Support is available for human studies investigating disease mechanisms and potential clinical applications.

The Medical Research Council (MRC) provides support for academically-led experimental medicine projects addressing gaps in understanding the causes, progression and treatment of human disease through experimental intervention or challenge in humans.

Projects must identify a clear gap in human pathophysiology and demonstrate a credible route to clinical impact. Applications should test a mechanistic hypothesis using an experimental intervention or challenge with an established safety profile. Eligible approaches may be pharmacological, immunological, physiological, psychological or infectious. Research may cover any human disease area and may be undertaken in the UK or in a global health context.

Proposals can include novel readouts or technologies, the use of established interventions in new settings and hypothesis-driven analysis of samples from clinical studies. Prospective nested studies within larger cohort trials may be eligible where they add value, explore disease mechanisms, test a novel hypothesis and address a different question from the main study.

Applicants must be researchers based at an institution eligible for UK Research and Innovation support. They must direct the project, participate actively in the work and investigate human disease. Early career researchers may apply as new investigators if their experience corresponds to the transition-to-independence career stage. International researchers may participate as project co-leads where they make a major intellectual contribution. Only one application may be submitted per project lead.

There is no upper limit on the amount requested, but costs must be justified. The MRC will provide 80% of the full economic cost and 100% of permitted exceptions. There is no prescribed project length, with duration determined by the proposed work. New investigator awards typically last three years and would not normally be shorter.

Application rounds close each April and October.