King’s College London has chosen to invest in the future of doctoral training in the Biomedical Sciences working in partnership to deliver world leading research. We will continue to offer exceptional training to our doctoral researchers, enabling them to become future leaders equipped to address major health challenges, including precision prevention, early diagnosis, and advanced therapeutics.
Professor Sir Bashir M. Al-Hashimi, Senior Vice President (Research & Special Initiatives)
24 September 2026
King's College London announces a new Medical Research Council Doctoral Landscape Award in Biomedical Sciences
The King’s College London and MRC Doctoral Landscape Award in Biomedical Sciences is one of fourteen Medical Research Council (MRC) Doctoral Landscape Awards (DLAs) announced today, Thursday 24 September.
The MRC DLA funding award, announced today will be enhanced by an additional investment of £7.7million from King's College London and £6.1 million of partnership co-funding.
Over the next three years, the King’s College London MRC-DLA in Biomedical Sciences will train over 100 doctoral researchers which will strengthen UK research capacity, and accelerate translation of discovery into patient benefit, policy impact and economic value.
Doctoral researchers will benefit from established collaborations with King’s Health Partners and 35 industry partners, providing an integrated ecosystem spanning discovery, experimental medicine, clinical translation, and real-world implementation.
Doctoral training will be delivered through three new interdisciplinary themes:
- Mechanisms of Health & Disease and Experimental Medicine;
- Neuroscience & Mental Health Innovation; and
- Biomedical Engineering, Imaging and AI for Precision Health.
Together, these themes address MRC priorities and enable research across biology, medicine, engineering and data science.
Following a long history of successful doctoral training in Biomedical Sciences at King’s College London, this newly awarded MRC Doctoral Landscape Award in Biomedical Sciences will train the next generation of UK biomedical researchers. The interdisciplinary nature of the training programme will ensure our doctoral researchers develop the core skills in data science, AI and entrepreneurship needed to tackle future health challenges.
Professor Rebecca Oakey, Dean for Doctoral Studies
Our partnerships with NHS organisations, biomedical and life science companies, medical research charities and the pharmaceutical industry enables our doctoral students to benefit from access to research environments, professional networks and career pathways beyond academia.
Professor Sandrine Thuret, Director of the King's College and MRC DLA in Biomedical Sciences
Recruitment for the first cohort of 34 doctoral students starting in October 2027 will open in December and will offer three pathways to PhD with a focus on widening participation and enhancing access to research careers.
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Senior Vice President (Research & Special Initiatives)
Professor of Epigenetics
Professor of Neuroscience