The Wellcome Trust Funding opportunities 5 December 2007 Tracy Halpin and Savita Ayyar

Overview The Wellcome Trust The application process Funding schemes offered by the Wellcome Trust

an independent research- funding charity established 1936 funded from private endowment managed for long-term stability and growth interests range from science to history of medicine The Wellcome Trust

Wellcome Trust mission “To foster and promote research with the aim of improving human and animal health”

Strategic aims Strategic Plan

What do we fund? Biomedical and veterinary research Technology transfer activities History of Medicine research Biomedical ethics research Public engagement

Good idea! Application submission Interview Committee FundReject Funding Committee Expert peer review

Your application

Check scheme details Allow plenty of time (between 4-6 months)

Choose appropriate Stream Immunology and Infectious Disease Populations and Public Health Neuroscience and Mental Health Physiological Sciences Molecules, Genes and Cells

Meeting Dates and deadlines Funding Committee Meetings take place 4 times a year Dates available from website

Grant Application - Components Research Question : Summary & Details CV’s of applicants Resources

The research plan Clear hypothesis Not over/under ambitious Convincing preliminary data Appropriate co-applicants and collaborators Easily read and understood

Resources Personal support Staff - Research Assistants/Technicians Equipment & Access Charges Animals Materials & Consumables Justifying resources is as important as the proposal.

Seek advice !! From colleagues and/or mentors and Trust staff Ask for as many independent views or comments on the proposal as possible Seek opinions from colleagues outside your field as to readability, focus etc.

Month 1Month 2Month 3Month 4Month 6Month 5 Admin Referee selection Sent to Funding Committee Applications compiled & copied Your application post-submission

At the Funding Committee meeting.. The importance of the question The approach to the question and feasibility Track record/potential of applicant? Appropriate equipment and running costs For fellowships Person-Project-Place Scientific independence Peer review – plays an important role but is not the only defining factor

Funding schemes

Types of Support Grants Project Grants Programme Grants Equipment Grants University Awards - Research Staff -Research Technologists Fellowships PhD programmes Training Fellowships Intermediate Fellowships Senior Fellowships Other

Research Training Fellowships Senior Research Fellowships PhD Programmes for Clinicians Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellowships Intermediate Clinical Fellowships Research Career Development Fellowships Senior Research Fellowships BIOMEDICAL SCIENTISTSCLINICAL SCIENTISTS University Awards Flexible Travel Awards Research Career Re-Entry Fellowships Principal Research Fellowships INTERMEDIATE SENIOR BIOMEDICAL & CLINICAL SCIENTISTS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES Intermediate Fellowships MSc/PhD Programmes Research Training Fellowships 4 Year PhD Programmes Personal Support Schemes International Senior Research Fellowships (in India, South Africa, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary & Poland ) EARLY CAREER Flexible Travel Awards Based in the UK or Republic of Ireland

Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellowships Research Career Development Fellowships Senior Research Fellowships BIOMEDICAL SCIENTISTS Based in the UK or Republic of Ireland Research projects can be based in the lab, the clinic or the field and may involve experimental or theoretical approaches University Awards Flexible Travel Awards Research Career Re- Entry Fellowships Principal Research Fellowships Early career Intermediate Senior 4 Year PhD Programmes Personal Support Schemes

Research Career Development Fellowships 3-6 years’ post-doctoral research experience Candidates must have made significant intellectual contributions to research and be able to demonstrate their potential to carry out high quality independent research Awards now for up to 5 years Includes salary, research expenses and research assistance if justified Considered twice a year

Senior Research Fellowships in Basic Biomedical Science 5-~10 years post-doctoral research experience For individuals of outstanding ability to continue their independent programmes of research Initial 5 year award funded in full by the Trust Renewable for further five year periods, with 50% of the fellow’s salary funded by the host institution Annual competition

Principal Research Fellowships Candidates with an established track record of research at the highest level Basic and clinical Seven years’ salary and research support Renewable for five year periods with 50% salary support from the host institution Must have a guaranteed position at the end of the Fellowship Often used to bring top researchers (back) to the UK

Some popular grant schemes

Project Grants High-quality, hypothesis-driven research Usually up to 3 years’ duration Salaries for 1-2 posts, plus equipment, travel and materials Awards typically between £180k-£350K Can be used to support pilot studies and international collaborations

Programme Grants Preliminary application required Principal Applicant needs proven track record of research and funding Broader aims Normally 5 years duration Salaries for 3-4 posts, plus equipment, travel and materials Awards typically in the region of £750k-£1.5m

Support on project and programme grants In appropriate circumstances, researchers can request personal salary support on a Project or Programme grant application as:  A named Research Assistant  A Co-applicant  The Principal Applicant

Equipment Grants Applications up to £1 million considered Multi-user applications encouraged Contribution from University or other source usually expected (10-20%)

Biomedical Resources Funds for the establishment or maintenance of community resources Evidence of requirement for the resource within the community Issues such as management and dissemination need to be considered

University Awards To allow universities to attract/retain strategically important staff Two categories: Academic researchers Salary support for five years and project support for three years. Applicant takes up a permanent post at the end of the award Career technologists/analysts  Trust provides 75% of applicant’s salary for 5 years  Applicant then takes up a post which is guaranteed for at least a further 5 years

The Wellcome Trust’s new Grant System will be launched in Spring Web-based portal Fast and simple to use Enhanced functionality