MRC Centre of Research Excellence: round five: outline application

What the assessor looks for

• the distinctive research challenge you will address over 14 years, this should include a clear challenge statement that articulates your challenge in no more than 100 words
• what will be different as a result of your work; how will tackling the challenge make a difference and lead to transformative impact in biomedical or health research
• how your proposed MRC CoRE is positioned in relation to other research efforts in the field, nationally and internationally
• how the challenge is aligned with the MRC mission
• how the proposed work will contribute to UK government priorities
• the bold, distinctive, disruptive, and innovative approaches you will use to achieve your ambitions
• why these ambitions are best achieved through MRC CoRE funding rather than other available funding mechanisms

A filled dot only means your answer mentions that ground. It is not a judgement of how well.

What the assessor looks for

• is effective and appropriate to achieve your objectives
• is feasible, and comprehensively identifies any risks to delivery and how they will be managed
• uses a clearly written and transparent methodology (if applicable)
• summarises the previous work and describes how this will be built upon and progressed (if applicable)
• your research ambitions for the full 14 years
• what you will achieve within seven and 14 years if you are successful
• the key research themes or work packages required to develop this MRC CoRE in the first seven years, and how they will be integrated to deliver against the challenge
• the original, innovative, bold or disruptive approaches you will use
• how you will use cross-sectoral and multi or interdisciplinary working to advance your ambitions
• how your approaches are different to what has gone before

A filled dot only means your answer mentions that ground. It is not a judgement of how well.

What the assessor looks for

• your translational research approach will be developed in the MRC CoRE or with partners
• you will maximise the potential benefit of research undertaken in the MRC CoRE to the research community, wider society and economy
• you plan to maximise engagement with relevant stakeholders (academia, industry, charities, policymakers) to ensure the appropriate sharing of knowledge and expertise

A filled dot only means your answer mentions that ground. It is not a judgement of how well.

What the assessor looks for

• how public partners have shaped the design of the challenge and research approach, to date
• your plans for involving public partners over the duration of your activities

A filled dot only means your answer mentions that ground. It is not a judgement of how well.

What the assessor looks for

• promote environmental sustainability in MRC CoRE research practices
• adopt relevant standards
• align your environmental sustainability strategy with host research organisation sustainability plans and policies

A filled dot only means your answer mentions that ground. It is not a judgement of how well.

What the assessor looks for

• will be effectively and inclusively managed including describing a leadership team with clear roles and responsibilities, potential leadership rotation and clear succession plans
• will approach decision-making and agility in response to new scientific developments, and the processes and criteria to take decisions on future research directions
• has clear governance plans to successfully function as a research entity, and coordinate activities across multiple sites (if applicable)

A filled dot only means your answer mentions that ground. It is not a judgement of how well.

What the assessor looks for

• develop creative approaches to leadership
• support career development paths, leadership training, mentoring, supervision and pastoral care
• embrace and realise the benefits of team science
• implement fair and transparent methods to assess performance, recognise contributions, and support career progression
• promote good research practice and open research
• integrate meaningful and challenge-led public involvement and engagement into your research strategy and delivery
• embed equality, diversity and inclusion in all activities
• research is conducted with integrity, centred on reproducibility, responsible innovation, collaboration, interdisciplinarity and multidisciplinarity
• research is communicated to maximise impact, built on transparency and openness, and partnership with the public
• career paths and training environment, are provided to recognise a diversity of talents, skills and outputs, and embrace team science as the way of working

A filled dot only means your answer mentions that ground. It is not a judgement of how well.

What the assessor looks for

• provide the innovative training and capacity building environment needed to deliver on the challenge
• promote and share good practice in training and careers, including but not limited to ensuring an inclusive and progressive research training environment and preparing researchers for the challenges and opportunities available to them after their time at the MRC CoRE
• add value by convening and aligning existing training activity across the UK
• provide robust management and governance structures for training activities, including a named training lead

A filled dot only means your answer mentions that ground. It is not a judgement of how well.

What the assessor looks for

• the name of the DTP and DTP lead
• in exceptional cases where not aligning with an existing MRC DTP, outline how you propose to manage doctoral training
• if you are not requesting support for doctoral students answer ‘N/A’

A filled dot only means your answer mentions that ground. It is not a judgement of how well.

What the assessor looks for

• the relevant experience (appropriate to career stage) to deliver the proposed work
• the right balance of skills and expertise to cover the proposed work
• the appropriate leadership and management skills to deliver the work and your approach to develop others
• contributed to developing a positive research environment and wider community
• contributions to the generation of new ideas, tools, methodologies, or knowledge
• the development of others and maintenance of effective working relationships
• contributions to the wider research and innovation community
• contributions to broader research or innovation users and audiences and towards wider societal benefit

A filled dot only means your answer mentions that ground. It is not a judgement of how well.

What the assessor looks for

• the name and position of all contributors to the statement
• how this MRC CoRE aligns with host organisation strategies (research, research culture, training, sustainability)
• the support and facilities you will offer this MRC CoRE
• how you will operate this MRC CoRE and help it address its challenge
• how this MRC CoRE will be governed within your organisation or the partnership
• explain how you will manage the partnership between research organisations (If applicable), to support delivery of MRC CoRE activities across organisations
• explain how your support you will contribute to a collaborative and stimulating multi or interdisciplinary research environment

A filled dot only means your answer mentions that ground. It is not a judgement of how well.

What the assessor looks for

• specialist input from project partners and collaborators aligns with the MRC CoRE team to address the challenge
• this increases capability to deliver this MRC CoRE
• partners and collaborators will contribute to a stimulating multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary research environment

A filled dot only means your answer mentions that ground. It is not a judgement of how well.

What the assessor looks for

• the relevant ethical and RRI considerations, including both the research or topic area itself and the design and delivery of the project
• the wider implications of the proposed work, and how you will maximise the positive societal, environmental, and economic benefits arising from the project, while minimising unintended negative impacts, such as research misuse or accidental harm
• how you will manage these considerations throughout the lifecycle of the project

A filled dot only means your answer mentions that ground. It is not a judgement of how well.

What the assessor looks for

• provide the approximate total values in GBP (£) for the expected directly incurred, directly allocated, indirect costs and exceptions
• view the guidance on the costs you can apply for

A filled dot only means your answer mentions that ground. It is not a judgement of how well.

What the assessor looks for

• list the equipment items
• include an estimated cost for each
• provide the percentage full economic cost to be requested
• justify why the equipment is required and how it will be used

A filled dot only means your answer mentions that ground. It is not a judgement of how well.