MRC Centre of Research Excellence: round two: outline application

Before applying for funding, check the Eligibility of your organisation.

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has introduced new role types for funding opportunities being run on the new UKRI Funding Service.

For full details, visit Eligibility as an individual.

Who is eligible to apply

To be eligible to apply for MRC Centre of Research Excellence (MRC CoRE) funding you must:

• be a researcher or technologist employed by an eligible research organisation

• show that you will direct the project or be actively engaged in the work

• have the relevant expertise and experience to lead or contribute to an MRC CoRE and its research culture

• focus your application on tackling complex and multi or interdisciplinary health challenges

• at the outline application stage, be a member of the proposed MRC CoRE leadership team

The leadership team can be from a single eligible organisation or a partnership of eligible organisations. The leadership team should have the relevant expertise and experience to lead or contribute to an MRC CoRE and its research culture.

Because of the long duration of MRC CoREs you do not require a contract for the full duration of the award. By submitting the application the research organisation is confirming support for the named applicants, that they are capable of leading the MRC CoRE and will accept its relevant terms and conditions

Who is not eligible to apply

If you are employed by these organisations you cannot apply as project lead or project co-lead, but can participate as project partners on an application led by an eligible UK organisation:

• businesses

• charity and third sector organisations

• international research organisations

International project co-lead

While international organisations cannot lead an application, it is possible for international researchers to apply as part of the leadership team, as an international co-project lead. We expect international co-leads to offer expertise or facilities not available in the UK and to provide clear indicators of commitment to the MRC CoRE.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

We are committed to achieving equality of opportunity for all funding applicants. We encourage applications from a diverse range of researchers.

We support people to work in a way that suits their personal circumstances. This includes:

• career breaks

• support for people with caring responsibilities

• flexible working

• alternative working patterns

Find out more about equality, diversity and inclusion at UKRI.

We are looking for outline applications to create new MRC CoREs that will support bold and ambitious research focused on a specific and defined challenge with the potential to prove transformative to biomedical research, health research or both within 14 years. Tackling such challenges will transform approaches to the prevention, early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, improving health and wellbeing for all.MRC CoREs will be beacons of excellence in research culture, equality, diversity, and inclusion, leadership models, and innovation. These major investments should be outward facing, harnessing the best talent in the UK to deliver upon their proposed vision and providing a stimulating environment to train the next generation of researchers and technologists.Applications can be from a single research organisation or in partnership across multiple organisations. Applications may include project partners.We expect to fund one or two MRC CoREs every year.

Scope

What types of challenges should MRC CoREs tackle?

MRC CoRE challenges are:

• bold, ambitious, and innovative, and address a gap or opportunity which is not being adequately addressed elsewhere

• address substantial unmet needs in understanding or modifying human health and disease

• have major strategic objectives achievable within the 14-year timeframe which, if achieved, will transform the research field or area of health research

• aligned to the MRC mission

• best pursued through coordinated and flexible, major long-term funding

MRC CoRE challenges will be achieved through:

• fostering innovation and engagement to establish the capability and capacity to place the UK at the international forefront of impactful health research

• harnessing and networking the best expertise in the UK, to bring together creative and diverse approaches for cross-sectoral and multi or interdisciplinary working

• distinct and disruptive research that drives breakthrough advances and addresses specific bottlenecks through knowledge generation, technological or methodological innovation, with clear translational relevance

• incorporating cross-cutting approaches and novel ways of working. How is what you are proposing different to what has gone before?

• pursuing a compelling vision around specific questions of importance or critical knowledge gaps, not through open ended discovery research programmes

25 September 2023 9:00am - Outline application opening date

8 November 2023 10:30am - Webinar

7 February 2024 4:00pm - Outline application closing date

March 2024 - Outline application panel meeting

April 2024 - Informed of outline decision

May 2024 - Invited full application opening date

September 2024 - Invited full application closing date

January 2025 - Interview panel (funding decision meeting)

March 2025 - Informed of funding decision

2024 (timing to be confirmed) - Future round open for outline application

Before applying for funding, check the Eligibility of your organisation.

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has introduced new role types for funding opportunities being run on the new UKRI Funding Service.

For full details, visit Eligibility as an individual.

Who is eligible to apply

To be eligible to apply for MRC Centre of Research Excellence (MRC CoRE) funding you must:

• be a researcher or technologist employed by an eligible research organisation

• show that you will direct the project or be actively engaged in the work

• have the relevant expertise and experience to lead or contribute to an MRC CoRE and its research culture

• focus your application on tackling complex and multi or interdisciplinary health challenges

• at the outline application stage, be a member of the proposed MRC CoRE leadership team

The leadership team can be from a single eligible organisation or a partnership of eligible organisations. The leadership team should have the relevant expertise and experience to lead or contribute to an MRC CoRE and its research culture.

Because of the long duration of MRC CoREs you do not require a contract for the full duration of the award. By submitting the application the research organisation is confirming support for the named applicants, that they are capable of leading the MRC CoRE and will accept its relevant terms and conditions

Who is not eligible to apply

If you are employed by these organisations you cannot apply as project lead or project co-lead, but can participate as project partners on an application led by an eligible UK organisation:

• businesses

• charity and third sector organisations

• international research organisations

International project co-lead

While international organisations cannot lead an application, it is possible for international researchers to apply as part of the leadership team, as an international co-project lead. We expect international co-leads to offer expertise or facilities not available in the UK and to provide clear indicators of commitment to the MRC CoRE.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

We are committed to achieving equality of opportunity for all funding applicants. We encourage applications from a diverse range of researchers.

We support people to work in a way that suits their personal circumstances. This includes:

• career breaks

• support for people with caring responsibilities

• flexible working

• alternative working patterns

Find out more about equality, diversity and inclusion at UKRI.