UKRI Translation: MRC Proof of Concept: stage one
UKRI Translation: MRC Proof of Concept: stage one supports academic teams developing and testing medical interventions and research tools to address significant health needs and advance patient benefit.
Funder: UK Research and Innovation
Due Dates: November 18, 2026, 4:00pm UK time (Stage one) | March 3, 2027 (Invited stage two) | July 7, 2027 (Deferred stage two)
Funding Amounts: No award or duration limit; 80% of full economic cost and 100% of permitted exceptions
Summary: Supports academically led development and testing of medical interventions and research tools addressing significant health needs.
Key Information: Applicants must provide sufficient proof-of-concept data and may submit only one application as project lead.
Description
The Medical Research Council (MRC), within UK Research and Innovation, runs this translational research scheme to advance academic discoveries towards patient benefit or commercialisation. Previously called the Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme (DPFS), it supports projects addressing prevention, diagnosis, prognosis or treatment of significant health needs, alongside research tools that improve the efficiency of intervention development. All human disease areas are eligible, including UK healthcare and global health needs.
Projects can start and finish anywhere from prototype development through pre-clinical refinement and testing to early clinical studies up to phase 2a. Supported interventions include drugs, vaccines, biologics, gene and cell therapies, regenerative medicine, repurposed medicines, devices, digital healthcare, diagnostics, imaging, surgical tools, psychological and behavioural interventions, and radiotherapy. Projects need a development plan and a clear route towards further development and patient benefit.
