Grant opportunity
Expression of interest: Precision prevention: biological mechanisms of response variation
MRC is inviting expressions of interest for human experimental medicine studies that explain why biomedical prevention interventions work differently across people.
- Funder
- Medical Research Council (MRC)
- Mandatory EOI closes 17 September 2026 at 4:00pm UK time
- Mandatory EOI closes 17 September 2026 at 4:00pm UK time: Sep 17, 2026
- Award
- Up to GBP 5 million full economic cost per project; MRC funds 80% FEC
- Applicant
- UK research organisation project leads, with eligible international project co-leads and collaborators where justified by the research.
- Discipline
- Health and Biomedical Sciences
- Region
- United Kingdom / International collaboration
- Posted
- Jul 22, 2026
Call summary
Overview
This is a mandatory expression-of-interest stage for projects that test mechanistic hypotheses in humans and generate evidence to improve targeting and effectiveness of precision prevention strategies.
Who can apply
Project leads must be employed by eligible UK research organisations. International project co-leads can participate where they make a major intellectual contribution and meet UKRI rules.
What it supports
- Experimental interventions or challenges in humans in pre-disease or early disease states.
- Mechanistic evidence on variation in response to prevention interventions.
- Research that can improve targeting, timing, effectiveness and equity of prevention strategies.
Funding and duration
- The total budget for the opportunity is GBP 15 million.
- Project full economic cost can be up to GBP 5 million for three to five years.
- MRC will fund 80% of the full economic cost and 100% of permitted exceptions.
Mandatory EOI closes 17 September 2026 at 4:00pm UK time
Mandatory EOI closes 17 September 2026 at 4:00pm UK time: Sep 17, 2026
How to apply
Submit the mandatory expression of interest through the UKRI route by 17 September 2026. Invited full applications are expected to open 10 September and close 5 November 2026.
Call details
Source-based overview
MRC is seeking mechanistic human studies that test why prevention interventions vary in impact between people and populations. Strong proposals should use experimental challenges or interventions to produce evidence that helps tailor, optimise and equitably deliver precision prevention.
Eligibility
Project leads must be employed by eligible UK research organisations. International project co-leads can participate where they make a major intellectual contribution and meet UKRI rules.
Funding and benefits
The total budget for the opportunity is GBP 15 million.
Project full economic cost can be up to GBP 5 million for three to five years.
MRC will fund 80% of the full economic cost and 100% of permitted exceptions.
Themes and supported activities
Experimental interventions or challenges in humans in pre-disease or early disease states.
Mechanistic evidence on variation in response to prevention interventions.
Research that can improve targeting, timing, effectiveness and equity of prevention strategies.
Deadline and timeline
Mandatory EOI closes 17 September 2026 at 4:00pm UK time: Mandatory EOI closes 17 September 2026 at 4:00pm UK time: Sep 17, 2026.
Applicants should confirm the exact deadline time, time zone, required documents, portal steps and any institutional approvals on the official call page before submitting.
How to apply
Submit the mandatory expression of interest through the UKRI route by 17 September 2026. Invited full applications are expected to open 10 September and close 5 November 2026.
Before applying, check eligibility rules, budgets, attachments, page limits, partner requirements, cost-share conditions and whether the opportunity uses an expression of interest, full proposal, registration or nomination stage.