Apply for funding for the application of artificial intelligence (AI), engineering biology, and quantum technologies in biomedical research and development.
You must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for MRC funding.
You can get funding through any grants from MRC responsive mode or translation funding opportunities.
You should apply through the existing funding opportunity that is most relevant to your science area and career stage.
We will usually fund up to 80% of your project’s full economic cost.
This highlight notice will be open from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025. Applications submitted in this window will be considered for this highlight opportunity. For individual application closing dates refer to the relevant MRC funding opportunity.
Aim
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) recognises the strategic importance to the UK of five critical technologies:
- future telecommunications
- semiconductors
- AI
- engineering biology
- quantum technologies
These have been selected for their ability to build strategic advantage, create opportunities for growth, and capitalise on existing UK strengths.
Scope
During the highlight period MRC particularly welcomes applications from teams that are applying AI, engineering biology or quantum technologies, to better enable them to meet relevant MRC board and panel and cross-cutting themes.
Artificial intelligence (AI)
AI is considered here to be machines that perform tasks normally performed by human intelligence, especially when the machines learn from data how to do those tasks.
You should be clear on the biomedical research challenge to be addressed, how use of AI will deliver impact beyond incremental optimisation of current systems, and where, if applicable complementarity exists with UKRI strategies (for example Transforming our World with AI) and existing investments in the same area (for example Responsible AI UK).
You should also consider, where applicable, how the AI tools developed will act as a platform for future applications in biomedical research, for example underpinning future research or infrastructure, including through generalizable approaches.
Engineering biology
The design and fabrication of biological components and systems, from modifications of natural systems through to artificial biology, in order to enhance our understanding of human health and disease or in the development of novel diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines
Quantum technologies
Applications focused on utilisation of quantum sensing technologies aimed at improving diagnostics for early detection of disease, biomarker identification and increasing understanding of physiological systems in diseased states.
You should refer to this highlight notice and the critical technology in your application summary.
You can search the UKRI funding finder for the following funding opportunities where this highlight notice is relevant:
- research, programme, partnership and new investigator grants from MRC responsive mode research boards or research grants from translational panels:
