Expression of interest: Precision prevention: biological mechanisms of response variation
Expression of interest: Precision prevention: biological mechanisms of response variation supports researchers studying human biological responses to prevention to improve its targeting, timing and effectiveness.
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Funder: UK Research and Innovation
Due Dates: September 17, 2026 (Mandatory EOI) | November 5, 2026 (Invited full application)
Funding Amounts: Up to £5 million full economic cost over three to five years; MRC funds 80%, plus permitted exceptions at 100%; £15 million total budget
Summary: Supports human experimental research into biological mechanisms underlying variation in prevention responses and the transition from health to early disease.
Key Information: A mandatory expression of interest and invitation are required before submitting a full application.
Description
UK Research and Innovation’s Medical Research Council (MRC) funds experimental studies in humans to explain why biomedical prevention interventions work differently across people. Projects must test a mechanistic hypothesis in pre-disease or early disease states, using an intervention or challenge with an established safety profile and validated biological readouts. Studies may examine existing validated prevention interventions or mechanisms that could inform future precision prevention approaches.
The aim is to improve how prevention is targeted, timed and delivered, increasing its effectiveness, efficiency and equity. MRC particularly welcomes work addressing gaps in biological understanding of multiple long-term conditions and metabolic disease, including underrepresented populations where relevant. Research should identify a clear pathway from mechanistic insight to prevention optimisation, rather than infer mechanisms from observational data alone.
