White text on a blue background reads: "Our joint scheme offers MRC-funded third- and fourth-year PhD students the opportunity to: Why apply for the MRC-AMS Policy Internship? gain insights into how research can impact policy build valuable networks with senior scientists, policymakers and health stakeholdersLink in post to apply" The MRC logo is in the bottom right-hand corner. Above is a circle with an image of two people sat behind a laptop smiling.

The MRC- @acmedsci.bsky.social 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: apply.workable.com/academy-of-m...

Making sense of ultra-processed foods: a public dialogue YouTube video by UK Research and Innovation

We brought together over 100 people from across the UK to explore how ultra-processed food shapes everyday life - from convenience and cost, to health concerns and a lack of clear information.

These conversations are helping to shape future UKRI research.

Learn more: www.ukri.org/news/familie...

From ward rounds to speech sounds: an MRC Clinical Fellow’s story Read advice from an MRC Clinical Research Training Fellow on crafting your application, plus the value of working with patients and sharing your science.

"Involving patients has changed the way we think about our projects. It has helped our studies to become better designed..."

In our new blog, #MRC Clinical Research Training Fellow Johnny Tam reflects on the value of working with patients and sharing your science.

www.ukri.org/blog/from-wa...

Improving MRC funding through continued community engagement Following our Academy of Medical Sciences open online meeting, we’re sharing community feedback and providing more detail on our new funding process.

This week, @acmedsci.bsky.social hosted a meeting to discuss changes MRC is making to assessment processes when applicant-led funding opportunities re-open on 7 Apr.

MRC Exec Chair Prof Patrick Chinnery shares community feedback and details on MRC’s new funding process: www.ukri.org/blog/improvi...

Reflections from our Scotland regional engagement event l Professor Louise Heathwaite YouTube video by UK Research and Innovation

NERC Executive Chair, Professor Louise Heathwaite, was in Glasgow recently to engage with our stakeholders across Scotland on UKRI’s strategy.

Watch her video for the themes from their conversations: youtu.be/fdN_8Awx8e0

Sir Leszek Borysiewicz named as preferred candidate for UKRI Chair Science and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall has named Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz as the government’s preferred candidate for Chair of UKRI.

We’re pleased to share that Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz has been named as the government’s preferred candidate for Chair of UKRI.

Sir Leszek is expected to take up the role later this summer and will succeed the current UKRI Chair, Sir Andrew Mackenzie. More: www.ukri.org/news/sir-les...

AHRC Executive Chair to extend tenure Professor Christopher Smith will continue as Executive Chair of the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC).

Today, UKRI has announced that Professor Christopher Smith will continue as Executive Chair of AHRC.

After being appointed as Executive Chair in 2020, his term had been due to conclude in August 2026, but he will now remain in post while a succession plan is developed.

Read more ⬇️

Insights from UKRI’s North East regional engagement event l Professor Christopher Smith YouTube video by UK Research and Innovation

AHRC Executive Chair, Professor Christopher Smith, reflects on our engagement event at the University of Newcastle with North East stakeholders on UKRI's strategy.

Watch his video for highlights from their conversation: youtu.be/HDm9QYW7mM4

UKRI strategy virtual townhall YouTube video by UK Research and Innovation

Great discussion at our recent UKRI Strategy virtual townhall, exploring strategic priorities, practical challenges, and how we can strengthen the research and innovation system together. Thank you to everyone who contributed.

Watch the full discussion here: youtu.be/fkQSwcJpU88

Highlights from UKRI’s Midlands regional engagement event l Professor Dame Jessica Corner YouTube video by UK Research and Innovation

Research England Executive Chair, Professor Dame Jessica Corner, shares themes from our recent regional engagement event on UKRI's strategy at Birmingham City University.

This event brought together stakeholders from across the Midlands. Watch her video here: youtu.be/9WG-n4rjHEY

19 March 2026: UKRI and DSIT respond to Select Committee letter Professor Sir Ian Chapman and Lord Vallance respond to a letter from the Chair of the House of Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Committee.

This letter followed evidence given by STFC Executive Chair Michele Dougherty to the Committee on 4 March.

Today, our response to the letter has been published on the Committee's webpage. In the interest of openness and transparency UKRI is also publishing it here: www.ukri.org/publications...

On 12 March 2026 the Chair of the House of Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Committee, Dame Chi Onwurah MP, wrote to Lord Vallance and Professor Sir Ian Chapman with a series of questions about STFC cost pressures (🧵 )

Insights from our South East and London regional engagement event I Professor Patrick Chinnery YouTube video by UK Research and Innovation

MRC's Executive Chair, Professor Patrick Chinnery, shares highlights from one of our recent regional engagement events on UKRI's strategy.

This event at the Francis Crick Institute brought together stakeholders from across the South East and London: youtu.be/ZIKJFQUhaVY

Highlights from UKRI’s Northern Ireland regional engagement event l Stian Westlake YouTube video by UK Research and Innovation

ESRC's Executive Chair @stianwestlake.bsky.social was at Invest Northern Ireland where we held one of our regional engagement events to discuss UKRI's strategy.

He shares highlights from the conversation with stakeholders from across Northern Ireland and his reflections here: youtu.be/XkokOsdQvEA

Insights from our South West regional engagement event I Professor Michele Dougherty YouTube video by UK Research and Innovation

STFC’s Executive Chair, Professor Michele Dougherty, was at the University of Bath where we held the next in a series of regional engagement events on UKRI's new strategy.

In this video, she shares key insights from the conversation with stakeholders from across the South West: youtu.be/WSMCONGipjM

Hi, thanks for your question. To make sure your request is handled correctly under the Freedom of Information Act, could you please submit it via the UKRI FOI request form here: www.ukri.org/who-we-are/c.... This ensures your request can be formally logged and responded to by our FOI team.

Link to the BBC article: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

We have changed how we account for budgets to make us as transparent as possible, linking investment to outcomes more clearly as we deliver our mission to advance knowledge, improve lives and drive growth.

No decisions have been made about the STFC portfolio. The core budget for STFC grew ~20% over the last spending review period and is above flat over the next four years.

The pause on funding for theoretical particle physics postdoctoral grants was not due to budget cuts. The funding remains available within the STFC consolidated grant and can be used at any point within the four-year duration of the grant.

The government's record £38bn investment for UKRI over the coming years includes £14.5bn for curiosity-driven research. Far from being deprioritised, applicant-led funding – the central pillar of blue skies research – is growing substantially from £737m in FY 25/26 to reach £866m per year by 29/30.

Today’s BBC article on UKRI funding reforms and the financial position of STFC paints an incomplete and, in some areas, misleading picture. We want to set the record straight (🧵)

Future Leaders Fellowships: round 11 Funding to support ambitious research and innovation across UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)’s remit. You must be a researcher or innovator who is looking to establish or transition to independence.

Hi Ulla, yes they can apply but please do refer to the guidance on our website under the 'additional info' section: www.ukri.org/opportunity/...

Spiderman cells trap viral genomes in its web Scientists have discovered a defensive method of cells that resembles Spiderman shooting his web to ensnarl enemies.

Scientists have discovered a defensive method of cells that resembles Spiderman shooting his web to catch enemies🕸️

These cells defend our bodies from the early stages of viral infection by synthesising a sticky ‘web’ to trap viral genomes.

More: www.ukri.org/news/spiderm... #MRC

Insights from our East of England regional engagement event l Professor Anne Ferguson-Smith YouTube video by UK Research and Innovation

BBSRC’s Executive Chair, Professor Anne Ferguson-Smith, was at Innovate Cambridge’s The Glasshouse for the latest in our series of regional engagement events.

We brought together stakeholders from across the East of England to exchange ideas on UKRI’s strategy: youtu.be/ou6S_OI5puU?...

UK leads the world into the quantum age The UK’s next major step in quantum technology will help transform what’s possible in areas from healthcare and finance to national security and defence.

As part of a £2 billion Government package, we're supporting the development and roll-out of large-scale quantum computers in the UK.

This investment will help to accelerate bringing fundamental research into real-world applications to improve lives and drive growth.

www.ukri.org/news/uk-lead...

We're hosting a virtual town hall on 24 Mar, 3-4pm, where our CEO, Professor Sir Ian Chapman, will outline UKRI's upcoming five-year strategy & new mission.

He'll be joined by an executive panel and a Q&A will follow.

Registration closes 23 Mar, 5pm.

Register here⬇️

Reflections from our Wales regional engagement event l Professor Charlotte Deane YouTube video by UK Research and Innovation

EPSRC Exec Chair, Professor Charlotte Deane, was at an all-day event at Spark in Cardiff where we held the next in a series of regional engagement events on our new strategy.

We brought together stakeholders from across Wales and Charlotte shares themes from the conversation: youtu.be/kfWW0DoNcWw

Memorandum of Understanding strengthens UK-Ireland research and innovation collaboration - Research Ireland UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the UK’s national funding agency for research and innovation, and Research Ireland, Ireland’s national competitive research and innovation development agency, have m...

Research Ireland and @ukri.org have announced a new Memorandum of Understanding to underpin partnership on existing and new activities, enabling further collaboration on research areas that are critical to technological innovation and economic growth. Read more www.researchireland.ie/news/mou-uk-...

Sandpit: market access acceleration in consumer led flexibility Submit an expression of interest to attend this sandpit opportunity to co-design actionable prototype and minimum viable test products to support the acceleration of market access within consumer led ...

Apply to join the UKRI Market Access Acceleration Sandpit

This one-day collaborative sandpit (27 April, London) will bring together multidisciplinary experts to develop prototype solutions for consumer-led energy flexibility in the UK.

Application deadline: 26 March 2026

Find out more ⬇️