# UK Obesity Research Institute **Funder:** MRC (UKRI) **Budget:** Up to £60M (80% FEC) **Duration:** 7 years (84 months), with potential for renewal **Consortium:** Required — single lead research organisation in partnership with multiple UK research sites; international co-leads permitted if adding expertise not available in UK **Application:** Single stage (full application); applicants encouraged to contact MRC before submitting **Frequency:** One-off **Eligible countries:** GB **Official call:** https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/uk-obesity-research-institute/ **Last updated:** 10 Aug 2026 ## Eligibility & scope Funds a national, director-led institute for mechanistic biomedical obesity research (molecular, cellular, physiological). Lead must be a UK-eligible research organisation; businesses and charities cannot lead. Co-funded by BHF (up to £12M) for cardiovascular disease component. One award expected. 80% FEC funding; no matched funding required beyond 20% FEC contribution. ## Summary The UK Obesity Research Institute, funded by the MRC, will establish a seven-year national hub-and-partner research consortium focused on the mechanistic biomedical science of obesity, including pathophysiology, cardiometabolic links, and experimental medicine. A single UK lead organisation will distribute funds across multiple partner sites in a required consortium model. International researchers may participate as co-leads but cannot serve as the lead applicant. ## Who should apply - UK research organisations (universities, research institutes) eligible to lead; businesses and charities cannot hold the lead award - Teams with multi-site research capacity and partnerships across UK institutions - Researchers specialising in obesity pathophysiology, cardiometabolic biology, or experimental medicine - Established research leaders with track record managing large collaborative programmes - International researchers welcome as co-leads but not as lead applicant ## Key dates - Applicant webinar 2 September 2026 - Full application window to open after webinar (exact deadline not yet announced) - Seven-year funding duration with renewal potential - One award expected; funding subject to full business case approval ## Tips for applicants - Contact MRC before submitting your full application, the call explicitly encourages early engagement to refine your hub-and-partner model. - Design the consortium architecture carefully: the lead organisation's role in fund distribution and partner accountability will be scrutinised. - Ground all research questions in mechanistic biomedical science (pathophysiology, cardiometabolic links, experimental medicine) rather than public health or epidemiology. ## Frequently asked questions ### Who can be the lead organisation for the UK Obesity Research Institute? The lead must be a UK research organisation (university or research institute). Businesses and charities cannot hold the lead award, though they may participate as partners. ### Is the UK Obesity Research Institute consortium mandatory? Yes, the call requires a hub-and-partner model with multiple sites. A single UK lead organisation distributes funds to partner sites. ### Can international researchers lead the UK Obesity Research Institute? No, the lead applicant must be a UK research organisation. International researchers may participate as co-leads but cannot serve as the lead. ### How long is the UK Obesity Research Institute funding? Seven years with potential to renew. ### When is the UK Obesity Research Institute application deadline? The full application window has not yet opened. An applicant webinar is scheduled for 2 September 2026; the deadline will be announced at or after that event. --- Source: [The Great Grantsby](https://grantsby.eu/grants/mrc-uk-obesity-research-institute-2026) — EU grant monitoring for academic researchers. Always verify details on the funder's website before applying. **See which EU calls match your profile.** [Preview your matches in 30 seconds, no signup](https://grantsby.eu/demo?ref=llm_grant_md).