British Academy – Knowledge Frontiers International Interdisciplinary Research Projects Scheme. Theme = ‘just transitions’

The British Academy’s Knowledge Frontiers: International Interdisciplinary Research Projects scheme seeks proposals from UK-based researchers in the humanities and social sciences working collaboratively with international partners. The partners must carry out interdisciplinary projects involving the humanities and the social sciences on the theme of ‘just transitions’. 

Research may be problem-focused, creatively innovative and exploratory, and should bring together relevant disciplines in the humanities and social sciences, where appropriate, for maximum impact/effect. The Academy requires all applications to fundamentally involve and integrate both the humanities and the social sciences. Applications led from the humanities are particularly encouraged.

Projects should go beyond the day-to-day matters that the ‘just transitions’ theme might engender, and instead focus on the deeper and more long-term issues of just transitions. The Academy sees this broad scope as essential in bringing together the range of disciplines across the humanities and social sciences that is required for an award under this programme.

It is anticipated that grants made through the scheme will:

• By such understandings of just transitions bring to bear a deeper, more nuanced, and historically aware thinking to the topic.
• Identify the contributions that could be made to international and national knowledge exchange, practice and policy development in this area and what lessons can be learnt to navigate any future landscape(s).
• Develop ways of communicating and collaborating in cross-disciplinary and multilingual working in partnership with colleagues internationally.

The Academy also does not have any pre-determined ideas regarding the exact type of project, outputs and dissemination of the research. Instead, the onus is on the applicant to convince the Academy that the project brings genuine added value to addressing the aims and scope of the call, and brings valuable insights and perspectives of relevance to the question of just transitions.

The Principal Investigator (PI) must be a researcher from the humanities and social sciences, be based at a eligible UK university or research institute, and be of postdoctoral or above status (or have equivalent research experience). Applicants can be of any nationality. 

Co-applicants based overseas are required. There must be at least one researcher who is based internationally. It is required that among the PI and co-applicant(s) there is a range of disciplines from the humanities and social sciences.

Awards are available for up to £300,000 for 24 months in duration (with full economic costing at 80%). The call is expected to be able to support approximately 15-20 awards. Projects must begin in March or April 2025.

Applications must be submitted by the deadline of 18 September 2024 (17:00 BST).

Full details: https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/funding/knowledge-frontiers-international-interdisciplinary-research/

Research Development Fund 2024/25: NOW OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS

This year’s Research and Innovation internal funding, the Research Development Fund 2024/25, is now open for applications.

​Scope

The Research Development Fund aims to grow Manchester Met’s researchers and research capability by providing:

1. ​Support for early career researchers to take steps to establish their independence and, under exceptional circumstances, for more experienced researchers to develop their research-funding portfolio further. Applications by more senior academics must be discussed in advance with the Research Development Team.
2. ​Development opportunities to allow early career researchers to experience international working and/or work outside the sector.
3. ​Opportunities for early career researchers to grow their international and cross-sectoral networks
4. ​Funding to collaborate with individuals and organisations outside Manchester Met to support recruitment of talented researchers and enhance the quality of our research and outputs.  

​The fund will make awards via the following schemes:

1. ​Research Accelerator Grants for applications of up to £7,000 leading to a full submission to an external funding stream (applications from Early Career Researchers pursuing new investigator awards or similar are particularly encouraged).
2. ​International Collaboration Fund for applications up to £7,000 to support development of international research networks aligned with priorities of external funding agencies and support visits from leading researchers to undertake joint research and develop joint research outputs.

Important considerations:

• Researchers may only apply to one scheme per round.
• ​Applicants can only hold one award at any time and must have completed their final report for their current award before submission of any further bid. 
• Mentors are mandatory for ECR’s who are applying to either schemes (please note that it is optional for anyone applying past this career stage).

Funding Available: Up to £7,000 for both schemes.

Duration: Up to 12 months.

Timeline

Opening date: 3^rd May 2024

Closing date: 31^st May 2024, 17:00

Start date: We expect all projects to take place within the 2024/25 financial year, therefore 12-month projects should commence by 1st August 2024. All projects must finish before 31 July 2025.

Notification of outcome: W/C 12^th July 2024 (exact date tbc)

Please find below the application form and grant guidelines containing further information about the scheme, including eligible funding costs and the selection process.

Support Available from R&I

Due to the anticipated high volume of applications to this year’s round, the Research Development Team is only able to advise on scheme eligibility and budgets and will not have the capacity to provide lay reviews and formulate budgets on the applicant’s behalf.

If you have any questions, please get in touch via researchapplications@mmu.ac.uk or contact your assigned Research Development Officer: 

​Zach Thomas – Z.thomas@mmu.ac.uk – Computing and Mathematics; Engineering; Natural Sciences

​Sophie Davison – S.Davison@mmu.ac.uk – Life Sciences; Sports and Exercise Sciences; Health Professions; Psychology; Social Care and Social Work; Nursing and Public Health

​Laura Nolan – L.Nolan@mmu.ac.uk – Design; Manchester School of Architecture; Art and Performance; School of Digital Arts; Manchester Fashion Institute; History, Politics and Philosophy; Sociology; English; Languages, Information and Communications. 

Callum Johnson – C.Johnson@mmu.ac.uk – Manchester Law School; Marketing, International Business and Tourism; Finance and Economics; Strategy, Enterprise and Sustainability; People and Performance; Operations, Technology, Events and Hospitality; School of Education 

Best wishes,

The Research Development Team

rag-icf-application-form-2Download

research-development-fund-guidance-2425Download

KNOW YOUR FUNDER – European Research Council (Horizon Europe)

Are you a researcher, with a big ground-breaking research idea, but are worried it might be too ambitious, risky or ‘out there’ for research funders?

If so, the European Research Council (ERC, funded through Horizon Europe) might be for you.

The ERC supports creative researchers from across the world to realise their big ideas, shape their disciplines and define new approaches to research.  Its mission is “to encourage the highest quality research in Europe through competitive funding, and to support investigator-driven frontier research across all fields”.

If this sounds like it might be for you, and you’d like to hear more about the ERC and the awards it offers, please join us for an online session with our UKRO European Adviser Ludovica Grossi.

The session will take place between 10 and 11.30am on 14 May 2024, and will give an overview of ERC and three of the key awards it offers: Starting Grants, Consolidator Grants, and Advanced Grants.

Book your place via the Manchester Met Staff Intranet here: ERC Session

PLEASE NOTE: This opportunity is only open to Manchester Met employees.

MRC Opportunity Announcement: Small molecule High Throughput Screen using AstraZeneca facilities

The small molecule High Throughput Screen using AstraZeneca facilities funding opportunity aims to support academic researchers in discovering potential starting points for small molecule medicinal drugs.

Academic researchers will benefit from unprecedented access to over two million molecules in AstraZeneca’s compound library, as well as its state-of-the-art high-throughput screening (HTS) facilities. AstraZeneca will provide technical input to support assay optimisation, investigation of alternative readout technologies and pilot HTS screen, prior to transfer of the assay to the HTS platform.

Scope

Funding priority in this round will be given to applications related to fibrosis or extracellular matrix targets.

There are two funding opportunities a year with new thematic focus each round. Future areas will include autoimmunity, pain, motor neuron disease, mental health, dementias (including Parkinson’s and Huntington’s), women’s health (including related to metabolic disorders).

The funding opportunity remains open to all targets, these will only be funded if there is insufficient demand in the areas specified in the funding opportunity guidance.

Important Considerations

This scheme highly encourages a researcher from the host institution to embed themselves at the AstraZeneca facilities in Cambridge for a period of three months, in order to help with the establishment of the assay and conducting the HTS.

Funding Available

The full economic cost (FEC) of your project can be up to £270,000 (£250,000 cost to MRC). MRC will fund 100% FEC of the work conducted at AstraZeneca and fund 80% FEC of any work conducted at the research organisation or related to staff costs, subsistence and travel.

Duration

The duration of this award is typically 15 months; however the duration can be from 12 (minimum) to a maximum of 18 months.

Timeline

Opening date: 9 May 2024 9:00am UK time

Closing date: 4 July 2024 4:00pm UK time*

Grant guidelines and further information about the scheme, including eligible funding costs and

details of how your application will be assessed, can be found here.

Those interested in submitting an application should reach out to their Research Development Manager at researchapplications@mmu.ac.uk.

*Please note all applications must go through your research development office and receive internal

approval prior to submission.

NIHR RfPB Programme Manager Visit – Book Your Space Now

This is your opportunity to gain invaluable insights into the NIHR Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) funding programme.

We delighted to welcome Dr Heather Ford, Programme Manager for the NIHR RfPB funding programme on Wednesday 15th May, at 1pm, where she’ll be expending her priceless knowledge of RfPB. There will also be an opportunity for the audience to ask questions.

The RfPB programme funds health, public health and social care research covering a wide range of health service challenges in England. This event is a must for anyone planning on applying to RfPB or who would like to gain a greater understanding about NIHR. 

Having this insight into the funding programme is really beneficial as we look to increase the success rates with grant applications and push our ambition forward as part of The Road to 2030 strategy. 

Tickets for the event are limited so to secure your place and view full event details, head to our event page.

Research and Innovation Funding: Upcoming Opportunities

For the attention of research colleagues at Manchester Metropolitan University.

We have been informed of an upcoming Research and Innovation internal funding opportunity. This will be announced formally in the coming weeks.

This is an early notification for you to start considering potential projects that could benefit from this funding. This funding opportunity could provide the necessary resources to support and expand your research capabilities, datasets or even the networks and collaborators with whom you share your ambitions.

Once we have more information about the funding, including the application process and deadlines, we will share it with you. In the meantime, consider how this funding could be a targeted investment to accelerate your research plans, this will also form an important part of the assessment process.

We look forward to supporting you in this endeavour!

Best Regards,

Research Development Officers

(On behalf of the Research Development Team)

Oliver Bird Fund – Striving for Better Lives with Musculoskeletal Conditions – Third Call Now Released

The Oliver Bird Fund broadly aims to improve the well-being of individuals with musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions, including rheumatoid diseases, through coordinated policy, practice, and research efforts. Each grant round has a specific theme relating to living with MSK. 

Scope

Following two previous calls, priorities for a third call continue to be the links between MSK conditions and economic and social well-being. Up to £6 million in grant funding is available to support high quality, high impact projects. Again, reflecting their shared priorities, the programme will be funded in partnership with Versus Arthritis. This call will contribute towards Versus Arthritis’ Living Well strategic priority of ensuring that people live well with arthritis and that there is a strong community of support. The shared emphasis for this funding round is on addressing inequalities, through non-medical intervention.

Funding Available and Duration

Open to applications for awards up to £750,000. It is anticipated that applications will be for projects for up to 4 years. The funder is willing to consider applications above this funding limit and/or over longer duration with prior discussion and agreement in advance of submission.

Additionally, applications for seed corn funds to develop a research idea and/or interdisciplinary partnerships are welcome. Full scale applications generated from the seed corn funding may be considered in a later call or to a bespoke timescale.

Closing date: Applicants must submit an outline proposal by 16 Sep 2024 23:59 GMT. Short-listed applicants will then receive invitations to submit full applications during November 2024 for submission in January 2025.

Further information about the scheme, including grant guidelines, eligible funding costs, details of how your application should be completed and how it will be assessed, can be found here.

If you are interested in developing an application, please get in touch with us at researchapplications@mmu.ac.uk

Please note all applications must go through the Research Development Office and receive full internal approval prior to submission.

Muscular Dystrophy UK New Grant Scheme – Improving Quality of Life

Muscular Dystrophy UK is announcing a new grant scheme for research that focuses specifically on improving the quality of life of people living with neuromuscular conditions.

Scope

Muscular Dystrophy UK welcomes applications that will have a benefit for individuals with any of the muscular dystrophies or related neuromuscular conditions. They are looking to support research across the breadth of conditions supported by the charity. They would also welcome applications that address areas relating to single conditions, be they rare or very-rare conditions.

Research applications in this scheme should specifically address an unmet need or offer an innovative solution to a problem that would improve the quality of life of people with neuromuscular conditions. Muscular Dystrophy UK’s community have specifically highlighted areas of research as being important such as improving accessibility, mental health & psychological support, assistive technology or physical aids, lifestyle (exercise or diet), fatigue, physiotherapy, pain management, hydrotherapy. Although they are interested in funding in these areas, they will consider any application for research in any area that will lead to improvements in quality of life for people with neuromuscular conditions.

Applicants are expected to outline the pathway that their product/solution will take to benefit lives of people with a muscle wasting condition and have a clear plan to achieve a specific milestone on this pathway.

Strong applications will engage people with lived experience of the condition(s).

Important considerations

Muscular Dystrophy UK are only able to fund UK-based applicants for research in UK institutions or hospitals. Applications are welcome from any researcher or allied healthcare professional who is engaged in research. Applications from early-career researchers (defined as researchers who possess a PhD who have not yet gained, or are transitioning to, an independent research career) are also welcome.

Funding available

The scheme will offer grants of up to £10,000 for consumables.

Duration

Grants of up to 12 months in duration are available.

Opening date: Friday 12 April 2024.

Closing date: All applications should be submitted by 3pm on Wednesday 12 June 2024. Please note that after online submission you must send a copy of your application signed by the principal- and co-investigators, and by your Head of Department and your institute’s research/finance office. This should be sent by email to researchgrants@musculardystrophyuk.org no later than Wednesday 26 June 2024.

Further information about the scheme, including grant guidelines, eligible funding costs, details of how your application should be completed and how it will be assessed, can be found here.

If you are interested in developing an application, please get in touch with us at researchapplications@mmu.ac.uk

Please note all applications must go through the Research Development Office and receive full internal approval prior to submission.

British Academy Small Research Grants Open for Next Round of Funding!

The British Academy have announced the next round of funding for their Small Research Grants awards.

These awards will cover the cost of the direct expenses arising from research up to the value of £10,000, tenable for up to 24 months and are available for any primary research project under the humanities and social sciences.

British Academy/Leverhulme Small Research Grants | The British Academy

Awards are open to postdoctoral scholars in the United Kingdom and applications are not limited to those of any status/career stage.

All applicants should demonstrate that Academy funds are sought for a clearly defined, discrete piece of research, which will have an identifiable outcome on completion of the Academy-funded component of the research.

Those interested in submitting an application should reach out to their respective Research Development Officers and submit a 1R form by the 24th April to researchapplications@mmu.ac.uk.

The application window is open from the 10th April to the 5th June.

Highlight Notice: Application of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Engineering Biology, and Quantum Technologies – Funding Available!

The MRC has announced that funding will be made available for applications which involve the application of artificial intelligence (AI), engineering biology, and quantum technologies in biomedical research and development.

Funding is available via through any grants from MRC responsive mode or translation funding opportunities. Those interested should apply through the existing funding opportunity that is most relevant to their science area and career stage.

The scope of this funding can be in relation to any of the following:

• Artificial Intelligence: considered here to be machines that perform tasks normally performed by human intelligence. Applicants should be clear on the biomedical research challenge to be addressed, how use of AI will deliver impact beyond incremental optimisation of current systems, and where, if applicable complementarity exists with UKRI strategies.
• Engineering Biology: focusing especially on design and fabrication of biological components and systems, from modifications of natural systems through to artificial biology, to enhance our understanding of human health and disease or in the development of novel diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines.
• Quantum Technologies: focusing on utilisation of quantum sensing technologies aimed at improving diagnostics for early detection of disease, biomarker identification and increasing understanding of physiological systems in diseased states.

This highlight notice will be open from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025. Applications submitted in this window will be considered for this highlight opportunity. For individual application closing dates refer to the relevant MRC funding opportunity.

Applicants should refer to this highlight notice and the critical technology in their application summary.

Artificial intelligence, engineering biology and quantum technologies: highlight notice – UKRI