New microbiology-focused grants available from the UK Research Councils

19 February 2015

Two funding calls that are of relevance to microbiologists have recently been announced by the BBSRC and the MRC.

The BBSRC have made a second call for innovative grants under the cross-council theme Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance: Understanding resistant bacteria.

Applications are particularly welcome from those studying zoonotic and animal only bacterial pathogens. Applications can address antimicrobial resistance at any point in the food chain. In addition young investigators are particularly encouraged to apply and would be urged to seek mentorship writing their proposal.

This call intends to:

• Provide better understanding of resistance mechanisms
• Identify new targets for potential therapies based on a fuller understanding of the chemical biology of bacteria
• Provide the basis for new diagnostics
• Establish new ways of predicting and influencing the evolution of resistance
• Set foundations for world-class translation al bacteriology

Applications for small, novel, high-risk proposals are welcomed. The focus of these grants is on research that is potentially transformative, stimulating creative thinking across disciplines. Up to £250k (80% FEC) per project will be available over 12-24 months period. No preliminary data is required but may be included if available. The closing date for applications is 17 March 2015, 4pm.

While the BBSRC are providing funding through this call it is being administered by the Medical Research Council, so standard RCUK and MRC eligibility criteria apply. You can find more information on the BBSRC website or MRC website.

Understanding complex microbial communities is potentially a broad area of research, so applications must have a research focus clearly aligned to one of the specific areas below.

Biofilm formation

Applications that seek to understand how biofilms encourage attachment and survival of microbial communities on surfaces and how the extracellular components of micro-organisms facilitate formation of 3D biofilms are of particular interest. Applications focusing on biofilm formation in a practical setting, including approaches to disrupt biofilms or to utilise biofilms for enhancing catalysis or production of novel compounds, are also welcomed.

The human and/or animal microbiome

 Proposals that seek to advance understanding of the mechanistic basis of healthy gut, skin, oral (and other) microbiomes and their host interactions to maintain and improve health and (in the case of animals) combat disease, are of interest. Applications that provide a generic understanding across animal species including man, or which utilise advances from veterinary studies or human health to benefit the other, are also welcomed.

Antimicrobial resistance

Applications that address how the formation and maintenance of microbial communities facilitates gene-transfer, especially of antimicrobial resistance genes, and how physiological changes to the microbe in forming the community enhance or protect its ability to resist antimicrobial agents, are of particular interest. The effects of anti-microbials on animal or human gut communities and their implications for health, as well as understanding and developing anti-microbials that disrupt the formation of pathogenic microbial communities, are within the scope of this area.

Soil

Within this area, understanding how microbial communities form and interact to benefit soil health is of particular interest, including interactions underpinning uptake and cycling of nutrients. The formation of microbial communities in soil also underpins survival of pathogens and persistence of anti-microbial resistance genes. Biochemical pathways involved in microbial community formation are also sources of novel compounds, and understanding the genes involved in these pathways could be a source of new anti-microbials or novel high-value chemicals.

Funding typically supports integrated research projects requiring long timescales, extensive resources and/or multidisciplinary approaches. Proposals must be over £2M (FEC project value net of any industrial contribution) and can be up to 5 years in duration. All sLoLa applications must address at least one of the sub-categories detailed above or the BBSRC’s Responsive Mode strategic research priorities, which are described on their website. The closing date for applications is 14 April 2015, 4pm.

 For further information on this call including details of the application process please visit the BBSRC’s website.

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Image: BBSRC/MRC.