Translational funding opportunities from UKRI
The Translational Research Office (TRO) identify the most appropriate external grant funding source for a project. Translational funding schemes from across UKRI are listed below, ordered by application deadline.
Please, note the changes recently made in UKRI MRC Nomenclature, for more info: Oxford guide to the UKRI-MRC funding terminology changes — University of Oxford, Medical Sciences Division
Application deadline
Next call open: 2nd July 2026
Deadline: 18 November 2026
by invite only for stage 2
Award volume
No limit (typically 1-2M)
Award duration
Typically up to 3-5 years
About the call
Apply for funding to develop and test novel therapeutics, medical devices, diagnostics and other interventions.
You can apply for academically-led translational projects that aim to either:
improve prevention, diagnosis, prognosis or treatment of significant health needs
develop research tools that increase the efficiency of developing interventions
Apply
Application deadline
Next call open: 16th July 2026
Deadline: 11 November 2026
Award volume
£50K- £300K
Award duration
6-18th months
About the call
Single-step support in developing a new or repurposed medicine, medical device, diagnostic, or other medical product
Projects with no clear and plausible development plan of their proposed route to market or patient benefit after this award are unlikely to be supportable
Projects with multiple goals and work packages, that do not address a single high-risk evidence gap
Target a high-risk development step backed by prior funding, generating critical data to de-risk onward progression or determine failure
Apply
Application deadline
Open - no closing date
Award volume
No limit
Award duration
Up to 5 years
About the call
We are looking to fund exciting and ambitious partnerships between a team of researchers carrying out novel collaborative activities or capabilities that add value to high-quality research activities. These can be already supported by existing funding or will underpin future funding within the remit of the Medical Research Council (MRC). We fund partnerships working to transform our understanding of human health and causes and mechanisms of disease, to accelerate diagnosis, advance treatment and prevent human illness.
We welcome applications that incorporate global perspectives in partnerships and that have potential to improve global health. Applications involving partners outside the UK should be equitably led and co-designed.
Apply
Application deadline
Runs twice a year
Next deadline: 09 September 2026
Award volume and duration
up to £270k
Duration not specified
About the call
Supports academic researchers to access AstraZeneca’s compound library and high-throughput screening facilities to identify small molecule starting points for therapeutic development. Two funding opportunities are available each year.
Apply
Application deadline
Runs twice a year
Next call open: August 2026
Next call open: August 2026
Award volume and duration
£100-800k, up to 2 years
About the call
Supports the translation of previous BBSRC-funded research towards practical application and commercialisation. Funding can support proof-of-concept, market assessment, IP development and business planning to de-risk opportunities and progress them towards investment, licensing, spinout formation or commercial partnership.