Mental Health Research Uk

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £211,999 (expenditure 2023-24)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Approximately 6 months (May submission to October notification)
• Grant Range: £120,000 (per PhD scholarship, typically 2-3 awarded annually)
• Geographic Focus: UK-based universities only

Contact Details

Website: www.mentalhealthresearchuk.org.uk

Email: trustees@mhruk.org

Phone: 0116 287 8665

Overview

Mental Health Research UK (MHRUK) was founded in 2008 by Professor Clair Chilvers, the late John Grace QC, and Dr. Laura Davidson as the UK's first charity dedicated exclusively to funding research into the causes, effects, and treatments of mental health conditions. Since its inception, the charity has invested £3.3 million in 33 PhD scholarships across 12 UK research locations. MHRUK is supported by the Royal College of Psychiatrists and operates with exceptional efficiency, dedicating at least 95% of all donations received directly to research funding. The charity merged with the Schizophrenia Research Fund in 2014, creating the annual John Grace QC Scholarship specifically focused on schizophrenia research. MHRUK currently funds a minimum of two PhD scholarships per year, with a vision to expand to at least five annually.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

PhD Scholarship Programme: £120,000 per scholarship

• Annual themed competition with applications opening in spring
• Scholarships cover 4 years of funding (or until thesis submission, whichever is earlier)
• Based on Medical Research Council minimum stipend rates:
• 2024/25: £20,780 (outside London) / £22,780 (inside London)
• Plus fees: £5,006
• Fourth year covers stipend and thesis fees only
• Includes modest grants for travel/conference attendance (with prior approval)
• College fees may be covered where advertised separately

John Grace QC Scholarship: £120,000

• Annual award specifically focused on schizophrenia and related conditions
• Named in memory of the late John Grace QC, charity co-founder
• Part of ongoing partnership with the Schizophrenia Research Fund

Recent Special Funding: Karen Menzies legacy gift has enabled four additional scholarships dedicated to schizophrenia research over two years, with a goal of funding at least three schizophrenia scholarships annually for five years.

Priority Areas

Thematic Focus: Research themes are set annually by trustees. Recent and ongoing themes include:

• Schizophrenia and psychosis (ongoing priority through John Grace QC Scholarship)
• Children and young people's mental health
• Health inequalities and mental illness
• Depression, bipolar disorder, and suicidal behavior
• Early intervention and prevention
• Treatment development with fewer side-effects

Research Topics Recently Funded:

• Genomic markers and precision psychiatry for schizophrenia
• Neural mechanisms of positive symptoms in first-episode psychosis
• Racial inequalities in mental health help-seeking among young people
• School-based positive imagery interventions targeting anhedonia in adolescents
• Pathways to self-harm and suicide ideation in high-risk young people
• Economic modeling of psychosis treatments and health outcomes
• Early childhood adversities and eating disorder risk

What They Don't Fund

Explicit Exclusions:

• Research into autism
• Research into dementia
• Research involving laboratory animals
• Direct applications from individual PhD candidates (must come through universities)
• Applications from institutions outside the UK

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

• Professor Mike Owen (Academic Trustee)
• Professor Peter Jones (Academic Trustee)
• Dr. Vanessa Pinfold (Academic Trustee)
• The charity has maintained strong links to the legal profession, with founding trustees including barristers and the former President of the Supreme Court, Lord David Neuberger

Scientific Committee: Works with academic trustees to form the MHRUK Awards Panel, responsible for PhD scholarship decisions and setting strategic research direction.

Values: The charity operates on core values of Innovation (funding excellent research with real-world impact), Inspiration (providing hope to those affected by mental health issues), Inclusion (welcoming diverse perspectives), and Integrity (building trust with all stakeholders).

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Important: MHRUK does not accept direct applications from PhD candidates. Applications must come from supervisors at UK universities.

Institutional Restrictions:

• One application per scholarship per university
• Universities may apply for multiple scholarships if available
• Applications must be submitted by prospective supervisors based at UK universities

Annual Competition Cycle:

1. March: Scholarships advertised via mailing list and website
2. Mid-May: Application deadline (typically 27-30 May)
3. July: Awards Panel shortlists applications; unsuccessful applicants notified immediately
4. September: Reference deadline for shortlisted applications
5. Late September: Final selection decisions made
6. End of October: All applicants notified of outcomes
7. Following September: Scholarships commence

Application Requirements: Research proposals must align with the annual theme set by trustees. All applications undergo peer review by both academic reviewers and service user reviewers.

Decision Timeline

Total Timeline: Approximately 6 months from submission to notification (May to October)

Key Stages:

• Initial review and shortlisting: 2 months
• Reference collection and final review: 2-3 months
• Notification: By end of October
• Scholarship start: Following September (approximately 12 months from application deadline)

Success Rates

MHRUK has awarded 33 PhD scholarships since 2008, averaging approximately 2 scholarships per year. The charity currently awards a minimum of 2 scholarships annually from a competitive pool of applications submitted by UK universities. Specific success rate percentages are not publicly disclosed, but the competitive nature of the process is emphasized, with applications undergoing rigorous peer review and shortlisted candidates requiring interviews.

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants are not publicly documented. Universities and supervisors should contact MHRUK directly for guidance on resubmitting proposals in subsequent years.

Application Success Factors

Selection Criteria Based on MHRUK's Documented Priorities:

1. Alignment with Annual Theme: Proposals must clearly align with the specific research theme set by trustees for that year. Past themes have included children and young people's mental health, schizophrenia research, and health inequalities in mental illness.

1. Focus on Prevention and Treatment: The charity prioritizes research that will lead to “prevention, early diagnosis, or treatment of mental ill-health” with emphasis on developing treatments with fewer side-effects.

1. Early-Career Researcher Development: MHRUK explicitly funds “talented early-career UK-based mental health research scientists,” demonstrating commitment to building research capacity.

1. Service User Involvement: All applications are reviewed by service user reviewers as well as academic reviewers, indicating the importance of research that considers lived experience perspectives.

1. Schizophrenia and Psychosis Research: Due to the John Grace QC Scholarship and Schizophrenia Research Fund partnership, proposals focusing on schizophrenia and related psychotic conditions receive ongoing priority attention.

1. Real-World Impact: MHRUK's stated value of “Innovation” emphasizes funding “excellent research with real-world impact,” suggesting applications should clearly articulate practical applications.

1. University Reputation and Supervisor Experience: The competitive process and institutional limit (one application per scholarship per university) suggests that universities carefully select their strongest proposals, meaning supervisor track record and institutional support matter.

Examples of Successful Research Areas: Cardiff University projects on genomic markers for schizophrenia, King's College London work on neural mechanisms in first-episode psychosis, Manchester research on suicide prevention pathways, and Oxford economic modeling of psychosis treatments demonstrate the range of methodological approaches and specific topics that have succeeded.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• University-Mediated Process: Individual researchers cannot apply directly; build relationships with UK university supervisors and research offices as applications must be submitted institutionally
• Theme Alignment is Critical: Wait for the annual theme announcement (March) and ensure your proposed research directly addresses it—this is non-negotiable for success
• Schizophrenia Research Has Dedicated Pathway: If your research focuses on schizophrenia or related psychotic conditions, you have an additional opportunity through the John Grace QC Scholarship, which MHRUK has committed to funding annually
• Service User Perspective Matters: With service user reviewers involved in selection, applications should demonstrate understanding of lived experience and clear benefits to people affected by mental health conditions
• Early Planning Essential: With only one submission window per year (May deadline) and a 12-month wait until scholarship commencement, plan your application at least one year in advance
• Efficiency and Value: MHRUK's commitment to dedicating 95% of donations to research demonstrates focus on maximizing research impact—applications should emphasize value for money and research efficiency
• One Shot Per Institution: Since each university can only submit one application per scholarship, internal institutional competition is significant—engage with your research office early to understand internal selection processes

References

• Mental Health Research UK Official Website
• MHRUK Research Information Page
• MHRUK About Page
• Charity Commission Register - Mental Health Research UK
• Mental Health Research - PhD Scholarship Competition 2025
• MHRUK PhD Scholarship Awards
• MHRUK Research Awards
• Cambridge Neuroscience - MHRUK Competition 2026
• Oxford Research Support - MHRUK PhD Competition 2026
• Mental Health Research UK Wikipedia

All sources.