Medical Research Council (United Kingdom)

The Medical Research Council (MRC) is part of UK Research and Innovation. It helps plan and pay for important health studies in the United Kingdom. The government supports it, and it makes sure good research happens.

The MRC helps scientists study health problems. Because of their support, many big discoveries have been made. These include creating penicillin, a medicine that saves lives, and finding the structure of DNA. This helps us learn about life.

Because of the MRC's work, many scientists have won the Nobel Prize. This shows how important their research is for people around the world.

History

The Medical Research Council (MRC) began in 1913 to help fund medical research in the United Kingdom. It started after studies about a sickness called tuberculosis. In 1920, it was named the Medical Research Council.

The MRC has helped make big discoveries. For example, it supported work that led to penicillin, a medicine that helps people heal from infections. Scientists with the MRC also found the shape of DNA, a tiny part in our bodies that holds information about us. Because of this work, many scientists have won important awards called Nobel Prizes. So far, 32 scientists linked to the MRC have won these prizes for their discoveries in health and science.

Organisation and leadership

The Medical Research Council (MRC) is part of UK Research and Innovation. This group helps plan and pay for important health research in the United Kingdom. It is supported by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

The MRC has leaders who make big decisions about research and spending. These leaders come from schools, hospitals, and businesses. They are chosen by the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology. One leader, called the Executive Chair, helps run the MRC each day. There are also smaller groups that focus on specific kinds of research.

Former institutes, centres and units

The Medical Research Council (MRC) once supported special research groups at universities across the UK. In 2022, they decided to stop funding these groups. This change began in 2025. Below is a list of these research groups up until June 2024.

Bristol

• MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol (IEU)

Cambridge

• MRC Biostatistics Unit, Cambridge (BSU)
• MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit
• MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge (EU)
• MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB)
• MRC Metabolic Diseases Unit, University of Cambridge (MDU)
• MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit at the University of Cambridge
• MRC Toxicology Unit at the University of Cambridge
• Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge

Dundee

• MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit at the University of Dundee

Edinburgh

• Institute of Genetics and Cancer at the University of Edinburgh
• MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh
• MRC Human Genetics Unit at the University of Edinburgh

Exeter

• MRC Centre for Medical Mycology at the University of Exeter

Glasgow

• MRC & CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow (SPHSU)
• MRC–University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research

Harwell

• Research Complex at Harwell

London

• Centre for Environment and Health, Imperial College London
• Francis Crick Institute (partnership between the MRC, Cancer Research UK, Imperial College London, King's College London, the Wellcome Trust and University College London)
• MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders (at King's College London)
• MRC Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection at Imperial College London
• MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis at Imperial College London
• MRC Clinical Trials Unit UCL (CTU)
• MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences (at Imperial College London)
• National Institute for Medical Research
• MRC Prion Unit at University College London
• MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing, UCL (home of the National Survey of Health & Development)
• MRC Unit The Gambia at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
• MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit

Oxford

• MRC Brain Network Dynamics Unit (at the University of Oxford)
• MRC Molecular Haematology Unit at the University of Oxford
• MRC Translational Immune Discovery Unit at the University of Oxford
• MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine at the University of Oxford
• Population Health Research Unit, University of Oxford

Southampton

• Versus Arthritis/MRC Centre for Musculoskeletal Health and Work, University of Southampton
• MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit at the University of Southampton (LEU)

Multiple sites across UK

• Health Data Research UK (central team in London)
• MRC/Versus Arthritis Centre for Integrated research into Musculoskeletal Ageing, Liverpool/Sheffield/NCL (universities of Liverpool, Sheffield and Newcastle) (CIMA)
• MRC/Versus Arthritis Centre for Musculoskeletal Ageing Research (CMAR), Birmingham/Nottingham (universities of Birmingham and Nottingham)
• UK Dementia Research Institute (hub at UCL; centres hosted by universities of Cambridge, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Surrey, Imperial College London and King’s College London)

Facilities and resources

The Medical Research Council (MRC) has many tools and places to help scientists with important research. As of June 2024, these include special labs and services in the UK, such as the Central Laser facility at the Rutherford-Appleton Laboratory, the Diamond Light Source for advanced imaging, and the UK Biobank for health information.

The MRC also works with research centers in other countries, like the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility in France, to share resources and support global scientific discoveries.