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Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

The 'Neurosciences and mental health: research grant' aims to fund research projects that transform our understanding of the human nervous system's physiology and behavior throughout life, in both health and illness. It also seeks to develop new treatments and prevention methods for brain disorders. This grant is SECTOR-SPECIFIC, targeting healthcare and technology sectors within neurosciences and mental health. Target Recipients This opportunity is open to UK research organisations that are eligible to receive Medical Research Council (MRC) funding. This includes: - Higher education providers (universities) - Research institutes - Public sector research establishments - NHS bodies - Independent research organisations - Catapult centres There are no specific requirements regarding the organizational size. The grant is primarily focused on UK-based project leads, but strongly encourages and supports international collaboration through 'project co-lead (international)' and 'project partner' roles. This is an ongoing funding opportunity provided by the Medical Research Council (MRC), a part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

Financial Structure

This grant aims to support significant research, and while there's no fixed limit, all costs must be appropriate and justified. Funding Amounts

There is no upper limit to the total funding you can apply for, provided the amount is appropriate for the project and can be fully justified to deliver the proposed research objectives.

Funding Rate and Co-financing

The Medical Research Council (MRC) will typically fund 80% of your project's full economic cost (FEC).
Your applying organisation is expected to secure the remaining 20% from other resources, demonstrating institutional commitment.
Exceptions: Certain eligible costs are funded at 100% FEC (e.g., costs for international collaborating organisations, public partnership costs, DNA sequencing if carried out by an institution ineligible for UKRI funding).

Eligible Costs Funding can be requested for a wide range of costs, including but not limited to: - Contribution to the salary of the project lead and co-leads. - Support for other posts (e.g., research and technical staff). - Research consumables. - Equipment (items over £25,000 should be individually listed and justified; items under £25,000 should be included under 'directly incurred: other'). - Travel costs for project staff (standard class for trains, economy for flights, justified for value for money and environmental impact). - Data preservation, data sharing, and dissemination costs. - Estates and indirect costs (calculated by your research organisation using TRAC methodology, funded at 80% FEC). - NHS research costs when associated with NHS studies (funded at 80% FEC). - Public partnerships and related activities, including payments to public contributors (funded at 100% under 'Exceptions'). - Costs for work undertaken at international organisations by international project co-leads. - 100% of eligible direct costs (e.g., researcher salaries, consumables, travel) are funded for international co-leads. - Cap on International Costs: For international applicants from high-income countries (not on the OECD DAC list of ODA recipients), India, and China, the total requested costs must not exceed 30% of the total resources requested. - There is no cap on costs requested for international applicants from OECD DAC list countries. - Indirect/Estates Costs for International Co-leads: Generally not funded, but may be considered (at 20% of directly incurred costs) for OECD DAC list countries (excluding India and China) if it assists in developing research capacity. Ineligible Costs Costs that will not be funded include: - Research involving randomised trials of clinical treatments. - PhD studentships. - Publication costs (covered by institutional block grants). - Funding to use as a 'bridge' between grants. - Costs for international partners if the application uses a lead agency agreement (partners are funded by their respective funding agencies). - Overseas estates and indirect costs (generally). - Overseas equipment items exceeding £25,000 (generally). Financial Reporting and Audit

Directly incurred costs must be supported by an auditable record.
Formal collaboration agreements are required for audit purposes if an award is made.

Eligibility Requirements

To be considered for this grant, your organization and project must meet the following hard, non-negotiable criteria: Organizational Eligibility

Eligible Organisation Types: Your organization must be a UK research organisation eligible for Medical Research Council (MRC) funding. This includes:
Higher Education Providers (Universities)
Research Institutes
Public Sector Research Establishments
NHS Bodies
Independent Research Organisations
Catapult Centres
Project Lead Location: The project lead must be based at an eligible UK research organisation. An exception applies to project leads from 'MRC Unit The Gambia' or 'MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine'.
Employment Contract: The project lead and co-leads must have a contract of employment with their eligible research organisation for the full duration of the proposed project. If they don't, the research organisation must confirm that contracts will be extended and necessary support (including mentorship for early career researchers) will be provided if the application is successful.

Project Eligibility

Research Area Focus: Your application must focus specifically within the research area of neurosciences and mental health.
Project Lead Engagement: The project lead must demonstrate that they will direct the project and be actively engaged in the work.

International Participation

International Project Co-leads: International researchers can apply as 'project co-lead (international)'. They must make a major intellectual contribution, and their added value must be clearly explained and justified. Their home research organisation must meet general equivalent requirements for UKRI funding eligibility in their national context.
International Collaborators: All other international collaborators should be included as 'project partners'.

Exclusion Criteria

Ineligible Project Leads: Individuals based at international research organisations (with the specific exceptions mentioned above) are not eligible to be project leads.
Ineligible Research Types: This grant will not fund:
Research involving randomised trials of clinical treatments.
Costs for PhD studentships (PhD students are funded via block grants to research organisations, not individual grants).
Funding used as a 'bridge' between grants.
Publication costs (these are covered by separate block grants to UK higher education institutions and approved independent research organisations).
Patent costs and other intellectual property costs (universities receive separate funding for these).
General printing or postage costs not specific to the project.
Basic computing equipment for directly allocated staff already employed by the organisation (unless specifically justified).
General miscellaneous expenditure or contingency costs.
Carbon offsetting costs arising from project-related travel.

Application Process

Applying for the 'Neurosciences and mental health: research grant' requires careful attention to deadlines, documentation, and the new UKRI Funding Service. Application Timeline

Opening Date: 1 May 2025, 9:00am UK time
Closing Date: 4 September 2025, 4:00pm UK time
Assessment Timeline: UKRI aims to complete the assessment process within six months of receiving your application.
Project Start: If successful, projects should start between one to six months after the funding decision date.
Project Duration: Projects can last up to five years, but typically run for three to four years. Projects shorter than two years must be for proof-of-principle or pilot work.

Application Process and Platform

Platform: Applications must be submitted via the new UKRI Funding Service; the Joint Electronic Submissions (Je-S) system is no longer used for this opportunity.
Registration: Your organisation must be registered on the Funding Service. Allow at least 10 working days for new organisation setup.
Submission: The project lead is responsible for completing the application, but all team members and project partners are expected to contribute. Only the lead research organisation can submit the application to UKRI, typically through their research office.
Content Submission: Answers are entered directly into text boxes. Documents (e.g., project partner letters, animal research templates) are uploaded as single PDFs.
Generative AI: Use of generative AI tools to prepare applications is permitted, but caution is advised, and content remains the applicant's responsibility.
No Changes After Submission: Once submitted, applications cannot be changed or returned for amendment. Ensure all guidance is followed to avoid rejection.

Required Documentation and Materials Your application will require detailed responses and specific attachments: - Application Sections: Summary, Core team details, Vision, Approach (including reproducibility and statistical design, data management), Applicant and team capability, Project partners, Project partners' letters (or emails) of support, Industry Collaboration Framework (ICF) section (if applicable), Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I) section, Facilities (if applicable), Ethics and Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI), Genetic and biological risk, Research involving the use of animals (if applicable), Conducting research with animals overseas (if applicable), Research involving human participation (if applicable), Research involving human tissues or biological samples (if applicable), Resources and cost justification, Clinical research using NHS resources (SoECAT, if applicable), Related applications, International agreements (if applicable). - Project Partner Letters: A single PDF containing letters/emails of support from each named project partner is mandatory. These should not exceed two sides of A4 per partner and confirm commitment, value, and additional contributions. - Industry/Company Letter of Support: If applicable, industry or company project partners must complete a specific template. - Animal Research Template: If animal research is involved, a specific template must be downloaded, completed, and uploaded as a PDF. - SoECAT Funder Export: For clinical research using NHS resources, the 'study information' and 'summary' pages from the online Schedule of Events Cost Attribution Tool (SoECAT) must be combined into a single PDF and uploaded. Application Assistance

For questions related to the remit and scientific aspects of this funding opportunity, email: [email protected].
For general questions related to MRC funding policy, email: [email protected].
For queries regarding the UKRI Funding Service system or submission, contact the helpdesk: support@funding-service.ukri.org (Phone: 01793 547490).
For assistance with costings and writing your application, contact your organisation's research office first.

Evaluation Criteria

Applications are assessed based on their overall quality and potential impact. Reviewers and panels will look for evidence across several key areas: Core Assessment Areas

Vision of the Project: How well your proposed work addresses the grant's objectives. Assessors will look for:
- Excellent quality and importance: Is the research of high scientific standard?
- Potential for Advancement: Does it advance current understanding, or generate new knowledge, thinking, or discovery within or beyond the field?
- Timeliness: Is the research relevant and important given current trends, context, and needs?
- Impact: How will it impact world-leading research, society, the economy, or the environment? This includes identifying potential direct/indirect benefits and beneficiaries, especially improvements in human/population health, relief of disease/disability burden, improved quality of life, or benefit to health services/industry.
Approach to the Project: How effectively and appropriately you plan to deliver your proposed work. This includes:
- Effectiveness and Feasibility: Is the design effective and appropriate to achieve objectives? Does it comprehensively identify risks and how they will be managed?
- Methodology: Is it clearly written and transparent? How does it build on previous work (if applicable)?
- Translation and Environment: How will outputs be maximised into outcomes and impacts? How will the research environment contribute to success?
- Reproducibility and Statistical Design: This is a critical component, requiring detail on how reliability and robustness will be ensured. This includes:
  - Sample and effect sizes, planned statistical analyses, models chosen (e.g., animal model, cell line).
  - Potential sources of bias and mitigation strategies.
  - Approach to addressing diversity in the study population and the use of male and female animals or tissues/cells from female and male donors (if applicable, with justification if not).
  - Seeking professional statistical or other relevant advice is expected.
- Data Management and Sharing: A clear data management plan is required, detailing compliance with MRC's policies. This is assessed alongside the approach and can impact success.
Capability of the Applicant and Project Team: Why you and your team are the right fit. Assessors look for:
- Relevant Experience: Evidence of experience appropriate to career stage.
- Skills and Expertise: The right balance of skills and expertise to cover the proposed work.
- Leadership and Management: Appropriate leadership and management skills, and an approach to developing others.
- Research Environment Contribution: Contribution to developing a positive research environment and wider community.
- The 'Résumé for Research and Innovation (R4RI)' format should be used to showcase contributions to new ideas, development of others, community engagement, and broader societal benefit.
Ethical and Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) Considerations: Identification and evaluation of all relevant ethical or RRI implications and how they will be managed.
Resources Requested: Justification for the resources (people, equipment, consumables, travel, etc.) needed to deliver the project. Assessors look for resources that are:
- Comprehensive, Appropriate, and Justified: Particularly for costly items like project staff, significant travel, equipment over £25,000, and non-typical consumables.
- Optimal Use: How resources will be used optimally to achieve intended outcomes and maximise potential impacts.
- Costing of reasonable adjustments for disability and accessibility are encouraged.

Cross-Cutting Themes Impact on Scoring

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI): Encouraged for all applicants. Public partnerships should consider diversity. Reviewers are advised to consider the unequal impacts of COVID-19 related disruptions on capability and career development.
Public Partnerships: Inclusion of public partners as 'specialists' or collaborators, and their contributions to the vision and approach, are valued.
Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I): For international collaborations, demonstration of how the project complies with TR&I principles, identifies risks, and proposes mitigation measures will be assessed.
Industry Collaboration Framework (ICF): If applicable, adherence to ICF principles, including IP arrangements and justification for industry involvement, is assessed.

Compliance & Special Requirements

Applicants for this grant must adhere to a robust set of compliance, ethical, and regulatory standards, alongside embracing specific strategic considerations. Regulatory Compliance and Ethical Standards

Data Protection & Privacy: All personal data will be handled in line with UK data protection legislation and managed securely. A detailed data management plan is required, specifying how data collected or acquired will be managed and shared, complying with MRC's published policies.
Ethics & Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI): You must identify and evaluate all relevant ethical or RRI implications of your proposed work and describe how you will manage them, following MRC guidance on ethics and approvals.
Genetic and Biological Risk: If your research involves genetic or biological risk, you must identify these risks, their implications, and your mitigation plans. Approvals from relevant bodies must be in place or actively sought.
Animal Research: If using vertebrate animals or other organisms covered by the 'Animals Scientific Procedures Act', detailed information on severity, approvals, species, and experimental design is required. Overseas animal research must meet UK welfare standards, and specific checklists may be required.
Human Participation/Tissues: If your project involves human subjects, personal information, tissues, or biological samples, you must provide details of required approvals, justification for participant numbers/diversity, procedures, and severity levels.
NHS Clinical Research: Clinical research carried out in the UK that uses NHS resources will require completion and submission of a Schedule of Events Cost Attribution Tool (SoECAT) via the NIHR's online system, ensuring compliance with NHS research cost attribution guidelines.
Labor Standards: Adherence to the 'Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers' and the 'Technician Commitment' is encouraged. UKRI supports flexible working, career breaks, and support for caring responsibilities.

Strategic and Special Considerations

Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I): For international collaborations, applicants must demonstrate how their project complies with UKRI's TR&I Principles. This includes listing countries of international collaborators, and identifying if the project relates to any of the 17 areas of the UK 'National Security and Investment (NSI) Act'. You may be asked for additional information on risk mitigation for such collaborations.
Intellectual Property (IP): Entitlement to project outputs and IP is determined between parties. Formal collaboration agreements are required if an award is made, ensuring IP management aligns with any relevant subsidy control regulations.
Industry Collaboration Framework (ICF): If your application includes industry or company project partners, you must follow the MRC ICF. This requires providing specific information on the nature, goals, and conditions of the collaboration, including IP arrangements, and demonstrating why UKRI funding is essential for the collaboration.
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI): UKRI is committed to EDI and encourages applications from diverse researchers and teams. Reviewers are advised to consider the unequal impacts of disruptions (e.g., from COVID-19) on career development and capability.
Public Partnerships: The grant strongly supports and encourages the involvement of public partners, who can be included as 'specialists' in the core team. Costs associated with public partners (time, travel, expenses) are eligible for 100% funding under 'exceptions'.
Ongoing Opportunity: This is an ongoing funding opportunity, not a one-time call, indicating a continuous commitment to the research area.
Facility Access: If your project requires the use of a specific facility (UKRI or external), you must follow its access procedures and secure prior agreement, which should be confirmed in your application.

Grant Details