MRC Centre of Research Excellence: round five: outline application
Limited submission
MRC Centre of Research Excellence: round five: outline application supports interdisciplinary research teams tackling complex health challenges to transform biomedical or health research over 14 years.
Funder: UK Research and Innovation
Due Dates: December 8, 2026, 4:00pm UK time (Voluntary expression of interest) | February 3, 2027, 4:00pm UK time (Outline application)
Funding Amounts: £50 million total fund; up to £21 million MRC contribution for seven years, with potential seven-year renewal
Summary: Supports interdisciplinary centres tackling defined, complex health challenges with transformative biomedical or health research ambitions over 14 years.
Key Information: Each organisation may lead one outline application; existing MRC unit applications are exempt from this limit.
Description
The Medical Research Council (MRC), part of UK Research and Innovation, funds Centres of Research Excellence (CoREs) to tackle bold, defined health challenges requiring coordinated, flexible, long-term support. Round five covers the full MRC remit, including discovery, understanding mechanisms, and developing concepts or interventions for prevention or treatment. Centres should address substantial unmet needs, critical knowledge gaps or bottlenecks, with objectives capable of transforming biomedical or health research within 14 years.
The programme brings together diverse, cross-sector and interdisciplinary expertise to generate knowledge and technological or methodological breakthroughs with clear translational relevance. Centres are expected to distinguish themselves from existing national and international activity, build on relevant investments, and provide a supportive research and training environment. Inclusive leadership, team science, open research, career development and public partnerships are integral to the programme.
