{"id":2189,"date":"2026-03-17T16:31:40","date_gmt":"2026-03-17T16:31:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/researchfunding.on.worc.ac.uk\/?p=2189"},"modified":"2026-03-17T16:31:40","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T16:31:40","slug":"mrc-curiosity-driven-funding-opportunities-reopen-with-new-approach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/researchfunding.on.worc.ac.uk\/?p=2189","title":{"rendered":"MRC curiosity-driven funding opportunities reopen with new approach"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" src=\"https:\/\/researchfunding.on.worc.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/MRC-logo-1024x341.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2190\" srcset=\"https:\/\/researchfunding.on.worc.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/MRC-logo-1024x341.png 1024w, https:\/\/researchfunding.on.worc.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/MRC-logo-300x100.png 300w, https:\/\/researchfunding.on.worc.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/MRC-logo-768x256.png 768w, https:\/\/researchfunding.on.worc.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/MRC-logo.png 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>MRC has announced the reopening of its applicant\u2011led funding opportunities from 7 April 2026 and experimental medicine funding opportunities from 30 April 2026, alongside a redesigned framework for decision-making.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-background\" style=\"background-color:#8dd2fc7d\"><strong>A NEW APPROACH TO FUNDING PROCESSES<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A refreshed structure and assessment process geared towards supporting cross-disciplinary biomedical and health research has been designed to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>support ambitious, impactful research that spans medical disciplines without any artificial boundaries, whether technical or clinical<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>enable quicker decisions for many applicants<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>increase opportunities for researchers to participate in the panel assessment stage<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Among other developments aimed at strengthening decision-making, shortlisted applicants will now be invited to an in-person panel interview, giving them the best possible opportunity to make their case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-background\" style=\"background-color:#8dd2fc7d\"><strong>TRANSLATIONAL AND COMMERCIALISATION FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The following schemes will reopen in July 2026:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Proof of Concept: stage one <\/strong>(formerly the <strong>Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme<\/strong>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Opening date: 2 July 2026 <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Deadline: 18 November 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Opening date: 19 November 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Deadline: 17 March 2027<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Impact Acceleration Awards<\/strong> (formerly the <strong>Gap Fund<\/strong>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Opening date: 16 July 2026 <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Deadline: 1 November 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Opening date: 12 November 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Deadline: 10 March 2027<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-background\" style=\"background-color:#8dd2fc7d\"><strong>OTHER FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES OPENING IN 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Note that in line with the rest of UKRI, applicant-led funding opportunities will remain open with no deadline.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pre-clinical translational models hub<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Opening date: 17 March 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Deadline: 21 May 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Applicant-led research, new investigator and partnership grants<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Opening date: 7 April 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>No Deadline<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>NHS patient flow dementia challenge<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Opening date: 24 April 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Deadline: 4 June 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Experimental medicine: stage one<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Opening date: 30 April 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Deadline: 7 October 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Experimental medicine stage two<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Opening date: 30 April 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Deadline: 2 September 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>MRC CoRE round four full application<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Opening date: 14 May 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Deadline: 10 September 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Capacity building: clinical research training fellowship<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Opening date: 10 June 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Deadline: 2 September 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Professional doctorate: clinical research training fellowship<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Opening date: 10 June 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Deadline: 2 September 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Early independence: clinician scientist fellowship<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Opening date: 10 June 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Deadline: 2 September 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Early independence: career development fellowship<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Opening date: 23 June 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Deadline: 15 September 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>UKRI Translation: MRC Proof of Concept (formerly DPFS) stage one<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Opening date: 2 July 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Deadline: 18 November 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>UKRI Translation: MRC Proof of Concept (formerly DPFS) stage two<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Opening date: 9 July 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Deadline: 4 November 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>UKRI Translation: MRC Impact Acceleration Awards (formerly Gap Fund)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Opening date: 16 July 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Deadline: 11 November 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Equipment: purchase mid-range equipment for biomedical research<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Opening date: 13 August 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Deadline: 5 November 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Small molecule high throughput screen using AstraZeneca facilities<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Opening date: 10 September 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Deadline: 28 January 2027<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>MRC CoRE round five outline<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Opening date: 7 October 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Deadline: 3 February 2027<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Experimental medicine: stage one<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Opening date: 8 October 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Deadline: 14 April 2027<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Experimental medicine: stage two<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Opening date: 8 October 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Deadline: 24 February 2027<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Capacity building: clinical research training fellowship<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Opening date: 21 October 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Deadline: 13 January 2027<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Professional doctorate: clinical research training fellowship<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Opening date: 21 October 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Deadline: 13 January 2027<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Early independence: clinician scientist fellowship<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Opening date: 21 October 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Deadline: 13 January 2027<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>UKRI Translation: MRC Impact Acceleration Awards (formerly Gap Fund)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Opening date: 12 November 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Deadline: 10 March 2027<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>UKRI Translation: MRC Proof of Concept (formerly DPFS) stage one<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Opening date: 19 November 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Deadline: 17 March 2027<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>UKRI Translation: MRC Proof of Concept (formerly DPFS) stage two<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Opening date: 5 November 2026 Deadline: 3 March 2027<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>View the full announcement: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ukri.org\/news\/mrc-curiosity-driven-research-reopens-with-new-approach\/\">https:\/\/www.ukri.org\/news\/mrc-curiosity-driven-research-reopens-with-new-approach\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>MRC has announced the reopening of its applicant\u2011led funding opportunities from 7 April 2026 and experimental medicine funding opportunities from 30 April 2026, alongside a<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2189","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-opportunities"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/researchfunding.on.worc.ac.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2189","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/researchfunding.on.worc.ac.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/researchfunding.on.worc.ac.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/researchfunding.on.worc.ac.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/researchfunding.on.worc.ac.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2189"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/researchfunding.on.worc.ac.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2189\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2210,"href":"https:\/\/researchfunding.on.worc.ac.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2189\/revisions\/2210"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/researchfunding.on.worc.ac.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2189"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/researchfunding.on.worc.ac.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2189"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/researchfunding.on.worc.ac.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2189"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}