Animal models are not always accurate predictors of the effects of a new substance on humans, animals and the environment. The use of non-animal technologies in a limited number of areas has already significantly reduced attrition and improved human safety. Recent advances in relevant fields in the biosciences offer many more opportunities for these systems to transform drug and chemical development. Innovate UK, in collaboration with other funders, are to invest up to £6m in collaborative R&D projects that support the development and application of non-animal technologies in the UK, with the aim to harness advanced technologies emerging from the research base and assess their potential to better predict the impact on humans and the environment of new molecular and chemical entities.

Innovate UK, NC3Rs, BBSRC, EPSRC, and the MRC aim to support projects that will improve the discovery (early stages when active substances and their potential uses are identified) of new human and veterinary medicines, agrochemicals and chemicals and their assurance for effectiveness and safety as they are developed.Proposals must be collaborative and led by a business, with the expectation to fund mainly industrial research projects in which a large business partner can claim up to 50% public funding for their project costs (60% for SMEs). It is expected that projects are to range in size from total costs of £500,000 to £1 million.

This is a two-stage competition that opens for applicants on 23rd March 2015. The deadline for registration is noon on 29th April 2015 and the deadline for expressions of interest (stage one) is noon on 6th May 2015. There will also be a briefing event and webinar for potential applicants at the end of March:

Date: 26th March 2015
Time: 10:00am – 12:30am
Location: London

To find out more – Click Here
To view the agenda and register for the Webinar – Click Here