Responsibility
Moderna is committed to funding independent medical education initiatives that help healthcare professionals stay at the forefront of this developing science and better understand evolving disease state challenges
UK Research Fellowships and PhD opportunities
Through this programme, Moderna aims to empower early-career researchers and foster scientific discovery that expands the potential of mRNA-based technologies to improve global public health.
Moderna supports the next generation of scientific leaders through its UK Research Fellowship and PhD Programme, offering funding for high-calibre PhD and postdoctoral researchers undertaking innovative work in areas of strategic scientific interest.
This programme provides financial support to enable independent, high-impact research that advances understanding of mRNA science and its real-world applications. Fellows and students must be based at UK universities and research institutions and will contribute to fostering collaboration within Moderna’s global research community, with their research benefitting the wider academic sector.
Funding is provided to organisations only, is prospective, and will be free from any obligation to Moderna.
Focus Areas
Moderna welcomes expressions of interest for research aligned with the following priority areas:
mRNA Platform Science: Foundational research into the mechanisms, structure, and optimisation of mRNA, LNPs and alternative delivery technologies.
Health Economics and Real-World Evidence: Studies evaluating the impact, access, and outcomes of mRNA medicines and vaccines within healthcare systems.
Global Health: Research targeting emerging, neglected, or high-burden infectious diseases, with an emphasis on equitable vaccine innovation.
Autoimmune Cohorts and Target Identification: Investigations into immune-mediated disease mechanisms and characterisation of deeply phenotyped datasets.
AI and Quantum Computing for mRNA Design: Application of advanced computational methods to optimise sequence design, formulation, and manufacturing of mRNA.
Oncology: In-depth analysis of pre-cancers and early cancer progression; identification of novel biomarkers or surrogates of immune modulation.
Our Research Partnerships to Date
Since launching the programme, Moderna has supported researchers across a range of these areas — from fundamental studies in mRNA science to real-world evidence and quantum innovation. These collaborations highlight the depth and diversity of research being advanced through the programme.
You can learn more about the projects and researchers we have funded here.
How to Apply
Researchers interested in applying or learning more about the programme are invited to submit an expression of interest to: ukresearch@modernatx.com.
Please include the following details:
Organisation name
Brief project outline
Proposed timelines
Budget summary
Intended outputs
A written agreement and contract are required for each project.
Collaborative working
Our commitment to transparent, ethical collaborative working
Moderna partners with the NHS and other healthcare organisations on collaborative-working initiatives where combined effort can deliver measurable, patient-centred benefits and support system priorities. These projects are founded on shared objectives, transparent governance and clearly defined roles to ensure they deliver value that could not be achieved by either party alone.
In accordance with Clause 20 of the ABPI Code, we publish an executive summary for each collaborative-working project, outlining its objectives, participating organisations, expected benefits and any associated funding and resources.
