Opportunity status:
Upcoming
Funders:
Co-funders:
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
Funding type:
Grant
Total fund:
£2,500,000
Publication date:
27 March 2024
Opening date:
10 April 2024 9:00am UK time
Closing date:
12 June 2024 4:00pm UK time
Apply for funding to:
* improve the methods used by others in biomedical and health research
* take the next step towards becoming an independent researcher
You must:
* focus your project on methods research within scope of Medical Research Council (MRC) or National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
* have the skills and experience to ‘transition to independence’
* have the support of a host research organisation eligible for MRC funding
Your project can be up to £625,000 (100% full economic cost (FEC)). MRC and NIHR usually fund up to 80% of your project’s FEC.
The start application link will be available to select from 10 April 2024 at 9:00am UK time.
Before applying for funding, check the .
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has introduced new role types for funding opportunities being run on the new UKRI Funding Service. For full details, visit .
Who is eligible to apply
To be eligible to apply for this funding opportunity you must:
* have
* be able to show that your skills and experience match those in the ‘transition to independence’ stage of the
* use this grant to support your long-term career goals and chosen career route
* show that you will direct and be the sole intellectual leader of the proposed project
* focus your application on biomedical and health research methods
You are also eligible to apply if you:
* are employed as a postdoctoral research assistant, although this grant cannot start until your current work finishes
* hold a lecturer appointment, a junior fellowship or another research staff position
* hold, or have held, an early career training fellowship such as an MRC skills development fellowship
* do not have a contract with your chosen host organisation
* are not currently based at the eligible research organisation that has agreed to host your new investigator award
* are either a non-clinical or clinically active researcher
* have any number of years of experience
For applicants who do not have a contract of employment for the duration of the proposed project, by submitting an application the research organisation is confirming, if it is successful:
* contracts will be extended beyond the end date of the project
* all necessary support for the project and the applicants will be provided, including mentorship and career development for early career researchers
We recognise the diversity of skills necessary for a successful research team and encourage applications to recognise the contribution of technical professionals.
Who is not eligible to apply
You are not eligible to apply if you have achieved independence, for example by receiving substantial grant income as a fellow or project lead (formerly known as principal investigator).
‘Substantial grant income’ is typically defined as grants or fellowships that are three or more years long, providing more than £50,000 direct research costs each year (excluding your salary).
You are also not eligible if you have:
* already held an award that facilitates the transition to independence
* applied for a new investigator grant unsuccessfully twice before
* an application for any UKRI fellowship currently under consideration, including a, or
If you are unsure if you meet the eligibility criteria or have any questions about your eligibility, you should contact to find out whether you can apply.
Read our for situation-specific eligibility information.
Project co-leads
Project co-leads can be involved, if they bring expertise to the project from outside the research field of the project lead.
The current supervisor or lab head of the project lead should not be a co-lead.
International applicants
You can include project co-leads affiliated with an international research organisation if they provide expertise not available in the UK and make a major intellectual contribution to the design or conduct of the project. You must justify why their expertise is required, see ‘Applicant and team capability to deliver’. You must also add any international applicants to the core team section of your application, assigning them the role of ‘Project co-lead (international)’.
Equality, diversity and inclusion
Diversity of thought and knowledge improves the impact of methodology research. We are committed to achieving equality of opportunity for all funding applicants. We encourage applications from a diverse range of researchers.
We support people to work in a way that suits their personal circumstances. This includes:
* career breaks
* support for people with caring responsibilities
* flexible working
* alternative working patterns