18 January 2019
MRC Genome Editing Mice for Medicine (GEMM) call 5

https://www.har.mrc.ac.uk/international-programmes/gemms

This call is specifically for applications where the nominating scientist needs a genetically altered mouse line with a point mutation, indel or deletion mutation.

The MRC has committed £4.5m over 5 years to deliver, via the Mary Lyon Centre, a UK community-driven, bespoke genetically modified mouse service, called Genome Editing for Mice and Medicine – GEMM.

GEMM will exploit the technical and logistical expertise developed at Harwell, together with recent advances in genome editing, to deliver novel mouse lines that will advance knowledge of human disease and/or be of widespread use in biomedical science.

The UK academic research community is invited to nominate mouse lines for production and outline their own experimental plans for them.

Nominations will be assessed by a cross-discipline group of experts across two key themes:

• the nominator’s own research hypotheses and specific research plans for utilising the mouse.
• the beneficial impact that generation of the proposed novel mouse line will have on the wider academic community.

This award will financially support mouse line generation and archiving, but will not support the nominator’s own experimental research costs.

Researchers will therefore be asked to provide their plans for funding to support their proposed downstream work.

There is no limit to the number of applications per establishment or individual scientist.

Guidance for applicants:

Applications are invited for the nomination of specific genetic alterations in the mouse using genome editing technologies.

The following allele types/methodologies are available in this call (subsequent calls will reflect developments in genome editing technologies):

• Indels
• Deletions
• Point mutation insertions
• Cassette Knock-ins
• Conditional or Tm1a allele generation

In addition to single mouse lines, nominations for collections or groups of lines within a specific theme/discipline will be considered.

Applicants are required to submit an online application (through the link above) that outlines:

the nominator’s own research hypotheses and specific research plans for utilising the mouse; the beneficial impact that generation of the proposed novel mouse line will have on the wider academic community; funding plans for supporting the described experimental work. collaborators may supply an optional letter of support which outlines the potential impact on their own research of the mouse line nominated. Principal Investigators will be expected to demonstrate research excellence and a proven track record in their proposed field of study. Home Office authorisation and ethical review should already be in place for subsequent studies on the mouse line nominated.

Assessment Process (assessment criteria available through the link above):

Applications will be assessed, and the decision to proceed with mouse line generation will be made, by a specially-convened group of experts taken from across the UK Biomedical community.

Additional referees’ comments will not be sought. Please note that only high level feedback will be provided to applicants following the Group’s decisions and applicants will not have the opportunity to respond.

https://bbsrc.ukri.org/funding/filter/2018-bioinformatics-biological-resources-fund/

Deadline: 14^th November 2018

Amount: Total budget of £6m

Duration: Up to 5 years (earliest start date 1^st July 2019)

Funding to facilitate the establishment, maintenance and enhancement of high-quality bioinformatics and biological resources to support the UK bioscience research community.

The UK bioscience community need for access to state-of-the-art bioinformatics and biological resources, to facilitate ground-breaking research in an internationally competitive environment.

• Bioinformatics resources (for example databases, software suites): enable management, analysis and sharing of large and/or complex datasets and development of novel software solutions for deeper analysis of datasets and greater understanding of biological systems
• Biological resources: provide access to materials that underpin cutting edge bioscience research, for example culture and germplasm collections, mutant lines, DNA samples, clones, genetic libraries etc.

BBR funding is available for the following types of applications:

• Establishment and maintenance of a new resource that would be applicable to a broad BBSRC user community.
• Maturation and subsequent maintenance of a project-based resource into a community-based one.
• Development and subsequent maintenance of an existing community resource to increase its relevance to a broad BBSRC user group.
• Interfacing and integrating resources to better meet user need.

It is also essential to demonstrate strong demand from the UK bioscience community, together with an appropriate access policy.

Exclusions

Proposals in the following areas will not be accepted:

• Projects with an exclusive research focus – some elements of research can be included, but should support technological development of the resource to address changing user needs
• Resources already suitably supported via other means
• Principal beneficiaries are outside of the UK
• Principal beneficiaries are outside of bioscience
• Archive-only resources without active usage
• Collections of preserved, non-recoverable specimens (for example herbaria, formalin-fixed material).

Please ensure to read the full call guidance and FAQ documents available through the link above.

http://www.gbsf.org.uk/grants/butterfield-awards-in-medicine-and-health/

Deadline: 15^th December 2018

Amount: Up to £5,000 (or up to £5k pa for up to 3 years)

Eligibility: Researchers (including ECR), practitioners, managers, carers or others in health-related field (please see guidance)

Remit: no restrictions on the field of research or collaboration, provided that it is one in which the UK and Japan have a mutual and beneficial interest

The awards are intended to encourage and facilitate exploratory exchanges and collaborations between qualified professionals in Japan and the UK, and the investigation of scientific, clinical, social and economic aspects of medicine in which Japanese and British researchers, practitioners, policy makers, managers and voluntary sector workers may learn from each other.

The grants may be used for travel expenses or to contribute to other costs as appropriate (but NOT laboratory consumables).

Typically, an award might cover the cost of one exchange visit in each direction for up to a month.

It is intended that the project should involve partners in both the UK and Japan.

Please read the full call description via the link above and also see attached documents.

2019 Butterfield Referee Report Guidelines

2019 Butterfield Awards Sample Application

2019 Butterfield Awards Criteria

Butterfield Letter 2019

These are an excellent opportunity for researchers to obtain funding to develop links and collaborations in other countries.

This could then be used to develop relationships for Newton Fund, GCRF and other international funding opportunities.

Anyone who would like assistance with an application can contact Dr Gwen Averley (FMS), Darren Airey (FMS) or colleagues in the EU/International team (Dajana Dzanovic, Elisa Lawson, Hilary Noone).

Details of each scheme can be found here: https://bbsrc.ukri.org/funding/filter/

Further details can also be found here: https://bbsrc.ukri.org/funding/filter/other-countries/

BBSRC International Partnering Awards Call Open

The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) International Partnering Awards provide pump-priming funds for UK scientists to build new links with their overseas counterparts to add value to existing BBSRC funded research grants.

Resources are available to leading BBSRC-supported research groups to enable them to forge long-term relationships with international scientists in areas of research that are of direct relevance to BBSRC’s current scientific strategy. It is hoped that the long-term partnerships established through Partnering Awards will lead to the development of new collaborative research programmes.

The specific objectives that underpin the international Partnering Award scheme are to:

• Establish partnerships between UK and overseas research laboratories.
• Promote the exchange of scientists, particularly early career scientists.
• Promote access to facilities.

It is suggested that research groups should try and access other sources of funding in addition to the Partnering Award. Applications must be made by a principal investigator who is both eligible for and currently in receipt of BBSRC funding.

The following awards are now open for submission:

• Brazil: up to £50,000 over a four year period is available.
• China: awards of up to £30,000 over a four year period.
• European: support between £15,000 and £20,000 is available for a 12 to 18 month period.
• India: up to £30,000 for a four year period.
• International Workshops: up to £10,000 is available to host workshops in any country.
• Japan: up to £50,000 is available over four years.
• Other Countries: support up to £30,000 over four years.
• Taiwan: funds up to £25,000 for two years.
• USA: £50,000 for up to four years is available.

The closing date for applications is 4pm on 15 November 2018.

Click to view further information about this news alert

https://bbsrc.ukri.org/funding/filter/2018-international-flexible-interchange-programme/

Deadline: 16^th October 2018

Duration: Up to 12 months, must be completed by 31^st March 2020

Amount: Up to £70k per project (at 100% fEC). Total budget of £600k

Eligibility: The call is open only to current or past BBSRC grant-holders

I-FLIP is part of BBSRC’s portfolio of activities that enable the delivery of economic and societal impact through innovation and knowledge exchange.

As with all GCRF funding, the primary beneficiary of all IFLIP projects must be a DAC list country.

I-FLIP aims to:

Increase and accelerate the uptake and impact of previous BBSRC funded research through knowledge exchange activities that deliver benefit and impact in a DAC list country(ies).

Support and enable the formation and development of sustainable partnerships with the aim of maximising the impact of previously-funded BBSRC research.

Strengthen the wider skills of interchanger(s) and explore opportunities to further develop these skills by spending time working within a different environment.

I-FLIP will support multidirectional interchange(s) between the UK academic base and users within a DAC list country leading to the exchange of knowledge / skills / capabilities for the purpose of directly addressing challenges in developing countries.

Interchanges funded through I-FLIP will consist of individuals moving between the academic base in the UK and user organisations operating within countries on the DAC list in order to deliver the aims of the I-FLIP project.

BBSRC welcomes researchers, technical staff and professional service staff as interchangers in order to maximise the transfer of knowledge and know-how from previous research.

Each I-FLIP project can include any number of interchanges, which can operate in either direction, between UK academic institutions and user organisations. Interchanges can occur on a full-time, part-time or intermittent basis.

Applicants should clearly articulate how their project has been co-designed with DAC list partners and will draw upon the outputs of previous BBSRC-funded research.

Each project must clearly demonstrate how the DAC list country is the primary beneficiary.

BBSRC envisages that projects funded through I-FLIP could fall under one or more of the following themes:

• Developmental impact: broader societal, economic and environmental impact, and contribution to poverty reduction in the poorest countries.
• Policy impact: influence on key policy processes and evidence-informed decisions.
• Practice-level impact: influence on development practice and development practitioners.
• Conceptual impact: influence on how people think about development issues.
• Capacity development: strengthened capacity to produce, communicate and use research in LMICs.
• Collaborative impact: development of long-lasting, innovative and interdisciplinary collaborations that can transform global development.
• Knowledge as a global public good: open and beneficial to all with open access to research and data increasing potential impact.

Please ensure to read the full call documentation, DAC list and FAQs available through the link above.

18ALERT: Mid-Range Equipment Initiative

https://bbsrc.ukri.org/funding/filter/2018-alert-mid-range-equipment-initiative/

Deadline: 25^th October 2018

Amount: Equipment over £200k including VAT. Total budget = £10m.

Duration: 12 months

Applications for mid-range equipment costing over £200,000 including VAT must enhance the capability of the UK research base in areas of science in BBSRC remit.

Applications will typically be from groups of researchers in one or more eligible institutions, for instrumentation to be deployed on a multi-project/multi-use basis.

Consideration of the broader impact the purchase of the equipment will enable is an essential part of the assessment process and should be addressed accordingly in the application.

BBSRC encourages:

• applications for equipment that is widely used and underpins capability in the priority areas in their Strategic Plan (although the call is open to all scientific areas within remit)
• 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 to 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, whilst contributions from the host institution(s) and/or other external sources are not mandatory, they are strongly encouraged and should be directed towards commitments to staff posts for the running and maintenance of the equipment, as well as for the training of users (where applicable). Please note that support for multiple items of equipment that could be funded individually or in clusters on research project grants are not eligible and will be rejected.

The 18ALERT call is for capital funding only. Applications that request any other costs apart from capital funding will be rejected.

Applicants are asked to provide details of the institutional environment into which the equipment will be integrated (for example existing facilities and related equipment, housing, technical and scientific support staff, plans for on-going management and maintenance of equipment).

There are no limit to the number of applications per HEI but Investigators can only submit one application as PI, although the can be part of a consortium while being PI in another application.

A research organisation may submit more than one application; however we encourage research organisations to discuss and prioritise their submissions given the limited budget available.

Three quotations are required where the cost of the equipment exceeds the OJEU threshold (£115k net of VAT and import duty, £138k incl. VAT).

Please inform Gwen Averley (gwen.averley@ncl.ac.uk) and Darren Airey (darren.airey@ncl.ac.uk) if you are thinking of applying to this call.

Please also discuss this with the Facilities Manager most likely to host the equipment as this is the usual route preferred by BBSRC.

Please ensure to read the full call summary (webpage) and guidance notes (pdf) available through the link above.

Please note the short deadline.

The MRC have just advertised Board and Panel Vacancies on the following:

Infections & Immunity Board (IIB)
Molecular & Cellular Medicine Board (MCMB)
Neurosciences & Mental Health Board (NMHB)
Population & Systems Medicine Board (PSMB)

Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme Panel (DPFS)
MCR-NIHR Methodology Research Programme Panel
Non-Clinical Training and Career Development Panel
Clinical Training and Career Development Panel
Skills Development Panel

Vacancy numbers vary per board / panel and are under specified themes. The full list is here: https://mrc.ukri.org/about/our-structure/research-boards-panels/mrc-board-panel-vacancies/#vacancies

Full details of how to apply can be found here: https://mrc.ukri.org/about/our-structure/research-boards-panels/mrc-board-panel-vacancies/#vacancies

Deadline: 01/10/18.

28 September 2018, 4pm (Expressions of Interest) Full applications will be invited and assessed in March 2019

MRC Immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs): understanding common mechanisms

https://mrc.ukri.org/funding/browse/immune-mediated-inflammatory-diseases/immune-mediated-inflammatory-diseases-understanding-common-mechanisms/

Up to £1 million is available for awards of up to £200,000 (80% fEC value), for up to 24 months are available for exploratory or hypothesis-driven research that will systematically identify or explore common diseases mechanisms across multiple IMIDs.

The call aims to provide funds to support mechanistic studies using existing infrastructure and data sources including established cohorts, surveys, biobanks, and primary and secondary care data to:

• identify new mechanisms which are shared across multiple IMIDs
• evaluate the environmental impact on genetic predisposition to IMIDs
• investigate immunological tolerance within IMIDs
• explore the interplay between microbiota and IMIDs
• examine the organ specificity of some IMIDs.

They will consider applications that will contribute to building the evidence base for more focused research on specific types of IMIDs or will generate data to enable larger-scale experimental medicine and stratified medicine studies.
Awards are expected to help establish new and galvanise existing research collaborations between clinical and academic experts from different research fields.

The scope of the call includes, but is not limited to the following research topics:

• IMID clustering in defined population/patient groups
• addressing prevalence and changes in IMIDs during the life course (such as in childhood, during pregnancy or postpartum period)
• biomedical drivers of IMIDs
• shared mechanistic pathways in IMIDs
• IMID biomarkers, early predictors and genetic associations
• innovative methodological approaches, tools and technologies for capturing and measuring patients’ complexities in the context of IMIDs
• enriching data for established population and clinical cohorts.

Cross-disciplinary and cross-institutional teams are encouraged involving clinicians, epidemiologists, data scientists, social and behavioural scientists, and basic biomedical researchers to tackle the complexity of IMIDs at all levels.

Additionally, in order to build capacity in this area of research, applications from early-stage career researchers are particularly welcomed.

Queries re the remit of the call should be sent to imid@mrc.ukri.org

The EoI form is to be converted to pdf and submitted by email to martin.broadstock@headoffice.mrc.ac.uk

NC3Rs will soon be launching our new funding scheme priority area for 2019.

The 2019 funding highlight notice will be aimed at encouraging greater use of non-mammalian model organisms for 3Rs purposes, and it will run across all of our response mode funding schemes.  We will be launching the highlight notice at a forthcoming workshop in central London on 4 September.  The workshop will be a great opportunity to hear about the scientific and 3Rs applications of non-mammalian model organisms, learn more about the highlight notice and how to submit a competitive application to the NC3Rs, showcase relevant research and meet new potential partners to submit a grant application with.

The non-mammalian model organisms considered within remit of the highlight notice are:

1. Drosophila
2. Nematodes, e.g. C. elegans
3. Galleria mellonella
4. Zebrafish embryos and larvae (prior to protection under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act, less than 5 days post-fertilisation (dpf))

I include some useful links below:

• Further information about the 2019 highlight notice: https://www.nc3rs.org.uk/funding-scheme-priority-areas#2019hn
• To register for the workshop on 4 September: https://www.nc3rs.org.uk/events/nc3rs-2019-funding-highlight-notice-launch
• Workshop agenda: https://www.nc3rs.org.uk/sites/default/files/2019%20Funding%20Highlight%20Notice%20Launch%20-%20Draft%20agenda.pdf

Importantly, we want both non-mammalian model users and rodent users to attend the workshop.  Please could I ask you to share with your colleagues at Newcastle University? In case it’s useful, I’ve attached our promotional flyer.

If you have any questions please do get in touch.

Many thanks and best wishes,

Katie

Dr Katie Bates

Programme Manager – Research Funding

NC3Rs – National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research

Gibbs Building, 215 Euston Road, London, NW1 2BE

Tel: 020 7611 2239  | Mobile: 077 2020 2775 | katie.bates@nc3rs.org.uk

NC3Rs 2019 Funding Highlight Notice flyer

https://mrc.ukri.org/funding/browse/multimorbidity/multimorbidity-in-the-uk-population-understanding-disease-clustering/

Opens: 30/07/18

Deadline: 09/10/18

Amount: £600k (£3m total budget)

Duration: 36 months

The Medical Research Council (MRC) and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) are issuing a joint call for research projects into disease clustering in multimorbidity.

Funding is being made available for exploratory or hypothesis-driven research that will systematically identify or explore common disease clusters, their distributions in diverse groups, multimorbidity trajectories and/or underpinning mechanisms across the life course.

The call aims to support integrative population and patient studies using existing infrastructure and data sources including established cohorts, surveys, biobanks, and primary and secondary care data to identify new clusters of multimorbidity, biological, environmental, behavioural and socioeconomic multimorbidity risk factors, biomarkers and disease associations underpinned by common mechanistic pathways or induced by a pre-existing condition or its treatment.

Applications are considered that will contribute to building the evidence base for more focused research on specific types of multimorbidity or will generate data to enable larger-scale experimental medicine and stratified medicine studies.

Awards are expected to help establish new and galvanise existing research collaborations between clinical and academic experts from different research fields.

The scope of the call includes but is not limited to the following research topics:

• Disease clustering in defined population/patient groups.
• Addressing prevalence and changes in multimorbidity during the life course (e.g. in childhood, during pregnancy or postpartum period).
• Social patterning and health inequalities associated with multimorbidity.
• Shared mechanistic pathways in common co-morbidities.
• Multimorbidity biomarkers, early predictors and genetic associations.
• Innovative methodological approaches, tools and technologies for capturing and measuring patients’ complexities in the context of multimorbidity.
• Enriching data for established population and clinical cohorts.

Proposals can only be led by an eligible UK-based Principal Investigator.

Overseas Co-investigators are permitted as long as the focus of a proposal is on the UK population.