What we do
The Medical Research Council has supported health research in developing countries for over 80 years, with a portfolio including nutrition research, infections research, maternal health and epidemiology.
We spend around £48m a year on work that is aimed at improving health in low and middle income countries. The MRC and DfID have a Concordat agreement which pledged £45m from 2008 to 2013 to invest in areas of research where the two organisations have a shared interest in 2012 DfID contributed £13m to this. For information on the Concordat please see the Who we work with section.
In 2012 the largest proportion of funding was spent on research relating to infections with Malaria and HIV attracting most support but with a significant spread amongst TB and other infections associated with developing countries. MRC continues to support nutrition and maternal and reproductive health research and is providing increasing support for research in non-communicable (chronic) diseases, including through partnerships such as Global Alliance.
Pie chart illustrating the percentage breakdown of MRC Global Health spending:
The MRC Global Health Portfolio is reported formally by calendar year as a contribution to UK Overseas Development Assistance. The Global Health portfolio spend was £47.9m which includes a £13m contribution from DfID through the concordat in 2012.
Download the most recent version of the reported spend:
The MRC supports Global Health research in a number of ways; through our Units and Institutes, grants, fellowships, and partnerships with other funders.
The MRC has two units based overseas:
MRC The GambiaEstablished in The Gambia in 1947, it is the UK's single largest investment in medical research in a developing country. The Unit's research focuses on infectious diseases of immediate concern to The Gambia and the continent of Africa, with the aim of reducing the burden of illness and death in the country and the developing world as a whole. |
MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDSSince 1989, the MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS has conducted multi-disciplinary research on HIV infection and AIDS in Uganda. The Unit is a key facilitator in building research capacity in East Africa. The Unit works in partnership with the Government and the private sector of Uganda, in international organisations and in academic institutions across Africa. |
Global Health Research also occurs through projects at a number of Units and Institutes based in the UK:
- MRC Clinical Trials Unit (London)
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, (Oxford)
- MRC National Institute of Medicine (London)
- MRC/CRUK/BHF Clinical Trials Services Unit (Oxford)
The MRC funds Global Health research through grants and fellowships across its portfolio, existing funding includes the following programmes:
Programme on maternal nutrition, fetal and childhood growth and programming of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes works with teams in India and other developing countries. It is led by Professor Caroline Fall at the MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, Southampton. |
The MRC Tropical Epidemiology Group (TEG) initiates and collaborates in research on the epidemiology and control of public health problems of developing countries. The TEG located at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine is led by Professor Richard Hayes. |
For current MRC funding opportunities in Global Health research please see the Funding Opportunities page.
The MRC also launches calls in partnership with other countries and funders. For information on our partners please see the Who we work with section.