Grant opportunity
MRC Centre of Research Excellence: Round Five Outline Application
Upcoming MRC CoRE round for major, long-term centres tackling complex interdisciplinary health challenges.
- Funder
- Medical Research Council
- Outline applications close 3 February 2027 at 16:00 UK time
- Outline applications close 3 February 2027 at 16:00 UK time: Feb 3, 2027
- Award
- Up to GBP 26.25 million full economic cost for the first seven years; MRC funds up to 80% FEC
- Applicant
- UK research organisations eligible for MRC funding, including single-organisation or partnership teams able to lead a major interdisciplinary health challenge.
- Discipline
- Health and Biomedical Sciences
- Region
- United Kingdom
- Posted
- Aug 31, 2026
Call summary
Overview
MRC Centres of Research Excellence are large, long-duration investments intended to create beacons of health research, research culture and interdisciplinary leadership.
Who can apply
A UK eligible research organisation must lead; international researchers can contribute through eligible collaboration routes, but non-eligible organisations cannot lead.
What it supports
- Complex interdisciplinary health challenges
- Research culture and training
- Public partnerships and translational relevance
Funding and duration
- Up to GBP 26.25 million FEC in the first seven years
- Expected one or two centres funded annually
Outline applications close 3 February 2027 at 16:00 UK time
Outline applications close 3 February 2027 at 16:00 UK time: Feb 3, 2027
How to apply
Use the voluntary expression-of-interest route if useful, then submit an outline application through the UKRI Funding Service.
Call details
Source-based overview
Round five welcomes outline applications across the MRC remit. Proposals should define a bold health challenge, show why a long-term centre is needed, demonstrate leadership and research-culture plans, and explain how public partnerships and sustained organisational support will help deliver health impact.
Eligibility
A UK eligible research organisation must lead; international researchers can contribute through eligible collaboration routes, but non-eligible organisations cannot lead.
Funding and benefits
Up to GBP 26.25 million FEC in the first seven years
Expected one or two centres funded annually
Themes and supported activities
Complex interdisciplinary health challenges
Research culture and training
Public partnerships and translational relevance
Deadline and timeline
Outline applications close 3 February 2027 at 16:00 UK time: Outline applications close 3 February 2027 at 16:00 UK time: Feb 3, 2027.
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
Use the voluntary expression-of-interest route if useful, then submit an outline application through the UKRI Funding Service.
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.