MRC (UKRI)
Experimental Medicine
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The MRC Experimental Medicine programme funds human-centric mechanistic studies testing disease-mechanism hypotheses through direct interventions, compounds, biologics, vaccines, psychological, physiological or immune challenges. Applications must involve human participant recruitment and access to clinical infrastructure, open to UK-based researchers including a New Investigator Award track. The two-stage process runs in parallel rounds across 2026-2027.
Details
| Funder | MRC (UKRI) |
| Deadline | 14 April 2027 |
| Duration | No fixed limit; typically 3 years for new investigator awards |
| Consortium | Optional — project partners (UK or overseas, including EU) may contribute cash or in-kind support; international co-leads permitted as project co-lead (international) |
| Application | Single stage (stage one application; resubmission as invited stage two for NHS cost documentation) |
| Eligible countries | GB |
Eligibility & scope
Funds academically-led experimental medicine projects in humans investigating disease mechanisms, with a clear path to clinical impact. Project lead must be based at an eligible UK research organisation (exceptions for MRC Unit The Gambia and MRC/UVRI Uganda). Funded at 80% full economic cost; includes a New Investigator Award route for early-career researchers transitioning to independence.
Who Should Apply
- •Researchers based at UK academic, NHS, or healthcare institutions with clinical research access
- •Investigators with a track record of human-participant mechanistic studies, or New Investigator Award-track applicants launching an independent experimental medicine line
- •Projects testing causal hypotheses about disease mechanisms using direct interventions
- •Teams with established clinical or patient-recruitment infrastructure
Key Dates
- •Stage 2 round deadline 24 February 2027 (stage 1 invitations issued autumn 2026)
- •Deferred round opens 15 April 2027, closing 1 September 2027
- •Two-stage evaluation: stage one application → shortlisted to stage two full application
Tips for Applicants
- ✓Clinical infrastructure and recruitment capacity are gating; demonstrate existing relationships with NHS trusts or patient cohorts.
- ✓The hypothesis must be testable via direct intervention in humans, observational or computational-only work does not fit this remit.
- ✓New Investigator Award track has different expectations; emphasise independence and originality of the mechanistic hypothesis separately from supervisor legacy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of interventions does the MRC Experimental Medicine programme fund?
The programme supports studies using compounds, biologics, vaccines, psychological interventions, physiological challenges, or immune challenges to test disease-mechanism hypotheses in human participants.
Who is eligible for the MRC Experimental Medicine programme?
Researchers based at UK academic, NHS or other recognised UK research institutions with access to clinical infrastructure for human participant recruitment.
What is the stage 2 deadline for the MRC Experimental Medicine programme in 2027?
Stage 2 closes 24 February 2027 for the main round; a deferred round opens 15 April 2027 and closes 1 September 2027.
Is there a New Investigator Award track for the MRC Experimental Medicine programme?
Yes, a New Investigator Award track is available alongside the main stream, with differentiated eligibility and expectations for early-stage researchers launching independent experimental medicine research.
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