Molecular and cellular medicine programme

Apply for funding for a programme of research focused on molecular and cellular medicine.

You must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for MRC funding. This includes MRC units and centres.

You must have:

at least a postgraduate degree a record of securing funding and delivering research. There is no limit to the funding you can apply for. Applicants typically apply for £1 million or more. We will usually fund up to 80% of your project’s full economic cost.

Your programme can last up to five years.

This is an ongoing scheme. Application rounds open every February, June and October.

Any UK-based researcher with an employment contract at an eligible research organisation can apply for a programme grant. You will need to show that you will direct the proposed research yourself and be actively involved in the work.

You must have:

• a postgraduate degree, although we expect most applicants to have a PhD or medical degree
• a substantial record of securing research funding and delivering high-quality research.

You can include one or more industry partners as project partners in your application. You can also include international co-investigators if they provide expertise that is not available in the UK.

You are not eligible to apply for a programme grant if you are:

• from an MRC institute
• a core-supported programme or group leader from MRC units and the Francis Crick Institute.

A principal investigator can usually hold only one programme grant at a time.

The focus of this funding opportunity is molecular and cellular medicine research.

There are similar opportunities across other areas of medical research within the MRC remit, including:

• infections and immunity
• population and systems medicine
• neurosciences and mental health.

There are also other types of awards including:

• research
• partnerships
• new investigator.

You should contact us if you are not sure which opportunity to apply to.