Published: 14 July 2026

AMRC member charities have demonstrated their continued commitment to robust processes for funding high-quality research by completing the recent AMRC Expert Review Audit. A key requirement of AMRC membership, the audit helps ensure that the AMRC kitemark remains a recognised mark of quality for research funding.

AMRC charities invested £2.1 billion in UK medical research in 2025, and the audit provides assurance that this funding is awarded through expert review that meets the highest standards.  Members’ funding processes are assessed against AMRC’s six principles of expert review: proportionality, independence, diversity, rotation, impartiality and transparency.

Conducted every five years, the audit is overseen by a cross-sector committee of senior research funding leaders and assesses compliance with these principles alongside wider membership requirements.

Throughout the audit, AMRC worked closely with members, providing constructive feedback to help strengthen their funding processes. AMRC will support charities to implement recommendations over the next six months as well as continuing to share best practice and encourage continuous improvement in research funding over the longer term.

Successful completion of the audit supports AMRC charities and the researchers they fund by enabling access to key government schemes and partnership initiatives, including the Charity Research Support Fund, Research Part B Cost Funding for studies in the NHS, NIHR Research Delivery Network Non-commercial Partner Status, and the Global Talent visa route.

Nicola Perrin, Chief Executive of AMRC, said: "AMRC membership is recognised as a kitemark of quality, and this audit is central to maintaining that reputation. We are grateful to the Expert Review Committee for leading such a thorough and rigorous assessment of our members.

"I congratulate our members on successfully completing the audit. Their commitment to robust, fair and transparent research funding gives researchers, donors, partners and the public confidence that AMRC charities are investing in the highest-quality research to improve health and save lives."

Victoria King, Director of Funding and Impact at Barts Charity, said: “Passing the AMRC Expert Review Audit is an important endorsement of the robust and fair processes we use to make research funding decisions. This strengthens confidence in our approach, supports reflection on best practice as we develop our new strategy, and builds our ability to work collaboratively with partners across the research sector.”

Simon Denegri OBE, Chair of the Expert Review Committee and Chair of the UK Clinical Research Collaboration Clinical Trials Unit Network Executive Group, said: "Overseeing this audit has given me a unique view of expert review across AMRC's membership. What stands out is the strength of the processes charities have in place, alongside a clear commitment to continuously improving how funding decisions are made. That's good for researchers, research partners and, ultimately, patients."

Sarah Collinge, a member of the Expert Review Audit Committee and a representative of the Medical Research Council and UK Research and Innovation said: “The audit demonstrates the strength of a shared commitment to consistent and robust expert review across UK medical research funders. What stands out most from participating in this successful audit is the value of collaboration between government funders, charities and partners. By working together to share good practice and uphold high standards, we ensure research funding decisions are robust, fair and focused on delivering benefit for people and society.”

Notes to editors

Passing the Expert Review Audit is a requirement for Full AMRC membership. Introductory members are working towards meeting the criteria for Full membership and are therefore not yet part of the audit process.

A total of 144 Full AMRC members participated in the audit, with 98% successfully completing the process. The audit is an important part of maintaining AMRC membership as a recognised kitemark of quality, while also providing members with feedback to strengthen their processes and ensure they continue to meet best practice standards in expert review.