Home > Guidance Notes for the UK Regenerative Medicine Platform Immunomodulation Hub

1 Application process

The process and timetable for the call is outlined below. Proposals will be sent out for external written peer-review with an opportunity for the Principal Investigator to respond. The application, reviews and PI responses will be assessed by a specially convened expert review panel. Recommendations from the panel will inform the final funding decisions to be taken by the UK Regenerative Medicine Platform Executive Group.

Timetable for call:

• Launch of call for proposals: 30^th July 2013
• Call open on JeS: 23^rd August 2013
• Submission Deadline for Abstracts – 4.00pm 1st October 2013
• Submission Deadline for Full Applications – 4.00pm 31st October 2013
• Expert Review Panel meeting: 17^th-18^th February 2014
• Notification of outcome: March 2014
• Start date of awards – between 1^st April and 30^th September 2014

The decision of Funders will be final and not be open to appeal.

2 How to apply?

2.1   The Joint electronic-Submission System (Je-S)

Your completed proposal must be submitted through the Research Council’s Joint Electronic System (Je-S) and be received by the deadline date. This is done by your host institution’s administrative department (HEI), after they have completed their section of your Je-S application form. To ensure that your application reaches us in time, please give your administrative department advance notice of your application and the deadline date. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

For the purposes of this call, when filling in the Je-S application details, applicants should ensure that they select:

• Select document type: Standard
• Select Scheme: Research Grants
• Select call:  UKRMP Immunomodulation Hub Oct 2013

Please note: All mandatory sections on the application need to be completed.

Please read the MRC applicants’ handbook, which will guide you through the standard processes for preparing a proposal, costing your proposals and any ethical and regulatory requirements that may apply to the research.

Applicants are particularly directed to the supplementary terms and conditions for RC grants introduced in the context of stem cell research, see for example Medical Research Council – MRC Terms and Conditions, section AC24.

2.2   Terms and Conditions

Awards funded through the UKRMP will follow the standard MRC terms and conditions with a small number of additions or amendments relating to components specific to this call:

• use of networking funds
• requirements for the provision of an annual report
• attendance at annual scientific meetings or other meetings as requested
• branding, publication and acknowledgement of support.

The MRC terms and conditions spell out the responsibilities of the principal investigator and the host institution which will be required to agree to these as part of the award process. The principal investigator will be required to signify acceptance of these terms and conditions before an award is made. It will be a condition of all awards that any data originating from the study will be made publicly available.

Grant holders will be required to annually submit reports to MRC’s Electronic Valuation System (Researchfish; formerly MRC e-Val).  In addition a final, Year 3 report will be required.

2.3   Assessment Criteria

The assessment will take account of the scientific opportunities and capabilities presented. Consideration will be given to the:

• significance of the challenges to be addressed;
• novelty, importance and timeliness of the research;
• ability of the investigators to deliver the research proposed;
• strength and clarity of collaborations and end-user engagement;
• quality of the project management structure proposed;
• quality and suitability of the research environment and of the facilities;
• value for money;
• ethical considerations and governance arrangements.

2.4   Case for support 

Please follow the general guidance for completing your case for support in the applicants’ handbook.

Your case for support must not exceed 12 sides of A4 (Verdana 10 point), including references and governance but excluding the permitted Appendices. Applications exceeding the page limit will be rejected.

Please complete your case for support around the following headings:

1) Aims and objectives

• Explain the Hub’s vision, aims and objectives, identifying the critical and generic translational challenges to be tackled by the Hub; the gaps in knowledge, and how the Hub will address these and contribute to the development of therapies in the longer term;
• Outline how the Hub’s objectives and overall strategy will contribute to delivery of the strategic aims of the UKRMP;
• Describe the added value of the Hub over and above the current research activities of its constituent members; ie. what is transformative and different from “business as usual” by scope and reach.
• Provide a summary of the research to be undertaken within the Hub. Outline how the programmes of research will be developed and contribute to the aims and objectives of the Hub.
• Identify the level of innovation to be provided through the programme
• Describe the PIs / groups and industrial partners involved as the core group, and how their expertise will extend existing capabilities to deliver this research;
• Identify clearly defined deliverables and potential milestones of progress;
• Document existing (and/or planned) activities and infrastructure and how these relate to the proposed research undertaken by the Hub;
• Outline collaborations either within the Hub or externally that are important for it to deliver its aims and objectives, identifying any additional skill sets that will need to be incorporated during the course of the project.

2) Science Excellence and Delivery

• Provide a summary of the research to be undertaken within the Hub. Outline how the programmes of research will be developed and contribute to the aims and objectives of the Hub.
• Identify the level of innovation to be provided through the programme
• Describe the PIs / groups and industrial partners involved as the core group, and how their expertise will extend existing capabilities to deliver this research;
• Identify clearly defined deliverables and potential milestones of progress;
• Document existing (and/or planned) activities and infrastructure and how these relate to the proposed research undertaken by the Hub;
• Outline collaborations either within the Hub or externally that are important for it to deliver its aims and objectives, identifying any additional skill sets that will need to be incorporated during the course of the project.

3) Management and Governance

• Provide an overview of the management and governance arrangements for the Hub including the role of the director, senior roles and responsibilities and relationships with any Hub partners;
• Outline the project management plan for delivery of the programme of activity.

4) Networking Activities

• Identify the end-user groups that need to be engaged, as well as any other national and international strategic initiatives that might be utilised in delivering the Hub’s objectives;
• Outline the networking activities that will be instigated in support of the Hub’s objectives and to help disseminate its outputs, with specific detail to be provided for activities within the first two years of the award. [Note that up to £30k will be available within the Hub award for such activity];
• Explain what mechanisms will be used by the Hub to provide advice and collaborate with the local/wider community wishing to undertake translational research in this domain.

 5) Research environment and host institution commitment

• Describe the environment(s) in which the Hub will operate and explain how this will add value to the Hub’s objectives and operation;
• Explain how the Hub will benefit from facilities/resources provided by or within the host research organisation(s) and Hub partner organisations as relevant;
• Proposals will also need to include a statement from the Vice Chancellor (or equivalent) stating the hosts(s) institution’s long term commitment to translational research in regenerative medicine, and a plan for sustainability of  the Hub’s activity beyond the initial 3 year funding term in conjunction with the prospect of further RC funding.

6) Public engagement

• Describe what public engagement activities will be undertaken and indicate how these will promote greater understanding of the challenges facing translational research in this area. 

Applicants will also be required to address the following:

• Exploitation and dissemination
• Ethics and research governance
• Data preservation and sharing including a Data Management Plan
• Metrics and milestones including a GANTT Chart. Applicants will be required to identify up to3 key milestones (out of the expected broader set identified in the case for support) which will be described in more detail in a Milestone Form which is a required attachment to the proposal for this call.
• Industry Collaboration: Applicants considering establishing collaboration with an industrial partner(s), are advised to refer to the guidance on MRC Industry Collaboration Awards (MICAs). A MICA form and Heads of Terms may be required as supporting documents in this case.

3 Contact and guidance

ALL applicants are required to discuss their proposals with the UKRMP Science Manager before submission. A brief abstract should be e-mailed in advance of discussions.

If you have a query about scientific aspects of your proposal, please contact Dr David Pan, Science Manager, UK Regenerative Medicine Platform:

Contact: Dr David Pan

Guidance can also be sought from:

• Dr Nicola Goldberg (EPSRC)

E-mail: Nicola.Goldberg@epsrc.ac.uk

Telephone: 01793 44447

• Dr Jef Grainger (BBSRC)

E-mail: Jef.Grainger@bbsrc.ac.uk

• Dr Jonathan Pearce (MRC)

E-mail: jonathan.pearce@headoffice.mrc.ac.uk

Telephone: 020 7395 2271

Guidance and support for using the Je-S is provided by the Je-S helpdesk. Contact details for this service are as follows:

• Email: mailto:JeSHelp@rcuk.ac.uk
• Phone: +44 (0) 1793 44 4164 *Staffed Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm (excluding bank holidays and other holidays)
• Out of hours: leave a Voice Mail message

 

*Phone calls that cannot be answered during working hours will be redirected after 30 seconds to Voice Mail. The helpdesk will normally return your call within 3 hours.

Detailed online guidance for the Je-S is also provided on the Je-S website, together with a series of frequently asked questions. There are also help pages on the Je-S system itself to accompany each section of the application form.