Mid-range equipment initiative is open with a C/D of 23 October

https://bbsrc.ukri.org/funding/filter/19alert-mid-range-equipment-initiative/

The capital budget for the call is approx. £10M.
Applications are invited for mid-range equipment costing over £200K including VAT. [This value refers to the equipment cost prior to the application of any discounts, institutional or partner contributions]
N.B. requests under this value will be rejected
N.B. Applications requesting over £750K should contact the office before submitting an application.

N.B. BBSRC will accept the cost of a maintenance/service contract, as part of the purchase cost of the equipment, provided the length of the contract is the lesser of 36 months or the programme it supports. Should the expected length of the contract exceed 36 months, or the length of the programme, then the cost of contract, included in the application should be reduced on a pro-rata basis so as to fit within the conditions as stated.

BBSRC encourages:
• equipment that is widely used and underpins capability across all scientific areas within the BBSRC remit. Relevance to the priority areas in BBSRC’s Delivery Plan is particularly encouraged
• applications that seek to pioneer the use of emerging advanced research technology
• applications that seek to utilise equipment in novel applications.

Collaboration and wide access to the instrumentation for users within industry, public sector and other research organisation is highly encouraged.
To encourage sharing, the arrangements for managing access to the equipment and the prioritisation of its use should be fully described.
Award holders will be expected to put arrangements in place for providing advice and support to others wishing to assess the potential of the technology for their own research.

Value for money will be an important factor in assessment. Consequently, contributions from the host institution(s) and/or other external sources are strongly encouraged.
Contributions from external sources can be in kind (such as commitments to staff posts for the running and maintenance of the equipment, or the training of users) and/or financial (such as partial financing of the equipment).
Institutional commitments directed towards staff posts to fulfil aspects such as running and maintenance of the equipment, as well as training of users, are encouraged, as BBSRC is unable to support them through this call.
Where it is envisaged that a significant user-base for the equipment will be undertaking research in areas outside BBSRC remit, applicants must seek an appropriate level of additional upfront contributions and support from external sources, and provide information on this in the grant application.

Investigators can only submit one application as PI. However, they can submit another application as part of a consortium (i.e. as a Co-I) while being PI on an application

Applicants should discuss their application with their relevant procurement and finance officers prior to submission, particularly bearing in mind the EU tender and procurement rules.
The maximum duration of grants is 12 months and grants must start by 1st July 2020.
Prospective applicants for whom the expenditure appears challenging within the given time constraints regarding grant duration/start date (e.g. because the equipment may require an export license or involves lengthy customisation or construction times) must contact BBSRC before submitting an application.

Please see full guidance notes re scope, exclusions and eligible costs.

Please discuss your application with your Research Funding Development Manager [For FMS: Gwen Averley or Darren Airey]

MRC Board and Panel Vacancies from April 2020

Apply by 30th September 2019, 4pm

MRC Board and Panel Vacancies from April 2020
https://mrc.ukri.org/about/our-structure/research-boards-panels/mrc-board-panel-vacancies/
online application form:
https://mrc.ukri.org/about/our-structure/research-boards-panels/mrc-board-panel-vacancies/apply-for-a-board-or-panel-vacancy/

MRC seeks to fill up to 28 vacancies across 4 Research Boards and 22 vacancies in 5 of their 6 Panels

Please note, Applicants must have both permission and support from their host institution before applying

Personal specification includes:
• ask that applicants have a sound knowledge of experimental design and statistical approaches to ensure the highest standards of methodological rigor
• a first class record in conducting and leading internationally respected research
• a successful track record in applying for and obtaining major grant funding over a number of years
• a proven ability to exercise judgment across a broad spectrum of research and policy issues with a vision of the priorities and opportunities, not only within his/her areas of expertise, but also across the research board or panel portfolio

Aim to:
• steadily increase the number of women (from the current 42% towards 50%)
• broaden the diversity of members
• increase the ratio of mid-career to later-career members
• ensure a strong representation for basic research and data sciences
• have industry representation.

As part of the preparation for their tenure, all new board and panel members are expected to attend an induction meeting on Thursday 6 February 2020 at BEIS Conference Centre, 1 Victoria St, Westminster, London SW1H 0ET. Please hold this date when making an application.

Research Board vacancies

Infections & immunity Board (IIB)
9 vacancies:
The board has particular interest in extending its global health activities, addressing the challenge of antimicrobial resistance, strengthening pandemic preparedness, investigating immunity and infection through the life course, and supporting integrative data analysis and systems approaches.

• Bacteriology / microbiology – with expertise in physiology, pathogenesis or virulence mechanisms.
• Cellular immunology – with expertise in T cells, dendritic cells, macrophage biology or immunotherapy.
• Computational modelling and analysis, and/or use of artificial intelligence – in systems approaches to infections and immunity and/or the development of diagnostics or advanced therapeutics
• Global health – with special interest in vector borne disease, parasitology or tropical infections and experience of working in a Low and Middle-Income Country
• Immune homeostasis – with expertise in one or more of the following areas: regulatory immune mechanisms, microbiome-immune interactions, immune- mediated inflammatory diseases.
• Virology and viral diseases – with a focus on physiology, pathogenesis or virus-host interactions.
• Vaccinology – with expertise in adjuvants, and/or vaccine development.

MRC are particularly interested to hear from applicants who have expertise in molecular biology, biochemistry, structural biology, global health, experimental medicine, data science, drug discovery, clinical trials or translational research of relevance to the Board’s activities. They strongly welcome applications from candidates from the clinical and the industrial sector.

Molecular & Cellular Medicine Board (MCMB)
6 vacancies:
The board has particular interest in understanding dynamic biological systems across scales, the link between external exposures and causal pathways of disease, and radiation oncology and biology

Applications are invited from clinical and non-clinical scientists.

• Mammalian developmental genetics – core expertise in the use of mammalian model systems to explore the genetics and biology of development, ideally including embryology. Broader expertise in transgenics, gene function/regulation, cell biology and signaling, and non-mammalian model systems would be desirable.
• Genomic instability and repair – with core expertise in genome stability, DNA repair and DNA damage signaling. Broad knowledge relevant to cell biology including biology of the nucleus would be desirable.
• Structural biology – core expertise in a broad range of biophysical methods and integrated structural studies approaches; expertise in NMR would be desirable. The appointee should have a track record in structure-function studies. Knowledge of signal transduction, cell biology and structure-based drug discovery would be desirable.
• Industry representative – currently employed within, or strong experience of, the biomedical research industry sector. Knowledge in areas including cell signaling, functional genomics, stratified medicine, target validation/drug development or advanced therapies would be desirable
• Up to two vacancies covering:
o Medical oncology (with preference for clinically qualified/active biomedical researchers)
o Cancer genetics – with broad expertise in the molecular biology of cancer, particularly in areas of cancer cell adhesion/migration, cell cycle control, mechanisms of invasion/metastasis, cellular signaling, and cancer gene predisposition/function/regulation. Experience of experimental medicine, translational cancer studies and an awareness of cancer in a global health context would be desirable.

MRC are particularly interested to receive applications from those with expertise in the use of quantitative analytical tools, and/or multi-dimensional data and systems approaches applied to resolving complex biological problems across scale, space and time.

Neurosciences & Mental Health Board (NMHB)
6 vacancies:
The board has a particular interest in addressing the challenges of mental illness and neurodegenerative diseases as well as exploring what we can learn from the direct study of human brain tissue to gain insight into the function of the human brain.

Applications are invited from clinical and non-clinical scientists.

• Cellular and molecular neurobiology – with expertise in neurodegeneration, synaptic plasticity or behavioural neuroscience.
• Neurodegeneration – with expertise in neuroinflammation and/or translational research.
• Mental health – with expertise in one or more of the areas of : genetics, genomics, clinical psychiatry, experimental medicine and translational approaches.
• Neuro-repair/regeneration – with expertise in clinical neurology.
• Addiction – with expertise in clinical neurology, clinical psychiatry, drug metabolism.

MRC are particularly interested to hear from applicants who have expertise in clinical genetics, modelling approaches, and translational neuroscience. Knowledge of a range of neuroimaging and non-invasive biophysical techniques will be an advantage.

Population & Systems Medicine Board (PSMB)
7 vacancies:
The board has particular interest in understanding multimorbidity and disease clustering, mechanisms of rare diseases to provide insight into more common conditions, and integrated population health with a special emphasis on data integration.

• Clinical cardiology and cardiovascular medicine – with expertise in genetics of cardiovascular disease. Knowledge of imaging techniques, including clinical imaging, would be desirable.
• Musculoskeletal research (two vacancies) – with expertise in muscle, bone and/or cartilage physiology and pathogenesis of osteoarthritis. Broad interest in and knowledge of ageing research (beyond musculoskeletal ageing), resilience and frailty would be desirable.
• Renal medicine – with expertise in mechanisms of disease.
• Inflammation – with expertise in resolution of inflammation and cellular mechanisms of inflammatory disease.
• Epidemiology and population health sciences – with expertise and/or keen interest in enhancing classical epidemiological methods with new approaches to complex/distributed data collection and analysis. A strong background in experimental design would be advantageous.
• Functional genomics – with expertise in large scale genomics and epigenomics. Knowledge of functional metagenomics linked to the role of the human microbiome in chronic conditions (e.g. inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, liver disease and female reproductive system disorders) would be desirable.

MRC are particularly interested to hear from applicants who take multi-modal approaches and integrate and interrogate complex multidimensional data e.g. combining population genomics with cell biology and capitalising on the rich molecular and phenotypic data sets from human and experimental systems. Applicants with expertise in machine learning and computational models that can be evaluated experimentally are strongly encouraged to apply.

Funding Panel vacancies

Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme Panel (DPFS)
8 vacancies:

• Diagnostic development and implementation
• Medicinal chemistry
• Cardiovascular medicine
• Oncology
• Advanced therapies, including antibodies, peptides and cell & gene therapies
• Molecular pharmacology, including pre-clinical toxicology
• Statistics, including early phase clinical trial and pre-clinical
• Infectious diseases and global health

Applications from clinically active researchers, researchers based in industry and those with knowledge of the relevant investment landscape would be particularly welcomed. Given the breadth of applications received by the scheme, panel members are required to cover a broad portfolio and individual applicants would ideally be able to cover multiple areas.

MRC-NIHR Methodology Research Programme Panel (MRP)
5 vacancies:

MRC seeks applications from experienced researchers with a broad scientific, and a very strong methodological background. To ensure regional and sectoral representation, researchers based outside of London or from industry are particularly encouraged.

• Clinical Informatics; health systems, services and delivery; computer- or data-science skills for health
• Causal modelling and inference; observational studies; triangulation
• Biostatistics; genetic epidemiology; computational statistics; meta-analytical models
• Co-membership with PSMB (see Board vacancies)
• Co-membership with MCMB (see Board vacancies).

Co-membership ensures that advances and challenges from research methodology are embedded across MRC funding decisions and strategy. Where appropriate, applicants applying to the vacancies within other Boards and Panels should indicate their availability for dual membership with MRP.

Training and Career Development Panels

Non-Clinical Training and Career Development Panel
Up to 5 vacancies.

Panel members contribute to assessments and interviews across the full range of MRC’s work, and this year they would particularly welcome applications from researchers who would bring core expertise in:

• Cell biology and cancer/ cell and structural biology
• Population scale biomedical research / genetic epidemiology
• Public health and prevention
• Imaging / microscopy technology or applications

Candidates with clinical expertise would be particularly welcome.

Clinical Training and Career Development Panel
Up to 4 vacancies.

Panel members contribute to assessments and interviews across the full range of MRC’s work, and this year MRC would particularly welcome applications from researchers who would bring core expertise in:

• Endocrinology and metabolic medicine
• Stem cell biology
• Oncology
• Data science and artificial intelligence

 

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, in collaboration with Pennine MSK Partnership and Newcastle University SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2019 HSJ AWARDS

Newcastle University in collaboration with partners Pennine MSK Partnership (PMSKP) and South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, is delighted to announce that RightPath: A model of paediatric musculoskeletal triage in the community has been shortlisted for the Community or Primary Care Service Redesign Initiative – North/Midlands/East at this year’s HSJ Awards, recognising their outstanding contribution to healthcare.
The judging panel, made up of a diverse range of highly influential and respected figures within the healthcare community, have shortlisted the RightPath Team from Newcastle University, PMSKP and South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, despite the tough competition from hundreds of excellent applicants. The RightPath Team have been selected based on their ambition, visionary spirit and the demonstrable positive impact that their project has had on patient and staff experiences within the health care sector.
Musculoskeletal presentations to primary care amongst children & young people are common. In most cases the underlying cause is not serious; explanation, advice and reassurance will often suffice and referral to specialist hospital-based care is not necessary. However, serious illness may be the underlying cause and it is important that those with potentially serious illness are identified and referred on quickly. The aim of RightPath is to provide rapid triage and facilitate referral to the ‘right care for the right child in the right place’.
RightPath is a model of care where children and young people with musculoskeletal complaints can be assessed in the community using triage guidance and expertise of paediatric physiotherapists. Those with potential serious illness are identified and referred promptly to hospital-based specialist care (orthopaedics or rheumatology or neurology or general paediatrics) pending the suspected diagnosis. Those deemed to have a non-serious disease are managed in the community by physiotherapists and/or podiatrists. The RightPath study has been piloted in two separate sites in England, UK – Pennine MSK Partnership, Oldham and South Tyneside. The pilot was completed in 2018 and essentially demonstrated that the model of care is feasible, safe and acceptable to families and clinicians involved (publication in progress following peer review). Recently the team have developed the RightPath website www.rightpath.solutions to support other organisations to implement the model. The RightPath team and the triage guidance has also informed recent NICE clinical advice for primary care to support cks.nice.org.uk.
Professor Helen Foster, Professor of Paediatric Rheumatology at Newcastle University and Project Lead for RightPath comments, “We are delighted to have been shortlisted for the HSJ Community or Primary Care Service Redesign award, recognising the collaborative efforts and dedication of our team members over the last 2 years to successfully implement RightPath. We are committed to delivering improved outcomes for patients, and to be
chosen among the other incredible nominees is a wonderful achievement. This nomination has been a tremendous boost to staff at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, Pennine MSK Partnership and here at Newcastle University and I am sure it will bolster our continued efforts to improve services for families and children.
HSJ editor Alistair Mclellan, comments “We would like to congratulate South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust and their collaborators on being nominated in the category of Community or Primary Care Service Redesign – North/Midlands/East ahead of this year’s 2019 HSJ awards. We are looking forward to welcoming them to the ceremony in November, to join us in recognising the very best achievements and innovations in the healthcare sector. The entrants this year have been of incredible calibre, and each of the finalists in this category have been chosen based on their outstanding commitment to excellence in healthcare.”
The full list of nominees for the 2019 HSJ awards (partnered by GRI) can be found on https://awards.hsj.co.uk/2019-shortlist. Winners will be selected ahead of the 2019 HSJ awards ceremony, which is due to be held at the Battersea Evolution Centre, London on November 6th.

Pancreatic Cancer UK Clinical Pioneer Awards 2019/20

https://www.pancreaticcancer.org.uk/research/for-researchers/apply-for-a-research-grant/clinical-pioneer-awards/

Funding is aimed at clinicians and non-clinicians with innovative project ideas that are focused on practical interventions within the clinical or community setting and that can be adopted in an optimal pancreatic cancer pathway. Such interventions can include drive down waiting times (time to diagnosis; time to treatment; time to referral), improve survival, quality of life and patient experience and deliver a consistent standard of care for people affected by pancreatic cancer

A total of £200,000 is available. Funding will be awarded to a maximum of 4 awards. For each award, a total of up to £50,000 is available to support directly incurred research costs for up to 12 months.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS  1pm 27 NOVEMBER 2019

Prostate Cancer UK – Travelling Prize Fellowships

18 November 2019, noon

Prostate Cancer UK – Travelling Prize Fellowships

https://prostatecanceruk.org/research/for-researchers/funding-opportunities/travelling-prize-fellowships

aim to provide a unique opportunity for the most outstanding early career researchers to begin to develop their independent research careers, working in the best research environments in the UK and overseas.

  • Awards are for three to four years. A period of at least six months must be spent outside of the Fellows’ host institution (either elsewhere in the UK, or abroad). Awards can be for up to £250,000 if solely based in the UK, or a total of £300,000 if the Fellowship includes a placement at one or more institutions outside the UK.
  • Applicants must be within 2 years of their PhD viva (reasonable career breaks will be taken into consideration). Candidates may also apply if they are in the final year of their PhD, but in this instance, they will be expected to have successfully passed their viva within the next 12 months.
  • Travelling Prize Fellowships must be held at a UK-based University, NHS site or other recognised higher research institution.

Expert Members Sought for the NERC/UKRI SPF Constructing a Digital Environment Programme

18 October 2019, noon

Expert Members Sought for the NERC/UKRI SPF Constructing a Digital Environment Programme
https://digitalenvironment.org/funding/

24 experts are sought, comprising 8 early career experts, 8 senior UK-based experts and 8 international experts.
Members will be in post for an annual term, with a prospect of renewal over the 3-year programme period. All reasonable costs will be covered. Fellowship grants will be provided to early stage experts.

The focus of the Constructing a Digital Environment Programme is on developing a ‘digitally enabled environment’, providing benefits for policy makers, businesses, communities and individuals.
It combines environmental science, computer science, data science and behavioural science

Prostate Cancer UK – Existing Trials: New Answers

Prostate Cancer UK – Existing Trials: New Answers

https://prostatecanceruk.org/research/for-researchers/funding-opportunities/major-awards-201920-existing-trials-new-answers

for proposals looking to utilise and interrogate existing patient samples and/or data from recently completed or ongoing prostate cancer clinical trials, or from other data/sample repositories.

The Komen Tissue Bank Challenge: Using Normal Tissue to Fight Breast Cancer

25 September 2019 (Letter of Intent)      16 December 2019 (invited full application)

The Komen Tissue Bank Challenge: Using Normal Tissue to Fight Breast Cancer
https://ww5.komen.org/ResearchGrants/FundingOpportunities.html

Funding for researchers proposing innovative research using samples or data derived from the Komen Tissue Bank (KTB), a biorepository containing breast tissue and blood products from donors that show no evidence of breast cancer at the time of donation.

value of up to $200,000 for up to two years.