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The institute will unite obesity research, cardiovascular science and industry to accelerate targeted prevention, treatment and improved national health outcomes
The Medical Research Council (MRC), in partnership with the British Heart Foundation (BHF), has opened a funding opportunity worth up to £72 million to establish the UK Obesity Research Institute (UK-ORI)
BHF will contribute up to £12 million over seven years towards cardiovascular disease research. The funders expect to make one award, with applications closing on 19 November 2026 and a decision due in March 2027. UK-ORI must begin by 1 October 2027, subject to approval of a full business case
The institute will investigate obesity’s biological and environmental drivers, why it affects people differently and how it contributes to chronic disease. BHF estimates cardiovascular disease linked to excess weight and obesity could claim 170,000 lives in England between 2026 and 2035 if current trends continue
Obesity is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease, linked to tens of thousands of heart attacks and strokes every year in the UK. It is vital that we improve our understanding of how obesity impacts our national health. That’s why we’re delighted to be partnering with the Medical Research Council to establish the UK Obesity Research Institute.”
Professor Bryan Williams, BHF Chief Scientific and Medical Officer
Rising obesity burden
England recorded 8,716 hospital admissions directly attributable to obesity in 2022/23, 13 percent more than the previous year. Obesity contributed to more than 1.2 million admissions during the same period, an increase of 8 percent
The announcement follows calls from MPs for mandatory healthy food sales targets, tougher marketing controls and financial penalties to address England’s obesity crisis
Professor Bryan Williams, BHF Chief Scientific and Medical Officer, said: “Obesity is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease, linked to tens of thousands of heart attacks and strokes every year in the UK. It is vital that we improve our understanding of how obesity impacts our national health. That’s why we’re delighted to be partnering with the Medical Research Council to establish the UK Obesity Research Institute.”
Turning research into treatments
UK-ORI will combine expertise in biomedical science, medicine and technology to examine obesity’s origins, prevention, treatment and health consequences
Researchers will use experimental medicine to test biological mechanisms in people and assess potential therapies. They will also investigate links between obesity and cardiovascular risk factors including high blood pressure, high triglycerides and low levels of high-density lipoprotein, or ‘good’, cholesterol
The institute will connect academia, healthcare and industry to move research findings into prevention strategies and treatments more quickly
Williams continued: “Obesity is a complex condition that is too often misunderstood, yet it is one of the biggest drivers of heart disease and stroke. The institute will bring together leading researchers and invest in cutting-edge science, helping to transform our understanding of obesity and accelerate the development of new ways to prevent and treat it – ultimately helping more people to live in good health for longer.”
Professor Patrick Chinnery, MRC Executive Chair, added: “Obesity-related illness costs the NHS £6 billion annually and is a leading cause of preventable premature death. But obesity is not simply a matter of excess body fat or eating too much. It is a complex biological condition involving the interaction of genetics, hormones, the brain, metabolism, behaviour and the environment
“The UK Obesity Research Institute will bring together world-leading expertise to tackle this challenge from multiple angles, helping us better understand the mechanistic causes of obesity, its links to other serious illnesses and how we can develop more effective ways of preventing and treating it
“By supporting research that spans discovery science, experimental medicine and translation, we can help deliver the evidence and innovations needed to improve health outcomes for millions of people.”
Ben CornwellDeputy Editor, New Food
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