Our science and contacts (NMHB)

The Neurosciences and Mental Health Board (NMHB) supports research that will transform our understanding of the physiology and behaviour of the human nervous system throughout the life course in health and in illness, as well as how to treat and prevent disorders of the brain.

The research we support includes the interactions between the nervous system and other parts of the body, i.e. brain/mental health and physical health. We are also interested in how episodes throughout life (such as childhood experiences, changing health behaviours, infections etc) impact on lifelong mental and neurological health.

The work that we fund encompasses the continuum from basic to translational and includes multidisciplinary/interdisciplinary studies. This science is underpinned by research that uses human, animal and cell models, clinical and population studies, interventions as well as tool and technique development. Broadly, our portfolio falls within the following areas: neurodegeneration; clinical neurology; neuroinflammation; mental health; addictions and substance misuse; behavioural and learning disorders, including autism; cognitive and behavioural neuroscience; cognitive systems; sensory neuroscience, including vision and hearing; neurobiology; and neurophysiology. This work is supported by underpinning capabilities such as neuroimaging technology, brain banking and neuroinformatics.

The Board seeks to support a diverse portfolio of research of relevance to the UK and globally, in particular in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). In addition, through our portfolio of funding the Board seeks to address both long-standing research questions and support the investigation of emergent higher risk opportunities.

The Board welcomes submissions on:

• fundamental discovery research relating to the development, function and disorders of the human nervous system. Including use of in silico systems, relevant animal models and experimental studies in humans
• population-level research, using epidemiological, genetic, electrophysiological, neuroimaging, ‘omic approaches, and computational modelling, to elucidate disease risks, aetiologies and progression of disorders of the nervous system
• research to inform novel strategies for preventing and treating disorders of the nervous system

For applications addressing LMIC priorities, please refer to the Official Development Assistance/research principles section of our International and global health: Remit and science we support page.

For applications for fellowships please refer to our Fellowships page. For studies undertaking the development, validation or evaluation of new products/interventions please see our Translational research and Global health funding partnerships pages.

Please, note that all applications for funding for new or existing population cohort studies are required to submit an outline for assessment by the Cohort Strategic Review Group (CSRG). Applications for funding for clinical (i.e. patient-specific or disease-focused) cohorts need not follow this process.

Board Opportunities

The Board has selected some priority areas that will guide its key investments and initiatives as well as its grant giving behaviour. These form the Board’s current opportunity areas and we encourage researchers to submit applications that focus on:

• mental health studies: focusing on children and adolescents; exploring co-morbidities of physical and mental health (i.e. brain and body); mental health informatics and data science; and/or stratifying underlying mechanisms and symptoms of disorders
• neurodegeneration: The Board welcomes applications in areas where it is important to deepen our understanding of neurodegenerative diseases including the impact of comorbidities, such as sleep disturbances, hearing loss, chronic inflammatory states, immunological disorders, cardiovascular and/or metabolic diseases. We also support work on neurodegenerative conditions that result in progressive degeneration or death of nerve cells, including multiple sclerosis, disorders of the auditory, visual, motor and autonomic nervous systems
• through highlighting the opportunity area of ‘insight into the living human brain ’ the Board is seeking to encourage studies that address the function of, and interplay between, human brain cells over time. This includes neurons, glia and the neurovasculature. This area aligns, in part, with the Molecular and Cellular Medicine Board’s opportunity 'understanding dynamic biological systems'. We are particularly interested in receiving applications that utilise living human brain tissue or directly measure the activity of human neural circuits

The Board expects to retain its opportunities for at least three years, although they will be assessed each year and individually may be refreshed in line with developments.

Science contacts

If you have a query about scientific aspects of your research proposal, please contact the programme manager shown below against your scientific area:

Programme Manager for Cognition and Developmental Disorders

Dr Charlotte Inchley - Charlotte.Inchley@mrc.ukri.org
Including: cognitive systems, behavioural neuroscience, developmental neurobiology, cognitive development & neurodevelopmental disorder, autism

Units/Centres/International initiatives:

• MRC Cognition & Brain Sciences Unit, Cambridge
• Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, Edinburgh (Life Long Health & Wellbeing centre)
• MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, KCL
• ERA-NET NEURON

Programme Manager for Neuronal Function

Dr Simon Fisher - Simon.Fisher@mrc.ukri.org

Including: neurobiology (excluding developmental neurobiology), neurophysiology, synaptic plasticity, sleep & fatigue, brain and tissue banking

 Units/Centres:

• Francis Crick Institute, London – Neurosciences
• MRC Brain Network Dynamics Unit, Oxford
• MRC UK Brain Banks Network

Programme Manager for Neurodegeneration and Sensory Science

Dr Clara Fons – Clara.Fons@mrc.ukri.org
Including: neurodegeneration, sensory neuroscience (hearing, vision), neuroinflammation & neuroimmunology

Units/Centres/International initiatives:

• EU Joint Programme Neurodegenerative Disease Research (JPND), including JPsustaiND
• Network of Centres of Excellence in Neurodegeneration (CoEN)
• UK Dementia Research Institute

Programme Manager for Neurological Disorders

Dr Stephen Meader – stephen.meader@mrc.ukri.org

Including: Stroke, epilepsy, neuromuscular disorders, pain, anaesthesia, brain and spinal cord injury and repair, computational neuroscience and neuroinformatics.

Units/Centres:

• LMB Neuroscience, Cambridge
• MRC Centre for Translational Research in Neuromuscular Disease, UCL and Newcastle

Head of Programme –  Mental Health & Addiction

Dr Karen Brakspear – karen.brakspear@mrc.ukri.org

Including: mental health, clinical psychology, addictions and substance misuse

Units/Centres:

• MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff

Science Manager – Lifelong Mental Health and Dementias

Charlotte Allen - Charlotte.Allen@mrc.ukri.org

• Dementias Platform UK
• Network of Centres of Excellence in Neurodegeneration (CoEN)
• JPND calls
• Strategic calls in Mental health

Head of Neurosciences and Mental Health

Dr Jo Latimer - Joanna.Latimer@mrc.ukri.org