Medical Research Council

Medical Research Council

Research Services

UKRI MRC is dedicated to improving human health since 1913.

About us

UKRI Medical Research Council is a publicly funded organisation dedicated to improving human health through world-class medical research. MRC supports research across the entire spectrum of medical sciences, in universities and hospitals, in our own units and institutes in the UK, and in our units in Africa.

Website
https://www.ukri.org/councils/mrc/
Industry
Research Services
Company size
1,001-5,000 employees
Headquarters
Swindon
Type
Government Agency
Founded
1913
Specialties
scientific advance, science, research, health, and healthcare

Locations

  • Primary

    MRC head office (Swindon)

    Polaris House, North Star Avenue

    Swindon, SN2 1FL, GB

    Get directions

Employees at Medical Research Council

Updates

  • We’re incredibly grateful for Professor Palmarini’s support and contributions as Director of the MRC CVR for the last 14 years. Massimo has inspired a generation of scientists, and his leadership will have a lasting legacy. We wish him all the best in his new role. We’re delighted to welcome Professor Emma Thomson as Interim Director and look forward to working with her and the wider team.

    📢 After 14 years of successful leadership, Prof Massimo Palmarini has stepped down as CVR Director. Prof Emma Thomson, a leading expert in emerging infectious diseases, will act as Interim Director, continuing the CVR’s vital work in virus research. University of Glasgow School of Infection & Immunity | University of Glasgow | Medical Research Council Read more:

    Professor Massimo Palmarini steps down as CVR director after 14 successful years

    Professor Massimo Palmarini steps down as CVR director after 14 successful years

    MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research (CVR) on LinkedIn

  • Some great examples here of MND-focused programmes that MRC supports at the UK Dementia Research Institute to help further our understanding of the disease and improve the lives of those affected.   Translating discovery science from the lab bench to promising therapies takes time. So it’s important that we support the most promising ideas as they are developed further, and potential treatments enter clinical trials.   Our highlight notice for MND researchers, in partnership with the NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research), is open to applications through any of our research grant or fellowship funding opportunities So please do consider if you have a great research idea!   We’re proud to be supporting world-class UK researchers in the search for greater understanding and effective treatments for this devastating disease.

    View organization page for UK Dementia Research Institute, graphic

    18,936 followers

    Every day, 6 people in the UK are diagnosed with motor neuron disease (MND). At the UK DRI, our commitment to improving the lives of people living with this devastating neurological condition has been unwavering since our inception. Our many teams are spearheading multifaceted efforts that range from unravelling MND/ALS's complex biology to accelerating promising treatments through groundbreaking trial designs. We spoke to Dr Marc-David Ruepp, Dr Sarah Mizielinska and Prof Suvankar Pal to find out more about how our community are working to understand MND/ALS, and charging progress at this crucial time in research. Dr Mizielinska says: "We’re at a pivotal moment in MND research. We have a high-level understanding of the key cellular pathways involved, and we’ve started to get to the point where gene therapies are being introduced.” To accelerate progress, UK DRI scientists are enhancing links between discovery and clinical research, creating a 'remarkable' bi-directional pipeline. Dr Ruepp explains: “For example, if we find something interesting in our cutting-edge models, we can then quickly test it in patient samples and confirm its direct relevance to disease. And in reverse, if something comes up in the MND-SMART trial, we can run it through our disease models, to get to the mechanism and understand the underlying cause.” Find out more about the UK DRI research driving advances in MND, through pioneering research from lab to clinic and back again👉https://buff.ly/3WCypZ2

  • Medical Research Council reposted this

    Lord Vallance and Baroness Gillian Merron saw the life-changing work of the MANIFEST cancer research platform at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust on #WorldCancerDay. The platform can see who is most likely to respond to immunotherapy drugs by identifying biomarkers in patients, helping hospitals provide effective treatments. It’s collecting data from thousands of patients to help create new treatments, like vaccines and cell therapies. With £9 million of government funding, MANIFEST is demonstrating government’s commitment to tackling cancer for people across the UK.

    • Lord Vallance and Baroness Merron in white laboratory coats looking at a specimen held up by a scientist.
    • Lord Vallance and Baroness Merron in discussion with another professional, while seated in chairs in a modern office with large windows.
    • Group of six individuals standing in front of the Oak Cancer Centre entrance, including Lord Vallance and Baroness Merron.
    • Lord Vallance engaged in discussion with two scientists in a lab.
  • Do you work in UK cancer research? Help shape the future of Cancer Research UK's research funding and policy engagement by taking their survey 👇

    🚨 Last chance for UK cancer researchers to complete our survey! 🚨    Our policy team has extended its survey to hear from more voices in the research community. Your input is vital in shaping evidence-based advocacy and ensuring policymakers support cancer research effectively. This is your opportunity to influence the future of research in the UK—don’t miss out! You have till 10 February to submit ⏳ Take the survey now: 👉https://lnkd.in/euS_uYXm

  • Great opportunity to get involved in interdisciplinary research, particularly if you’re in the field of population sciences or public health sciences. Closes 6 May 2025. More information below ⬇️

    View organization page for UK Research and Innovation, graphic

    162,855 followers

    🚨 Funding opportunity for an interdisciplinary project to support economic activity in places where people are living with significant ill-health, disability, and unpaid caring responsibilities. The successful project will work with a range of stakeholders including academics, policy makers, industry, and local partners, to improve our understanding of place-based economic inactivity in the UK so we can better support these groups. Closes 6 May 2025. For more information and to apply: https://orlo.uk/Dvspw

    • A screenshot of a funding opportunity webpage. Text reads:
Funding opportunity
Funding opportunity: UKRI Creating opportunities: rethinking economic (in)activity
Opportunity status:	Open
Funders:	UK Research and Innovation, Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Innovate UK, Medical Research Council (MRC), Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
Funding type:	Grant
Total fund:	£1,200,000
Maximum award:	£1,200,000
Publication date:	3 February 2025
Opening date:	3 February 2025 9:00am UK time
Closing date:	6 May 2025 4:00pm UK time
  • Medical Research Council reposted this

    We’re launching a new initiative for researchers who are considering launching a spin-out company.   The new £9 million proof-of-concept fund will enable researchers to build confidence in their innovative ideas before creating a spin-out, reducing the risks of entering the market too early.   By bridging this crucial gap in the commercialisation journey, we aim to bring more innovative products and services into the marketplace, bolstering the UK economy and driving advances in technology, health and sustainability.   If you’d like to apply, register your intention to submit by 3 March.   Find out more on our website: https://lnkd.in/eNuaeqZG

    • Screenshot of news headline: New UKRI proof-of-concept funding set to bolster innovation
  • Are you a researcher transitioning to independence? Our MRC Board and Panel Observer Scheme is a great opportunity to get an insider's view of a research board or panel meeting and observe how we make funding decisions. You'll also have the chance to provide feedback on our assessment process and potentially improve your own grant application and peer review skills. 🗓️ Register for our webinar on 3 February to find out more: https://orlo.uk/ad0LM ✍️ Or apply: https://orlo.uk/VTacD We strongly encourage applications from underrepresented groups. Don't miss out on this valuable opportunity!

    • Square graphic with a blue background. 

White text in the centre reads the quote: 
"The board and panel observer scheme is extremely informative for trainees/researchers transitioning to independence. This stage can feel daunting and there is a high rate of drop out, so this step by the UKRI is welcome by researchers at my stage of training. Observing this meeting has changed my view on how the board approach applications and has given me reassurance to stay in academia.

- Christine Chew, University of Bristol"

In the bottom right hand corner is a profile photo of a student smiling.

In the bottom left hand corner is the MRC logo.
  • A new report published today calls for urgent action to tackle the decline in clinical researchers.   Clinically trained researchers play a key role in improving patient care. Their research drives innovations that improve treatments, diagnosis, and prevention of diseases. Research-active hospitals consistently show lower mortality rates. The report, commissioned by The Office for the Strategic Coordination of Health Research (OSCHR), calls for measures to be taken to build a more sustainable clinical research workforce for the future, which include: ➡️ Establishing a national clinical research career framework ➡️ Enabling more flexible training pathways ➡️ Encouraging leaders and mentors ➡️ Ensuring more equitable pay and opportunities Our Executive Chair Professor Patrick Chinnery, said: “Clinical research drives innovation to deliver better health outcomes for all and make the NHS more sustainable. This report sets out the urgency in reversing the well-documented decline in clinical researchers and proposes solutions to maintain the UK’s position as a global leader in the life sciences sector. Coordinated steps across government and other key stakeholders are now vital to implement all the recommendations in this report. The MRC is already working with major funders to implement its actions." Read the full report: https://lnkd.in/erF8kxTC

    • Clinical research drives innovation to deliver better health outcomes for all and make the NHS more sustainable. This report sets out the urgency in reversing the well-documented decline in clinical researchers and proposes solutions to maintain the UK’s position as a global leader in the life sciences sector.

Coordinated steps across government and other key stakeholders are now vital to implement all the recommendations in this report. The MRC is already working with major funders to implement its actions."

- Professor Patrick Chinnery, Executive Chair of the MRC
  • Medical Research Council reposted this

    We often meet inspiring people making unique contributions to research, but their roles don’t always get the recognition they deserve. In our brand-new 101 Jobs season 3, our very own Zoe meets the people whose jobs are changing the world and finds out what’s really involved. In this episode, Hannah Shaw, a fly facility technician, gave us the most amazing behind-the-scenes look into her work at The Francis Crick Institute, where she looks after thousands of fruit flies. All to help answer the biggest questions about human health. This clip here is just a glimpse into Hannah’s incredible job. Why are fruit flies so important? How did she know she wanted to work with them? And what is it like to switch gears from an academic path to applying science in a different way? Watch the full video from our day with Hannah here: https://lnkd.in/ecfXSkH3 #101Jobs #technicians

  • Today, we’re pleased to share a new report by Ipsos UK highlighting how the people and science we invest in are driving a healthier economy and society. MRC spin-outs are pioneering medical treatments and cutting-edge technologies, progressing research from discovery to prosperity. These include increasing life expectancy, shaping our health policies, and developing more cost-effective therapies that have saved the NHS millions of pounds each year We’re proud of what’s been achieved over the past decade, but none of this would be possible without the talented people we fund. Their skills and dedication are the driving force behind the medical discoveries and innovations that are improving lives worldwide. More on the economic impacts of MRC below and visit our website for the full Ipos UK report.

Affiliated pages

Similar pages

Browse jobs