Robin Bisson
@robinbisson.bsky.social
UK News Editor, @resprofnews.bsky.social.
Mostly #researchpolicy, #researchfunding, #highered.
British Journalism Awards finalist.
Once likened to Tintin.
Also into rivers.
Tip? robin.bisson@clarivate.com
Mostly #researchpolicy, #researchfunding, #highered.
British Journalism Awards finalist.
Once likened to Tintin.
Also into rivers.
Tip? robin.bisson@clarivate.com
Good news for PGRs here (who need it this week, given worries over biomedical and physics funding), but as @kirstygrainger.bsky.social points out, it's hard to tell if higher stipends will come at the cost of fewer UKRI‑funded doctoral students
February 6, 2026 at 2:38 PM
Good news for PGRs here (who need it this week, given worries over biomedical and physics funding), but as @kirstygrainger.bsky.social points out, it's hard to tell if higher stipends will come at the cost of fewer UKRI‑funded doctoral students
Some more details in here about changes to the Global Talent visa route, with govt promising further reforms through 2026
Still very little detail on what Rachel Reeves said at Davos about reimbursements for some Global Talent visa holders
And a 👎 to staggering immigration health surcharge payment
Still very little detail on what Rachel Reeves said at Davos about reimbursements for some Global Talent visa holders
And a 👎 to staggering immigration health surcharge payment
Government to explore expansion of UK Global Talent Fund.
Ministers will review scheme for attracting elite international researchers, as government trails further visa reforms.
Free to read.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...
Ministers will review scheme for attracting elite international researchers, as government trails further visa reforms.
Free to read.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...
Government to explore expansion of UK Global Talent Fund - Research Professional News
Ministers will review scheme for attracting elite international researchers, as government trails further visa reforms
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
February 6, 2026 at 2:32 PM
Some more details in here about changes to the Global Talent visa route, with govt promising further reforms through 2026
Still very little detail on what Rachel Reeves said at Davos about reimbursements for some Global Talent visa holders
And a 👎 to staggering immigration health surcharge payment
Still very little detail on what Rachel Reeves said at Davos about reimbursements for some Global Talent visa holders
And a 👎 to staggering immigration health surcharge payment
Reposted by Robin Bisson
Nature sums up 3 elements of UKRI funding changes: MRC/BBSRC grant pauses; STFC cuts; infrastructure deprioritised.
Shame there's no credit for @resprofnews.bsky.social which first revealed all three!
Stellar work by @francesjones.bsky.social @robinbisson.bsky.social @isaacbarbosa1.bsky.social
Shame there's no credit for @resprofnews.bsky.social which first revealed all three!
Stellar work by @francesjones.bsky.social @robinbisson.bsky.social @isaacbarbosa1.bsky.social
February 6, 2026 at 12:56 PM
Nature sums up 3 elements of UKRI funding changes: MRC/BBSRC grant pauses; STFC cuts; infrastructure deprioritised.
Shame there's no credit for @resprofnews.bsky.social which first revealed all three!
Stellar work by @francesjones.bsky.social @robinbisson.bsky.social @isaacbarbosa1.bsky.social
Shame there's no credit for @resprofnews.bsky.social which first revealed all three!
Stellar work by @francesjones.bsky.social @robinbisson.bsky.social @isaacbarbosa1.bsky.social
Chinnery said MRC is “committed to sustaining curiosity-driven research through grant awards” and that “the overall UKRI budget for biomedical and health research is in an excellent position” with “the shift towards more coordinated UKRI‑wide themes” providing funds beyond curiosity-driven research
February 6, 2026 at 12:09 PM
Chinnery said MRC is “committed to sustaining curiosity-driven research through grant awards” and that “the overall UKRI budget for biomedical and health research is in an excellent position” with “the shift towards more coordinated UKRI‑wide themes” providing funds beyond curiosity-driven research
“We recognise the effort and time that applicants, reviewers and board and panel members commit to this process,” he said, adding the MRC recognises “the pause to funding opportunities and reducing our financial commitments for current applications will be challenging for parts of our community”
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February 6, 2026 at 12:09 PM
“We recognise the effort and time that applicants, reviewers and board and panel members commit to this process,” he said, adding the MRC recognises “the pause to funding opportunities and reducing our financial commitments for current applications will be challenging for parts of our community”
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This piece has been updated with some additional comments from MRC executive chair Patrick Chinnery, who also confirmed:
"We unfortunately expect to make a reduced number of awards to applications currently being assessed by our four research boards and developmental pathway funding scheme"
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"We unfortunately expect to make a reduced number of awards to applications currently being assessed by our four research boards and developmental pathway funding scheme"
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Medical Research Council ‘will fund fewer applicant-led grants’.
Confirmation from deputy leader comes as council restructures investments, with calls on hold until summer.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
Confirmation from deputy leader comes as council restructures investments, with calls on hold until summer.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
Medical Research Council ‘will fund fewer applicant-led grants’ - Research Professional News
Confirmation from deputy leader comes as council restructures investments, with calls on hold until summer
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
February 6, 2026 at 12:09 PM
This piece has been updated with some additional comments from MRC executive chair Patrick Chinnery, who also confirmed:
"We unfortunately expect to make a reduced number of awards to applications currently being assessed by our four research boards and developmental pathway funding scheme"
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"We unfortunately expect to make a reduced number of awards to applications currently being assessed by our four research boards and developmental pathway funding scheme"
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Clarification here after a few physicists pointed this out. The planned upgrade was to a detector on the LHC called the LHCb
bsky.app/profile/robi...
bsky.app/profile/robi...
The leaders of four major physics infrastructure projects due to receive over £280m from UKRI were told in December they have “not been prioritised” for funding
The projects include an upgrade to the LHC at Cern and a new US particle accelerator
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The projects include an upgrade to the LHC at Cern and a new US particle accelerator
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February 6, 2026 at 9:43 AM
Clarification here after a few physicists pointed this out. The planned upgrade was to a detector on the LHC called the LHCb
bsky.app/profile/robi...
bsky.app/profile/robi...
Clarification here after a few physicists pointed this out. The planned upgrade was to a detector on the LHC called the LHCb
bsky.app/profile/robi...
bsky.app/profile/robi...
Dougherty also confirmed that STFC was pulling back from funding promised for an upgrade to the LHC at Cern
"We simply don’t have the money to do everything,"” she said, later adding that "in the short term, we cannot afford to fund the upgrade"
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"We simply don’t have the money to do everything,"” she said, later adding that "in the short term, we cannot afford to fund the upgrade"
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February 6, 2026 at 9:42 AM
Clarification here after a few physicists pointed this out. The planned upgrade was to a detector on the LHC called the LHCb
bsky.app/profile/robi...
bsky.app/profile/robi...
Hmm, a par in this Nature story that refers to "media reports" summarises a string of recent stories broken by RPN, but no attribution given
Story also gets the cost reduction figure at STFC wrong. It's £162m, not £60m - another figure revealed by RPN reporting
Story also gets the cost reduction figure at STFC wrong. It's £162m, not £60m - another figure revealed by RPN reporting
February 5, 2026 at 9:45 PM
Hmm, a par in this Nature story that refers to "media reports" summarises a string of recent stories broken by RPN, but no attribution given
Story also gets the cost reduction figure at STFC wrong. It's £162m, not £60m - another figure revealed by RPN reporting
Story also gets the cost reduction figure at STFC wrong. It's £162m, not £60m - another figure revealed by RPN reporting
Not sure it does include much more than the responsive mode calls (and I was nudged to look at the figure as a comparator). Here's the bit from the delivery plan. Four MRC boards appear to map onto the applicant-led calls, see here: www.ukri.org/councils/mrc...
As I say, we asked for clarity, but 🤷
As I say, we asked for clarity, but 🤷
February 5, 2026 at 9:26 PM
Not sure it does include much more than the responsive mode calls (and I was nudged to look at the figure as a comparator). Here's the bit from the delivery plan. Four MRC boards appear to map onto the applicant-led calls, see here: www.ukri.org/councils/mrc...
As I say, we asked for clarity, but 🤷
As I say, we asked for clarity, but 🤷
MRC's strategic delivery plan for 2022-25 - referred to as budget for discovery research. We asked for specific figures on responsive mode calls...but they were not forthcoming
February 5, 2026 at 8:51 PM
MRC's strategic delivery plan for 2022-25 - referred to as budget for discovery research. We asked for specific figures on responsive mode calls...but they were not forthcoming
There was a question about whether the pause/lower funding rates would make working in biomedical research in the UK less attractive, and the response was that it wouldn't
February 5, 2026 at 5:42 PM
There was a question about whether the pause/lower funding rates would make working in biomedical research in the UK less attractive, and the response was that it wouldn't
Full story by @francesjones.bsky.social, who has been breaking all the big STFC stories: www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
‘Difficult’ two years ahead for physics, warns STFC boss - Research Professional News
Michele Dougherty confirms withdrawal from LHC upgrade and indicates scant money for new projects
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
February 5, 2026 at 5:06 PM
Full story by @francesjones.bsky.social, who has been breaking all the big STFC stories: www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
Interestingly, both Dougherty and UKRI chief exec Ian Chapman have repeated the line that the situation that STFC is in is partly a result of "extremely ambitious" decisions made in 2022 about how many projects it could fund
Who was head of STFC then? Current Cern director-general Mark Thomson
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Who was head of STFC then? Current Cern director-general Mark Thomson
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February 5, 2026 at 5:06 PM
Interestingly, both Dougherty and UKRI chief exec Ian Chapman have repeated the line that the situation that STFC is in is partly a result of "extremely ambitious" decisions made in 2022 about how many projects it could fund
Who was head of STFC then? Current Cern director-general Mark Thomson
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Who was head of STFC then? Current Cern director-general Mark Thomson
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Dougherty also confirmed that STFC was pulling back from funding promised for an upgrade to the LHC at Cern
"We simply don’t have the money to do everything,"” she said, later adding that "in the short term, we cannot afford to fund the upgrade"
...
"We simply don’t have the money to do everything,"” she said, later adding that "in the short term, we cannot afford to fund the upgrade"
...
February 5, 2026 at 5:06 PM
Dougherty also confirmed that STFC was pulling back from funding promised for an upgrade to the LHC at Cern
"We simply don’t have the money to do everything,"” she said, later adding that "in the short term, we cannot afford to fund the upgrade"
...
"We simply don’t have the money to do everything,"” she said, later adding that "in the short term, we cannot afford to fund the upgrade"
...
Dougherty has previously told the physics community the cost-savings will include stopping or reducing budgets for existing projects
Asked by whether STFC would be able to fund any new projects in the next two years, Dougherty indicated that would come at the expense of projects already funded
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Asked by whether STFC would be able to fund any new projects in the next two years, Dougherty indicated that would come at the expense of projects already funded
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February 5, 2026 at 5:06 PM
Dougherty has previously told the physics community the cost-savings will include stopping or reducing budgets for existing projects
Asked by whether STFC would be able to fund any new projects in the next two years, Dougherty indicated that would come at the expense of projects already funded
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Asked by whether STFC would be able to fund any new projects in the next two years, Dougherty indicated that would come at the expense of projects already funded
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STFC executive chair Michele Dougherty said: "We've got a difficult couple of years in front of us"
She said that in years three and four of the current spending review period (i.e. 28/29 and 29/30) "we start to have a bit of headroom" in STFC’s budget
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She said that in years three and four of the current spending review period (i.e. 28/29 and 29/30) "we start to have a bit of headroom" in STFC’s budget
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February 5, 2026 at 5:06 PM
STFC executive chair Michele Dougherty said: "We've got a difficult couple of years in front of us"
She said that in years three and four of the current spending review period (i.e. 28/29 and 29/30) "we start to have a bit of headroom" in STFC’s budget
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She said that in years three and four of the current spending review period (i.e. 28/29 and 29/30) "we start to have a bit of headroom" in STFC’s budget
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As mentioned in another thread, four UKRI leaders spoke to journalists this morning about changes to research council funding
They addressed stories broken by RPN that STFC has to find £162m of costs savings by 2029-30, and that major physics infrastructure projects have been shelved
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They addressed stories broken by RPN that STFC has to find £162m of costs savings by 2029-30, and that major physics infrastructure projects have been shelved
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‘Difficult’ two years ahead for physics, warns STFC boss.
Michele Dougherty confirms withdrawal from LHC upgrade and indicates scant money for new projects.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
Michele Dougherty confirms withdrawal from LHC upgrade and indicates scant money for new projects.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
‘Difficult’ two years ahead for physics, warns STFC boss - Research Professional News
Michele Dougherty confirms withdrawal from LHC upgrade and indicates scant money for new projects
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
February 5, 2026 at 5:06 PM
As mentioned in another thread, four UKRI leaders spoke to journalists this morning about changes to research council funding
They addressed stories broken by RPN that STFC has to find £162m of costs savings by 2029-30, and that major physics infrastructure projects have been shelved
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They addressed stories broken by RPN that STFC has to find £162m of costs savings by 2029-30, and that major physics infrastructure projects have been shelved
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Impact on ECRs was raised in questions but not addressed directly. More to come on that issue
February 5, 2026 at 4:53 PM
Impact on ECRs was raised in questions but not addressed directly. More to come on that issue
Full story by me: www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
Medical Research Council ‘will fund fewer applicant-led grants’ - Research Professional News
Confirmation from deputy leader comes as council restructures investments, with calls on hold until summer
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
February 5, 2026 at 4:31 PM
Full story by me: www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
UKRI chief executive Ian Chapman also said that "life sciences remains a big priority for us" and UKRI will invest £1.5bn in life sciences across the areas of its budget that do not cover curiosity-driven research, suggesting that biomedical researchers will have more opportunities there
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February 5, 2026 at 4:31 PM
UKRI chief executive Ian Chapman also said that "life sciences remains a big priority for us" and UKRI will invest £1.5bn in life sciences across the areas of its budget that do not cover curiosity-driven research, suggesting that biomedical researchers will have more opportunities there
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Asked why the MRC is pausing calls for 6 months - they are due to reopen in summer - much longer than pauses at other research councils, Wells said:
"We're making changes and reforming how we go about the mechanics of the funding decision-making, which is not the same across the board in UKRI"
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"We're making changes and reforming how we go about the mechanics of the funding decision-making, which is not the same across the board in UKRI"
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February 5, 2026 at 4:31 PM
Asked why the MRC is pausing calls for 6 months - they are due to reopen in summer - much longer than pauses at other research councils, Wells said:
"We're making changes and reforming how we go about the mechanics of the funding decision-making, which is not the same across the board in UKRI"
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"We're making changes and reforming how we go about the mechanics of the funding decision-making, which is not the same across the board in UKRI"
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Multiple sources told us that MRC board members have been asked to only recommend 3 grants for funding from the 2025 round
Previous rounds have averaged 12-13 grants, we found after crunching the numbers
See: www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
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Previous rounds have averaged 12-13 grants, we found after crunching the numbers
See: www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
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February 5, 2026 at 4:31 PM
Multiple sources told us that MRC board members have been asked to only recommend 3 grants for funding from the 2025 round
Previous rounds have averaged 12-13 grants, we found after crunching the numbers
See: www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
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Previous rounds have averaged 12-13 grants, we found after crunching the numbers
See: www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
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MRC deputy executive chair Glenn Wells said:
"On the funding rate question, I can’t give you a number [for] what that rate will be, but we expect to fund a reduced number"
He didn't indicate whether funding rates would rise again down the line
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"On the funding rate question, I can’t give you a number [for] what that rate will be, but we expect to fund a reduced number"
He didn't indicate whether funding rates would rise again down the line
...
February 5, 2026 at 4:31 PM
MRC deputy executive chair Glenn Wells said:
"On the funding rate question, I can’t give you a number [for] what that rate will be, but we expect to fund a reduced number"
He didn't indicate whether funding rates would rise again down the line
...
"On the funding rate question, I can’t give you a number [for] what that rate will be, but we expect to fund a reduced number"
He didn't indicate whether funding rates would rise again down the line
...
Four senior UKRI leaders appeared at a press briefing this morning in the wake of RPN stories over the last week about a shake-up to research council funding
Our story that the MRC is expecting to fund fewer grants through applicant-led calls that closed in September last year was confirmed
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Our story that the MRC is expecting to fund fewer grants through applicant-led calls that closed in September last year was confirmed
...
Medical Research Council ‘will fund fewer applicant-led grants’.
Confirmation from deputy leader comes as council restructures investments, with calls on hold until summer.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
Confirmation from deputy leader comes as council restructures investments, with calls on hold until summer.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
Medical Research Council ‘will fund fewer applicant-led grants’ - Research Professional News
Confirmation from deputy leader comes as council restructures investments, with calls on hold until summer
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
February 5, 2026 at 4:31 PM
Four senior UKRI leaders appeared at a press briefing this morning in the wake of RPN stories over the last week about a shake-up to research council funding
Our story that the MRC is expecting to fund fewer grants through applicant-led calls that closed in September last year was confirmed
...
Our story that the MRC is expecting to fund fewer grants through applicant-led calls that closed in September last year was confirmed
...