# Neuroimmunology Data Generation Award for Early Career Researchers

**Funder:** MRC (UKRI)
**Budget:** Up to £200,000
**Duration:** Up to 24 months
**Consortium:** No
**Application:** 2-stage: expression of interest → full application via Je-S
**Eligible countries:** GB
**Official call:** https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/neuroimmunology-data-generation-award-for-early-career-researchers/
**Last verified:** 18 June 2026

## Eligibility & scope

Pilot data generation and hypothesis-driven mechanistic studies examining inflammatory and immune processes in neurological conditions and mental illness. Excludes GWAS/epidemiological studies and MS-only projects. Funded at 80% full economic cost; PhD studentship costs not eligible. UK institutions; principal investigator CV and key publications required at expression of interest stage.

## Summary

The MRC Neuroimmunology Data Generation Award for Early Career Researchers funds up to £200,000 over 24 months for pilot studies and mechanistic investigations of inflammatory and immune processes in neurological conditions and mental illness. Applicants must be early-career researchers based at UK institutions; projects using genome-wide association studies or epidemiological approaches, or focusing solely on multiple sclerosis, are not eligible. Funding is awarded at 80% full economic cost, and PhD studentship costs cannot be claimed.

## Who should apply

- Early-career researchers with a strong publication record in neuroimmunology or related fields
- Investigators based at recognised UK research institutions
- Projects generating novel pilot data to support future funding applications
- Hypothesis-driven mechanistic studies of immune or inflammatory processes in neurological or psychiatric conditions

## Key dates

- Two-stage application: expression of interest, then full application via Je-S
- 24-month maximum project duration
- Funding at 80% full economic cost; PhD studentship costs not eligible

## Tips for applicants

- The expression of interest stage requires your CV and key publications; use this to establish independence from your postdoctoral supervisor and prior group.
- Exclude GWAS, epidemiological, and multiple-sclerosis-only studies from scope, reviewers screen for alignment explicitly; clarify your mechanistic angle upfront.
- Design the 24-month budget tightly around data generation and initial analysis; this is a proof-of-concept round, not a full study.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much does the MRC Neuroimmunology Data Generation Award pay?

Up to £200,000 at 80% full economic cost over a maximum of 24 months.

### Who can apply for the MRC Neuroimmunology Data Generation Award?

Early-career researchers based at UK institutions, with a focus on pilot data generation for neuroimmunology and related fields.

### What types of research are excluded from the MRC Neuroimmunology Data Generation Award?

GWAS studies, epidemiological research, and projects focused solely on multiple sclerosis are not eligible.

### Can PhD studentship costs be included in an MRC Neuroimmunology Award application?

No, PhD studentship costs are not eligible expenses under this scheme.

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Source: [The Great Grantsby](https://grantsby.eu/grants/mrc-ukri-neuroimmunology-data-generation-award-for-early-ca-2026) — EU grant monitoring for academic researchers. Always verify details on the funder's website before applying.

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