Monthly Archives: February 2015

CRUK Oxford Symposium – Event

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The 4th Annual Cancer Research UK (CRUK) symposium has been arranged, giving opportunity to showcase the breadth of activity across the Centre in Oxford, and highlight the cross-departmental or interdisciplinary partnerships supporting translational cancer research. Speakers will showcase their collaborative research in Oxford across a range of cancer related paired talks, making it a valuable day for all involved.

The Symposium is an ideal venue to network, and often sparks new opportunities for partnership. It provides a platform to highlight younger scientists through poster competitions, alongside presentations from Centre-funded students.

Registration for the Centre’s Annual Symposium is exclusive to Centre members, and registration for tickets, which includes access to the evening reception, is free. To participate in the day, 300 word Abstracts are requested covering Research background, methods, results, conclusions, acknowledgment of sources of funding or any conflicts of interest.

Date: 5th June 2015
Time: All Day
Location: Mathematical Institute – Oxford

To find our more about the symposium – Click Here
To register to attend – Click Here

AXA Research Fund – Internal EOI Call

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The AXA Research Fund is looking to fund a Chair in relation to the better understanding of risk (“perceived, or yet to be perceived hazards that need identifying and addressing”). A Chair funded by the AXA Research Fund aims to create an academic full-time position to attract a researcher of international reputation, with the primary purpose to support world-leading research. Similarly to AXA’s other funding programs, the Chairs need to fall within  remits of Life, including “Ageing and Long Term Care” and “Biomedical Risks”, Environmental, including “Climate Changes” and “Human Driven Environmental Changes” or Socio-economic risks, including “Large Corporate Risks” and “Macro-economic and Financial Systemic Risks”.

This is likely to be very competitive, with the University eligible to submit just one application only. Expressions of Interest are therefore invited for internal submission. There are two stages to this process. The initial “signalling your interest” deadline, falling on the 2nd March 2015 at 17:00 which confirms your intention to submit an EOI, followed by the 9th March 2015, 17:00 deadline which requires completion and submission of the attached EOI form.

To submit your intention to apply, and then your subsequent EOI – Click Here.
For the EOI Form, contact us – Click Here
For application advice and information – Click Here

Developing Non-Animal Technologies – Competition

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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

RCUK: Pathways to Impact – Update

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As described in the Research Support Newsletter at the end of January, RCUK have updated their Pathways to Impact criteria and information.

The purpose of Pathways to Impact is to encourage applicants to explore, from the outset, who could potentially benefit from their work in the longer term and consider what could be done to increase the chances of their research reaching beneficiaries. RCUK has now reviewed this approach in consultation with representatives from the academic and user communities. As a result of comments and feedback RCUK has reaffirmed its commitment to Pathways to Impact and will require a clearly thought-through and acceptable Pathways to Impact statement as a condition of funding in the future.

This harmonisation of approach across the Research Councils is important in the broad innovation landscape and RCUK will continue to engage with the other key research and innovation funders to ensure alignment of purpose and approach to deliver the best exploitation of UK research.

This change will take effect for peer review panels which take place after 1st April 2015.

To find out more about the changes – Click Here
For the updated Pathways to Impact summary guidance – Click Here (PDF)
For Oxford University’s guidance on a good Pathway to Impact section – Click Here