UKRI Translation: MRC Impact Acceleration Awards

Open UKRI funding opportunity · Grant. Closes 2026-11-11. Opportunity page: https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/ukri-translation-mrc-impact-acceleration-awards/

Apply to the MRC Impact Acceleration Award for single-step support in developing a new or repurposed medicine, medical device, diagnostic, or other medical product.

Projects must target a high-risk development step backed by prior funding, generating critical data to de-risk onward progression or determine failure.

The Impact Acceleration Award strategically bridges the smaller Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) and the larger Proof of Concept funding opportunity.

You must be based at a Medical Research Council (MRC) eligible research organisation.

This funding opportunity was formerly known as ‘Gap Fund: single-step support for medical product development’.

What we're looking for Scope

You can apply for academically led translational projects that aim to undertake a single-step package of development work that will bridge the gap between the inception of a new idea and substantive funding through schemes such as the MRC Proof of concept funding opportunity (formerly Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme, DPFS).

The Impact Acceleration Award supports our strategic priorities including:

- precision prevention to reduce disease risk in targeted populations

- early and accurate diagnosis to improve speed and accuracy of disease detection

- advanced treatments offering novel therapeutic approaches

- improve outcome monitoring of patients receiving treatment

- better management of diseases and conditions through innovative technologies

All human diseases and medical interventions are eligible for support, both in the context of UK healthcare and addressing global health issues.

You should note the Impact Acceleration Award will only support single-step projects, focusing on one goal rather than multiple steps. We recommend requesting only the funding needed for this specific goal, unless applying for…