UKRI translation: MRC proof of concept: stage two
UKRI translation: MRC proof of concept: stage two supports academic teams developing and testing medical interventions and research tools to address significant health needs and deliver patient benefit.
Funder: UK Research and Innovation
Due Dates: November 4, 2026, 4:00pm UK time (Stage two closing date)
Funding Amounts: £10 million total fund; no award or duration limit; 80% FEC and 100% permitted exceptions
Summary: Supports academically led development and testing of medical interventions and research tools with a route to patient benefit.
Key Information: Stage two is invitation-only following successful stage one assessment or a panel-approved resubmission.
Description
Run by the Medical Research Council (MRC), this UKRI programme supports academically led translational projects that improve prevention, diagnosis, prognosis or treatment of significant health needs, or develop tools that make intervention development more efficient. It covers all human diseases, UK healthcare needs and global health challenges. Projects may start and finish anywhere from early prototype development through pre-clinical refinement and testing to early-phase clinical studies and trials up to phase 2a.
Supported interventions include drugs, vaccines, biologics, gene and cell therapies, regenerative medicine, repurposed treatments, devices, digital healthcare and apps, diagnostics and biomarkers, imaging, surgical tools, behavioural and psychological interventions, and radiotherapy. Work must connect to a medical or clinical development plan and a route to patient benefit. The programme was previously called the Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme (DPFS).
