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Funding opportunities

This page contains a list of current funding opportunities offered by other societies, associations and organisations.  If you would like to advertise a funding opportunity on this page, please contact our Education & Careers Officer, Eolan Healy.

Funding opportunities are removed once the application deadline has passed.

You may also find it useful to have a look at our jobs board. In addition to the specific opportunities below, the following websites contain information on sources of funding.

For information relating to funding postgraduate courses and research in the UK:

For information on research funding and fellowship opportunities at all levels in the UK and internationally:

Funding Opportunities

AbbVie UK Golden Ticket Accelerator Programme

AbbVie, the global research-driven biopharmaceutical company, in partnership with We Are Pioneer Group (WAPG), has launched their 2022 Golden Ticket Accelerator programme 
to support life sciences start-ups in the UK.
The Golden Ticket Accelerator Programme is open to early-stage life sciences companies and biotech start-ups that are working to develop cutting-edge therapies or technology platforms within four key areas: immunology, oncology, neuroscience, and eye care. 


The UK programme will provide: 

  • One year of free lab space, funded by AbbVie, with access to core facilities and services, in one of five WAPG sites across the UK: BioCity Glasgow, Wilton Centre (Redcar), BioCity Nottingham, Colworth Park (Bedfordshire) and Kent Science Park (applicants to confirm preferred location)
  • Support from AbbVie’s world-leading global and UK scientists, business leaders and mentors.


The 2022 UK AbbVie Golden Ticket winner will be chosen by a team of AbbVie’s scientific and business leaders, based on the strength and novelty of the scientific rationale and the potential to transform patient care. 
Nitrome Biosciences Inc (now Nitrase Therapeutics) won an AbbVie US Golden Ticket in 2018. “We had almost no money,” Irene Griswold-Prenner, Nitrome’s CEO and Chief Scientific Officer, recalled, “Our lead investors had, in theory, signed on, but they hadn’t committed yet, so the validation from getting Abbvie’s US Golden Ticket helped them to sign on the dotted line for our seed round.”

Closing Date:
Source:
AbbVie and WAPG
External link:
Further information
Michelson Prizes: Next Generation Grants

The Michelson Prizes: Next Generation Grants 

These are $150,000 research grants given annually to support promising researchers who are applying disruptive concepts and inventive processes to advance human immunology, vaccine discovery, and immunotherapy research for major global diseases.

  • About the Prizes: The Awards committee will be looking for research aimed at tackling the current roadblocks that exist in human vaccine development and expanding our limited understanding of key immune processes that are fundamental to successful vaccine and immunotherapy development. 
  • Eligibility: Researchers / Scientists who are 35 and under. 
  • Disciplines:  Applicants from the full spectrum of immunology-related disciplines, including clinical research, biochemistry, molecular biology, protein engineering, computer science, artificial intelligence/machine learning, biophysics, environmental health, nanotechnology, etc., are encouraged to apply. 

Across Sectors, Across Diseases
A rigorous and competitive international search will identify the most innovative projects from young scientists working across a broad range of scientific fields. Proposals will be reviewed by a distinguished committee of internationally-recognized scientists. The review committee will be looking for research that challenges dogma, from researchers who clearly articulate a vision that demonstrates an ability to look beyond convention to make a lasting impact on vaccine and immunotherapy research. They encourage applications from the full spectrum of scientific disciplines related to immunology, vaccine, and immunotherapy research, including but not limited to:

  • Clinical Research
  • Molecular Biology
  • Computer science
  • Biophysics
  • Bioengineering
  • Environmental Health
  • Biochemistry
  • Protein Engineering
  • AI/Machine Learning
  • Nanotechnology
  • Microbiome
  • Vector Biology    
Closing Date:
Source:
Human Vaccines Project
External link:
Further information
BactiVac Catalyst Funding for Pump-Priming Projects - Round 6

Round 6 of BactiVac Network catalyst funding for pump priming projects is available to support our members in bacterial vaccinology to explore new approaches and strategies to advance their vaccines in partnership with LMICs and industry, and acquire the data to support substantive funding applications. Preference given to projects that:  

  • Target the pre-clinical/clinical bottleneck
  • Tackle the global of AMR challenge
  • Generate novel partnerships between: 
  1. UK & LMICs 
  2. Diverse network members  
  • Typically £50k for up to 6 months

This catalyst funding scheme prioritise projects that:

  • Facilitate onward progression of bacterial vaccines along the pipeline to licensure
  • Offer robust solutions to overcome the difficult preclinical to clinical transition
  • Advance the ability to tackle the global challenge of antimicrobial resistance (AMR)
  • Involve BactiVac partnerships, particularly new partnerships, with a long-term work plan
  • Include LMICs and/or industrial partners
  • Demonstrate a clear pathway to impact
  • Have realistic plans in place to demonstrate intellectual property (IP) has been considered
  • Include plans for achieving further substantive funding at the end of the project
Closing Date:
Source:
BactiVac Network
External link:
Further information
MS Society 2022 research awards

The MS Society are the largest charitable funder of multiple sclerosis (MS) research in the UK. The following research awards will be available in 2022.

Catalyst Awards

Catalyst Awards provide 12 months and up to £50,000 support for a short-term, small-scale pilot or proof of concept research project. Two rounds of Catalysts Awards will run in 2022, with the applications for the first round opening on 31 January and closing on 27 April. The second round will open in mid-June.

Project Awards and Career Development Awards

Project Awards to provide support for a time-limited research project designed to answer a single question or a small group of related questions. Career Development Awards include PhD Fellowships and Early Career Fellowships and aim to attract and retain talented researchers who want to build a successful career in MS research. Applications for Project Awards and Career Development Awards will open in early March and close on 7 June 2022.

You can find more information about MS Society funding schemes, eligibility and the application process on their website, or contact research@mssociety.org.uk.

 
Closing Date:
Varied
External link:
Further information
BMA Foundation for Medical Research – grant categories 2021

All the BMA Foundation for Medical Research grants have National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) partnership status.

Closing Date:
Varied
Source:
British Medical Association
External link:
Further informaiton
Medical Research Council (MRC) - variety of fellowships, career development awards and research grants

A variety of fellowships, career development awards and research grants opportunities offered by the Medical Research Council.

Closing Date:
Varied
Source:
Medical Research Council
External link:
Further information
Various Wellcome funding schemes

Wellcome offer a variety of funding opportunities focusing on numerous different areas of research. 

Closing Date:
Ongoing
Source:
Wellcome
External link:
Further information
Various BBSRC funding schemes

The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council offer a variety of funding opportunities focusing on numerous different areas of research. 

Closing Date:
Ongoing
Source:
BBSRC
External link:
Further information
Various Royal Society funding schemes

The Royal Society offer a variety of funding opportunities focusing on numerous different areas of research. 

Closing Date:
Ongoing
Source:
The Royal Society
External link:
Further information
BactiVac Catalyst Training Awards
An open call for BactiVac Network catalyst funding training awards is now OPEN. Funding is available to support training opportunities and exchanges, prioritising those involving LMIC members and academic/industrial partners, for the transfer of knowledge and skills in bacterial vaccinology. Up to £6,000 per award is available and each training visit is expected to be up to three months in duration. The aim of this funding scheme is to support members to train in vaccine research & development (R&D), targeting the main preclinical to clinical area of focus for BactiVac. This catalyst funding scheme will be run up to August 2021. Successful applications could include ones that: • Offer opportunities for both UK and LMIC members to undertake a bilateral exchange, to foster reciprocal relationships between BactiVac members • Address key skills gaps within an LMIC, academic or industrial partners’ institution.
Closing Date:
Ongoing
Source:
BactiVac Network
External link:
Further Information

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