Discipline Hopping Grant - Frequently Asked Questions
Questions and answers regarding eligibility, funding, preparing an application, assessment, ethics and governance for the Discipline Hopping Grants Scheme.
Last modified: 17 May 2011
Eligibility
Q: Who is eligible?
A: Normal MRC eligibility criteria for MRC grant applicants apply. However, despite the fact that this scheme operates in response mode, as only part of the funding comes from MRC, researchers from MRC units and institutes are eligible to apply.
Q: Can MRC units and institutes apply under this scheme?
A: Yes. Where the MRC unit/institute is the lead applicant, any award will be made on the basis of 100 per cent directly incurred costs only and will not include indirect or estates costs.
Q: Is there a limit to the number of applications I can submit?
A: You can be a Principal Investigator (PI) on one application per year only.
Q: If I cannot carry out the discipline hop myself, can I request funding to support a junior researcher?
A: Our preference would be for the Principle Investigators themselves to carry out the discipline hop. Where this is not feasible, it is possible to apply for funding for a suitably experienced new or existing post-doctoral researcher or support staff. However, applicants should be careful to justify the appropriateness of the hopping activity and staffing arrangements and demonstrate how this has the potential to lead to a long-term legacy of interdisciplinary working.
Q: If the research is not UK-based, can I recruit/fund staff to carry out the science?
A: No. The MRC will fund all resources required to carry out the science, but will not fund a non-UK employee.
Q: Is the MRC responsible for the Intellectual Property (IP) rights?
A: No. MRC does not deal with IP rights to research funded on grants (for extramural research).
Q: Is there a limit to the number of applications a research organisation can submit?
A: No, there is no limit per research organisation.
Q: Can I submit an application which has previously been submitted to this or another MRC research board or panel?
A: Yes, if a year has passed since the original submission.
Q: I have already had a Discipline Hopping Grant, can I apply to the scheme again?
A: Successful applicants may not reapply for funds through the Discipline Hopping Grants Scheme for three years after an award has been made.
Q: If my application doesn’t fit the Discipline Hopping grant remit, what options do I have?
A: If your application does not fit the remit of this scheme, but is within the broader sphere of MRC or other Research Council interests, then you may be able to apply via the normal funding mechanisms.
Funding
Q: How much funding is available under this scheme?
A: At least £1.5 million is available for funding applications under this scheme.
Q: What is the expected duration of grants under this scheme?
A: We expect applications from three months to a maximum of 12 months in duration. Please note we do not fund large scale programmes of research in this scheme.
Q: When is the deadline for submission of the full proposals?
A: 4pm, Wednesday 18th November 2009.
Q: Will the application attract full economic costs (FEC)?
A: Yes, the application will need to be submitted on an FEC basis.
Q: Are applications/awards under the scheme value limited?
A: No, awards will not be value limited. As a guide, we anticipate that most applications will be below £125,000 in total, including FEC (MRC will pay 80 per cent of the full economic costs of the application).
Q: Will awards be pruned?
A: Only under exceptional circumstances will awards be pruned. Therefore, it is important that applications are appropriately costed and justified and represent clear value for money. If you over or under bid it is likely your application will be rejected.
Preparing an application
Q: My organisation is not registered to use Je-S.
A: Please contact the Je-S helpdesk (JeSHelp@rcuk.ac.uk) as soon as possible with details of your organisation and the scheme you wish to apply for.
Q: How do I submit a full application?
A: Applications will only be accepted using the Joint electronic-Submission system (Je-S). Applicants should refer to the general guidance for applicants (in the applicant’s handbook) and MRC standard terms and conditions. There are additional requirements for Discipline Hopping Grant applicants. These are listed in a separate Discipline Hopping Grants Annex.
Q: When preparing my application, what grant type do I select on Je-S?
A: You should select ‘Discipline Hopping Award’ for the ‘Grant Scheme ’ and ‘New Applications’ for ‘Call/Type/Mode’.
Q: Is there a restriction on the typeface/pitch on the case for support?
A: Yes, please see the Applicants handbook or Je-S Help for more information about document formatting.
Q: Is there a restriction on the typeface/pitch on the case for support?
A: Yes, applicants must use Verdana; pitch 10 for the content; which is the standard typeface on MRC applications.
Q: What is the page limit for the case for support?
A: Three pages, including references and all the sections described in the Discipline Hopping Grants Annex. Applications which exceed this limit will be automatically rejected.
Q: Can I create my own case for support document as I would for a normal research grant?
A: Yes, but please be aware of the headings within the case for support, all of which you must address.
Q: Can I include annexes in my application?
A: The only annexes which will be accepted are:
- Extra detail on ethical, risk, or patient safety data issues where it is needed attached as a PDF;
- Approved exceptions form for use of exception fields within EAA;
- NHS Trust contribution information;
- Academic-industry/charity partnerships.
Q: What evidence do I need to provide to support a proposed academic – industry/charity partnership?
A: We will require written confirmation from the partner, that they are willing to collaborate for the duration of the study, full details of their contribution and an agreement that all the data from the study can be placed in the public domain within a reasonable timeframe.
Q: What happens if my application is received after the deadline?
A: Proposals are electronically submitted by the PI’s host institution to the MRC. Any proposals received after the deadline will not be considered. Please allow sufficient time for your HEI to approve your application before submitting it to the MRC.
Assessment
Q: What will be the composition of the assessment panel?
A: Applications will be assessed and reviewed solely by the Discipline Hopping Award Panel. Applications received for this scheme are not considered by external reviewers. The Discipline Hopping panel is made up of representatives from physical, life and medical sciences.
Q: Will the applicant be given the opportunity to respond to the panel?
A: No, we will not be asking applicants to respond to the panel. The panel’s decision is final and will not be open to appeal.
Ethics and governance
Q: Do I need full ethics permission and regulatory approvals for any human or animal studies in the grant proposal? If so, when should I apply for this?
A: MRC does not require ethics permissions and regulatory approvals to be in place when you submit an application. However, given that research requiring the use of human tissue/organs may raise various ethical and regulatory issues, applicants will be required to demonstrate that they have adequately considered these. Early discussions with regulatory bodies may be required to ensure that all requirements can be met in a timely manner. It is the responsibility of your host institution to ensure that the appropriate ethics approval(s) have been obtained and that no research requiring such approval is initiated before it has been granted. Please read the MRC terms and conditions.
Communications
Q: How will you let me know if my application has been successful?
A: We will notify the Principal Investigator of the decision by telephone or email communication.
Q: When can I expect to receive feedback on whether my application has been successful?
A: Due to the volume of applications this scheme receives, we regret that it is not possible to provide feedback on every application. Notification of the outcome will be sent as soon as possible following the panel meeting.
Q: Will you publish a list of the awards that are made?
A: Following the funding decisions a list of awards will be made available on the MRC website 2/3 months post decision. The list will be inclusive of name, title of grant, host institution and value awarded.
Other
Q: I cannot make the application deadline for this call, what other options do I have?
A: Depending on the subject area, sometimes applications can be submitted to the usual Research Council grant funding mechanisms. The Discipline Hopping grant scheme is an annual competition.
Q: If my query is not answered by the FAQ’s, or I have a scientific query regarding my application, how do I contact you?
A: If you have a query about scientific aspects of your proposal:
Contact: Dr Carolina Mailhos (MRC)
Email: Carolina.Mailhos@headoffice.mrc.ac.uk
To discuss your eligibility for a Discipline Hopping Grant, or if you have other non-scientific queries:
Email: grants@headoffice.mrc.ac.uk
Q: I have a query concerning preparing my Je-S application form, who should I contact?
A: Please contact the MRC Je-S helpdesk:
Je-S Helpdesk
- Je-S help desk: web page
- Je-S help desk: 01793 44 4164
- Je-S help desk: JeSHelp@rcuk.ac.uk
Please note that voice mail will log calls at all other times and will take messages if the line is already in use.
