UK Obesity Research Institute: full application

Open UKRI funding opportunity · Grant. Closes 2026-12-03. Opportunity page: https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/uk-obesity-research-institute/

The closing date has been extended to 3 December 2026 4:00pm UK time.

We are seeking director-led applications to investigate mechanistic biomedical drivers of obesity and related diseases such as cardiometabolic disease, and deliver transformative impact in this field.

The director, supported by a leadership team, will lead the design and delivery of a collaborative institute. Applications should focus on the key barriers to unlock understanding of the causes and consequences of obesity to enable targeted prevention and treatment.

Funding available is up to £72 million for an initial seven years, with the potential to renew.

Funding of this funding opportunity is subject to the approval of a full business case.

What we're looking for Vision and purpose

The overarching vision is to reduce the impact of obesity on society through a deeper, integrated understanding of the physiological and pathological mechanisms and the downstream health consequences. The new knowledge, insights and innovation generated will accelerate the development of treatments and long-term prevention strategies. This vision will be delivered as an internationally leading UK Obesity Research Institute (UK-ORI).

Leadership

Your application should be led by a director with an international track record in large-scale research and delivery in a relevant field. The director will play a strategic leadership role regarding the future vision and direction of how the institute, and its partnerships, will grow.

The requested funding should include an allocation for the director’s own research programme, forming part of the overall scientific vision for the institute.

World-leading research

Applications should address key biological and pathological questions on the causes, consequences and prevention of obesity, with a strong emphasis on advancing…