Medical Research Council (MRC)

The Medical Research Council (MRC) is at the forefront of scientific discovery to improve human health. Founded in 1913 to tackle tuberculosis, the MRC now invests taxpayers’ money in some of the best medical research in the world across every area of health. 

Thirty-one MRC-funded researchers have won Nobel prizes in a wide range of disciplines, and MRC scientists have been behind such diverse discoveries as vitamins, the structure of DNA and the link between smoking and cancer, as well as achievements such as pioneering the use of randomised controlled trials, the invention of MRI scanning, and the development of a group of antibodies used in the making of some of the most successful drugs ever developed. 

Today, MRC-funded scientists tackle some of the greatest health problems facing humanity in the 21st century, from the rising tide of chronic diseases associated with ageing to the threats posed by rapidly mutating micro-organisms. The MRC is part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

The MRC led the establishment of the UK DRI since 2015, and is our principal funder, with a place on our Board of Trustees. This crucial support covers activities including core funding of our Group Leader programmes, our research platforms, capital equipment and a range of competitive intramural schemes. 

The institute's exceptional performance earned it an "excellent" rating in its inaugural five-year review by the MRC in 2022, securing a further multimillion core funding to propel its cutting-edge research into the next half-decade.