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Information Webinar 5th November 2010 Presenters: Dr. John Williams (Wellcome Trust) & Dr. Stephen Simpson (SFI) Panel: Drs. Anne Taylor (Wellcome Trust), Jennifer Ralph (SFI) & Maura Hiney (HRB) Webinar information • This webinar consists of a PowerPoint presentation with voiceover (1-way!) • Presenters will walk you through the presentation & a cross-agency panel of representatives will answer questions at the end • Submit questions by text on the GoToWebinar control panel – please be concise • FAQ’s and a link to the recording of the webinar will be on www.sfi.ie and www.hrb.ie over next few days • This webinar will provide an overview of the SFI-HRB-Wellcome Trust Biomedical Research Partnership & is not intended to cover every detail • Please ensure that you read the relevant application information on the Wellcome Trust website www.wellcome.ac.uk • Overview: Objectives of the Partnership Wellcome Trust Strategic Plan Investigator Awards Fellowships Principal Research Fellowships (PRFs) Strategic Awards Endorsement Award Management Questions & Answers The Partnership & Objectives • From 1 October 2010 the Wellcome Trust, in partnership with SFI & the HRB, will fund biomedical & clinical research in the Republic of Ireland under the auspices of the SFI-HRB-Wellcome Trust Biomedical Research Partnership • The Partnership will fund outstanding researchers pursuing programmes of research excellence, which are in line with the Wellcome Trust’s Strategic Plan 2010-20, & the Strategic Plans of SFI & the HRB respectively • The following Trust award schemes are eligible under the Partnership: Investigator Awards Fellowships, including Principal Research Fellowships (PRFs) Strategic Awards • Trust funding in the areas of medical humanities & technology transfer may be available to researchers in the Republic of Ireland but will not be considered under the Partnership. Individuals interested in such funding should contact the Trust Vision and mission Our vision is to achieve extraordinary improvements in human and animal health Our mission is to support the brightest minds in biomedical research and the medical humanities Our breadth of support includes public engagement, education and the application of research to improve health Three focus areas… • Supporting outstanding researchers supporting the best researchers at all stages of their careers; creating the best research environments; influencing the policy landscape • Accelerating the application of research stimulating Technology Transfer, clinical research and uptake to policy & practice • Exploring medicine in historical and cultural contexts fostering medical humanities, education & public engagement Five major challenges… • Maximising the health benefits of genetics and genomics • Understanding the brain • Combating infectious diseases • Investigating development, ageing & chronic disease • Connecting environment, nutrition and health Investigator Awards Investigator Awards • Support visionary world-class researchers pursuing programmes of research excellence that will address the most important questions of health & disease Funding up to 7 years £100-425k per year depending on need & justification Salary not an eligible cost • New Investigator Awards Researchers who can demonstrate the ability to innovate & drive advances in their field Within 5 years of first established academic position • Senior Investigator Awards Exceptional researchers at the forefront of their field who have a compelling long-term vision for their research Established academic position • Applicants are advised to discuss the scope & scale of their proposal with the Trust before submission • Apply directly to the Trust as per instructions & deadlines on the Trust website Timetable for Change Discontinued Schemes Deadline for preliminary applications for discontinued schemes 4 May Final deadline for discontinued schemes 30 July Apr May Jun 2010 CV checking Jul Aug Funding Committee meeting to shortlist RCDFs, ICFs, Henry Wellcome fellowships and SCFs Final Funding Committee meetings for discontinued schemes Penultimate Funding Committee meetings for discontinued schemes Sep Oct Open for first round of Investigator awards applications 1 October Nov Dec Close of first round of Investigator awards applications 22 November Jan Feb Mar 2011 Apr Round 1 Expert Review Groups Investigator Awards May Jun Jul Round 1 Round 2 Selection Expert Review Panel Groups Aug Sep Oct Round 2 Selection Panel Fellowship Awards Fellowships Senior Investigator awards New Investigator awards Fellowships • Fellowships facilitate funding for scientists and clinicians at various stages of their careers • The following Fellowships are eligible under the Partnership: Principal Research Fellowships* Senior Research Fellowships in Clinical Science Senior Research Fellowships in Basic Biomedical Science Intermediate Clinical Fellowships Research Career Development Fellowships in Basic Biomedical Science Research Training Fellowships for Medical, Dental & Veterinary Graduates Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellowships Postdoctoral Training Fellowship for MB/PhD Graduates Career Re-entry Fellowships • Please visit the Trust website for specific details on the aims, eligibility & application procedures for each Fellowship scheme • Apply directly to the Wellcome Trust as per instructions on the Trust website * except for Principal Research Fellowships Personal Support Schemes – Scientists Senior Research Fellowships Research Career Development Fellowships Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellowships Biomedical For outstanding individuals of exceptional ability (with 5-10 years post-doc experience) to continue their independent programmes of research. Annual competition. Successful postdoctoral scientists with 3-6 years post-doctoral research experience. Considered twice a year. For the best newly qualified post-doctoral basic science researchers with no more than 1 year of postdoctoral research. Annual competition Investments along the clinical career path in England Integrated Academic Training Path (England Only) CCT Specialist Training NIHR Academic Clinical Fellowship (281) Following on from Academic Foundation Year Clinical Training 1 2 Academic Position NIHR Clinical Lectureship (207) 3 Research Training Fellowship (355) HEFCE CSLA (112) 4 5 Clinician Scientist Fellowship* (132) Further specialty/ sub-specialty training Senior Clinical Fellowship / Chair (94) * There are also 14 NIHR fellowships and 1 MRC bioinformatics training fellowship at the more junior initial post-doctoral level Principal Research Fellowships • Provide long-term support of outstanding world-class researchers with exceptional track records • The expertise of the Fellow should address a critical knowledge gap in the proposed host institution in the Republic of Ireland & their alignment should represent a clear strategic fit Funding for 7 years in first instance (reviewed every 5 years thereafter) Funding for both salary & research programme May be suitable for researchers based overseas who wish to relocate to the Republic of Ireland Endorsement of application by SFI/HRB is required before a preliminary application can be made to the Wellcome Trust • Endorsed preliminary applications may be submitted to the Wellcome Trust at any stage; please note application & review processes, including those of the Trust, may take 12-18 months to complete Strategic Awards • Fund ambitious large scale initiatives that support excellent research groups • Given their size & impact, it is anticipated that Strategic Awards will be rare • Strategic Awards will be a matter of negotiated agreement between the Wellcome Trust & the partnership agencies • Endorsement of application by SFI/HRB is required before a preliminary application can be made to the Wellcome Trust • Endorsed preliminary applications may be submitted to the Wellcome Trust at any stage & will be assessed on a rolling basis PRF Application Endorsement • Prospective PRF applicants should submit an Expression of Interest for endorsement (5 pages maximum) to SFI/HRB to include: Brief CV & track record of achievements, which substantiates their suitability for a PRF Research programme outline & how it will develop within the proposed host institution Justification of the strategic alignment of the candidate’s research focus with that of the proposed host institution, including the expertise gap to be addressed Explanation of the relevance of the research programme to the strategic ambitions of SFI, the HRB, & the Wellcome Trust, as laid out in their respective Strategic Plans Letter of support from the proposed host institution • Requests for endorsement will be considered by the SFI/HRB Joint Executive Committee. Applicants may be requested to submit further information Strategic Award Application Endorsement • Prospective Strategic Award applicants should submit an Expression of Interest for endorsement of their proposal (5 pages maximum) to SFI/HRB to include: An outline of the idea & its components Identification of the critical national infrastructure gap(s) that it proposes to address & strategic need to address this gap(s) at this time Mapping of its potential impact on the national health & life sciences research agenda, & how value for money will be delivered Explanation of its relevance to the strategic ambitions of SFI, the HRB, & the Wellcome Trust, as laid out in their respective Strategic Plans Description of the strengths & individual track-records of the research consortium concerned to establish its credibility & synergies • Requests for endorsement will be jointly considered by the SFI/HRB Joint Executive Committee on a case-by- case basis • Applicants may be requested to submit further info &/or attend a meeting with agency representatives Queries & requests for endorsement from prospective applicants from Republic of Ireland should be directed to [email protected] The decision by SFI and the HRB to provide a letter of endorsement will be communicated to the applicant in a timely manner, and will be final Award Management • Successful proposals under the Partnership will be awarded & managed by the Wellcome Trust • Awardees must comply with the grant conditions associated with Trust awards & the terms of the Partnership • Agencies will share information on applicants & proposals where appropriate Question and answer session Please wait while we compile the questions….. Contacts Wellcome Trust Investigator Awards [email protected] Fellowships & Strategic Awards Immunology and Infectious Disease [email protected] Populations and Public Health [email protected] Neuroscience and Mental Health [email protected] Physiological Sciences [email protected] Molecules, Genes and Cells [email protected] SFI & HRB [email protected]