Recruitment has commenced for 600 future medical researchers, backed by a £90 million investment from the Medical Research Council (MRC). This funding will support PhDs and provide experience in academia, healthcare, and industry.
Fourteen MRC Doctoral Landscape Awards (DLA) will facilitate over 200 researchers annually for the next three years, across universities throughout the UK. These awards will support PhD research spanning medical science, from discovery to early translation.
Researchers will also develop skills in areas such as data science, artificial intelligence, and entrepreneurship. The first cohort of researchers is anticipated to be recruited later this year, with their PhD programmes commencing in October 2027.
As part of their PhDs, researchers will engage with businesses, NHS organisations, charities, and public sector partners through placements, collaborative projects, and specialist training. This aims to provide insight into diverse research settings and prepare them for various careers.
Dr Joanna Robinson, Director of Research Talent, Skills and Careers at MRC, stated that medical research relies on talented individuals. She added that these awards will help doctoral researchers develop deep scientific expertise alongside broader capabilities for successful careers across research, healthcare, industry, and policy.