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Turing AI pioneer interdisciplinary fellowships (invite only)

Medical Research Council (MRC)

Opportunity status:

Open

Funders:

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Medical Research Council (MRC), Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)

Funding type:

Fellowship

Total fund:

£22,000,000

Award range:

£500,000 - £2,187,500

Publication date:

16 December 2025

Opening date:

16 December 2025 9:00am UK time

Closing date:

24 February 2026 4:00pm UK time

Start application

This funding opportunity is for established researchers from across UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)’s remit, without a background in core artificial intelligence (AI) research, who want to build domain relevant AI capability and develop advanced AI approaches to tackle a specific research challenge in their chosen field.

You can only apply for this funding opportunity if we have invited you to do so following a successful outline application.

The full economic cost (FEC) of your project can be up to £2,187,500. UKRI will fund 80% of the FEC. The funding is subject to final budget approvals.

Projects can be up to three years in duration and must start on 1 October 2026.

AI based application success predictor

🧪 1. Strong Fit with MRC’s Scientific Remit

MRC funds high-quality biomedical and health research across discovery, translational, and strategic priorities. Your project should clearly sit within these areas and advance understanding of human health or disease.

👉 Success predictor: Clearly articulate how your project contributes to MRC’s mission and current priority themes in health research.

👩‍🔬 2. High Scientific Merit & Innovation

MRC peer review focuses heavily on:

Scientific quality and novelty

Clarity of hypotheses and aims

Appropriate methodology
Reviewers look for proposals that are innovative, well-designed, and likely to yield important new insights.

👉 Success predictor: Craft a narrative that shows the importance and originality of the research question and the rigor of your approach.

🧠 3. Clear, Well-Written Case for Support

MRC panels include experts across disciplines; proposals need to be accessible to both specialists and informed generalists.

A clear rationale with concise aims helps reviewers quickly grasp your project.

Avoid overly technical language early in the application.

👉 Success predictor: Write for clarity — compelling storytelling linked to solid science increases reviewer engagement.

📊 4. Feasible Plan & Detailed Methods

Reviewers assess feasibility — whether you can do what you propose — and need:

Well-justified sample sizes, power calculations, design choices

Appropriate analytical methods

Contingency plans for likely risks or challenges
This demonstrates that your project can realistically be delivered within the timeline and budget.

👉 Success predictor: Ensure your methods tie directly to your aims and anticipate challenges.

📈 5. Preliminary Evidence/Early Data

Although not always essential, preliminary data can significantly strengthen your case by showing:

Feasibility

Potential for success

Prior expertise in the area

👉 Success predictor: Include meaningful initial data, or strong theoretical justification when data aren’t possible.

👥 6. Strong Team & Institutional Support

Your application should demonstrate that:

The research team has the right expertise

The lead researcher will drive the project

The institution backs the work with appropriate resources and support
Letters of support (when required) signal collaborative commitment and team capability.

👉 Success predictor: Highlight relevant expertise, roles, and institutional commitment clearly.

🧾 7. Well-Justified Budget & Value for Money

MRC scrutinises budgets against project aims to ensure value for public research investment.

Provide realistic costs

Justify each resource

Don’t under- or over-request funds relative to deliverables

👉 Success predictor: A justified, balanced budget that clearly ties to project tasks.

🧪 8. Ethics and Regulatory Compliance

If your research involves humans, animals, tissues or data, your proposal must:

Address ethical considerations

Outline necessary approvals and welfare standards
This reassures reviewers and administrators that the project is responsibly designed.

👉 Success predictor: Include all ethical and regulatory plans/approvals upfront.

🔄 9. Clear Submission & Follow-Up

Before submitting, follow MRC’s recommended checks:

✔ Correct templates and formatting
✔ Realistic start date
✔ Required attachments (CV, data management plan, letters)
✔ Eligibility checks
✔ Internal or mock review for feedback

👉 Success predictor: A polished, compliant application avoids administrative rejection and focuses reviewers on merit.

🧠 10. Peer & Panel Review Reality

MRC uses peer review followed by panel or board decisions. Your proposal is scored by referees then considered collectively; strong narratives and clarity help in both stages.

👉 Success predictor: Aim for balance — detailed enough for experts, clear enough for general reviewers.

📌 Practical Success Checklist

Match MRC remit and priorities

Compelling, innovative scientific idea

Clear aims and narrative

Sound methodology with risk mitigation

Preliminary data or strong rationale

Strong team and institutional commitment

Justified budget

Regulatory and ethical readiness

Final compliance checks before submission

Specialties

Data Science

Technology Development

Environmental Health

Eligibility Requirements

You can only apply for this funding opportunity if we have invited you to do so following a successful outline application.

It is not expected that the scope or funding requested for full applications will differ significantly from the successful outline. The overall cost requested from EPSRC at the full application stage cannot be more than 10% above the value of the outline application. The maximum FEC for all applications is up to £2,187,500. You are advised to contact us if you have questions about this before submitting.

This opportunity is open to organisations with standard eligibility. Check if your organisation is eligible.

Who is eligible to apply

EPSRC is leading this funding opportunity on behalf of UKRI, therefore EPSRC standard eligibility rules apply. EPSRC standard eligibility rules apply. For full details, visit EPSRC’s eligibility page. You can apply from any research domain across UKRI’s entire remit.

You can apply for a Turing AI pioneer interdisciplinary fellowship if:

you are an established researcher without a background in core AI research
you would benefit from the time and flexibility the fellowship will afford you to build domain relevant AI skills and capability
you have a vision for how the development of advanced AI systems and approaches could enable potentially transformative new avenues in your research and that of your broader community

Diverse career paths mean that no standardised eligibility criteria will be set. However, the time dedicated to the fellowship must be hosted by an eligible organisation within the UK for the duration of the fellowship.

You can hold the fellowship with a joint position between an eligible organisation and another sector. However, the eligible organisation must function as host organisation for the fellowship and the Turing AI pioneer interdisciplinary fellowships should be your main identity.

You should ensure that you are aware of and comply with any internal institutional deadlines that may be in place. We recommend you start your application early, liaising with your host organisation who may also be able to provide additional advice and guidance.

Who is not eligible to apply

Those not eligible to apply are:

researchers not hosted by an eligible research organisation
applicants with a background in core AI research. For example, a researcher from a core AI research discipline, or a researcher who has spent most of their career working on development of frontier AI models
applicants who have not been invited to do so following an unsuccessful outline application

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: Medical Research Council (MRC)

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: Polaris House Swindon SN2 1FL

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