MRC (UKRI)
Centres of Excellence for Regulatory Science and Innovation
16:00 UK time
Last seen in a scan/import: .
Catalog updated: .
These timestamps are not source verification. Confirm the current deadline and your eligibility on the funder’s call page before applying.
MRC's Centres of Excellence for Regulatory Science and Innovation (CERSI) call funds up to £5 million over five years to establish UK centres advancing regulatory science in areas like biomarkers and endpoints, personalised healthcare/pharmacogenomics, and novel platform technologies. It is aimed at consortia led by UK institutions, with international co-leads and partners permitted, and does not cover clinical trials, PhD studentships, or infrastructure-only work. This is a one-off call with a single application stage, funded initially for three years with a possible two-year extension subject to spending review.
Details
| Funder | MRC (UKRI) |
| Budget | Up to £5M over five years (£3M for first three years) |
| Deadline | 12 January 2027 |
| Duration | Up to 5 years (initial 3 years confirmed, further 2 years subject to spending review) |
| Consortium | Required - lead research organisation with project co-leads and project partners (cash or in-kind contributions, incl. industry partners) |
| Application | Single stage |
| Frequency | One-off |
| Eligible countries | GB |
Eligibility & scope
UKRI/MRC funding for Centres of Excellence for Regulatory Science and Innovation (CERSI), addressing regulatory science themes incl. novel endpoints/biomarkers, personalised healthcare/pharmacogenomics, and platform technologies. Clinical trials, PhD studentships, infrastructure-only and publication costs are not funded; projects must start 1 April 2027 and applicants should contact MHRA before applying.
Who Should Apply
- •Lead organisations based in the UK forming a consortium with co-leads and partners
- •Teams working on regulatory science themes such as biomarkers/endpoints, pharmacogenomics, or novel platform technologies
- •Consortia able to include international project co-leads with supporting statements
- •Applicants not seeking funding for clinical trials, PhD studentships, or infrastructure-only proposals
Key Dates
- •Deadline: 12 January 2027, 16:00 UK time
- •Single-stage application via the UKRI Funding Service
- •Up to 5 years total (3 years initial funding, further 2 years subject to spending review, with a mid-point review at 2.5 years); projects must start 1 April 2027
Tips for Applicants
- ✓Assemble the consortium and international co-lead statements of support well before the deadline, since this is a single-stage submission with no resubmission opportunity.
- ✓Budget carefully around the funding structure: UKRI covers 80% FEC for UK partners but 100% for eligible international co-lead costs, capped at 30% for high-income, India, or China partners.
- ✓Keep scope tightly to regulatory science themes, proposals centred on clinical trials, PhD studentship costs, or infrastructure alone are excluded.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much funding does the CERSI call provide?
Up to £5 million over five years, with a maximum of £3 million available for the first three years.
When is the CERSI application deadline?
Applications are due by 16:00 UK time on 12 January 2027, submitted via the UKRI Funding Service.
Does the CERSI call require a consortium?
Yes, applicants must form a consortium with a lead organisation plus co-leads and partners, which may include international project co-leads and partners with statements of support.
What can't the CERSI grant be used for?
The call excludes funding for clinical trials, PhD studentship costs, and infrastructure-only proposals.
How long does CERSI funding last?
Projects run for up to five years: an initial three years, followed by a possible two-year extension subject to spending review, with a mid-point review at 2.5 years.
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.
Similar grants
Centre of Research Excellence
MRC (UKRI)Deadline: 3 Feb 2027Up to £26.25M FEC; MRC contribution up to £21M (incl. up to £500,000 start-up equipment costs)Experimental Medicine
MRC (UKRI)Deadline: 14 Apr 2027Translation MRC Impact Acceleration Awards
MRC (UKRI)Deadline: 11 Nov 2026£50k–£300k FEC (80% funded, i.e. up to £240k awarded)Engineering Biology Programme: Foundational Technology Hubs
UKRIUp to £12 million (80% FEC funded)Engineering Biology Programme: Mission Hubs
UKRIUp to £15M (80% FEC funded by UKRI)
Browse Related
Could Centres of Excellence for Regulatory Science and Innovation be right for you?
See your personalised match score for this grant and others in 30 seconds. No signup needed to preview.
See my matches free →