About

The MRC Medicines Development Fellowship Programme is an exciting new initiative designed to develop the next generation of leaders in medicines development.

Funding to the value of £8.2 million provided by the MRC, four industry partners and the four HEIs aims to enhance collaboration between academia and industry to deliver world-class medicines development, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

The programme is led by the University of Liverpool, in partnership with the University of Manchester, Queen Mary University London, and the University of Glasgow, as well as industry partners including GSK, AstraZeneca, Optum, and Hammersmith Medicines Research.  

Four clinician scientist fellows (CSF) and four clinical research training fellows (CRTF) will be supported, focusing on critical disease areas including infection and inflammation, cardiac and respiratory disease, oncology, and neuropsychiatry. These areas are strategically aligned with the expertise of both academic institutions and industry partners. 

Fellows will have access to a dedicated teaching programme, mentorship from academic and industry leaders, and opportunities to develop skills in leadership, patient involvement, communication, and engagement. 

By offering fellows experience across various sectors of the pharmaceutical development process—including major pharmaceutical companies, data science, and clinical research—the programme aims to build expertise and advance careers in clinical academia. 

The MRC Medicines Development Fellowship Programme builds on the success of the North West England MRC Fellowship Scheme in Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (2010-2025), further strengthening the links between academia and industry to support the development of future therapeutics.