Experimental Medicine Stage One

The Experimental Medicine funding opportunity is a major grant scheme run by the Medical Research Council (MRC) on behalf of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). It supports academically led experimental medicine research that investigates the causes, progression and treatment of human disease through direct experimental intervention or challenge in humans. This research plays a central role in translating scientific discovery into clinical insight and ultimately improved healthcare outcomes.

Experimental medicine projects aim to generate new mechanistic understanding of human biology and disease pathways by testing a clear hypothesis using controlled experimental approaches. Successful proposals will reveal mechanistic insights that could reveal opportunities to modify disease processes or lay the foundation for future therapeutic and diagnostic development.

Funding is open to researchers based at UK research organisations eligible for MRC funding, who are capable of directing and actively engaging in the proposed work. The scheme is designed to be flexible: there is no limit on the total funding amount or project duration applicants can request, and projects span a wide range of disease areas and intervention types, including pharmacological, immunological, physiological, psychological or infectious challenges in humans.

A key objective of the scheme is to accelerate the clinical translation of biomedical discoveries by enabling human studies that reveal fundamental disease mechanisms and inform the development of new approaches to prevention, diagnosis and treatment. These awards also support career development for early career researchers seeking to transition to independence under the “new investigator” route.

The programme is part of the broader UKRI investment in experimental medicine to enhance clinical and translational research capability across the UK, aligning with wider strategic priorities to improve human health and speed the translation of discoveries into clinical impact.