Overview of MRC Research Portfolio
Since October 2008 the MRC research portfolio is divided into four broad scientific areas, each of which is represented by an MRC research board. This page shows which research topics fall within which area of our overall portfolio.
- Infections and Immunity Research Board (IIB)
- Molecular and Cellular Medicine Board (MCMB)
- Neurosciences and Mental Health Board (NMHB)
- Population and Systems Medicine Board (PSMB)
Infections and Immunity Research Board (IIB)
Basic, clinical and translational research applied to infectious human disease and to disorders of the human immune system, including:
- Virology, bacteriology and parasitology of human pathogens, zoonoses, model infectious agents and vectors of infectious agents.
- Human immunology including studies in humans and informative models.
- Molecular, cellular and systems research into mechanisms of susceptibility, immunity, inflammation, immune tolerance and rejection, pathogenesis, resistance and physiology.
- Discovery research and early stage development of diagnostics, vaccines, immunotherapeutics and vaccines in vitro, including structural biology, animal models and early studies in man.
- Population-level research, using mathematical, epidemiological, genetic and genomic designs, to elucidate disease risks, aetiologies and progression, and to understand the evolution of pathogen populations.
- Research to inform novel strategies for preventing and controlling infectious and immune disease control, including research on human behaviour and lifestyle.
- Global infections.
Molecular and Cellular Medicine Board (MCMB)
Much of the research portfolio of the Molecular and Cellular Medicine Board (MCMB) is work on basic biological mechanisms or technology relevant to understanding aetiology of, or developing treatments for, multiple diseases or conditions. MCMB is responsible for the MRC’s programmes and funding in:
- Cell biology.
- Structural biology and biophysics.
- Developmental and stem cell biology (excluding neurobiology).
- Molecular haematology.
- Chemical biology.
- Bioinformatics.
- Cancer (includes basic biology, translational research and epidemiology).
- Genetic mechanisms and genomics.
- Toxicology.
- Environmental factors (such as toxins and radiation) affecting health.
- Pharmacology.
- Regenerative medicine.
- Nanotechnology and applications of other new technologies to biomedicine.
- Method development for gene therapy.
Applications relating to particular organ systems or diseases (with the exception of cancer, leukaemia and molecular haematology) should normally be directed to our other research boards.
MCMB is also responsible for MRC’s investment in large multi-purpose cohort studies linking genetics or other biological measures to environment and health -such as UK Biobank and ALSPAC, although project applications to use these resources for studies of particular diseases should be directed to the relevant board.
Neurosciences and Mental Health Board (NMHB)
The Neurosciences and Mental Health Board (NMHB) is responsible for the MRC’s programmes and funding in neurosciences and mental health:
- Basic neurobiology (for example molecular and cell biology and developmental neurobiology).
- Systems-based neuroscience research.
- Senses and cognition and behavioural neuroscience.
- Pain, pain relief and anaesthesia.
- Medically relevant psychology.
- Neuroimaging.
- Dementia, neurodegenerative disease, transmissible spongiform encephalopathies and other areas of neurology.
- Mental health, addictions and psychiatry.
Population and Systems Medicine Board (PSMB)
The Population and Systems Medicine Board (PSMB) is responsible for the MRC’s funding in:
- Function and pathophysiology, and prevention or treatment of deterioration or illness, in the all the major organ systems (except the brain) including:
- Cardiovascular system.
- Musculoskeletal system.
- Gastrointestinal system.
- Respiratory system.
- Endocrine system.
- Reproductive system.
- Nutrition, energy metabolism and obesity.
- Diabetes.
- Ageing and lifelong health.
- Maternal health and the early origins of health and disease.
- Medical sociology.
- Trauma, acute medicine and surgery.
- Lifestyle, socio-economic and behavioural impacts on general health and health inequalities.