MRC Centre Of Research Excellence: Round Four: Outline Application

The MRC Centre of Research Excellence (CoRE): Round Four – Outline Application is a major long-term funding competition delivered by the Medical Research Council (MRC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). It supports large-scale, ambitious, challenge-driven research programmes that address complex and interdisciplinary health challenges with the potential to be transformative to biomedical and health research.

CoREs are expected to operate at the international forefront of discovery and translation, creating collaborative research environments that attract and retain world-class talent and drive breakthroughs across the research pipeline.

In Round Four, outline applications are invited from eligible UK research organisations for funding to support new Centres of Research Excellence that will deliver bold and innovative programmes of work across the breadth of the MRC’s remit. Successful centres will receive sustained support over a 14-year period, with an initial seven-year award followed by a further seven years subject to successful review. Co-funding and institutional support are essential to demonstrate commitment and enable long-term success.

The programme aims to enable distinctive and disruptive research challenges that are not adequately addressed elsewhere, deliver major strategic objectives within a long-term timeframe, and foster collaborative and inclusive research cultures capable of transforming the field of human health research.

Applications must be led by eligible UK research organisations and demonstrate the capacity to convene an outstanding leadership team, articulate a compelling scientific challenge, and show how the proposed CoRE will synergise with existing investments and catalyse future advances in biomedical science.