Networks what are we looking for Jonathan Pearce, Head of Infection and Immunity Medical Research Council
Agenda Aims Process ODA
The call for Networks in Vaccine R&D seeks to: Support Networks focused on early vaccine R&D challenges, relevant to OECD DAC list countries Encourage interdisciplinary working, where this adds value Strengthen research capacity, capabilities and methodologies Provide catalyst support including to Pump-prime short-term, innovative projects - leading to more competitive, collaborative, crossdisciplinary and integrative research proposals Support collaboration between researchers in the UK and developing countries
Networks in Context Discovery Development Clinical MRC Infection & Immunity Board Response-mode Developmental Pathway BBSRC BBSRC Response-mode GCRF Networks Innovate SBRI - preclinical SBRI - clinical UKVN Capacity call in development (manufacturing and trials)
The importance of immunology IN vaccinology Funding opportunity to address key areas: Adjuvants, immunomodulation Bacterial vaccinology Comparative immunology and comparative vaccinology Human challenge models One health / animal models These are potential areas opportunity to extended where justified
Call scope what is in remit? Networks Address well justified gaps/challenges in early vaccines R&D Foster collaboration and facilitate wider cross-disciplinary integration Build capability Pump-prime innovative research areas/collaboration but not a funding agency Open to new members but not a society Not in the scope of the call: Closed Networks Standard research proposals Capital expenditure in UK (out of ODA remit)
Funding and Eligibility Funding MRC and BBSRC have ring-fenced up to 8 million for this call and expect to support 4-5 multidisciplinary Networks for up to 3 years in duration Eligibility MRC is the lead Research Council for this call. Standard MRC eligibility criteria apply for Research Organisations (RO), Principal Investigators and Co-Investigators IMPORTANT we will accept a maximum of two EOIs per RO. Researchers can join as many relevant Networks as they wish, however, we are restricting the number of Networks that can be led by a single RO
What can the funding be used to support? Director and Co- Director Salary Costs Costs claimed as PI and Co-I on grant Network Manager Salary costs to cover full/part-time/ ad hoc manager Day-day running of network, event coordination, outreach and website activities Network Events Venue costs, travel for key international speakers etc Catalyst Funds Pump-priming Capability building Exchange
Agenda Aims Process ODA
Call timeline Date Action 14-Oct-2016 15-Oct-2016 09-Nov-16 23-Nov-16 01-Dec-16 10-Feb-17 16-Mar-17 23-Mar-17 Networks event Develop outline/eoi proposals Expression of Interest deadline - 5 pm Outline Panel meeting Networks invited to complete Full Application Full Application deadline Panel Assessment meeting - Interviews hold diary Notify applicants
EoI Assessment Criteria I/II Part I: Applicant Information Strength of the team Part 2: Case for Support Overall Vision for the Network in Vaccine R&D case - fit to the aims and scope of the call Does the Network aim to build an interdisciplinary community by drawing in researchers from a range of relevant disciplines and engaging relevant stakeholders including those from developing countries, where these add value? Does the Network aim to support innovative catalyst activities? Relevance to Official Development Assistance Does the Network proposal clearly address a vaccine R&D challenge of relevance to countries on the OECD DAC list?
EoI Assessment Criteria II/II Scientific case Does the Network seek to address a key scientific challenge in early vaccine R&D and present a compelling case for how the network will help address this How will the Network achieve its mission? Are the exemplar catalysts initiatives supportive of the network goals and are projects described of high scientific quality? Are the Network activities proposed likely to support members and lead to novel projects and sustainable collaborations? Part 3: Network Management and Governance Demonstration of a clear Network management structure Part 4: Resources requested Does the EOI detail reasonable and realistic resource requests?
Agenda Aims Process ODA
Increased funding to harness UK strengths in addressing Global Challenges The government has drawn on its ODA commitment of 0.7% GNI to provide support for a series of vehicles spanning the research continuum from basic through translational and implementation Global Challenge Research Fund ( 1.5bn; BIS) Newton Fund (BIS) DH Non- Ross ODA ( 400m) Ross Fund ( 1bn; DH/DfID) DfID
ODA research must directly and primarily benefit people on the OECD DAC Country List
What is ODA eligible research? Only research directly and primarily relevant to the problems of developing countries may be counted as ODA Research does not need to be solely relevant to developing countries, but developing countries should be the primary beneficiaries Primary beneficiaries should be developing countries but secondary benefits to UK can also be articulated Research should investigate a specific problem or seek a specific outcome which will impact on developing countries in the immediate or longer-term Proposals should articulate a pathway to development impact (even if outside the timeframe of the project) Applicants will need to explain how the network will directly and primarily address ODA priorities potentially through use of catalyst funds to address challenges in development of specific LMIC focused vaccines
Guidance available to help your application Generic ODA guidance OECD Is it ODA? pdf available to download from the OECD website: http://www.oecd.org/dac/stats/officaldevelopmentassitiancedefinition andcoverage.htm ODA Guidance for GCRF proposals RCUK Official Development Assistance Global Challenges Research Fund Guidance available to download from the RCUK website: http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/funding/gcrf
Contact Details Dr Jonathan Pearce Head of Infection and Immunity jonathan.pearce@headoffice.mrc.ac.uk