Opportunity status:
Upcoming
Funders:
Funding type:
Grant
Total fund:
£50,000,000
Maximum award:
£26,250,000
Publication date:
25 September 2024
Opening date:
9 October 2024 9:00am UK time
Closing date:
13 February 2025 4:00pm UK time
Apply for MRC Centre of Research Excellence (MRC CoRE) funding to tackle complex and interdisciplinary health challenges.
You must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for Medical Research Council (MRC) funding.
MRC CoREs will be funded for up to 14 years. Your award will initially last for
seven years, with a further seven years based on successful review.
The full economic cost (FEC) of your MRC CoRE can be up to £26.25 million for the first seven years. MRC will fund 80% of the FEC. The maximum MRC contribution will be £21 million.
This is an annual funding opportunity. We expect to fund one or two MRC CoREs every year.
Before applying for funding, check the .
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 .
Who is eligible to apply
To be eligible to apply for MRC Centre of Research Excellence (MRC CoRE) funding you must:
* be employed by an
* 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 should have the relevant expertise and experience to lead or contribute to an MRC CoRE and its research culture and can be from a single eligible organisation or a partnership of eligible organisations.
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
This does not include MRC Unit The Gambia or MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, employees of these organisations are eligible to apply as project lead or project co-lead.
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 make a major intellectual contribution to the design or conduct of the project and to provide clear indicators of commitment to the MRC CoRE. The contribution and added value to the research collaboration should be clearly explained and justified in the application, see Applicant and team capability to deliver.
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