Funding opportunities

The grant

These Infections and Immunity Board grants are for researchers who are ready to take the next step towards becoming an independent principal investigator with clear host institution support.

There is no limit to the funding that you can request but the amount should be appropriate to the project. You must also be able to justify why you need this amount to deliver the objectives of your research. Typically awards are up to £1 million, we will usually fund up to 80% of your project’s full economic cost.

New investigator research grants usually last three years and fund up to 50% of your salary.

Who can apply

The new investigator research grant is aimed at researchers who are capable of becoming independent principal investigators and who are now ready to take the next step towards that goal. You do not need a specific number of years postdoctoral experience to be eligible to apply.

You may apply for funding to carry out research at your current UK research organisation or any other eligible UK institution you want to move to.

You must:

• have the support of an eligible UK research organisation
• be able to show that your skills and experience match those in the applicant skills and experience table (MRC website) (transition to independence) such as showing evidence of career progress and clear plans to develop your own research niche
• provide a clear rationale of why this grant will best support your long-term career goals and chosen career route
• have at least a graduate degree although most applicants have a PhD or medical degree
• be the sole intellectual leader of the proposed project although we will allow co-investigators when they bring expertise to the project which is outside the applicant’s field.

What the MRC are looking for

The Infections and Immunity Board funds research into infectious human disease and disorders of the human immune system. The board supports a diverse portfolio of research of relevance to the UK and globally and to address both long-standing questions and support the investigation of emerging higher-risk opportunities.

Research they fund includes, but is not limited to, the following areas:

• discovery research relating to human pathogens, pathogenicity, antimicrobial resistance, host pathogen responses including inflammation and the development function and disorders of the immune system where this informs mechanism of disease. Immune disease including allergy (except asthma and other organ-based disorders), transplantation immunology, systemic immune disorders and auto-immune disease. Including use of in silico systems, relevant animal models and experimental studies in humans throughout the lifecourse
• population-level research, using epidemiological, genetic and omic approaches, and computational modelling to elucidate disease risks, aetiologies and progression, and to understand the evolution of pathogen populations and epidemic preparedness
• research to inform novel strategies for preventing and controlling infectious and immune disease, including vector control, predictive modelling and early development research to inform future intervention strategies including vaccines.

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

Aim:
Alopecia UK funds hair loss and hair-related research through a range of funding schemes, including small grants, public engagement grants and larger research pots.

We aim to provide hope and confidence to people with alopecia by funding research into its causes, with the aim of identifying causes, treatments, and ultimately, a cure. We are investing in research projects to explore key questions.

For more information, download our Research Strategy.

Previous funding calls:
Alopecia UK have advertised two previous funding calls:

In 2020, Alopecia UK awarded funding to four new projects, for three types of grant:

Research Pots (up to £10,000). Success rates for the Research Pots applications were 25%
Small Grants (up to £1,500). Success rates were 33%
PPI grants (up to £500). Success rates were 50%.
In 2018, we held an open call for applications for our Research Pots grants: application success rates for this call were 28%.

Training grants of up to £5000 are available to help HIC-Vac members pursue training opportunities that will contribute to their continued professional development. This can include (but is not limited to):

• attending courses or workshops  
• laboratory exchange/work shadowing
• attending an international conference to present a talk