MRC (UKRI)
Experimental Medicine to Define Mechanisms of Gambling Disorder
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This MRC Experimental Medicine call funds academically led human studies investigating the causal mechanisms of gambling disorder, with up to £2.4 million available over three years. The lead applicant must be based at an MRC-eligible UK research organisation, and the call welcomes optional consortium partners (UK or international) and a new investigator route for early-career researchers. Public and patient involvement evidence is required; gambling industry licence holders subject to the statutory levy are excluded from funding.
Details
| Funder | MRC (UKRI) |
| Budget | Up to £3M FEC (MRC funds 80% of FEC) |
| Deadline | 14 April 2027 |
| Duration | Up to 3 years; projects must start by 1 April 2028 and end by April 2031 |
| Consortium | Optional — project partners (UK or overseas, incl. EU) may provide cash or in-kind contributions such as staff time, equipment, data, or participant recruitment |
| Application | 2-stage: stage one submission, with invited resubmission possible at stage two |
| Frequency | One-off |
| Eligible countries | GB |
Eligibility & scope
Funding for experimental medicine research into mechanisms of gambling disorder; applicants must demonstrate independence from gambling industry affiliations. New investigators can request up to 50% working time with 80% FEC salary funding; clinical studies assessing treatment safety/efficacy and PhD studentships are not funded.
Who Should Apply
- •Researchers based at MRC-eligible UK academic or NHS research institutions
- •Early-career investigators via the new investigator route, or established experimental medicine researchers
- •Teams with demonstrated public and patient involvement in gambling disorder research
- •Projects combining experimental medicine approaches (neuroimaging, biomarkers, challenge paradigms) with mechanistic hypothesis-testing
Key Dates
- •Funding opportunity opens 8 October 2026; Stage 1 deadline TBC; Stage 2 opens 15 April 2027 and closes 1 September 2027
- •Two-stage process: Stage 1 panel review, then full application and evaluation at Stage 2
- •Three-year project duration
Tips for Applicants
- ✓Public and patient involvement is a mandatory evidence requirement, not an optional add-on; frame it as integral to your mechanistic research design from the outset.
- ✓The new investigator route exists; if you are early-career, check whether this reduces competition or alters scoring criteria, clarify with MRC when Stage 1 deadline is announced.
- ✓Consortium partners (including international co-leads) are optional but strengthen translational reach; if you include them, ensure clear roles and cash/in-kind contributions are declared upfront.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the MRC Experimental Medicine gambling disorder call fund?
Up to £2.4 million (80% of £3 million full economic cost) per project over three years.
Who can apply for the MRC Experimental Medicine gambling disorder grant?
Researchers based at MRC-eligible UK research organisations; early-career researchers may apply via the new investigator route. Gambling industry licence holders subject to the statutory levy are excluded.
Is public and patient involvement required for the MRC gambling disorder call?
Yes, evidence of public and patient involvement must be included in applications.
Can I include international collaborators on the MRC gambling disorder application?
Yes, consortium partners from the UK or overseas are optional; international co-leads are permitted with cash or in-kind contributions.
Is this a recurring call or one-off?
This is a one-off call; funding opportunity opens 8 October 2026.
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