UK Obesity Research Institute: full application
Limited submission
UK Obesity Research Institute: full application supports a director-led research team to investigate obesity’s biological causes and health consequences and advance targeted prevention and treatment.
Funder: UK Research and Innovation
Due Dates: November 19, 2026, 4:00pm UK time (Application deadline)
Funding Amounts: Up to £72 million for seven years (up to £90 million full economic cost), with potential renewal
Summary: Establish a director-led national institute investigating mechanistic biomedical causes and consequences of obesity to advance targeted prevention and treatment.
Key Information: Each eligible research organisation may lead only one application, but may co-lead or collaborate on others.
Description
The Medical Research Council (MRC), with British Heart Foundation (BHF) co-funding, seeks applications to establish the UK Obesity Research Institute. A director-led, single-site research hub and complementary partner sites will deliver an integrated national programme addressing major gaps in the biological origins, prevention, treatment and health consequences of obesity, particularly cardiometabolic and cardiovascular disease.
The institute will combine fundamental biomedical science, medicine and technological innovation. Relevant themes include molecular and cellular discovery, the behaviour–biology interface, obesity complications, safer weight-loss treatments, experimental medicine and data-driven discovery. Proposals should define transformative objectives achievable within seven years, build on existing investments and connect discovery to real-world interventions. The institute is also expected to strengthen multidisciplinary training, inclusive team science, public involvement and external partnerships supporting translation.
