Support for Collaborative Networks Academia-Users in Chemical Biology

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EPSRC-BBSRC-MRC Webinar 30th September 2010

Support for Collaborative Networks Academia-Users in Chemical Biology Nicolas Guernion, EPSRC

Gareth Buchanan, EPSRC Zoe Brown, EPSRC James Phillips, BBSRC Carolina Mailhos, MRC Chembio@epsrc.ac.uk

Research Councils – a changing environment Excellence People Impact

We hope this call hits all three.

Chemical Biology – current UK landscape Definition: Use of chemistry and chemical tools to understand and solve biological problems Cross sector approach Internationally competitive – 2nd only to the US Large portfolio of research across the three Research Councils and other funders of healthrelated research

Chemical Biology – excellence with impact Excellent research underpinning health is key priority for all RCs RCs working in partnership to accelerate impact from respective portfolios Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology sectors are critical to UK economy - needs taken into account

Chemical Biology – Opportunity Low level of industrial collaborations Industry willing to develop further collaborations with academia, test new concepts and exchange knowledge Opportunity to generate new collaborative ideas that may lead to new directions in the field

Chemical Biology Workshop 10th June 2010 Participants were invited from industry and academia and other stakeholders Aim to build collaborations and discuss the challenges academia and industry could tackle together Discussion groups were based around four themes Report is on the website: www.epsrc.ac.uk/pubs/reports/Pages/exploitation.a spx

Chemical Biology Workshop – some key messages Collaborations industry-academia are needed to succeed Already a lot of good entrepreneurship Access to industry’s data and compounds needs to become systematic Chemistry can help biology and vice versa

This call Based around the four themes Your proposal must address at least one of these or Present a strong business case for a collaborative academic-users network in another area Proposals should address the priorities of Research Councils.

What is a Collaborative Network Award?

Funding to bring together researchers, industry and other groups to develop collaborations through workshops, visits and part-time coordinators.

Co-designed with partners Identify research challenges Knowledge sharing Inter/multi-disciplinary collaborations (cross more than one RC’s remit)

What is a Collaborative Network Award?

Will hope to start all of the grants on 01/04/2011 Will run concurrently to maximise cross-network interactions Expect all networks to run for a minimum of 12 months Grounded in user’s need The RCs will work with the funded grants to help coordinate

Collaborative Network Activities Flexible – please ask if unsure, e.g.: Be creative and suggest new activities Please look at currently funded networks on our website: http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/funding/grants/network/networks/Pa ges/current.aspx

Lectures/debates/semi nars/webinars

Staff/Students exchange or placement

International collaboration Feasibility Studies (max 50% of total value)

Problem-solving and teamworking

Expert working groups

Research reviews

Who can be involved?

-Eligibility for managed calls of Research Councils -Check RCUK website: http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/research/eligibility.htm -The Collaborative Network proposal must be submitted by a researcher (the

Principal Investigator) who will be responsible for the development and management of the network.

-One Co-investigator can be named if the Network is to be managed jointly -At least one formal non-academic partner

Expected outputs and outcomes (1) Step-change in the level of collaboration between academia and users in the area of chemical biology and related disciplines Rise in number of new collaborations Deepening/broadening of existing collaborations The identification and refinement of research priorities and challenges: Emergent research challenges to be tackled in partnership Existing challenges to be further understood via partnership

Expected outputs and outcomes (2) Dissemination crucial to success of each funded network – many modes possible: Standard academic routes Webpages and wikis encouraged Engagement with users Other publications

Progress reports Grant condition - at least an annual report.

Funding – what you can apply for Total funding available: £800k (approximately) – 80% FEC Only one PI and one co-I – coordination time only Admin and comms support – small percentage of total value No salary costs for any other academics or users Research support – cannot exceed 50% of total value of the grant and must be accountable T&S – expect this to form the majority of the costs Event organisation: Funding can be requested for costs involved in running events, such as accommodation and equipment hire.

Collaboration support is encouraged

Proposal - format Only one proposal form and one case for support should be submitted per Collaborative Network application: Track-record (2 sides of A4) – PI and co-I Case for support (6 sides max) Pathways to Impact (2 sides max) http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/funding/apprev/preparing/Pages/economicimpact.asp x

Justification of Resources (2 sides max) Workplan (1 side of A4) Statement(s) of support – for each project partner http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/funding/apprev/preparing/Pages/lettersofsupport.aspx

Full Proposal – Case for Support Research focus of the proposed collaborative network will be Which themes you will be covering Who will be involved (academic and industrial) How the collaborative network will operate Expected outcomes and outputs

Assessment criteria Proposals will go straight to an expert panel Must span the remit of two or more Research Councils to be considered for the call and Fit to this initiative and to RCs priorities Expertise/Experience of PI and co-I Added value

Users engagement

Quality of activities

Dissemination

Management/Timescales/costs

Sustainability

Timetable One-stage process: Submission to EPSRC via Je-S Deadline: 30/11/2010 4pm Peer-review panel: February 2011 Decisions communicated early March 2011 All Networks MUST start 1/4/2011

Support for Collaborative Networks Academia-Users in Chemical Biology

Any questions? – Please raise your hand.

Chembio@epsrc.ac.uk