Objectives:
- To provide funding for generating critical data that builds confidence in developing new or repurposed medicines, medical devices, diagnostic tests, or other medical interventions.
- To address a single high-risk evidence gap in the development pathway to rapidly de-risk onward development or determine failure.
- To bridge the funding gap between smaller Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) awards and larger Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme (DPFS) awards.
- To support translational projects that help prevent disease, improve diagnosis speed and accuracy, develop new treatments, improve patient outcome monitoring, and enhance disease management.
- To support projects across all human diseases and medical interventions, including UK healthcare and global health issues.
Target Beneficiaries:
- Researchers based at UK research organizations eligible for Medical Research Council (MRC) funding.
- Project leads who will actively direct and engage in the work.
- International researchers can participate as project co-leads but not as primary leads unless part of specific MRC units.
- Early career researchers with mentorship and career development support.
- Projects that have prior concept validation and some supporting data.
Key Features:
- Funding range: £50,000 to £300,000 (80% of full economic cost).
- Project duration: 6 to 18 months.
- Focus on a single-step project goal rather than multiple steps.
- Supports a wide range of interventions including small molecules, biologics, advanced therapeutics, medical devices, diagnostics, digital health, surgical tools, behavioral interventions, and radiotherapy.
- AI-based projects are supported if AI is a core enabling technology.
- Does not fund fundamental research, early concept generation, pre-clinical safety/toxicology, late-phase clinical trials, or NHS service delivery improvements.
- Application requires clear articulation of the core concept, critical gap, and how the project addresses it.
- Light-touch post-award management with progress reports.
- Encourages equality, diversity, and inclusion, flexible working, and support for career breaks.
- Requires a clear intellectual property strategy.
- Assessment by MRC DPFS panel without external peer review.
- Application process through UKRI Funding Service with detailed guidance and support.
Application Process:
- Open to eligible UK research organizations registered with UKRI Funding Service.
- Project lead completes the application with input from team members and project partners.
- Application includes detailed sections on background, fit to funding opportunity, approach, impact, team capability, resources, ethics, IP, and data management.
- Must address a single high-risk step with clear success criteria.
- Applications assessed on clinical need, rationale, deliverability, IP strategy, and potential impact.
- Deadline for submission is 12 November 2025, 4:00 pm UK time.
- Feedback provided within 8-10 weeks after panel meeting.
- No resubmission of similar applications within 12 months if unsuccessful.
This funding program is designed to accelerate the translation of promising healthcare innovations by filling a critical funding gap, enabling projects to generate pivotal data that supports further development and larger funding applications. It fosters high-risk, high-reward projects with a clear pathway to patient benefit or substantive funding.
