MQ: Transforming Mental Health

MQ funds mental health research across all areas, with particular interest in children and young people, public mental health, suicide, psychosis, bipolar disorder, depression, and anxiety. They also support transdisciplinary research that brings new methods from outside mental health science to early intervention for depression, anxiety, or psychosis. Additionally, they offer fellowships focused on schizophrenia, covering mechanisms, prediction, interventions, and outcomes. The charity supports research at universities, hospitals, and research institutes across the UK, funding research projects, fellowships, and transdisciplinary grants.

Researchers based at universities, hospitals, research institutes, or other independent research organisations are eligible to apply. MQ welcomes applications from both early-career and established researchers. The charity prioritises research that involves people with lived experience and aims to build a diverse research workforce. There are no income or size restrictions for applicant organisations, but researchers with substantial other funding commitments may be excluded. MQ does not have a faith-based restriction.

MQ does not fund core costs, equipment, or indirect costs. They exclude early-stage drug discovery and, for their transdisciplinary grants, primary research is not supported—only literature reviews to produce viewpoint papers. Researchers with other funding commitments exceeding a certain threshold are ineligible. Applications from mainland China are excluded for transdisciplinary grants, and countries under UK financial sanctions are also excluded.

MQ funds through competitive programmes, offering both multi-year fellowships (up to three years) and one-off transdisciplinary grants. They welcome unsolicited applications and involve people with lived experience in the review process. Match funding is not required. The charity funds research costs such as salaries and patient and public involvement, but not core costs or capital.