UKRI: open calls

Open to registered healthcare professionals (doctors, nurses, vets, etc.) of any nationality, but fellowship must be hosted at an eligible UK research organisation. Applicants must hold a completed PhD or equivalent (before award start). Must not have previously secured independence via grants leading research staff. Fellowship must be based full-time at host; clinical sessions up to 4/week permitted for relevant specialties. Joint funding available with several charities (e.g. Diabetes UK, Parkinson's UK).

For registered healthcare professionals (including doctors, nurses, AHPs, vets) who hold a PhD received ≥5 years ago and wish to reacquire research skills. Fellowship must be hosted at an eligible UK research organisation; international applicants must hold or obtain UK regulatory body registration. Funded at 80% FEC. Jointly funded options available with named charities. Applicant must intend to be clinically active in the UK during or after the award.

Open to UK research groups and individuals (any career stage, subject to NERC eligibility). Focuses on aviation non-CO2 climate impacts across three themes: contrail/aerosol prediction confidence, future fuels (SAF, hydrogen, fuel cells), and decision-making support. Projects with industrial partnerships encouraged. Up to 6 projects funded; projects must start no later than 1 February 2027. UK host institution required.

UK academic researchers embedded in government host departments focusing on natural hazards and resilience. Includes an additional £100,000 research and collaboration budget co-funded by DCMS. Applicants must hold a doctorate or equivalent. Fellowship starts 1 May 2027. Minimum 0.6 FTE during placement. Includes £15,000 mandatory flexible budget.

Invited full applications for MRC Centres of Research Excellence (CoRE) addressing a defined long-term biomedical or health research challenge over 14 years. Open to UK research organisations; lead applicant must be affiliated with the lead research organisation. Requires standard 20% FEC; no additional matched funding required. International project co-leads permitted. Ministry of Defence participates in assessment.

UK academic researchers embedded in What Works Network host organisations for 18 months. Includes an additional £40,000 research and collaboration budget for co-production and collaboration. Applicants must hold a doctorate or equivalent. Fellowship starts 1 May 2027. Minimum 0.6 FTE during placement. Includes £15,000 mandatory flexible budget.

UK academic researchers embedded in government host departments for 18 months to support evidence-informed policymaking. Applicants must hold a doctorate or equivalent research experience. Fellowship starts 1 May 2027. Early-career researchers receive funded mentorship. Minimum 0.6 FTE during placement. Includes £15,000 mandatory flexible budget.

Open to researchers holding a doctorate or equivalent research experience, based at a UK research organisation (lead organisation must submit). Fellows undertake an 18-month policy fellowship with a UK government host, starting 1 May 2027. Three fellowship tracks: Core (up to £180k FEC), What Works Innovation (up to £220k FEC), and Natural Hazards and Resilience (up to £280k FEC, co-funded by DCMS). Early-career researchers receive funded mentorship support.

For researchers post-PhD seeking first step to independence in MRC remit (human health). Must be hosted at an eligible UK research organisation; applicants of all nationalities welcome. Clinically active researchers are ineligible (separate clinician scientist scheme). Cannot hold a comparable fellowship or have secured grants as project lead with research staff. Fellowship must be full-time (or part-time for personal reasons only). Start date June–September 2027.

Funds large-scale venture doctoral training programmes integrating academic research with entrepreneurship and venture creation. Must support min. 50 students across up to 5 annual cohorts. Lead must be a UKRI-eligible organisation (or complete non-standard eligibility before award). Businesses and social enterprises may lead. Norway-based or IIASA project co-leads are not permitted. Non-full economic cost: 100% of eligible costs, no estates/indirect costs.

For researchers (any nationality) seeking to establish independent research niche in STFC remit areas (astronomy, particle physics, nuclear physics, accelerator science, quantum technologies, etc.). Must be hosted at a UK research organisation holding an ERF quota. STFC funds 80% FEC; host funds balance. Up to 10 fellowships offered. Cannot fund PDRAs or PhD students. Part-time (≥50% FTE) permitted.

Supports early-career researchers (postdoctoral, lecturers, junior fellows) who have not previously led a research team or held a substantial grant, enabling transition to independence through an experimental medicine project in humans. Salary capped at 50% of contracted working time; applicant must be sole intellectual leader. Typical duration three years.

Fundamental, speculative, high-risk/high-reward research to advance explainability of future AI systems. UK research organisations only as lead; UKRI funds 80% of FEC (max £602,500 FEC). Fixed project start date of 1 February 2027. Applications particularly welcome from early and mid-career researchers. No PhD studentship costs or equipment >£25k per item. Purely social science, legal, policy or ethical studies are out of scope.

Part of the Safer Streets R&D MAP programme. Funds one R&I Consortium to develop novel real-time measures of public trust and confidence in UK policing and test interventions via pilots with at least four UK police forces. At least 40% of FEC must be allocated to a flexible fund for small-scale pilots. Conventional large-scale surveys and purely theoretical research are excluded. Projects must start by 1 February 2027.

Stage two (invitation only) for academically-led translational health research: prevention, diagnosis, prognosis or treatment of significant health needs, or research tools improving intervention development. Covers early prototype to phase 2a clinical studies. UK lead organisation required; international co-leads eligible up to 30% of total costs (HIC/India/China). 80% FEC funded.

Funds interventional experimental medicine studies in humans to validate mechanistic hypotheses underlying variation in response to biomedical prevention interventions. Applicants must be employed by an eligible UK research organisation. MRC funds 80% FEC; 100% of permitted exceptions and eligible international co-lead costs. Exploratory biomarker studies, animal experiments, and late-phase clinical trials are ineligible.

Academically led translational single-step projects generating critical preliminary data for new medicines, devices, diagnostics or other medical interventions. UK research organisations eligible as lead; international researchers may join as project co-leads. Businesses and non-approved charities cannot lead. No clinical trials or fundamental research. Proposals must be submitted in English via UKRI Funding Service.

Academically-led translational projects developing novel therapeutics, devices, diagnostics or interventions from early prototype through to phase 2a clinical studies. Project lead must be employed by an eligible UK research organisation; international researchers may participate as project co-lead (international). Funds 80% FEC; no matched funding required beyond standard 20% FEC.

UK-based organisations only (non-UK applicants ineligible). Projects must enhance existing ESRC social science data service infrastructures (no new services). Focus on improving data discovery, access to sensitive data, technology-enabled pipelines (incl. AI), and upskilling data service staff. Must include an upskilling work package. Business/third sector/government co-leads permitted but cannot lead projects.

Funds bold, interdisciplinary health research centres tackling complex biomedical challenges over 14 years. Lead applicant must be a UK-eligible research organisation; businesses, charities, and international organisations cannot lead. Covers salaries, consumables, studentships, and public partnerships. Clinical trials and longitudinal population studies are excluded. Start date 1 April–30 October 2028.

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.

Funds partnerships between UK businesses (any size) and UK academic/research organisations to deliver innovation projects via a graduate associate employed by the academic partner but working in the business. Business must co-fund project costs including associate salary and supervisor. Any sector or innovation type eligible. Supported by UKRI, Welsh Government, Invest NI, Scottish Funding Council, BEIS and Defra, each with specific criteria.

Part of the Safer Streets R&D Missions Accelerator Programme. Funds one R&I Consortium to develop real-time, affordable measures of public trust and confidence in UK policing, with pilots in at least four areas. Must prioritise children under 18 and victims of VAWG. Applicants must be UK-based organisations eligible for UKRI funding; 80% FEC funding model applies. Conventional large-scale surveys and purely theoretical research are excluded.

Funds MRC Centres of Research Excellence (CoREs) in the UK. Lead organisation limit of one application per organisation; resubmissions only if invited. Costs submitted in GBP; mid-range equipment (>£138k single item) requires justification. Proposals must address ethical/RRI considerations, public partnerships, research culture, and Trusted Research & Innovation obligations.

Priority funding notice (active since 2003) encouraging high-quality applications to any MRC grant or fellowship scheme addressing ME/CFS research priorities identified by the 2022 James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership. Applications attaining the same median ranking score receive prioritisation for funding. Applicants should contact mecfs@mrc.ukri.org before applying.

Priority funding notice (since 2003) encouraging high-quality applications to any MRC grant or fellowship scheme addressing ME/CFS research priorities identified by the James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership. Applications receive prioritisation for funding at equal median ranking score. Applicants should contact mecfs@mrc.ukri.org for advice on the most suitable funding opportunity.

Funds academically led experimental medicine studies in humans investigating causal mechanisms of gambling disorder. Lead applicant must be based at an MRC-eligible UK research organisation. Gambling Commission licence holders subject to the levy are excluded from receiving funding or co-funding. Public and patient involvement is required. Projects must be independent from gambling industry associations.