Before applying for funding, check the .
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has introduced new role types for funding opportunities being run on the new UKRI Funding Service.
For full details, visit .
Who is eligible to apply
To be eligible to apply for this funding opportunity you must:
- have
- be able to show that your skills and experience match those in the ‘transition to independence’ stage of the
- use this grant to support your long-term career goals and chosen career route
- show that you will direct and be the sole intellectual leader of the proposed project
- focus your application within the research area of infections and immunity
You are also eligible to apply if you:
- are employed as a postdoctoral research assistant, although this grant cannot start until your current work finishes
- hold a lecturer appointment, a junior fellowship or another research staff position
- hold, or have held, an early career training fellowship such as an MRC skills development fellowship
- do not have a contract with your chosen host organisation
- are not currently based at the eligible research organisation that has agreed to host your new investigator award
- are either a non-clinical or clinically active researcher
- have any number of years of experience
For applicants who do not have a contract of employment for the duration of the proposed project, by submitting an application the research organisation is confirming, if it is successful:
- contracts will be extended beyond the end date of the project
- all necessary support for the project and the applicants will be provided, including mentorship and career development for early career researchers
Who is not eligible to apply
You are not eligible to apply if you have achieved independence, for example by receiving substantial grant income as a fellow or project lead (formally known as principal investigator).
‘Substantial grant income’ is typically defined as grants or fellowships that are three or more years long, providing more than £50,000 direct research costs each year (excluding your salary).
You are also not eligible to apply if you have:
- already held an award that facilitates the transition to independence
- applied for a new investigator research grant twice before
- an application for any UKRI fellowship currently under consideration, including a , or
If you are unsure whether you meet the eligibility criteria or have any questions about your eligibility you should contact to find out whether you can apply.
Read our for situation-specific eligibility information.
You are also not eligible to apply for this opportunity as a project lead if you are based at an international research organisation. This does not include MRC Unit The Gambia or MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine that are eligible to apply as project lead. Before applying for funding, check the .
Project co-leads
Project co-leads can be involved, if they bring expertise to the project from outside the research field of the project lead.
The current supervisor or lab head of the project lead should not be a co-lead.
International applicants
You can include international applicants as project co-leads where they will be making major intellectual contribution to the design or conduct of the project. The contribution and added value to the research collaboration should be clearly explained and justified in the application, see Applicant and team capability to deliver.
Equality, diversity and inclusion
We are committed to achieving equality of opportunity for all funding applicants. We encourage applications from a diverse range of researchers.
We support people to work in a way that suits their personal circumstances. This includes:
- career breaks
- support for people with caring responsibilities
- flexible working
- alternative working patterns
