NHS, university, or independent research institutions
- Clinical and translational researchers with human-subject or patient-sample experience
- Researchers across all career stages with a track record in experimental medicine
- Projects that bridge mechanistic understanding and clinical intervention testing

## Key dates

- Continuous rolling call, no fixed deadline; submit stage one when ready
- Two-stage review: stage one (outline proposal) → stage two (full application for invited applicants)
- Project duration varies; consult MRC guidance for typical funding period

## Tips for applicants

- Stage one is your gate: reviewers screen for scientific novelty and clinical feasibility early, so clearly signal the translational pathway and human relevance even in the outline.
- Human-subject ethics and regulatory readiness are non-negotiable; outline your ethics plan and recruitment strategy in stage one to avoid stage-two surprises.
- MRC values mechanistic insight over descriptive studies; frame your intervention-testing plan around a clear biological or clinical hypothesis.

## Frequently asked questions

### What type of research does the MRC Experimental Medicine award fund?

Studies using human subjects or human-derived material to understand disease mechanisms and test interventions in clinical settings.

### Who is eligible to apply for the MRC Experimental Medicine award?

UK-based researchers across all career stages working in clinical and translational medicine at NHS, university, or independent institutions.

### Is the MRC Experimental Medicine award a continuous call?

Yes, it is a rolling call with no fixed deadline; applicants submit stage-one proposals when ready for review.

### How many stages are there in the MRC Experimental Medicine review process?

Two stages: stage one (outline proposal) followed by stage two (full application) for shortlisted applicants.

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Source: [The Great Grantsby](https://grantsby.eu/grants/mrc-experimental-medicine-stage-one-2026) — EU grant monitoring for academic researchers. Always verify details on the funder's website before applying.