Aberdeen Confidence in Concept Fund Prof Phil Hannaford Vice Principal – Research & Knowledge Exchange

Strategic Aims Increase research income Increase translational activity Impact of research MRC CinC aimed at increasing translation from areas of key strengths in biomedical and clinical research particularly: Infection inflammation and immunity (particularly medical mycology) Dietary and Metabolic Health

Translational Commitment Major investment in key research areas Investment in supporting facilities (imaging, drug development, trials design etc.) Excellent basic research – unfulfilled translational potential

Translational successes MRC CinC to allow us to repeat past successes such as BBSRC translational funding Wellcome translational funding Spinout successes NovaBiotics Sirakoss GT Biologics

MRC Confidence in Concept Application in 2014 Prepare projects for translation Fully realise potential of world class science University committing matched funding Improve translational funding application rates

What was awarded? £200k University to provide additional support and resource Must support projects in the key strategic areas Up to £60k per project

Applications call open Applications welcomed in key areas: Infection, Inflammation and Immunity (especially Medical Mycology) Dietary and Metabolic Health

In Scope Transformational activities for basic research Outputs to be: Applications for translational research funding e.g. MRC Biomedical Catalyst (DPFS), Wellcome Trust, other major charities Further industrial funding / development/ partnerships

Dr James Duncan Research & Innovation The application process

1 st Call Call open Call closes 1 st May Funding decision end of May Project start expected 1 st July phphttp:// php 2 nd call August 2015 if not all funding allocated

Further information applicants-3213.phphttp:// applicants-3213.php Completed application form about 6 pages Answer all questions fully TTO endorsement required

Potential example projects small-scale pre-clinical or clinical studies, especially those involving dietary intervention or repurposing of existing licensed drugs; in vivo studies designed to demonstrate efficacy or to support a clinical study; generation of antibodies; synthesis of ligands for assay development or inhibitors for target validation optimisation of hit compounds; synthesis of radioligands for PET studies; generation and development of assays and animal models of disease; screening against targeted libraries.

Out of scope Entire translational projects Administration costs Industrial partner costs Staff between posts/funding (i.e. as “bridging” funds), or PhD studentships Continuation of normal research grants Costs relating to protection of intellectual property (note that IP costs for awarded projects will be supported by match funding from the University)

Good Luck