New £1 million fund launched to help researchers analyse our data

– 23 March 2026
The Medical Research Council (MRC) is launching a pilot scheme to support researchers who wish to access Our Future Health’s data. 

Under the scheme, MRC-supported researchers can apply to have the cost of accessing our data covered for up to 2 years.  

In total, the MRC is making £1m available to fund research using Our Future Health’s data. The scheme is designed to allow researchers to explore how our data can be used to support their research questions, enabling the discovery and testing of more effective ways to predict, detect and treat diseases. 

Our Future Health’s dataset is already the world’s largest and most diverse of its kind. Our trusted research environment (TRE) contains a detailed picture of the nation’s health, including: 

  • Over 2m participants with baseline health questionnaires 
  • 1.8m participants with geographical data 
  • 1.6m participants successfully linked to an NHS number 
  • 775,000 participants with genotype array data, of which 550,000 have imputed genotype data. 

MRC Executive Chair Professor Patrick Chinnery said: “This pilot scheme reflects MRC’s commitment to empower researchers with access to the most advanced population health data available. 

“By enabling researchers to explore this rich data resource, this funding will support innovation in disease prediction, early detection and treatment development – ultimately contributing to a healthier future for all of us.” 

Dr Raghib Ali OBE, Chief Executive of Our Future Health said: “The MRC’s new £1m fund is an exciting step that will help more researchers unlock the potential of Our Future Health’s data. By supporting MRC researchers to access our unique resource, the fund will accelerate high-quality research that can deepen our understanding of how we prevent, detect and treat disease.” 

L to R: Professor Patrick Chinnery and Dr Raghib Ali OBE

How the fund works 

The MRC’s pilot scheme is available to researchers from any the following groups: 

  • Researchers who are supported by MRC funding through a grant 
  • Researchers at an MRC-funded institute or unit 
  • Senior researchers applying on behalf of MRC-funded students or fellows, where the majority of the student or fellow’s project funding is from the MRC. 

To apply, researchers must visit the MRC’s funding finder and submit an Expression of Interest.  

Researchers who meet the MRC’s required criteria must then follow the normal Our Future Health researcher registration process and submit a study application form. The study proposal will be reviewed by our Access Board, in line with our strict access process. Our Access Board only approves health-related research that:   

  • is for public good and aligned to Our Future Health objectives  
  • is in line with the consent volunteers have given  
  • comes from researchers that have successfully completed our registration process. 

You can submit an Expression of Interest for the funding scheme on the UKRI website.