Research and Innovation Support Conference MRC Programme Grants Dr Odette Dewhurst Clare Skinner Prof Jennifer Kirkham

Engaging with the Region Research and Innovation Support Conference Who are we? Public Funding Manager - RIS Faculty Head of Research & Innovation Support – FMH Pro-Dean for Research & Innovation - FMH

Engaging with the Region Research and Innovation Support Conference Overview Welcome and overview of session Current status of MRC funding & programme grants at Leeds including key findings of the MRC funding report An academic’s perspective Discussions Summary and concluding remarks

Engaging with the Region Research and Innovation Support Conference Questions What is/are the reason(s) why we have such a low level of MRC funding for our size? What should the University’s strategy be – should we focus on a small number of key research areas? How can Faculty Research Offices help with the quality assurance/control of applications?

Engaging with the Region Research and Innovation Support Conference State of Play At June 2013, MRC had Institutes 27 Units (17 inter-mural, 10 university) 26 Centres and related charity partnerships How many at Leeds? 0

Engaging with the Region Research and Innovation Support Conference Current Funding Data based on awarded and active Research Grants and Fellowships in Siebel on 31/03/2013.

Engaging with the Region Research and Innovation Support Conference State of Play As of August 2013, we have approx £11m of live MRC grants. In 2011/12, MRC spent £759.4m on research. Of which we received £3.17m.

Engaging with the Region Research and Innovation Support Conference Where is the money?

Engaging with the Region Research and Innovation Support Conference Strengths and Areas

Cancer Chemical biology Drug design Haematology Pathology Genetics Oncology Epidemiology Biomarkers Service delivery Qualitative methods Health economics Assessment Health Technology Imaging Trials Molecular & Cellular Medicine Board (MCMB) Population & Systems Medicine Board (PSMB) Neurosciences & Mental Health Board (NMHB) Infections & Immunity Research Board (IIB) Wellcome? EPSRC? NIHR/MRC EME? HTA Programmes? ?

Musculoskeletal Wound care Medical engineering Health economics Biostatistics Biosensors Self-assembly Biomaterials Biomarkers Trials Dentistry Regeneration In-silico modelling Imaging Health technology & devices Molecular & Cellular Medicine Board (MCMB) Population & Systems Medicine Board (PSMB) Neurosciences & Mental Health Board (NMHB) Infections & Immunity Research Board (IIB) HTA Programmes? Wellcome? EPSRC?

Cardiovascular Tissue engineering Drug design Structural biology Membrane biology Diabetes Thrombosis Regenerative therapies Biomimetic scaffolds Epidemiology Biostatistics Service delivery Medical engineering Imaging Molecular & Cellular Medicine Board (MCMB) Population & Systems Medicine Board (PSMB) Neurosciences & Mental Health Board (NMHB) Infections & Immunity Research Board (IIB) EPSRC? BHF? Wellcome? EPSRC? ?

Research and Innovation Support Conference “MRC doesn’t fund cancer”

Engaging with the Region Research and Innovation Support Conference A Pro-Dean for Research & Innovation’s Perspective

Engaging with the Region Research and Innovation Support Conference I wish from MRC

Engaging with the Region Research and Innovation Support Conference Three wishes A UoL strategy for R&I Relationship with the funder Greater Academic Leadership

Engaging with the Region Research and Innovation Support Conference A UoL Strategy for R&I To provide –and been seen to provide - focus for our research To transparently inform central investment To showcase our distinctive strengths To provide a context to our narratives To map our internal distinctive capabilities against the external opportunities To help us and our partners understand what we do and why we do it To inform key appointments

Engaging with the Region Research and Innovation Support Conference Partnership with the funder Strategic intelligence Who you know = what you know Foresighting Influencing agendas Knowing what works Building confidence More Leeds academics on boards and panels

Engaging with the Region Research and Innovation Support Conference Academic Leadership Programmes versus projects Working strategically; locally, nationally, internationally Shaping the agenda, influence Developing staff, providing a role model Driving change, managing change Inspiring, motivating Challenging the status

Engaging with the Region Research and Innovation Support Conference Working together to deliver research excellence Data we can rely upon and trust Processes (pre- and post-) that support and encourage multi-disciplinarity Targeting / training for individuals: “Nurture from Within” Knowledge of the funder People who know funders – the personal contact Information is power: What worked? Why? Information is power: What didn’t work? Why? A University-wide strategy for R&I support A research governance framework - a joined Research Office with LTHT? Shared systems and processes with NHS??? Aligned & agreed processes for infrastructure/equipment access charges Tried and tested pathways to impact Knowledge of what Leeds does well Understanding the competition- market share Communication

Engaging with the Region Research and Innovation Support Conference What will success look like?

Engaging with the Region Research and Innovation Support Conference In the Pipeline Bioinformatics Bid Confidence in Concept Enhancing UK’s Clinical Research Capabilities & Technologies

Engaging with the Region Research and Innovation Support Conference A Case Study of a Large, Collaborative Bid: Infrastructure for collaboration: Leeds MRC Medical Bioinformatics Centre

Engaging with the Region Research and Innovation Support Conference Background Up to £35m capital (for spend in 2014/15) plus £15m resource Funding for staff, projects and capability development Plan to fund up to six, five-year strategic awards. Fellowship funding is also available for recruitment of research leaders of the future in bioinformatics and computational biology. Improve research foci in medical bioinformatics, building flexibly on the capabilities already in place in Universities and centres of excellence; Support career opportunities for computational scientists, technologists, and programme leaders in medical bioinformatics;

Engaging with the Region Research and Innovation Support Conference One bid per HEI Very short timeframe Many partners – 3 Faculties, ISS, LTHT High degree of complexity University match-funding Liaising with Estates Main Challenges

Engaging with the Region Research and Innovation Support Conference Process Series of facilitated discussion sessions to identify potential topics and Co-Is Small, core team who met regularly, then a wider group who fed into discussions on the drafts Strong communication within the core team Clear delegation of tasks A lot of hard work and s at all hours! Review & feedback

Engaging with the Region Research and Innovation Support Conference Its all about people

Engaging with the Region Research and Innovation Support Conference LEADERSHIP

Engaging with the Region Research and Innovation Support Conference Outcome £5.68m bid submitted (capital and infrastructure) Leeds = one of 12 HEIs selected to submit full application Result expected before Christmas

Engaging with the Region Research and Innovation Support Conference Questions What is/are the reason(s) why we have such a low level of MRC funding for our size? What should the University’s strategy be – should we focus on a small number of key research areas? How can Faculty Research Offices help with the quality assurance/control of applications?

Engaging with the Region Research and Innovation Support Conference What next?