Introduction

This funding opportunity, "Prosperity Partnerships: Advanced Therapies Safety and Toxicity," is a grant program offered by the Medical Research Council (MRC) within UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). It aims to establish core resources and capabilities in advanced therapy toxicology for the UK, fostering connectivity among businesses, academia, and regulatory bodies.

The program seeks to enhance knowledge of the safety and toxicity of advanced therapies, developing tools and resources to assess and mitigate safety risks. The research will integrate discovery and translational science, aiming to propel future advanced therapies into clinics.

Scope of Work

The funding opportunity focuses on research partnerships between businesses and academic partners, with the academic lead based in the UK. The co-developed programs should enhance knowledge of the safety and toxicity of advanced therapies, developing tools and resources to assess and mitigate safety risks.

The research will integrate discovery and translational science, aiming to propel future advanced therapies into clinics. The research program must be co-created, driving shared research challenges, with both business and academic researchers making distinct intellectual contributions.

Eligibility

To be eligible, applicants must complete the mandatory expression of interest stage and be invited to the full stage. Applications must be co-developed and led by an academic lead and a lead business project partner. The academic lead must be from a research organization eligible to receive UKRI funding.

The lead business partner must be a UK-based business or have UK-based research activity, be in the private sector driven by profit, or from an organization with a commercial arm which generates independent revenue, and be able to contribute to the UK national prosperity through increasing their investment in research and development activities and subsequent product, service, or technology development in the UK.

Budget and Duration

The total funding amount is £10.5 million, delivered in a single funding opportunity with programs lasting up to five years. The academic full economic cost (FEC) of the program can be between £2 million and £4 million. MRC will fund 80% of the FEC and 100% of permitted exceptions. The business partner(s) must provide at least a matched (financial and in-kind) contribution to the program.

Additional Information

The funding opportunity aims to address at least one of the following challenge areas in at least one area of advanced therapies: mechanisms governing safety and toxicology of ATs, persistence, localisation and distribution of ATs in vivo, and translation of mechanistic insights into tools and assays, and development of a standardised approach to assessment of safety and toxicology of ATs.

Key Dates

• Expression of Interest Opening Date: 30 August 2024, 9:00am UK time

• Expression of Interest Closing Date: 6 November 2024, 4:00pm UK time

• Full Application Opening Date: 27 November 2024, 9:00am UK time

• Full Application Closing Date: 12 February 2025, 4:00pm UK time

• Shortlisting Meeting: March 2025

• Funding Decision Meeting (Interviews): 28 or 29 April 2025

Application Process

Applicants must submit a mandatory expression of interest (EOI) form by 6 November 2024, 4:00pm UK time. The full funding opportunity will be run on the new UKRI Funding Service, and full details on how to apply will be published when the full funding opportunity opens. At the full application stage, applications will be submitted by the academic program lead via the Funding Service.

Selection Process

The selection process involves a mandatory expression of interest (EOI) stage, a full application stage, and an interview stage. The EOI stage consists of examination by an expert MRC panel and constructive feedback. The full application stage involves a review and shortlisting process by an expert panel, which will shortlist applications for the final interview stage. The interview stage is conducted by an expert panel who will make a funding recommendation to the Medical Research Council (MRC).

Contact Information

• For questions related to this specific funding opportunity: prosperitypartnerships@mrc.ukri.org

• For general questions related to MRC funding: rfpd@mrc.ukri.org

• For queries regarding the system or the submission of applications through the Funding Service: support@funding-service.ukri.org

• Phone: 01793 547490

Reporting Requirements

The reporting requirements for this funding opportunity are not explicitly stated in the provided document. However, it is likely that successful applicants will be required to submit regular progress reports and a final report outlining the outcomes of the research project.

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