Verified

UKRI Translation: MRC Impact Acceleration Awards

UK Research and Innovation

Opportunity status:

Open

Funders:

Medical Research Council (MRC)

Funding type:

Grant

Award range:

£50,000 - £300,000

Publication date:

16 July 2026

Opening date:

16 July 2026 9:00am UK time

Closing date:

11 November 2026 4:00pm UK time

Apply to the MRC Impact Acceleration Award for single-step support in developing a new or repurposed medicine, medical device, diagnostic, or other medical product.

Projects must target a high-risk development step backed by prior funding, generating critical data to de-risk onward progression or determine failure.

The Impact Acceleration Award strategically bridges the smaller Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) and the larger Proof of Concept funding opportunity.

You must be based at a Medical Research Council (MRC) eligible research organisation.

This funding opportunity was formerly known as ‘Gap Fund: single-step support for medical product development’.

AI Based Application Success Predictor

1. Alignment with the specific funding opportunity (Highest Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

This is the most important predictor.

Competitive proposals closely match:

The objectives of the funding opportunity
Council-specific priorities (e.g., MRC, EPSRC, ESRC)
Eligibility requirements
Scope and remit
Assessment criteria

A scientifically excellent proposal that does not fit the published scope is unlikely to be funded.

2. Research excellence and importance (Highest Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

UKRI evaluates whether the research:

Addresses an important problem
Advances knowledge significantly
Is intellectually ambitious
Has the potential to influence the field

Reviewers assess the originality, significance, and quality of the proposed research.

3. Innovation and originality (Highest Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Competitive proposals typically demonstrate:

Novel concepts
Innovative methodologies
Creative approaches
Transformative ideas
High scientific ambition

UKRI supports both curiosity-driven discovery research and innovative applied research, depending on the funding opportunity.

4. Strong methodology and feasibility (Very High Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Applications should provide:

Well-defined objectives
Robust study design
Appropriate analytical methods
Risk management strategies
Realistic timelines
Clearly justified resources

Reviewers expect a convincing plan for delivering the proposed work.

5. Applicant and team capability (Very High Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

UKRI's assessment framework places strong emphasis on the ability of the applicant and team to deliver the project.

Competitive teams demonstrate:

Relevant expertise
Strong publication record
Leadership experience
Complementary skills
Appropriate collaborations

For early-career schemes, reviewers evaluate potential rather than only past achievements.

6. Positive research environment and institutional support (Very High Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Reviewers consider whether the research environment provides:

Appropriate infrastructure
Institutional commitment
Access to facilities
Mentoring (where applicable)
Technical support
Collaborative opportunities

The host organization should clearly demonstrate its ability to support successful project delivery.

7. Potential impact and pathways to impact (Very High Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Although UKRI has moved away from the separate "Pathways to Impact" document, proposals are still expected to explain how the research could generate benefits.

Competitive applications describe potential impacts such as:

Improvements to health
Economic growth
Environmental sustainability
Public policy
Industry innovation
Societal benefit
Cultural impact

The expected impact should be appropriate to the research stage and funding opportunity.

8. Interdisciplinary collaboration and partnerships (High Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆)

UKRI increasingly encourages interdisciplinary research.

Competitive projects often involve:

Multiple research disciplines
Industry partners
NHS organizations
Government agencies
International collaborators
Public and third-sector organizations

Cross-sector collaboration is especially important for large strategic and challenge-led programs.

9. Responsible research and innovation (RRI), equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), and open research (High Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆)

UKRI expects applicants to consider:

Responsible research and innovation
Equality, diversity, and inclusion
Ethical issues
Environmental sustainability
Open research practices
Data sharing and management

These considerations strengthen the overall quality and credibility of the proposal.

10. Realistic resources and value for money (High Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆)

Reviewers assess whether:

The requested budget is appropriate
Resources are well justified
Staffing is realistic
Equipment requests are necessary
The project offers good value for public funding

Strong justification of resources is an important component of UKRI review.

Specialties

Others

Public Health

Eligibility Requirements

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

Who is eligible to apply

To be eligible to apply for this funding opportunity you must:

show that you will direct the project and be actively engaged in the work
be looking to generate critical preliminary data to build confidence in the development strategy for a new medicine, repurposed medicine, medical device, diagnostic test, or other medical intervention development

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

Demand management

You can only submit one application as project lead to this funding opportunity.

Resubmissions

We will not accept uninvited resubmission of applications that were submitted after 1 April 2026 to MRC, the rest of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) or any other funder. An uninvited resubmission is an application that was previously unsuccessful and has been submitted again without being invited by MRC. This includes applications that are unchanged, minimally revised, or substantially the same as the original submission. Uninvited resubmissions will be rejected.

You should contact us if you are unsure whether your application is a resubmission. Find contacts in the ‘contact details’ section

Who is not eligible to apply

You are not eligible to apply for this funding opportunity as a project lead if you are based at an international research organisation. This does not include the MRC Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) or MRC/UVRI (Uganda Virus Research Institute) and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit.

If you are employed by these organisations you cannot apply as project lead or project co-lead, but can participate as project partners on an application led by an eligible UK organisation:

businesses
charity and third sector organisations

However, charities and third sector organisations that are approved UKRI Independent Research Organisations are eligible to apply as project lead or project co-lead.

International researchers

As MRC is a lead funder for this funding opportunity, international researchers can apply as ‘project co-lead (international)’. You should include all other international collaborators (or UK partners not based at approved organisations) as project partners.

Project co-leads (international) make a major intellectual contribution to the design or conduct of the project. Their contribution and added value to the research collaboration should be clearly explained and justified in the application, see ‘Applicant and team capability to deliver’.

Read the UKRI project co-lead (international) eligibility for more details. Please contact us if you are uncertain about eligibility.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

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

UKRI can offer disability and accessibility support for UKRI applicants and grant holders during the application and assessment process.

Eligible Countries:

United Kingdom

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: UK Research and Innovation

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: Polaris House, North Star Avenue, Swindon SN2 1FL

Legal & Affiliation Disclaimer

Affiliation Disclaimer: Trialect operates independently and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or supported by any sponsors or organizations posting on the GrantsBoard platform. As an independent aggregator of publicly available funding opportunities, Trialect provides equal access to information for all users without endorsing any specific funding source, content, organization, or sponsor. Trialect assumes no responsibility for the content posted by sponsors or third parties.

Subscription Disclaimer: Upon logging into Trialect, you may choose to SUBSCRIBE to GrantsBoard for timely notifications of funding opportunities and to access exclusive benefits, such as priority alerts, reminders, personalized recommendations, and additional application support. However, users are advised to contact sponsors directly for any questions and are not required to subscribe to engage with funding opportunities.

Content Ownership and Copyright Disclaimer: Trialect respects the intellectual property rights of all organizations and individuals. All content posted on GrantsBoard is provided solely for informational purposes and remains the property of the original owners. Trialect does not claim ownership of, nor does it have any proprietary interest in, content provided by third-party sponsors. Users are encouraged to verify content and ownership directly with the posting sponsor.

Fair Use Disclaimer: The information and content available on GrantsBoard are compiled from publicly accessible sources in alignment with fair use principles under U.S. copyright law. Trialect serves as an aggregator of this content, offering it to users in good faith and with the understanding that it is available for public dissemination. Any organization or individual who believes their intellectual property rights have been violated is encouraged to contact us for prompt resolution.

Third-Party Posting Responsibility Disclaimer: Trialect is a neutral platform that allows third-party sponsors to post funding opportunities for informational purposes only. Sponsors are solely responsible for ensuring that their postings comply with copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. Trialect assumes no liability for any copyright or intellectual property infringements in third-party content and will take appropriate action to address any substantiated claims.

Accuracy and Verification Disclaimer: Trialect makes no warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information provided by sponsors. Users are advised to verify the details of any funding opportunity directly with the sponsor before taking action. Trialect cannot be held liable for any discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies in third-party postings.

Notice and Takedown Policy: Trialect is committed to upholding copyright law and protecting the rights of intellectual property owners. If you believe that content on GrantsBoard infringes your copyright or intellectual property rights, please contact us with detailed information about the claim. Upon receipt of a valid notice, Trialect will promptly investigate and, where appropriate, remove or disable access to the infringing content.

View Funding Opportunity