Translational stem cell research - Response mode funding
Funding for translational stem cell research is available through a new funding stream led by the MRC as part of the MRC/NIHR single health research strategy.
The Translational Stem Cell Research Committee (TSCRC) has been established to fund investigator-led research proposals that have clear translational goals, and will consider applications from across the UK. The funding mechanism will also provide a platform for partnership funding which will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Please apply for TSCRC using the Je-S application system.
- Background
- Remit
- Who can apply?
- Guidance to applicants
- Deadline dates for investigator-led applications to TSCRC
- Case for support
- Terms and conditions of TSCRC research awards
- Translational Stem Cell Research Committee
- Contacts and guidance
Background
Stem cells and regenerative medicine remain a MRC priority, and MRC’s strategy is to maximise the competitiveness and impact of its research by:
- giving a high priority to fundamental stem cell research;
- furthering translation towards application and therapeutic development;
- building further capacity in stem cell research;
- developing with TSB and NIHR joint strategies for academic – industry cooperation.
The Translational Stem Cell Research Committee (TSCRC) has been established as the main vehicle for providing MRC support for high quality research aiming to apply stem cell technology to improve human health. This is a key deliverable for the Government’s strategy for stem cell research, as outlined in the report of the UK Stem Cell Initiative (UKSCI), published in December 2005. The MRC delivery plan has the stated goal of funding translational stem cell research to a level of £10 million per annum by 2010/11.
The TSCRC will build upon MRC’s previous experience of working jointly with the UK Stem Cell Foundation (UKSCF), who remain engaged with this funding stream and will seek to identify co-funding opportunities where possible.
Remit
The TSCRC will consider applications whose goals will advance stem cell research towards clinical use or application, including:
- enabling technological development;
- preclinical stem cell research;
- experimental medicine;
- early phase clinical trials.
The TSCRC will fund projects that go beyond the understanding of basic stem cell biology or using stem cells to probe the mechanisms of disease (which will be funded through the MRC boards), with the intention of supporting the application of such research to a stage where further funding can be found to continue development towards the latter stages of therapeutic or technological development.
Who can apply?
Eligibility criteria for needs-led research grants will be the same as for standard MRC research grants and as described in the applicant’s handbook. In addition, proposals are also welcomed from MRC unit staff.
Commercial organisations and applicants from international institutions are welcome to apply as co-applicants; however the research should be carried out for the main part within the UK, and lead by a UK institution.
Applicants with an industrial partner(s) will need to include MICA: as a prefix to their project title, complete the Project Partner section in Je-S and submit a MRC Industry Collaboration Agreement (MICA) Form and Heads of Terms as part of their Je-S application. If you are considering establishing a collaboration with an industrial partner(s), you and your potential collaborator(s) are advised to refer to the guidance on MRC Industry Collaboration Agreement (MICAs).
Guidance to applicants
Applications will be assessed under a two-stage application process.
The MRC is now using the Research Councils UK Joint e-Submission (Je-S) System. Please use Je-S for all applications to the TSCRC.
Outlines
Outline applications will be received by the MRC around six weeks before the TSCRC meeting, and will be reviewed by a virtual expert panel. There will be no opportunity to respond to reviewers’ comments at this stage.
The TSCRC will then consider the outline applications and either decline the application or invite a full application. Proposals declined at the outline stage because they are viewed as being outside the remit of the TSCRC may be eligible to apply to MRC for funding through the boards.
The case for support for your project should be no more than four pages in length (including references). See case for support for further details.
Invited full applications
The TSCRC will give feedback on applications that are invited to submit full proposals. Such applications will often be milestone-based, with the potential for the committee to impose stop/start conditions as appropriate.
Applicants will have a choice of either:
(i) Submitting to the next TSCRC meeting, which will mean they will only have one month to develop the full submission. This is likely to be in exceptional circumstances, where there are few criticisms to address and there is a particular issue of timeliness;
(ii) Submitting to the following TSCRC meeting. This would be the normal route, and would allow applicants to address criticisms or refine more complex applications over a four to five month period, and support proactive development where advised by the committee.
Thus for successful applications the timeline from outline submission to approval should take no more than ten months and potentially as little as six months (see figure below). The timeline for will be confirmed at the time of invitation.
Applicants invited to submit a full proposal should follow the normal application process for MRC research grants. General guidance on how to complete a research grant and the case for support can be found in the applicant’s handbook.
Applicants with an industrial partner(s) will need to submit a MRC Industry Collaboration Award (MICA) Form and Heads of Terms as part of their J-eS application. Please refer to the MRC web site for further guidance on MICAs.
Specific guidance also includes:
- When applying applicants should select ‘strategic grants’ and Dr Paul Colville-Nash as the Programme Manager;
- Translational stem cell research proposals will be assessed and scored following standard investigator-led MRC research grant criteria.
- Applicants must include details on the project timetable and milestones (within section 3.3 Research Plans of the case for support).
Assessment process
Proposals will be reviewed and assessed following the standard process for MRC grants.
Full proposals submitted to the TSCRC will be sent out for external peer review, as in common practice with MRC standard research grants. Applicants will be able to respond to the reviewers’ comments prior to the final funding decisions made by the TSCRC. Decisions made by the TSCRC are final.
Deadline dates for investigator-led applications to TSCRC
Application deadlines are usually in January, May and September. All proposals are assessed by external experts before they are considered by the MRC research boards at their meetings in June/July, October/November and February/March.
Your proposal must be submitted through the MRC Je-S system by 4pm on the relevant deadline date.
Full applications:
These will be invited and reviewed as outlined in the guidance to applicants. Precise timescales will be advised in the letter of invitation.
Case for support
In addition to completing the specific fields requested in the J-eS, you will need to submit a case for support which must be attached as a PDF to the J-eS application. The case for support may be up to four A4 pages in length, including references, using Verdana 10pt typeface with margins of 2cms on the left hand side and 1.5cms on other edges. No annexes are allowed.
In your case for support should address each of the following headings using the description under each heading as guidance.
Structural Guideline for the case for support:
- Title
- Importance of the research - what is the translational outcome within the project time-frame?
- Scientific potential
- People and track record
- Environment
- Research plans
- Milestones
- Consideration of ethical, governance and IP issues around the project
There should be no addition of annexes without prior agreement from MRC Office Scientific Contact (Programme Manager), Dr Paul Colville-Nash (Paul.Colville-Nash@headoffice.mrc.ac.uk).
Terms and conditions of TSCRC research awards
In addition to the standard MRC and RCUK terms and conditions, applicants undertaking research involving human stem cell lines must adhere to MRC supplementary terms and conditions for MRC grants introduced in the context of stem cell research Medical Research Council - MRC Terms and Conditions, section AC24.
Projects funded by the TSCRC may be asked to provide regular progress reports against the milestones set out in the proposal.
Translational Stem Cell Research Committee
- Professor Ian Greer (Chair), Dean, Hull York Medical School, University of York
- Professor Peter Andrews, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sheffield
- Dr Raj Chopra, Senior Medical Director Discovery Medicine and Epidemiology, Astra Zeneca
- Professor Robin Ali, Professor of Human Molecular Genetics, University College London
- Professor Stuart Forbes, Professor of Transplantation and Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh/MRC Centre for Inflammation Research
- Professor Sian Harding, National Heart & Lung Institute, Imperial College London
- Professor Doug Higgs, Director MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, Oxford
- Professor Anthony Hollander, ARC Professor of Rheumatology & Tissue Engineering, Dept. of Cellular & Molecular Medicine School of Medical Sciences, Bristol
- Dr Paul Kemp, Intercytex Ltd
- Professor Sheila MacNeil, The Kroto Research Institute, University of Sheffield
- Professor Martin Wilkins, Professor of Clinical Pharmacology, Imperial Collage London
- Professor Paul Whiting, Pfizer Regenerative Medicine
Contacts and guidance
General contact for pre-award enquiries, please contact:
MRC pre-awards administration team
Email: grants@headoffice.mrc.ac.uk
Queries relating to Je-S should be directed to the Je-S Helpdesk
If you have a query about scientific aspects of your research proposals, please contact the programme manager below:
Contact: Dr Paul Colville-Nash
Email: paul.colville-nash@headoffice.mrc.ac.uk
