Medical Research Council

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Join our next MRC Environmental Sustainability Seminar on 6 July 2026 to explore practical ways to build environmental sustainability into your research. This session will look at how sustainability can be embedded into the entire research lifecycle, including: - governance, leadership, policy, organisational culture, and operational delivery - practical approaches such as procurement, training and behaviour change - lessons learned and examples of successful sustainability integration in research environments Register to attend by 19 June 2026: https://lnkd.in/e7u96waz Questions? Get in touch at sustainableresearch@mrc.ukri.org 

Older people who experience unstable finances, poor housing and fuel poverty are at increased risk of more rapid physical and mental decline as they age, a study suggests. Research following more than 15,000 people in England has found that living in precarious social or financial circumstances is a key predictor of frailty in later life. Researchers at University of Edinburgh, School of Social and Political Science, Harvard Medical School and the University of Strathclyde made the discovery using data from men and women aged over 50 taking part in a long-term study of ageing. The research received funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research and the Medical Research Council. Find out more 👇

When public voices are missing from research, so is vital insight.   The Men Minds project is a great example of the value and importance of co-producing research with those affected by it.   Young men are often underrepresented in mental health research, so the evidence used to inform policy, services and even public opinions might not reflect what men really think.   Instead of designing research about young men, Men Minds involved them directly, helping to shape the projects questions, methods and ways of working.   The result? Research that’s helped to normalise conversations around young men’s mental health and inform better and more inclusive support.   Read more in our new blog by Men Minds project lead Dr Nina Vaswani, Senior Research Fellow, Children and Young People’s Centre for Justice, University of Strathclyde: https://lnkd.in/eEE3d2vX

The MRC Proof of Concept scheme (formerly known as the Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme) reopens for stage one applications on 2 July 2026, with the next deadline on 18 November 2026. Ahead of this funding opportunity opening, we’re hosting a webinar for potential applicants on Tuesday 2 June, 11:00 - 12:15. The webinar will provide information on: • the MRC Proof of Concept scheme • what the MRC is looking for in an application • the application and assessment process • writing a successful stage one application The session will be recorded and published after the live event. Register to attend: https://lnkd.in/e5HmsyQX For more about the scheme: https://lnkd.in/eQy-HzJu

What if your DNA shapes who you are more than your upbringing, your parenting, or your environment? I sat down with Professor Robert Plomin, one of the world's leading behavioural geneticists and Medical Research Council-funded researcher at King's College London, for a conversation covering genetics, personality, mental health, parenting, intelligence, and the future of behavioural science. https://lnkd.in/e4jVkvck

Experts at UHL and the University of Leicester have developed a new blood test to help find womb cancer. The test is called ECctDNA. It looks for fragments of cancer in a person’s blood. It can help doctors see if cancer has come back. It is much easier for patients and causes less worry and discomfort. This means doctors may not need to do as many scans, physical checks, or uncomfortable biopsies. Dr Esther Moss, Consultant Gynaecological Oncologist at the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust and Associate Professor in Gynaecological Oncology at the University of Leicester, led the study. She said: “For some patients, a pelvic examination following womb cancer treatment can be associated with severe discomfort and can cause patients distress. These results support the potential role of this blood test to detect endometrial cancer recurrence. The test may be an alternative option for patients where physical examination is very challenging.” Gillian Stacey, 80 from Leicester, was among those who took part in the study. She said: “I owe my life to Dr Esther Moss. When I heard about the trial, I thought it was the least I could do to help others. I’ve had many medical examinations over the years and it can be incredibly invasive. You go through it and you do what you have to do, but if there’s an easier and less traumatic way to diagnose this type of cancer then that would be a wonderful thing.” Read more by visiting our website using the link below: https://lnkd.in/et-Fad3B

The MRC-AMS policy internship scheme offers first-hand experience of the medical science policy and communications environment. If you're interested in how policy is made, don't miss out! ⏰ Apply by the 27 April: https://lnkd.in/eybHM8xg

🌟Support the next generation of Biomedical Data Scientists - become a mentor with BioDataBridge! Are you a data scientist or computational researcher in biomedical or health-related fields? Interested in supporting wet-lab scientists and clinicians as they transition into biomedical data science or data science? BioDataBridge is a new mentoring scheme designed to support professionals moving from experimental and clinical disciplines into data-driven roles and we are looking for mentors to guide them. Funded by the Medical Research Council and organised through the BIOMEDASA Project within the University of Liverpool. What is the opportunity?  🔹 9-12 month commitment  🔹 Help uplift those seeking to retrain 🔹 Structured 1:1 mentorship to support mentees in:  🔸 Clarifying their transition goals  🔸 Identifying realistic development priorities  🔸 Navigating the computational landscape  🔸 Positioning themselves strategically for future roles What are some of the benefits for you?  🔹 Opportunity to engage with a motivated peer cohort  🔹 Join a wider mentoring and professional network ⏰ Timeline  Apply by 15th May  Notification of acceptance by 22nd May  Programme kick-off mid-June ⚠️Places are very limited, so we encourage early applications as the programme may close once capacity is reached. Interested and want to apply?  👉Apply here: https://lnkd.in/ejBPHShg  ❓ Interested in being a mentee instead? You can check out our previous LinkedIn post for more info.   Research & Evaluation  This programme also contributes to improving mentoring for biomedical career transitions. As part of the wider project, you may be invited to take part in research evaluating the mentoring scheme. Participation is voluntary and will not affect your place in the programme.  Insights will help identify barriers to upskilling, strengthen mentoring frameworks, and inform institutional workforce development. All research activities will follow appropriate ethical and governance standards. If you have any questions or want any more information, please reach out to us via our website at biodmedasa[at]liverpool.ac.uk #BiomedicalDataScience #Bioinformatics #Mentorship #ResearchCareers #DataScience #TranslationalScience #MRC