Launch event: 20th July

Deadline for expressions of interest: 7th September

CATS and the Office of Translational Research invite University researcher-led applications for internal pump-priming funding for biomedical translational research.

  • The MRC Confidence in Concept (CiC) fund is intended to accelerate the transition from discovery research to translational development projects by supporting preliminary work or feasibility studies to establish the viability of an approach. These awards pump-prime the translation of novel therapeutics, devices and diagnostics, including repurposing of existing therapies towards clinical trials. We are particularly keen for funding to support research which will provide sufficient data for successful applications to follow on funding, including the MRC DPFS or industry collaborations.
  • The Wellcome Trust Developing Concept Fund (DCF) is aiming at an earlier stage of translational research, with a view to having sufficient evidence to support an MRC CiC award in the future. It is also aiming to enable collaborative links to be forged at an early stage either with industry or across disciplines, e.g. physical sciences with clinical medicine.

We envisage that funding will not normally exceed £30,000 (WT DCF) or £70,000 (MRC CiC) for projects up to 6 months or 9 months respectively.

To find out more about these funding opportunities and to access the application form, please come to the Launch Event on 20th July at 12pm in the Committee Room, School of Clinical Medicine. As well as CATS and OTR research facilitators, one of our industry Experts-in-Residence and a representative from Cambridge Enterprise will be available for discussion at the event. Tea, coffee and lunch will be provided. Please contact Cathy Boucher (cats@admin.cam.ac.uk: WT DCF) or Estelle Bernard-Fichet (translation@medschl.cam.ac.uk: MRC CiC) to let us know you are planning on coming to the event or to express an interest in the funding.

If you are intending to apply, your registration of interest must be received at the very latest by 10am Friday 7th September 2018 and full applications must be submitted by 5pm Wednesday 19th September 2018.

https://www.ats.cam.ac.uk/funding/wt-developing-concept-fund-and-mrc-confidence-concept-fund