MRC (UKRI)
UK Obesity Research Institute
Latest start date 1 October 2027; application deadline not stated in this segment
Last updated:
No deadline is on file for this call. Check MRC (UKRI)'s own call page for the current round's status before you plan around it.
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.
Details
| 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 |
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.
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.
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