Medical Research Council (MRC), United Kingdom
The Medical Research Council is a publicly-funded organisation, whose mission is to
- Encourage and support research to improve human health.
- Produce skilled researchers.
- Advance and disseminate knowledge and technology to improve the quality of life and economic competitiveness of the UK.
- Promote dialogue with the public about medical research.
MRC is funded through the UK Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), though is independent in its choice of which research to support. MRC works closely with the UK’s Health Departments, the other UK research councils, industry and other stakeholders to identify and respond to the UK’s health needs.
The MRC supports and advances medical research in three main ways: by providing research grants and career awards to scientists in UK universities and hospitals, by funding research centres in partnership with universities, and through our own research facilities.
In 2008/09, MRC
- spent £704.2 million on research
- awarded over 400 new grants to researchers in universities, medical schools and research organisations in the UK at a value of over £225 million
- spent £68 million on training awards for postgraduate students and fellows
- supported MRC research units and institutes with £355 million.
- achieved licensing income receipts of £66.4 million from MRC-owned intellectual property
MRC Research Strategy
MRC's direction for the future is set out in its Strategic Plan 2009-2014, ‘Research Changes Lives’.
MRC and neuroscience research
In 2008/09, 20% of MRC’s research spend was in neuroscience and mental health, amounting to £141.5m. Further information on MRC’s activities in this area, including neurodegeneration research, can be found here.
MRC and the COEN initiative - participating centres of excellence:
• MRC Centre for Neurodegeneration, Kings College London Link...
• MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff Link...
• MRC Clinical Sciences Centre (neuroscience division), London Link...
• MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, Cambridge Link...
• MRC Functional Genetics Unit, Oxford Link...
• MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (neuroscience division), Cambridge Link...
• MRC Prion Unit, London Link...
• MRC/WT Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Cambridge Link...
• MRC-WT virtual centres based in
1. Cambridge (Alzheimer’s) Link...
2. KCL (MND) Link...
3. UCL (Parkinson’s) Link...
• RCUK Centre for Brain Ageing and Vitality, Newcastle Link...
• RCUK Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Epidemiology, Edinburgh Link...
