MRC announces networking funds to assist UK researchers in proposal preparation for Innovative Medicines Initiative
On Friday 8th February, key stakeholders from across the UK biomedical research community met to discuss the opportunities available in the new Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI). During the meeting, Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, Chief Executive of the MRC, announced that the Council would be providing £50,000 to assist UK participants with networking activities to prepare their Expressions of Interest.
IMI will present a unique opportunity for European public and private sector research organisations to collaborate on shared research objectives. The projects funded through IMI will aim to improve the mechanisms for bringing new medicines to the marketplace, addressing safety and efficacy issues alongside training and knowledge management.
Over the ten-year lifetime of IMI, the European Commission will contribute 1 billion euros of research funding to academia, SMEs, patient groups, regulators and non-profit entities. Industry will match this with in-kind contributions.
The first IMI call for proposals will be launched in April. The proposed application timelines are very tight; consortia seeking funding will be asked to submit Expressions of Interest by July 2008. The final funded projects will start early in 2009.
The MRC’s funding will assist UK participants with networking activities to prepare their Expressions of Interest, covering activities such as travel, accommodation and meeting-room hire.
If you are interested in applying for networking funds prior to submitting an Expression of Interest, please complete the application form and return it to Jill Jones (contact details below).
Further background on the scheme is available, and reports of the workshop, including copies of the presentations, will be available shortly.
The European Commission’s FP7 contribution will be taken from the Framework Programme 7 Health Theme budget. The UK National Contact Points for FP7 Health can be contacted with any queries about IMI:
Jill Jones
Medical and Research Council
020 7670 5274
jill.jones@headoffice.mrc.ac.uk
Claire Horton
BetaTechnology Ltd
0870 191 0111
health@fp7uk.co.uk
Additional sources of information on IMI are:
- Innovative Medicines Initiative website
- European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations
The IMI UK awareness day was hosted by:
- Academy of Medical Sciences
- Association of Medical Research Charities
- Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform
- Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry
- Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency
- BioIndustry Association
- Department of Health
- Medical Research Council
- Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills
