Career development award

Apply for funding to support your move to independent investigator in a medical research field.

Your research can focus on any area of MRC’s remit to improve human health.

You must:

• have a PhD or equivalent
• show evidence of career progression
• show clear plans for developing as a leader in your specialist area of research.

Your research plans must not overlap with those of your current group leader or proposed sponsor.

There’s no limit on the amount of funding you can apply for.

We will fund your salary and project costs for up to five years. We will fund 80% of the full economic cost.

You may also choose to apply for joint funding from one of the collaborating organisations.

This is an ongoing scheme. Application rounds open twice a year, closing in April and September.

To be eligible for the career development award, you must:

• have completed a PhD or equivalent
• have the skills and experience that match those of the ‘transition to independence’ career stage in the MRC applicant skills and experience criteria, such as showing evidence of career progression and productivity across past appointments
• have your own research plans which do not significantly overlap with those of their current group leaders or proposed sponsors
• have the support of an eligible research organisation.

There are no eligibility rules based on years of postdoctoral experience.

You are not eligible to apply if you have previously held a comparable intermediate fellowship from any organisation.

International applicants Proposals are welcomed from applicants of all nationalities, including those not currently based in the UK. This is subject to the fellowship being hosted by an eligible research organisation. You will be expected to show a genuine commitment to the UK research effort beyond the end of the award.