High-throughput ‘omic’ science and imaging
Call for Expressions of Interest (EoI) for high throughput ‘omic’ science and imaging to capitalise on existing MRC investments in human cohorts, tissue, and animal model collections.
- Aims and objectives
- Eligibility for the call
- High-throughput science in scope
- Peer review and decision process
- Rapid uptake of awards and staged investments
- Format for EoI
- Key dates
- Contact
Aims and objectives
Funding is available to support high throughput ‘omics’ or imaging approaches that would capitalise on and enrich existing MRC investments in cohort studies, tissue resources and animal model collections.
The aim of the Call is to maximize the value of substantive on-going MRC-funded resources, as for example funded through strategic awards or within MRC Units, Centres or Institutes. It is expected that the high-throughput science will enable major, long-term impact, and will provide data/resources that are easily accessible by the wider scientific community. Some examples of eligible MRC-funded resources are listed below (not an exclusive list):
- Large population based cohorts, for example UK Biobank, the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), and the National Survey of Health and Development (1946 cohort). This could include bigger international consortia in which the MRC cohort is an element, if it is part of a holistic strategy for analyses.
- Human tissue bank resources. For example open-access brain banks, stem cell resources.
- Patient/disease-focussed cohorts, including stratified medicine studies and intervention trials
- Large scale animal model resources, for example the MRC’s contribution to the International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium.
- For MRC Units (including University Units), Institutes and Centres, exceptionally, proposals may also be considered which capitalise on cohorts, tissue collections or animal model collections that are not currently MRC supported, but the high-throughput science proposed would add significant value to their work.
Eligibility for the call
In addition to normal response mode eligibility rules, this call is also open to MRC Units and Institutes.
The Principal Investigator of the Expression of Interest need not be the Principal Investigator of the existing scientific resource/collection, but the Principal Investigator of the EoI would need any necessary permission for access to/use of the scientific resource/collection, which could be through partnership/collaboration. Otherwise, normal “response mode” Research Organisation and Applicant eligibility rules apply; please see applicants’ handbook.
High-throughput science in scope
This might include, but is not restricted to: genomics (sequencing, genotyping), transcriptomics, epigenetics, metabolomics, proteomics, and high-throughput imaging.
Peer review and decision process
The call will operate through two stages, an initial EoI phase followed by invited full applications. Note that submission of an EoI is mandatory to proceed to the second stage. An Advisory Panel will define the precise scope of the Call based on the EoIs received. Further guidance will be issued at that stage.
Successful EoI will be invited to submit full proposals on the basis of the expert feedback provided.
Rapid uptake of awards and staged investments
Funding will be available with short-cycle times, and may be adjusted year to year. Up to £10m could be available in the Financial Year to March 2014 in the first instance and it is anticipated that a similar level of investment could be made over the next 2–2.5 years. EoI may therefore propose a programme of work up to 3 years in duration with staged investments, but each stage/phase would need to stand alone.
If successful at the full application stage, funding would be provided on the basis that spend is achieved by the end of the 2013-14 financial year (ie. to 31 March 2014) in the first instance. Successful applicants will be expected to take up the award and implement the programme of work immediately. Further funding may be provided in defined tranches and not necessarily committed for the whole piece of work at the outset. Some successful proposals may also be held over until a later date for a confirmed award decision. Further details will be provided at the time of considering full proposals.
Format for EoI
General
Applicants should structure their EoI under each of the headings below, using the descriptions as guidance. The EoI may be up to four A4 pages in length using Verdana 10pt typeface with margins of 1.5cms and single line spacing. No additional annexes are allowed.
Title of the Proposal
Principal Investigator
Name + Research Organisation + contact email/phone
Summary of aims and objectives
Describe the overall ambition, aims and objectives, and how the proposal meets the objectives of the scheme. There will need to be a strong summary of the existing MRC-funded resource (cohort, tissue collection, animal model collection), relevant on-going activities, and how the proposed work would add significantly to the resource and provide long-term scientific value.
Scientific plan and importance
- Broadly describe your plan of work.
- Explain the rationale for your plans.
- Justify the importance of the plans in terms of the research that can be achieved in the short term from the new resource/data that will be created, and the longer term types of research questions that could be addressed using the new resource/data.
- Proposals will need to be statistically robust, and appropriately powered. Although it is envisaged that activities will be large-scale, more focussed proposals will be considered if justified by the science.
People and track record
Explain how the applicants and collaborators are well qualified to carry out the proposed work.
Timetable of proposed activities
This could be provided as a Gantt chart. Give a high-level timetabled plan of the proposed activities and expenditure, highlighting where activities have to be completed as a block of work together, or where activities could be separated or paused. What work, and therefore spend, could be feasibly completed by 31 March 2014, and in subsequent financial years (as necessary). If the proposals cannot deliver all spend within Financial Year 2013/14 (e.g. due to timing issues or scale of investment proposed) then decisions will be made on an initial tranche of funding, with possible follow-on investments reserved for a later funding decision. Spend/work within FY 2013/14 may include commitment to binding obligations, such as the purchase of services, within the FY 2013/14. There may be feasibility to count smaller funding for spend in 2014/15. At the full proposal stage, applicants will need to provide assurances that early procurement activities have/are taking place in order to implement work immediately any award has been made.
Summary and justification of resources
Indicative costing, broken down per FY (1st April-31 March). The funding available cannot be used for capital and cannot be targeted for training purposes.
The nature of what will and will not be allowed in terms of resources for the full application may be further refined in light of the EoI received. This will be confirmed when a full application is invited.
Key dates
EoI should be structured as above and sent as a single, bookmarked, pdf document to: Claire.newland@headoffice.mrc.ac.uk and James.horswill@headoffice.mrc.ac.uk
The deadline for receipt of EoI is 18.00h on Wed 10 April 2013.
Note that submission of an EoI is mandatory for progression to the invited full application stage.
The remainder of the call timeline (provisional) is as follows:
- Decisions on EoI: week commencing 7 May 2013
- Deadline for full proposals which will be by invitation only: 24 June 2013
- In-principle funding decision: week commencing 22 July 2013
- Start date for award: Q4 2013
Contact
For enquiries please contact Dr Claire Newland:
Claire.Newland@headoffice.mrc.ac.uk
020 7395 2260
If unavailable, please contact:
James.Horswill@headoffice.mrc.ac.uk