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Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

This grant, the 'Population and systems medicine: new investigator' award, is designed to help researchers who are ready to become independent leaders in the field of population and systems medicine. It provides funding for a research project that will advance understanding and knowledge within this specific area, while also supporting the applicant's long-term career goals and transition to an independent research role. The target recipients are individual researchers based in the UK, who are at the 'transition to independence' career stage. This is a SECTOR-SPECIFIC grant focusing on human health across the life course, with a primary geographic scope for the lead applicant in the UK, though international collaborators are welcome. It is an ongoing funding opportunity provided by the Medical Research Council (MRC).

Financial Structure

The grant supports research projects with a focus on transition to independence for new investigators. Budget and Funding Rate:

Typical Project Cost: While there is 'no limit' to the funding you can apply for, the 'typical full economic cost' of a project under this grant is stated as 'under £1 million'.
Funding Rate: The Medical Research Council (MRC) will generally fund 80% of the 'full economic cost' (FEC) of your project. This means your applying organization is expected to contribute the remaining 20% of the project's costs from other resources.
Exceptions: Certain costs, such as those for international collaborating organizations and public partnership activities, may be funded at 100% of their eligible direct costs.

Eligible Costs:

Applicant Salary: A contribution to your salary, covering up to 50% of your total working time on the project. This should align with your organization's usual new investigator salary levels.
Team Salaries: Contributions to salaries for any project co-leads or other research and technical staff essential to the project.
Research Consumables: Materials used directly in your research.
Equipment: Funding for new equipment, including computers and software. Items costing over £25,000 (excluding VAT) should be listed under this category; less expensive items can be included under 'other directly incurred' costs. Equipment for 'instrument development' can be funded at 100% FEC under specific conditions.
Travel & Subsistence: Costs for necessary travel and living expenses, including attendance at relevant conferences (typically one UK/European conference per year, one major international conference every two years). Travel should generally be by standard class for train and economy class for air. Additional caring costs related to project activities may be included if allowed by your institution's policy.
Data Costs: Costs for data preservation, data sharing, and dissemination.
Overhead Costs: 'Estates' and 'indirect costs' (non-specific administrative costs) are included, calculated by your research organization and funded at 80% FEC.
NHS Research Costs: If applicable to your project, costs associated with NHS studies.
Public Partnerships: Costs related to involving public partners, including payments for their time, travel, and expenses, which are funded at 100% FEC.
International Co-leads: Eligible costs incurred by international project co-leads are funded at 100%. However, the total of such costs from high-income countries (not on the OECD DAC List of ODA Recipients), India, and China, must not exceed 30% of the total resources requested for the project. There is no cap for international applicants from OECD DAC list countries.

Ineligible Costs (What Will Not Be Funded):

Research involving 'randomised trials of clinical treatments'.
Costs for PhD studentships.
Publication costs (e.g., article processing charges, monographs), as these are typically covered by block grants to eligible UK institutions.
Funding intended to act as a 'bridge' between grants.
Visa fees, immigration health surcharges, or certificate of sponsor costs for staff working less than 50% of their time on the project, or for family members.
General printing or postage costs not specific to the project.
Basic computing equipment for directly allocated staff already employed by the organization, unless specifically justified.
General miscellaneous expenditure or contingency costs.
Carbon offsetting costs from project travel.
Patent costs and other intellectual property (IP) costs (as these are supported by Higher Education Innovation Funding (HEIF)).
Any costs that are not sufficiently justified within your application.

Eligibility Requirements

This grant is specifically for 'new investigators' who are ready to take the next step towards becoming independent researchers. It's crucial that you have not already achieved independence, which means you haven't previously led a research team or been awarded a 'substantial grant' (typically defined as for three or more years and including salary support for one or more additional team members). Who Can Apply (Lead Applicant):

Organization Type: You must be based at an eligible UK research organization that is approved for Medical Research Council (MRC) funding. Your organization needs to provide a strong 'statement of support' demonstrating its commitment to your career development and the project, including mentorship.
Career Stage: You need to show that your skills and experience match the 'transition to independence' stage, as outlined in the MRC's applicant skills and experience table.
Intellectual Leadership: You must be the 'sole intellectual leader' of your application and the proposed research work.
Current Employment: You can be a postdoctoral research assistant (provided the grant starts after your current work finishes), a lecturer, a junior fellow, or another research staff position.
Research Status: You can be either a non-clinical or clinically active researcher.
Experience: You can have any number of years of experience, as long as you meet the 'transition to independence' criteria.
Contract of Employment: Your research organization must confirm that if your application is successful, your contract will be extended for the project's duration and that you will receive all necessary support, including mentorship and career development.

Who Cannot Apply (Exclusion Criteria):

Achieved Independence: If you have already led a research team or received a substantial grant (as defined above), you are not eligible.
Previous Transition Awards: If you currently hold, or have previously held, an award specifically designed to facilitate the transition to independence.
Repeat Applications: If you have applied for this specific MRC New Investigator Grant twice before.
Concurrent UKRI Fellowships: If you have any other UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) fellowship application (such as a Career Development Award, Clinician Scientist Fellowship, or Future Leaders Fellowship) currently under consideration.
Geographic Location: Project leads based at international research organizations are not eligible, with the exception of those from MRC Unit The Gambia or MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. However, international researchers can be included as 'project co-leads'.

Team and Partnerships:

Team Science: While you must be the sole intellectual leader, team science and interdisciplinary research are encouraged. You can include 'project co-leads', 'specialists', and other team roles who provide essential complementary expertise or skills that you need to develop.
Supervisor Inclusion: It's generally not appropriate for your current or recent supervisor or lab head to be part of your applicant team, as this might make your leadership unclear. If it's essential, it must be specifically justified.
Project Partners: You can include project partners (e.g., from industry, academia, third sector, government) who contribute cash or in-kind support (expertise, staff time, facilities). These partners are not part of your core team and do not normally claim funds from the grant.

Diversity and Inclusion:

The MRC is committed to equality of opportunity and encourages applications from a diverse range of researchers, including under-represented groups (e.g., female and ethnic minority researchers, those with disabilities). They support flexible working arrangements, career breaks, and support for those with caring responsibilities.

Application Process

Applying for this grant requires careful attention to specific dates, required documents, and submission procedures through the UKRI Funding Service. Key Dates:

Publication Date: 2 May 2025
Opening Date: 2 May 2025, 9:00am UK time
Closing Date: 4 September 2025, 4:00pm UK time. This is a hard deadline; applications cannot be submitted after this time. Be sure to account for your research office's internal submission deadlines.

Application Procedure and Platform:

Platform: All applications must be submitted via the new UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Funding Service (not the Joint Electronic Submissions (Je-S) system).
Process: The project lead is responsible for completing the application. After you complete it, you send it to your research office for checking. Your research office then submits the final, checked application to UKRI.
New Users: If your organization is not registered on the Funding Service, allow at least 10 working days for it to be added. You may also need to create an organization Administration Account.
Editing: Once your application is submitted, it cannot be changed or returned for amendment, even if the funding opportunity is still open.

Required Documentation and Materials: All sections are completed directly in text boxes on the Funding Service, with specific word limits. Some sections allow visual elements with descriptive captions.

Summary (550 words): A plain English summary suitable for public release, describing your proposed work's context, challenge, aims, objectives, and potential benefits.
MRC Research Area: Select the primary MRC research area your application aligns with.
Applicant Fit to Funding Opportunity (250 words): Explain why you meet the eligibility criteria, specifically addressing your stage of independence.
Vision (550 words): What you hope to achieve with your work, its quality, importance, potential for new knowledge, timeliness, and impact.
Approach (2,800 words): How you will deliver your work, including feasibility, risk management, methodology, and how you will build on past work. Must include a project plan with milestones and timelines (e.g., an embedded Gantt chart or similar).
Reproducibility and Statistical Design (500 words): Details on how your work will be reliable, robust, and reproducible, including statistical analyses, sample sizes, and experimental design.
Data Management and Sharing (500-1,500 words): A data management plan outlining how data will be managed and shared, adhering to MRC's policies.
Career Development (250 words): How this grant will contribute to your long-term career goals, research profile, and independence.
Applicant and Team Capability to Deliver (1,650 words): Evidence of your and your team's experience, skills, leadership, and contribution to the research environment, using the 'Résumé for Research and Innovation (R4RI)' format. An optional 'Additions' section (500 words) is available for context (e.g., career breaks).
Research Organisation Support (1,000 words): A statement from your Head of Department or senior manager detailing the support provided to you and the project.
Project Partners: Details of any partners and a single PDF containing letters or emails of support from each (max two sides of A4 per partner). These must confirm commitment, value, and relevance of the work to them.
Industry Collaboration Framework (ICF) (1,500 words): If collaborating with industry/company partners, confirm adherence to ICF and answer specific questions regarding IP, dissemination, etc.
Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I) (100 words): If international collaboration in a sensitive area, demonstrate how TR&I principles will be met.
Facilities (250 words): If requiring external facilities, confirm agreement and provide usage/cost details.
Ethics and Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) (500 words): Address ethical considerations and how they will be managed.
Genetic and Biological Risk (700 words): If applicable, identify risks, implications, and mitigation strategies.
Research Involving Animals (template upload): If using animals, complete the Animals Scientific Procedures Act template and upload as a PDF.
Conducting Research with Animals Overseas (700 words): If applicable, provide a statement ensuring UK welfare standards are met and potentially upload NC3Rs checklists.
Research Involving Human Participation (700 words): If applicable, justify participant numbers/diversity, procedures, and identify any severity impacts.
Research Involving Human Tissues or Biological Samples (700 words): If applicable, justify material use, quantity, and source.
Resources and Cost Justification (1,000 words): Justify all requested resources, especially more costly items. Note: detailed cost breakdowns are not required here.
Clinical Research Using NHS Resources (250 words): If conducting clinical research in the UK using NHS resources, you must complete and upload a 'Schedule of Events Cost Attribution Tool (SoECAT)' from the NIHR CPMS.
Related Applications (500 words): Declare any related applications to MRC or other funders, or if this is a resubmission (explain differences and how feedback was addressed).

Support and Assistance:

For general system queries or submission issues, contact the UKRI Funding Service helpdesk (support@funding-service.ukri.org or 01793 547490).
For questions on the scientific remit or content of this specific opportunity, email [email protected]. It's encouraged to contact them early to discuss your research, especially if it might cross different research council interests.

Evaluation Criteria

Applications are assessed by independent experts and panels based on several key areas, focusing on the quality of your proposal and your potential as a 'new investigator' transitioning to independence:

Vision of the Project: This is about what you aim to achieve. Assessors look for proposals that are of excellent quality and importance, have the potential to advance current understanding or generate new knowledge, are timely given current trends, and show clear potential for impact on world-leading research, society, the economy, or the environment. You should identify potential direct or indirect benefits, especially to human or population health, whether by relieving disease burden, improving quality of life, or benefiting health services or industry.
Approach to the Project: How you plan to deliver your work is critical. Assessors will evaluate if your approach is effective and appropriate for your objectives, feasible, and if it comprehensively identifies and manages risks. A clearly written and transparent methodology (if applicable) is expected, showing how you'll build upon previous work and maximize the translation of outputs into real-world outcomes and impacts. You must demonstrate access to necessary facilities and provide a project plan including milestones and timelines (e.g., a Gantt chart). Diversity and inclusion in study populations and experimental design (e.g., using male and female animals/tissues) are important considerations.
Career Development: This section is pivotal for a 'new investigator' grant. You must explain how this award will help you achieve your long-term career goals, develop your research profile, establish your independence as the sole intellectual leader, and secure further grant support. You're also expected to show how you'll contribute positively to the wider research community through activities like promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion, engaging in advocacy, participating in expert review, influencing policy, or public engagement.
Capability of the Applicant and Project Team: Assessors want to know why you and your team are the right fit. You'll need to demonstrate relevant experience appropriate to your career stage, the right balance of skills and expertise within your team, and strong leadership and management skills. This is often assessed using the 'Resume for Research and Innovation (R4RI)' format, highlighting contributions to new ideas, team development, and community engagement.
Research Organisation Support: The commitment from your host institution is a significant factor. Your application must include a clear statement from a senior authority detailing how your expertise fits with the organization's strategies, the development and training opportunities provided, mentorship arrangements, and any financial support (including salary contributions). This statement should also confirm the organization's plan to integrate you, support your independence, and provide resources and advice for setting up a research group and future career transitions.
Ethical and Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI): You must clearly identify and evaluate any ethical or RRI implications related to your proposed work and explain how you will manage them. This includes considerations for genetic/biological risks, research involving animals, human participation, or human tissues/samples.
Resources Requested: Assessors expect a comprehensive, appropriate, and justified budget that represents the optimal use of resources to achieve the intended outcomes and maximize potential impacts. Justification is particularly important for more costly items like staff, significant travel, expensive equipment (over £25,000), unusual consumables, facility costs, and payments to public partners or international co-leads.

Compliance & Special Requirements

This grant opportunity includes several important compliance, regulatory, and special considerations that applicants must address: Regulatory Compliance:

Clinical Research: If your project involves clinical research within the UK's National Health Service (NHS), public health, or social care, you will need to complete a 'Schedule of Events Cost Attribution Tool' (SoECAT). This tool helps ensure appropriate steps are taken to attribute, calculate, and manage research costs and potentially secure National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) support.
Animal Research: Any research involving vertebrate animals or other organisms covered by the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act requires specific documentation and adherence to welfare standards consistent with UK legislation, even for overseas research.
Human Participation/Tissues: Projects involving human subjects, their personal information, human tissues, or biological samples require detailed justification, identification of relevant approving bodies, and confirmation of approvals in place.
Genetic/Biological Risk: You must identify and assess any genetic or biological risks associated with your proposed research and outline your mitigation plans.

Data Protection and Privacy:

Your application must include a data management plan that clearly details how you will comply with MRC's published data management and sharing policies. This plan should cover data quality, sharing, and security, and refer to any institutional and study data policies. If your organization is ISO 27001 compliant, include the registration number.
Personal data handling will adhere to UK data protection legislation.

Intellectual Property (IP) and Collaboration Agreements:

Industry Collaboration Framework (ICF): If your project involves collaboration with an industry or company partner (defined as an enterprise marketing goods or services), you will likely need to follow the MRC's Industry Collaboration Framework (ICF). This framework specifies conditions around intellectual property (IP) arrangements (e.g., ownership of 'foreground IP' developed during the project, rights of industry partners to use academic IP, and any restrictions on dissemination of results).
Formal Agreements: For audit purposes, UKRI requires formal collaboration agreements to be in place with all project partners if an award is made. These agreements must be signed by all parties before the grant starts.

Ethical Standards and Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI):

You are required to identify and evaluate all relevant ethical or RRI considerations related to your proposed work and explain how you will manage them. This aligns with MRC's guidance on ethics and approvals.

Risk Management and Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I):

Project Risks: Your 'Approach' section must comprehensively identify any risks to delivery of the project and detail how they will be managed.
International Collaboration Risks: If your project involves international collaboration in a 'sensitive research or technology area', you must demonstrate how it complies with UKRI's 'Trusted Research and Innovation' (TR&I) principles. This includes listing countries involved and identifying if the project relates to any of the 17 areas of the UK National Security and Investment (NSI) Act, along with risk mitigation controls.

Special Considerations and Unique Aspects:

Transition to Independence: This grant's core purpose is supporting individual researchers to establish their independence. Your application must unequivocally demonstrate your commitment to becoming a sole intellectual leader.
Host Organization Commitment: A strong statement of support from your host research organization is paramount. It should detail how the organization will support your career trajectory, integrate you, provide mentorship, training, and resources (including space and equipment) beyond the grant's end to foster your continued independence.
Team Science: While you must lead, the grant encourages team science and interdisciplinary research. You can include project co-leads and specialists whose expertise complements your own, but your leadership role must remain clear.
Diversity and Inclusion: Beyond general EDI commitments, the grant emphasizes embedding diversity into research design (e.g., considering diversity in human study populations and using male and female animals/tissues in research, with justification if not).
COVID-19 Impact: Reviewers will be advised to consider the unequal impacts that COVID-19 related disruptions may have had on applicants' career development and ability to deliver research.
Public Partnerships: Encouraged and can include costs for public contributors (e.g., people with lived experience) as 'specialists' in your core team.

Grant Details