Medical Research Foundation

Charity Number: 1138223

Annual Expenditure: £9.1M
Throughout England And Wales, The Gambia, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Ethiopia, Norway, Senegal ... [2 more]

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £5.7 million (2023/24)
  • Success Rate: ~24%
  • Decision Time: 8-12 weeks (varies by programme)
  • Grant Range: £1,500 - £100,000+ (varies by scheme)
  • Geographic Focus: UK-based researchers (international collaboration permitted)

Contact Details

Website: www.medicalresearchfoundation.org.uk

Email: contact@medicalresearchfoundation.org.uk | research@medicalresearchfoundation.org.uk

Phone: 020 4581 2400 | 020 4581 2420 (Research Team)

Online Portal: medicalresearchfoundation.flexigrant.com

Overview

The Medical Research Foundation (charity no. 1138223) was established in 2011 as an independent charitable foundation, having separated from the Medical Research Council. With total income including £1.576 million from government grants in 2022/23, the Foundation committed a record £5.7 million towards new life-changing research in 2023/24. Through their 2024-2029 strategy, “Giving hope through life-changing medical research,” they have pledged to invest at least £25 million in new research. The Foundation focuses on funding vital medical research in overlooked and underfunded areas, supporting the brightest minds in science, and ensuring healthcare policy and practice is based on the latest evidence. Unlike many medical research funders restricted to particular diseases, the Foundation can respond flexibly to emerging health needs identified by scientific experts and donors.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Launchpad Grants in Mental Health

  • Amount: Up to £100,000 over maximum 2 years
  • For UK-based mid-career researchers
  • To conduct pilot studies, generate data and collaborations, develop competitive research proposals
  • Total investment: Over £700,000 across eight projects
  • Application: Rolling/competitive rounds via online portal

Changing Policy and Practice Awards

  • Variable amounts depending on dissemination plans
  • Two-stage process: Expression of Interest (EOI) then full application by invitation only
  • Helps researchers disseminate findings to influence healthcare policy, treatment, and public behaviour
  • EOI decisions within two working weeks

Research and Career Development Awards

  • Skills Training and Development Award: Up to £10,000
  • Conference Attendance Award: Up to £1,500
  • For UK-based mid-career researchers with active MRC or Medical Research Foundation funded grants
  • Application: Via online grants management system

Fellowships

  • Clinician Scientist Fellowship (CSF) and Clinical Research Training Fellowship (CRTF) in Child and Adolescent Cancer Pain
  • Fellowship opportunities in suicide and/or self-harm research
  • PET radiochemistry technician funding
  • No fixed upper limit - full economic costing (typically 80% FEC funded by MRC)
  • Support up to 5 years

Emerging Leaders Prize

  • £200,000 total awarded to three scientists (2023 Hepatitis theme)
  • Over £1 million awarded since 2017
  • Annual themed competitions

Impact of Climate Change on Health

  • £1.7 million committed for research in sub-Saharan Africa
  • Over £1.5 million across six grants in 2023/24

Priority Areas

  1. Overlooked and Underfunded Research - Areas neglected by other funders where there is high disease burden but few treatments
  2. Children and Young People's Health - Previously neglected areas and conditions disproportionately affecting children
  3. Mental Health - Understanding why conditions develop and improving prevention, diagnosis, and treatment
  4. Climate Change and Health - Impact on vulnerable populations including children, elderly, and those with pre-existing conditions
  5. Discovery Science - Bold, ambitious projects with long-term potential
  6. Career Development - Supporting researchers at critical career points to retain them in medical research
  7. Research Translation - Ensuring discoveries reach policymakers and practitioners

Recent funded areas include: hepatitis, lupus, adolescent mental health, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), pain research, COVID-19, eating disorders, cancer pain in children

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not explicitly listed, the Foundation:

  • Focuses on areas of high unmet need
  • Requires UK institutional affiliation (though international researchers at UK institutions are eligible)
  • Does not accept paper applications (online only)
  • Generally does not allow reapplications unless invited by Expert Review Panel

Governance and Leadership

Chair of Board of Trustees: Professor Paul Moss OBE (appointed October 2023)

  • Professor of Haematology, Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham
  • Deputy Head of College of Medical and Dental Sciences
  • Awarded OBE in 2022 Queen's Birthday Honours for services to immunotherapy and COVID-19 research
  • Led UK Coronavirus Immunology Consortium
  • Previously Chair of Infection and Immunity Board at MRC and Clinical and Translational Research Committee at Cancer Research UK

Chief Executive: Dr Angela Hind

  • 30 years supporting UK science through the Foundation and MRC
  • Responsible for transforming the charity into a modern charitable company in 2010
  • Continues to drive the Foundation's growth and development

Board Composition: Trustees with expertise in science and science funding, bioethics, fundraising, communications, investments, finance, and governance (voluntary, unpaid roles)

Honorary Presidents: Professor Patrick Chinnery FRS FMedSci FRCP, Executive Chair of the Medical Research Council (MRC)

Key Leadership Quotes

Dr Angela Hind: "The people we support are our greatest legacy for the future of people's health. While we are still relatively small compared to other medical research funders, we punch above our weight in terms of the impact we make. This is thanks to the trust placed in us by our donors, who allow us to fund the very best scientists, the most needed research, and the research that could have the biggest impact in years to come."

On priorities: “Discovery science is a real priority, as we understand the need to be bold and ambitious – to fund projects that are not just going to be useful now but which may become useful later on.”

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

  • Online System Required: All applications must be submitted via the Medical Research Foundation online grants management system at medicalresearchfoundation.flexigrant.com
  • No Paper Applications: Paper application forms are not accepted
  • Two-Stage Process (for some programmes): Expression of Interest (EOI) followed by invitation to full application
  • Institutional Approval: Applications must be submitted and approved by all signatories by the deadline
  • Preparation Time: The Foundation advises preparing applications in good time to allow for Research Organisation's checks and approvals
  • Email Accuracy Critical: Mistakes in email addresses may lead to processing delays

Decision Timeline

Expression of Interest Decisions: Within two working weeks of submission

Full Application Decisions:

  • Mental Health Launchpad Grant 2024: Deadline May 8, decisions September/October 2024 (approximately 4-5 months)
  • Eating Disorders Award: EOI deadline December 10, 2024; full application February 11, 2025; funding decision March 2025 (approximately 3 months from full application)
  • MRC-related applications: Applicants informed within 10 working days of funding decision meeting

Typical Timeline: 8-12 weeks from final submission to decision, varying by programme complexity and review requirements

Notification Method: Email to both successful and unsuccessful applicants

Success Rates

  • MRC success rate 2022-23: 24% (Medical Research Foundation collaborates closely with MRC)
  • Typical UK health research success rate: 20% (1 in 5)
  • Foundation is selective, focusing on funding the “very best scientists” and “most needed research”

Reapplication Policy

Restrictive Reapplication:

  • Applicants who previously applied but were not successful may not re-apply unless invited by the Expert Review Panel
  • Cannot reapply with the same project without invitation
  • If invited to resubmit, must submit a substantially revised proposal with a list of changes made
  • This policy applies to major schemes including Changing Policy and Practice Awards

Key Implication: Unsuccessful applicants should wait for a new funding round or develop a significantly different project rather than resubmitting

Application Success Factors

Foundation's Stated Priorities

The Foundation seeks to fund research that:

  • Addresses areas of high unmet need with high disease burden but few available treatments
  • Demonstrates potential for long-term impact (“not just going to be useful now but which may become useful later on”)
  • Keeps the brightest minds in science working in medical research
  • Can be translated into policy and practice changes
  • Aligns with strategic themes: overlooked research, career support, evidence-based policy

What They Look For

Bold and Ambitious Research: “Discovery science is a real priority, as we understand the need to be bold and ambitious”

Strategic Alignment: Research should align with one or more strategic themes (overlooked areas, emerging researchers, research translation)

Career-Critical Timing: Funding at critical career points to prevent researchers leaving medical research

Underfunded Focus Areas: Children and young people's health, mental health, climate change impacts on health

Partnerships and Collaboration: Partnerships outside academia permitted if they advance the research project

Diversity and Inclusion: Strongly encourages applications from under-represented groups including female and ethnic minority researchers, and researchers with disabilities or long-term health conditions

Recent Funded Examples

  • Climate change impact on health in sub-Saharan Africa (£1.7 million)
  • Six climate change and health grants in UK (over £1.5 million, 2023/24)
  • Eight mental health launchpad grants (over £700,000)
  • Three hepatitis researchers through 2023 Emerging Leaders Prize (£200,000)
  • Cancer pain management in children and young people (Dr Sandrine Géranton, UCL)
  • Chronic pain research (affecting 28 million in UK, 30% globally)

Application Best Practices

Follow Instructions Precisely:

  • Use online grants management system only
  • Ensure all institutional approvals secured before deadline
  • Double-check email addresses to avoid processing delays
  • Submit EOI before attempting full application (where required)

Avoid Common Mistakes:

  • Sloppy presentation, typographical errors, or disorganized applications
  • Research topics too broad or poorly justified
  • Misalignment between aims, objectives, and questions
  • Lack of strong hypothesis foundation
  • Failing to demonstrate value for money

Strengthen Your Application:

  • Have experienced grantees critique your application
  • Involve statistician early to determine data collection and analysis methods
  • Demonstrate how research addresses overlooked/underfunded area
  • Show potential for long-term impact
  • Articulate clear dissemination strategy (especially for Changing Policy and Practice Awards)
  • Highlight alignment with Foundation's strategic priorities
  • Emphasize career development benefits (where applicable)

Contact for Pre-Application Advice

Research Team: research@medicalresearchfoundation.org.uk or 020 4581 2420 for eligibility questions

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Focus on Overlooked Areas: The Foundation specifically seeks to fund research in underfunded areas with high unmet need - demonstrate your topic's neglect by other funders and high disease burden
  1. Strategic Alignment is Critical: Ensure your application clearly aligns with at least one of the three strategic themes (overlooked research, career support, or research translation) and priority areas (children/young people, mental health, climate change)
  1. Bold Ambition Welcomed: Don't shy away from ambitious, long-term discovery science - the Foundation values research with future potential, not just immediate applications
  1. Two-Stage Process Requires Planning: For programmes with EOI requirements, plan for the full timeline and use the EOI to demonstrate compelling fit before investing in full application development
  1. Reapplication is Restricted: You typically get one shot - unsuccessful applicants cannot reapply unless invited, so applications must be exceptionally strong and well-prepared the first time
  1. Institutional Checks Take Time: Build in extra time for your research organization's approval processes - late submissions due to internal delays are not accepted
  1. Career Development Angle: If you're mid-career, emphasize how funding will support your retention in medical research and development as a future research leader - the Foundation explicitly aims to prevent talent drain

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

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  • Chris Westwood Charity For Children With Physical Disabilities
  • Engera Uk
  • Fellowship And Aid To The Christians Of The East
  • Family Matters London
  • Forafrika
  • Kidscan Limited
  • Montessori St Nicholas Ltd
  • The Caledon Trust

References