BBSRC standard research grant: 2026 round one: applicant-led mode (Apply by 14 Jan)
Apply for funding to support excellent investigator-led research across the breadth of Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) scientific remit.You must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for BBSRC funding. Standard research grants are available for researchers at eligible research organisations.The full economic cost (FEC) of your project can be up to £2 million. Funding is available for up to five years. BBSRC will fund 80% of the FEC.
This scheme supports excellent investigator-led research across the breadth of BBSRC scientific remit.
You are encouraged to consider the relevance of your proposed work in line with the long-term research and innovation priorities set out in BBSRC’s strategic delivery plan 2022 to 2025.
A small number of responsive mode Spotlight areas may be in operation at any one time, in line with the more targeted nature of the new mechanism. The aim of the Spotlight mechanism is to provide simpler, more agile, and dynamic targeting of particular areas of timely strategic interest, opportunity or need. If Spotlight areas are applicable to this round, they will be advertised from the outset.
Scope
Funding is available for:
- research projects, including data intensive and technology development projects
- equipment or use of existing facilities
- community resources, new facilities, or infrastructure
- research networks and coordination
- summer schools
You can apply to undertake biotechnology or biological research in:
- plants
- microbes
- animals and humans
- tools and technology underpinning biological research
Investigations within and across scales are supported, from molecules and cells, to tissues, whole organisms, populations and landscapes.
We welcome multidisciplinary proposals that cross into other research council areas but expect the primary focus of your work to fall within BBSRC’s remit.
We work with other research councils to ensure that applications close to remit boundaries are assessed by the most appropriate lead council. Please contact remit@bbsrc.ukri.org with any queries about the suitability of your application before applying.
We have a strong commitment to funding curiosity-led research and advancing excellent bioscience across our portfolio.