Changing Policy and Practice Award 2025/26

The Medical Research Foundation is inviting applications from MRC- and Foundation-funded researchers for our Changing Policy and Practice Award. This scheme is designed to support researchers in disseminating their research findings beyond the scientific peer-reviewed press. The aim is to maximise the impact of medical research by taking the results directly to the patients, healthcare practitioners and policy makers it will impact.

All areas of medical research will be considered in this funding competition and applications can focus on any target group outside of the scientific press.

This year, the Medical Research Foundation is also launching a new Renewal Scheme for current and past Changing Policy and Practice Award holders to further disseminate their research findings.

How much funding is available?

Applicants may apply for up to £50,000, to be used over a flexible time period of up to two years.

Who can apply?

This competition runs twice a year and is open to MRC- and Foundation-funded grant and fellowship holders based at eligible institutions, as well as MRC-funded and MRC core-funded researchers in MRC research institutes, units and centres. To be eligible, the grant holder must apply within one year of their current MRC or Foundation funding finishing, or within two years after it has finished. This time restriction may be reconsidered in exceptional circumstances i.e. for large scale clinical trials which take longer to publish their findings. Applicants must hold a PhD, DPhil or MD.

The specific research finding forming the basis of the dissemination work must have been published in a peer reviewed journal prior to applying to the scheme and must have been funded by their MRC or Medical Research Foundation grant. The MRC or Medical Research Foundation funding supporting the research should be acknowledged in the publication.

To be eligible for funding, the applicant should be listed as either the Principal Investigator (PI) or as a Co-investigator on the original grant.

To assess eligibility, applicants are required to complete a short expression of interest application form. Applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria will not be invited to submit a full application.

Only one application will be accepted per applicant per funding round, though individuals can hold more than one Medical Research Foundation grant at any one time.

Changing Policy and Practice Renewal Scheme

This competition runs twice a year and is open to MRC and Foundation-funded grant and fellowship holders based at eligible institutions, as well as MRC-funded and MRC core-funded researchers in MRC research institutes, units and centres, who have previously received a Changing Policy and Practice Award. To be eligible, the MRC or Foundation funding supporting the research should be within one-year prior to the grant finishing or within two years after the grant has finished. Those with an active Changing Policy and Practice Award are also eligible to apply. This time restriction may be reconsidered in exceptional circumstances. Applicants must hold a PhD, DPhil or MD. To be eligible for funding, the applicant should be listed as either the PI or as a Co-investigator on the original grant.

A renewal application should build upon an existing programme of work which was funded through the Medical Research Foundation’s Changing Policy and Practice Award. A renewal application could be:

• to further develop the dissemination activities from your original application or to target a different audience
• to continue an existing programme of dissemination activities from your original application, to further their impact in terms of influencing policy, practice or behaviour.

The continuation of activities should enable you to develop the long-term sustainability of your programme, or to reach a defined milestone whereby the activities funded through the award will no longer be necessary.

Timeline

• Deadline for Expression of Interest: 12:00 on Wednesday 10 December 2025
• Deadline for Full Application submission: 12:00 on Thursday 29 January 2026
• Funding decision: March 2026

How to Apply

Applicants should apply online using our online grants management system.

Please see here for Guidance for Applicants: Expression of Interest.

• Changing Policy and Practice Award Guidance for Applicants
• Changing Policy and Practice Award Renewal Guidance for Applicants

If invited to submit a full application, applicants will be required to submit a Résumé for Researchers CV.

Queries

Any queries on the competition, the application process or eligibility should be sent to research@medicalresearchfoundation.org.uk, or you can alternatively contact the Research Team by phone on +4420 4581 2419.

Terms and Conditions of Award

Awards funded through this competition will follow standard Medical Research Foundation terms and conditions. The terms and conditions spell out the responsibilities of the Principal Investigator and the Lead Research Organisation. The Principal Investigator and the Lead Research Organisation are required to indicate their formal acceptance of the proposal, their acceptance of the terms and conditions of an award, and the approval of the salaries and resources sought in the application.

The Medical Research Foundation may add additional conditions to a grant award to reflect the particular circumstances and requirements of the funding, or the nature of a particular award. Acceptance of an award constitutes acceptance of both the core conditions and any additional conditions. The Medical Research Foundation reserves the right to vary these terms and conditions.