The MRC receives annual ‘grant-in-aid’ funding from Parliament through the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).
Although government-funded, the MRC is independent in its choice of which research to support. However, we work closely with the Health Departments, the other UK research councils, industry and other stakeholders to identify and respond to the UK’s health needs.
The MRC supports and advances medical research in three main ways: by providing research grants and career awards to scientists in UK universities and hospitals, by funding research centres in partnership with universities, and through our own research facilities.
Around 3,000 researchers are supported by MRC-funded programmes in universities and hospitals.
The MRC employs more than 4,000 people in the UK and overseas.
In 2008/09 we awarded more than 400 new grants to researchers in universities, medical schools and research organisations in the UK at a value of over £225 million.
We spent £68 million on training awards for postgraduate students and fellows.
We supported our research units and institutes with £355 million.
Scientists at our units and institutes produced more than 1,300 publications in peer-reviewed journals in 2008.
The MRC has its own affiliated company, MRC Technology, which works with industry to translate our scientists’ findings into tangible health benefits. In 2008/09 our licensing income receipts was £66.4 million.
In 2008/09, MRCT filed 20 patent applications and 19 applications moved through to grant. The overall patent portfolio has 130 patent families.
In 2008/09, the MRC spent £704.2 million on research.
