Scientists are concerned that curiosity-driven research is set to be further cut back after three research councils confirmed they have paused funding opportunities. Amid a shake-up of how UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) allocates budgets for its research councils, three of the largest – the Medical Research Council (MRC), the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) have confirmed several of their main funding routes have been suspended in recent months until further notice. At the MRC, which had a core budget of £602 million in 2025-26, applicant-led research grants, new investigator research grants and partnership grants have been paused since late December with no indication of when they might reopen. ADVERTISEMENTApplicant-led responsive funding is also not open at the BBSRC – a move that affects standard research grants and new investigator awards. Overall budget settlements for the UK’s seven research councils, plus Innovate UK and Research England, have yet to be publicly announced.

Source: The Times January 31, 2026 11:20 UTC