1. Wellcome Trust - Funding the best science
Dr Clare McVicker Science Portfolio Adviser Molecular and Physiological Sciences
Fellowships for Researchers Day: Imperial College
London July

2. 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

3. Mission and strategic aims
Our mission is to foster and promote research with the aim of improving human and animal health
We work to further our mission through six strategic aims:
advancing knowledge
using knowledge
engaging society
developing people
facilitating research
developing our organisation

4. Aim 4. Developing people:
To foster a research community and individual researchers who can contribute to the advancement and use of knowledge
To provide training and career support schemes to attract and retain the highest quality individuals in biomedical research
To stimulate research capacity building to address priority areas of science, or career gaps, by developing tailored training and career initiatives
To work with others on key issues related to research careers

5. Personal Support Schemes

6. Personal Support Schemes
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
Senior
Principal Research Fellowships
Senior Research Fellowships
University Awards
Flexible Travel
Awards
Research Career Re-Entry
Fellowships
Intermediate
Research Career Development Fellowships
Early career
Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellowships
Wellcome Trust-MIT Postdoctoral Fellowships
4 Year PhD Programmes

7. Application process for personal support schemes
Preliminary application
Assess eligibility and suitability of person (and project)
in relation to the scheme
Decision on whether to invite full application or not
Full application
Detailed external peer review of person, project and place
Application and referees’ reports assessed by appropriate
Wellcome Trust Funding Committee
Decision on whether to invite candidate for interview or not
Interview
Decision on whether to make an award or not

8. Wellcome Trust Funding Structure
Immunology and Infectious Disease
Pathogens, Immunology & Population Health
Populations and Public Health
Neuroscience and Mental Health
Basic
Clinical
International
Neurosciences & Mental Health
Physiological Sciences
Molecular and Physiological Sciences
Molecules, Genes and Cells

9. Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellowships
for the best newly qualified post-doctoral basic science researchers
final year of your PhD studies or have no more than one year of postdoctoral research experience
candidates are expected to identify an important biomedical research question and to develop and deliver their own personal programme to achieve their research aims.
flexible support for four years to enhance research skills, career development opportunities and promote independence
training to be undertaken in the laboratories of choice – in the UK and overseas
annual competition – preliminary application deadline for 2009/10 is November ? 2009

10. General advice-applications will be assessed on:
the candidate's track record
the importance of the research question
the feasibility of the approach
the candidate's choice of appropriate research sponsors
the candidate's vision of how the Fellowship will contribute to their career development
the candidate's longer term aspirations.

11. Wellcome Trust-MIT Postdoctoral Fellowships
to enable postdoctoral researchers to undertake research at the interfaces between biology/medicine and mathematics, engineering, computer, physical or chemical sciences
4 years, 2-3 at MIT and 1-2 at UK institution
about to submit your doctoral thesis or have up to 3 years’ postdoctoral experience
background in any appropriate field of study (biology, medicine, chemistry or physics), but you must propose to address an important biomedical research question
candidates are expected to identify a research question and drive the development of the proposal
annual competition - deadline is 14th July 2009

12. Research Career Development Fellowships
Candidates must have made intellectual contributions to research that have been published in leading journals, and be able to demonstrate their potential to carry out high quality independent research
Awards for up to 5 years
3-6 years’ post-doctoral research experience
Includes salary, research expenses and research assistance if justified
Considered twice a year, the next preliminary application deadline is 21 September 2009
                         

13. Senior Research Fellowships in Basic Biomedical Science
For outstanding individuals of exceptional ability to continue their independent programmes of research
5-~10 years post-doctoral research experience
5 year award funded in full (fellowship salary and research expenses) by the Trust
Renewable for five year periods with 50% fellowship salary funded by the host institution
Annual competition - the preliminary application deadline has just gone- 5th June 2009

14. 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 academics (back) to the UK
Preliminary application required

15. Research Career Re-Entry Fellowships
To enable post-doctoral scientists to return to independent research after a decision to take a career break of at least 2 years
Awards can be for up to 4 years
Possible to include re-training costs e.g. MSc
Preliminary application required

16. Flexible Travel Awards
Provide enhanced opportunities for mobility and collaboration in the UK and overseas
Enable successful scientists to obtain experience in new disciplines, interdisciplinary areas or in an emerging aspect of their own field
Awards either enable internationally competitive established post-holders to undertake a sabbatical in order to enrich their research programmes and initiate significant new collaborations.
Or, provide personal support and research expenses for up to two years for non-established post-holders researchers to obtain experience either in a new discipline or in an emerging aspect of their own field

17. University Awards
To allow universities to attract/retain strategically important research staff, technologists or analysts
Preliminary applications are required
Two varieties:
Three years’ project support and salary support for 5 years (50% year 4; 25% year 5)
Applicant takes up a permanent post at the end of the award
Career technologists/analysts
Trust provides 75% of applicant’s salary for the first 5 years
Then the applicant takes up a post which is guaranteed for at least a further 5 years
Commitment in excess of £67 million. Comprising: WT £20m, Wolfson £10m, DH £24m (£5m p.a.), Scottish Executive £4m (£0.8m p.a.), MRC £8m for scanners (3T whole body). Amounts from BHF, Welsh, Northern Ireland administrations, and Irish Republic, are to be determined.
MRC also running a parallel scheme in Experimental Medicine (£15m)
Image: Manchester CRF. BodPod in Cambridge CRF (Subject is placed in a sealed chamber (bodpod) and displacement measured, which avoids difficulties of the water displacement method where subjects are submerged in water.)

18. 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