Funding opportunities

This is a Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) competition funded by UKRI. The competition is part of the COVID-19 National Core Studies (NCS) programme.

The programme’s objective is to address key research questions in support of the UK government’s response to COVID-19.

Eligibility summary:
You can lead a project alone or work with other organisations as subcontractors.

Contracts will be awarded to a single legal entity only.

You must:

• demonstrate experience in assay system development
• work in the field of cellular immunology
• include appropriate clinical expertise

Your project must:

• have a defined and justified intended use (research, clinical or diagnostic) for the assay
• identify, justify and if required validate the biomarkers or cellular characteristics you propose to measure
• develop or evaluate a sample preparation and assay format able to sample and measure the biomarkers or cellular characteristics with the required performance, test procedure and operational characteristics for the intended use

The aim of this competition is to develop effective assay system approaches to measuring human cellular immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 natural infection or vaccines, to improve clinical management and vaccine deployment.

A total of up to £1.5million, inclusive of VAT, is allocated for this competition.

We expect to fund up to 3 projects.

The total funding available for the competition can change. The funders have the right to:

• adjust the provisional funding
• apply a ‘portfolio’ approach

Apply for funding to investigate SARS-CoV-2 vaccine responses or immune failure.

You must be based at an eligible UK research organisation.

Your project must examine one or both of these:

• the nature and quality of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine responses
• the mechanisms of immune failure that lead to either SARS-CoV-2 re-infection or vaccine breakthrough.

Your project must produce outputs that have the potential to improve pandemic management during the period of the award.

Who can apply
The lead applicant should be based at an eligible research organisation. These include:

• higher education institutions
• UKRI-approved independent research organisations or NHS bodies
• government-funded organisations
• MRC institutes
• MRC units and partnership institutes
• institutes and units funded by other research councils.

Scope
SARS-CoV-2 vaccines have proven highly effective in the control of severe disease within the first six months since registration. As such they will make a major contribution towards control of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic but many questions remain regarding their optimal delivery.

This funding opportunity seeks to increase understanding of the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in different demographic groups in order to support optimal implementation of vaccine delivery.

Assessment

Your application will be assessed on:

• research quality
• people and research environment
• potential for impact of the proposed research on the short and potentially long term management of the COVID-19 pandemic
• patient and public involvement engagement (PPIE)
• value for money

The Michelson Prizes: Next Generation Grants 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. 

To begin your application, you’ll need to register for a 'SurveyMonkeyApply' account. Please click the link below for more information. Once you have registered, please save your login information; you will be able to save your application and edit it until you press the “Submit” button. 

The 2021 Michelson Prizes will be looking for research proposals in two areas:

• Human Immunology and Vaccine Research: The 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.
• Climate Change and Human Immunology: Climate change has a profound effect on human health; pollution and other environmental stressors related to climate change increase susceptibility to disease, especially in vulnerable populations. Harnessing the immune system will be critical to  mitigate negative health impacts. The committee is looking for research that expands our understanding of the potential effects of climate change on immune function with a particular interest in research that will directly translate into vaccine and immunotherapy development to mitigate its impact.

For both prizes, the committee will be looking for research that is highly innovative and impactful, with the potential to be applied across many diseases. 

While the Michelson Prizes are focused on research in the fields of immunology, vaccine and immunotherapy discovery, applicants from the full spectrum of related disciplines, including clinical research, biochemistry, molecular biology, protein engineering, computer science, artificial intelligence/machine learning, biophysics, nanotechnology, environmental health, etc., are encouraged to apply.

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.