The Medical Research Council (MRC) invites invited-stage applicants to apply for the Experimental Medicine: Invited Stage Two opportunity. This funding opportunity supports projects that probe the causes, progression, and treatment of human disease through mechanistic hypotheses tested with a human intervention or challenge. Eligible researchers based at recognized organisations may pursue projects of any size or duration, with funding allocated through a grant mechanism and a requirement to secure an invitation to progress to stage two after a successful stage one assessment.

Overview, purpose, and scope of the opportunity

This funding opportunity is designed to advance understanding of human disease by testing mechanistic hypotheses in the context of an experimental intervention or human challenge. The emphasis is on causal mechanisms and how they influence disease onset, trajectory, and the potential for therapeutic intervention. Applicants must ensure that their proposed work remains rooted in a clear mechanistic framework while incorporating a tangible experimental component in human subjects. The scheme recognizes the importance of collaboration and allows for the inclusion of team members who were not part of the stage one submission, provided they contribute to the design and execution of the stage two project.

With the stage-two invitation model, researchers who have successfully progressed from stage one and received invitation are eligible to submit a full stage two application. This approach aims to optimize scientific planning, resource allocation, and the alignment of research teams with the project’s goals. Although there is no stated cap on project cost or duration, the award structure requires careful budgeting and alignment with the funder’s contribution model. The initiative reflects the MRC’s ongoing commitment to supporting bold, mechanistically driven studies that can translate into meaningful advances in human health.

Funding details and project scope

• Funders: Medical Research Council (MRC)
• Funding type: Grant
• Total fund: £10,000,000
• Funding coverage: MRC will fund 80% of the project’s full economic cost (FEC)
• Funding limits: There is no explicit limit on the amount of funding you can apply for or on the project length
• Timeline status: Ongoing funding opportunity; applicants must be invited to submit stage two

The opportunity is structured to enable substantial, multi-year, high-impact research programs when appropriate alignment between scientific aims and resources can be demonstrated. The funding arrangement of 80% FEC indicates that applicants must plan for the remaining 20% to be covered by other sources, institutional support, or partner contributions, as appropriate to their project planning. The emphasis on full economic cost ensures that projects account for the true resource requirements, including personnel, facilities, and indirect costs associated with conducting human-interventional research.

Eligibility, applicant types, and team composition

Eligibility centers on the requirement that applicants have been invited to stage two following a successful stage one application. To lead the project, the principal investigator must be based at an eligible organisation and actively engaged in the research. The opportunity explicitly allows additional team members to be included in the stage two application, including individuals who were not part of the stage one submission, provided they contribute meaningfully to the work and its execution.

International involvement is accommodated through the role of project co-leads (international). International project co-leads are expected to make a major intellectual contribution to the design or conduct of the project, and their involvement should be clearly justified within the application. All other international collaborators should be included as project partners. The funder directs applicants to read the UKRI project co-lead (international) eligibility for more details and to contact the agency if there is any uncertainty regarding eligibility.

New investigator applicants are encouraged, recognizing the potential for researchers to transition toward independence. To apply as a new investigator, applicants must demonstrate strong alignment with the stage-two criteria, securing organisation support, and showing that their skills and experiences match the transition-to-independence career stage as outlined in the MRC skills and experience framework. The applicant must also demonstrate sole intellectual leadership of the proposed work and the application. If certain eligibility conditions are met, applicants may alternatively qualify if they are employed in a suitable capacity that supports the project’s goals and the organization’s commitment to their professional development.

Additionally, the guidance notes emphasize organizational commitments that may be necessary if an applicant lacks a current contract covering the proposed project duration. In such cases, the hosting research organization is responsible for extending contracts beyond the project’s end date and providing ongoing support, including mentorship and career development for early-career researchers, to ensure the project’s successful completion and the researchers’ career progression.

Stage two, timing, and application requirements

Core timing information indicates an ongoing opportunity with clearly defined key dates for invited stage-two applications. The call’s publication date is 15 December 2025, signaling official information release to potential applicants. The opening date for stage two submissions is 13 January 2026 at 9:00am UK time, and the closing date for submissions is 11 March 2026 at 4:00pm UK time. These dates establish a defined window for applicants to prepare, finalize, and submit comprehensive stage-two proposals.

Applicants must have been invited to stage two as a prerequisite for submission. The process thus hinges on the success of the stage-one assessment, which determines eligibility to proceed. While explicit application steps beyond invitation are not detailed in the provided document, applicants should anticipate a rigorous review process consistent with MRC and UKRI practices, including assessment of scientific merit, feasibility, risk management, and alignment with national research priorities.

New investigator pathways offer an additional route for early-career researchers to participate in this funding opportunity. Eligibility criteria emphasize organizational backing, alignment with transition-to-independence milestones, and the likelihood of the applicant serving as the sole intellectual leader of the project. International collaboration considerations underscore the importance of clear roles for project co-leads and the inclusion of international partners as project collaborators. Applicants are encouraged to consult the provided eligibility references, including specific guidance for new investigators and international co-leads, and to reach out for clarification if uncertainties arise about any criterion.

Key considerations for potential applicants and strategic fit

• Mechanistic focus: Projects must center on mechanistic hypotheses with direct relevance to human disease and require an experimental intervention or challenge in humans.
• Organizational eligibility: Applicants must be based at eligible organisations and must have organization-level commitments for personnel, mentorship, and continuity of support if employment arrangements must be extended beyond project end dates.
• Collaboration and team composition: Stage two may include new team members beyond the stage-one submission, and international partners can hold leadership or partner roles as appropriate to the project’s design.
• Funding structure: The 80% FEC funding arrangement means the project budget should account for the remaining 20% through other internal or external means, with the understanding that the funder covers the majority of costs for eligible activities.
• New investigator pathway: Early-career researchers who meet criteria may apply as new investigators, with expectations around independence, organizational support, and clear sole intellectual leadership of the project.

International collaboration, when included, must be clearly justified in terms of intellectual contribution and added value. The guidance also states that all other international collaborators should be listed as project partners, reinforcing the importance of transparent governance and collaboration structures. For questions about eligibility, the guidance directs applicants to consult the UKRI project co-lead (international) eligibility criteria and to contact the funder as needed to confirm status and fit.

Notes on applying and next steps: prospective applicants should monitor the official MRC/UKRI channels for the latest updates on this opportunity, including any potential amendments to dates, eligibility, or funding guidance. Because the opportunity requires an invitation to stage two, organizations and researchers planning to participate should ensure alignment with their internal research planning cycles and readiness to respond quickly upon invitation. The opportunity is positioned to support ambitious, mechanistically driven studies with the potential for impactful clinical translation, particularly those that can illuminate disease processes and identify actionable therapeutic avenues in humans.