Secure Translational Funding
The Translational Research Office (TRO) manage a number of devolved funding streams targeting early stage proof-of-concept projects and have extensive knowledge of the UK translational funding landscape. We can help source the most appropriate funding scheme for projects and ensure that the most compelling cases for support are generated. Securing funding enables projects to progress along the translational path, de-risking future investment.
KEY ACTIVITIES
The TRO administrate translational proof-of-concept funding through the Medical and Life Sciences Translation Fund (MLSTF). The fund is open to all University of Oxford researchers and provides consolidated internal proof of concept funding for translational medical and life sciences projects.
The TRO also identify the most appropriate external grant funding source for a project. A few of the translational research funding schemes available to researchers are:
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Award |
Application deadline(s) |
Award volume and duration |
Comments |
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BBSRC-EPSRC IAAs Highlight Opportunity
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Highlight applications should be submitted through the EPSRC-BBSRC IAA Highlight by 4pm, 4 June 2024, and will be assessed by an EPSRC-BBSRC IAA panel. Projects should start no later than 1 October 2024. |
Projects can be up to twelve months in duration and up to £50-70k in value (or if higher, provide good justification) |
The TRO and MPLS EPSRC IAA have opened a new BBSRC EPSRC Highlight to co-fund translation projects that overlap in EPSRC and BBSRC remit. This highlight will fund interdisciplinary applications that use engineering, physical and computational science research outputs to address challenges in the following areas that are relevant to BBSRC-EPSRC remits. Up to £150k available to fund 2-3 new translation projects in priority areas of:
The call will support innovative projects that involve:
Only applications that are interdisciplinary and fit BBSRC-EPSRC remits will be considered for the Highlight call. |
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Action Medical Research: Research Training Fellowship
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Opening Date: April 2024 Outline Applications closing date: 2 July 2024 5pm Decision: February 2025 Award: March 2025 |
Fellowship, 24-36 months duration The upper limit of funding for a fellowship is £275,000. |
The Research Training Fellowship (RTF) scheme aims to train research leaders of the future in child health. The fellowship provides the opportunity to undertake a period of research training which will be relevant to applicants’ future careers, developing their skills in research techniques and methodology in subjects relevant to Action’s remit. Applications are invited from medical graduates, clinicians, bioengineers, research nurses, physiotherapists and allied health professionals who wish to develop a long-term career in academic medicine in the UK in areas relevant to child health. Further information can be found here |
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Small molecule High Throughput Screen using AstraZeneca facilities
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Opening date: 9 May 2024 9:00am Closing date: 4 July 2024 4:00pm |
Project duration is typically 15 months, however projects can be from 12 months (minimum) to a maximum of 18 months. The maximum award for the program is £270,000 |
Apply for funding to run a High Throughput Screen using AstraZeneca’s compound library and screening robots. Funding priority in this round will be given to applications related to fibrosis or extracellular matrix targets. Two funding opportunities a year with new thematic focus each round. Future areas will include:
The funding opportunity remains open to all targets, these will only be funded if there is insufficient demand in the areas specified in the funding opportunity guidance. For more information visit the website here. |
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Experimental Medicine Award by Cancer Research UK
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Preliminary Submission 4th April 2022 |
£1–5M |
The Experimental Medicine Award funds highly ambitious translational research conducted in association with a clinical trial or well-designed clinical study in the field of oncology. Translational research considered within the scheme must be associated with one or more clinical trials or clinical studies within the lifetime of the award, where it can be clearly demonstrated that the findings would directly impact on the conduct of the trial(s)/studies. Associated trial(s)/studies may be funded as part of an Experimental Medicine Award. |
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MRC Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme (DPFS) |
Stage 1 (Outline): 20th of March 2024
Stage 2: By invitation only after shortlisting |
Award Volume: There is no limit to the amount of funding you can apply for. You should justify the resources needed in the context of the proposed work. Duration: There is no limit to the duration of your project. You should justify the timescale of the project in the context of the proposed work.
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This scheme aims to drive fundamental discoveries stemming from MRC’s research boards and the wider academic community along the developmental pathway towards patient benefit and or commercialisation. |
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Call not currently open |
8 weeks |
8 weeks part-time, online programme helping early-stage research teams to make the first steps into market discovery. |
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Call not currently open |
£35k 12 weeks |
Up to £35k to ‘get out of the lab’ and validate commercially promising ideas in the marketplace, over 12 week period. |
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Deadline for outline stage: 13 December 2023 and 19 June 2024 Full-stage applications by invite only. |
£750k 3 years |
Up to £750k for projects lasting up to three years that address an unmet healthcare need in heart and circulatory disease. |
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Therapeutic Catalyst - Cancer Research UK
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Open until awarded. |
£250k 18 months |
Up to £250k for projects lasting up to 18 months. Drug discovery proposals, including, but not limited to: - Deconvolution and validation of novel targets and pathways with clear therapeutic potential - Novel therapeutic approaches to validated targets - Development of platforms, assays and screens to identify novel cancer therapeutics or targets. |
The TRO supports developing robust project plans and compelling applications for funding. Our Translational Research Managers can support grant writing activities, provide project management support and advise on long-term translational research strategies.
The TRO works closely with Oxford University Innovation (OUI), the Medical Sciences Business Partnerships Office (BPO) and University of Oxford's Research Services (RS) to ensure appropriate expertise and advice is sought at key stages in project development.