MRC (UKRI)
Centre of Research Excellence
Expression of interest by 16:00 UK time, 8 December 2026
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MRC Centres of Research Excellence (CoRE) funds transformative biomedical and health research challenges with 14-year awards to established teams at UK institutions. The scheme is open to multi-disciplinary consortia addressing major research challenges, with optional industry and overseas partners; all host organisations must be represented by eligible co-leads. Host institutions must demonstrate strong organisational support, and applicants may request doctoral studentships as part of the award.
Details
| Funder | MRC (UKRI) |
| Budget | Up to £26.25M FEC; MRC contribution up to £21M (incl. up to £500,000 start-up equipment costs) |
| Deadline | 3 February 2027 |
| Duration | 7 years (up to 14 years total, with review at year 6) |
| Consortium | Optional — can be from a single research organisation or a partnership of organisations, may include project partners |
| Application | Outline application stage, followed by full application by invitation |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Eligible countries | GB |
Eligibility & scope
MRC CoRE funding supports bold, long-term (up to 14-year) interdisciplinary health research centres led by UK research organisations; international researchers can join as co-leads but international organisations cannot lead. Excludes clinical trials, longitudinal population studies, and generic equipment/computing costs.
Who Should Apply
- •Established research teams with a track record in biomedical or health research
- •Institutions able to provide vice-chancellor-level organisational support
- •Multi-disciplinary consortia addressing transformative research challenges
- •Projects that can leverage optional partnerships with industry, government, or overseas collaborators
- •Applications via UK host institutions; overseas partners permitted as non-host members
Key Dates
- •Deadline 3 February 2027, 4:00 PM UK time
- •Two-stage evaluation: outline application followed by full application invitation for shortlisted proposals
- •14-year award duration
Tips for Applicants
- ✓Vice-chancellor-level support statement is mandatory, engage your institution's senior leadership early and secure a specific commitment before drafting.
- ✓Outline application must be self-contained and make the case for transformative impact; do not assume the panel will infer depth from a preliminary sketch.
- ✓If you are leading a consortium, ensure all host organisations have named eligible co-leads and confirm their willingness to submit joint funding bids before the outline deadline.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is an MRC Centre of Research Excellence award?
14 years from the award start date.
Can I include industry or overseas partners in an MRC CoRE application?
Yes, but only UK institutions can be host organisations; industry, government, and overseas research groups may participate as project partners contributing cash or in-kind resources.
Is matched funding required for an MRC CoRE award?
No matched funding is required beyond the 20% Full Economic Cost contribution from the host institution.
What is the application process for MRC CoRE?
Two-stage: applicants submit an outline application, and successful proposals are then invited to submit a full application.
Do I need vice-chancellor approval to apply for an MRC CoRE award?
Yes, host institutions must provide a vice-chancellor-level statement of organisational support as part of the application.
Related on Grantsby
- MRC (UKRI) writing tips & FAQ
Evaluation criteria, proposal structure, common mistakes.
Summary generated by AI based on published grant information. Always verify details on the funder's website.
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