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MRC Strategic Plan 2009-2014

image We will measure progress against our aims and objectives over the course of this Strategic Plan. Key success indicators are shown in the table below. Contact strategicplan@headoffice.mrc.ac.uk  if you require further information or to provide feedback. You can download the Strategic Plan as a PDF document here . 

Strategic Aim One:
Picking research that delivers
Setting research priorities which are most likely to deliver improved health outcomes.
 Demonstrable advancement of the national and international knowledge base in health and medical science, and positive economic impact generated.
Pushing forward new frontiers in medical research through encouraging research proposals of the highest excellence.
Funding profile aligned with research priorities.
Strategic Aim Two:
Research to people
Bringing the benefits of excellent research to all sections of society.
 Measurable impact on the development of new policy and practice in the health research domain.
New products, policies and procedures leading to improved prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease.
Increased involvement of community sectors in health research debates and discussion.
Strategic Aim Three:
Going global
Accelerating progress in international health research.
 Participation in global health research policy-making and implementation.
A leading role in defining the agenda for support of the science base in the UK and Europe.
Playing a key role in the implementation and evaluation of major research programmes in resource-poor settings.
Strategic Aim Four:
Supporting scientists
Sustaining a robust and flourishing environment for world-class medical research.
 A measureable increase in skilled people working in health and medical research and development.
Major infrastructure projects completed on time and to budget.
New technologies, methods and tools brought into practice and benefiting medical research and development.

How we will evaluate our progress

We have developed a new approach to capturing the output of research funded by the MRC. From 2009, this will add to our capability to evaluate the progress, productivity and quality of MRC-funded research. This new approach will engage all researchers in receipt of MRC support in a shared effort to understand and analyse the impact of MRC funding. Our aims are to:

  • Capture and assess the achievements of specific funding calls and strategic funding initiatives.
  • Review and assess the success of providing skilled people to the biomedical research community.
  • Evaluate the success of building infrastructure in the form of new technologies, methodology, or laboratories.
  • Measure our effectiveness in working across research sectors to yield synergy between funding agencies and deliver value for money for the UK science base.
  • Determine the economic impact of MRC supported science.

We will deliver a minimum of four major strategic evaluations a year, and a number of smaller focused evaluations. We will work in partnership with universities and research institutions to offer them the information needed to maximise the value of the support they receive from the MRC.