Applications are now open for the MRC North RACR BEACON Award, a new funding opportunity supporting clinical academic career development across the North of England.

Delivered through the Medical Research Council (MRC) Regional Account for Clinical Researchers (RACR) programme, the scheme offers up to £50,000 to support protected research time for registered healthcare professionals who hold a PhD or MD.

The funding call aims to help researchers maintain or re-establish research momentum and strengthen their competitiveness for future fellowships and research awards.

To help prospective applicants develop competitive submissions, the BEACON team has made a range of support resources available, including a recorded applicant webinar, webinar slides, and upcoming Applicant Clinic sessions where participants can receive practical advice and ask questions about their applications.

• Watch the recording here
• View the webinar slides here

There are more upcoming practical webinars, offering the opportunity for applicants to ask questions about their developing application, and receive specific, practical advice on how to strengthen it.

• Register for the Applicant Clinic on 29/09/26
• Register for the Applicant Clinic on 14/10/26

The deadline for applications is 23 October 2026, 4pm. Prospective applicants are encouraged to discuss their proposal with their local BEACON Centre Lead as early as possible to allow sufficient time for approvals and application development.

Further information, application guidance and supporting resources can be found on the Funding Calls section of the BEACON webpage.