INSPIRE Portsmouth for the MRC

Public Involvement Funding for MRC Grant Development 

This scheme supports University of Portsmouth researchers in co-creating high-quality research proposals for the MRC. By providing targeted funding for recruitment, facilitation, and public member time and expenses, we help you integrate public voices into your project’s design.

• Single-investigator awards: Up to £500

• Multi-centre collaborations: Up to £800

• Note: Total fund pot is £5,000; academic time is not covered.

Who can apply

Applications must involve a University of Portsmouth researcher (staff or registered post-graduate student). The lead applicant can be at any career stage (early career researchers are encouraged to apply). Collaborative bids with external partners are welcome and encouraged. Applicants must have completed public involvement training prior to applying, support is available for this on the events & learning page of this website. Individuals involved in administering this funding scheme are not eligible to apply.

Application Process

Applications should be submitted via the online form. There will be up to three application rounds (depending on available funds). Early applications are encouraged to maximise the amount of time you will have to use the funds, and to increase your chances of success. Future rounds of funding will only be held if there are funds still available. Applications will be assessed by a panel of public involvement members, who are supporting the scheme. Successful applicants will be invited to attend at least one panel meeting and the end-of-programme celebration event.

Dates associated with each round of funding:

Reporting requirements

Successful applicants will be required to submit a short report by the 1st of March 2027. We encourage you to keep an ongoing log of your public involvement activities, to include the input you’ve received from your public collaborators and the impact that has had on your thinking and plans. You can use the Public Involvement in Research Impact Toolkit (PIRIT) to support you in this. Your impact report will need to be completed using a template form (see below).

You will be asked for a brief progress update to enable the administrators to ensure the target spending for the overall funding envelope is on course. The final impact report is to enable us to fulfil our reporting requirements to the MRC and capture the impact of the scheme. You will also be invited to attend a panel meeting with the public members who are awarding these funds for a supportive discussion on your progress and to enable reflection and feedback.

We will want to know the outcome of any future funding applications you submit as a result of your public involvement activities undertaken via this scheme, including to any other funders other than the MRC.