Early independence: clinician scientist fellowship

Any nationality, including applicants currently outside the UK. An eligible UK research host, host employment and relevant UK professional registration by the award start are required. The call permits overseas applicants and limited overseas research, subject to its visa, host and policy conditions.

Registered healthcare professionals, including doctors, dentists, GPs, nurses, midwives, allied health professionals, healthcare scientists, pharmacists, clinical psychologists and veterinarians, pursuing independent research relevant to human health. A PhD or equivalent must be completed before the award starts; contact MRC before applying if it is not yet complete. There is no age or years-since-PhD rule. Applicants need a distinct research plan that does not substantially overlap with current group leaders or sponsors, evidence of career development/productivity, an eligible UK host and plans for clinical activity during or after the award. Doctors/dentists normally need specialty-registrar, consultant or equivalent GP status; unfinished specialty training requires plans and deanery consultation. Other healthcare professionals must have completed professional training. Veterinarians must be registered and belong to the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. International applicants need relevant UK statutory registration, or plans to obtain it by the award start. You cannot apply after a recent MRC fellowship application within the last year or two previous attempts, while a conflicting UKRI fellowship/new-investigator or grant application is under assessment, after a comparable early-independence award, or after grants showing that you have already established research independence and a research team. Host employment is required. You cannot retain a salaried position alongside the fellowship; an exceptional approved career change requires relinquishing the role or making it proleptic for the award. A permanent independent position is normally not competitive. A senior host-department sponsor is required. The fellowship normally supports up to five years, with a shorter request discussed in advance. It should start between October 2027 and January 2028 unless MRC agrees otherwise. Part-time/clinical-work arrangements have specific limits. The call excludes PhD studentships, publication costs, bridge funding, sponsor/mentor costs and large/senior research teams. Additional policy conditions: the host must submit the application. Overseas applicants need the required UK work visa/permit. UKRI employees applying in the same MRC institute need exceptional director-requested permission at least two months before closing and must meet the stated post-funding conditions. Part-time awards require at least 0.5 FTE; medical applicants cannot use them to continue higher specialty training. Clinical sessions and other commitments have limits set out below. Normally only two submissions per scheme are allowed, at least a year apart; changing project or host does not reset this. Conflicting UKRI fellowship/new-investigator and project-grant applications are excluded, and simultaneous MRC project-lead applications are not allowed. Host-department support is required. Project co-leads and student costs are excluded. NHS, ethics, biosafety and industry-collaboration conditions apply where relevant; see the complete policy and cost conditions below.

1. Confirm you meet the eligibility requirements on the official page.
2. Submit before 13 January 2027 (provider’s stated deadline).
3. Apply directly through the provider – Growth Forum does not process applications.