Research & Innovation Services.
MRC Confidence in Concept Scheme
Application deadline October 31st 2012
1. What is the purpose of the MRC Confidence in Concept Scheme?
1.1 The MRC Confidence in Concept Scheme is part of the MRC’s Translational Research
Strategy and is a component of the MRC/TSB Biomedical Catalyst. The Confidence in Concept
Scheme is designed to “accelerate the transition from discovery research to translational
development projects by supporting preliminary work or feasibility studies to establish the
viability of an approach”.
1.2 The financial support available is intended to ensure that fundamental science is
translated into new therapies, diagnostics and medical devices in line with the MRC’s
mission. The scheme aims to accelerate the transition from discovery science to the early
stages of therapeutic/diagnostic development by supporting preliminary translational
work.
1.3 Awards are to be used to support the transition between fundamental and translational
research, to a point where a project is competitive for more substantive follow on funding.
1.4 The aim of projects funded under the scheme should be to provide sufficient
preliminary data to establish the viability of an approach and provide enough confidence in
the underlying concept in order that the project team can then seek more substantive
funding from larger schemes (e.g. MRC DPFS/DCS or TSCRC, NIHR HTA/i4i, TSB funded
initiatives or similar).
2. Project Development & Eligibility
2.1 All academic departments and research centres are eligible to apply.
2.2 The primary investigator must be a University academic member of staff.
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2.3 Funding will typically be made available up to a maximum of £50K for projects of 6-12
months duration.
2.4 Projects must be complete by 31 Dec 2013.
2.5 Projects are eligible only if they are in the Commercial Assessment System (CAS).
Projects can be registered with CAS by completing the Commercial Opportunities
Disclosure (COD) form at the following URL:
http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/ris/post-project/commercialising/cod-form
Please note that submission of a COD form does not constitute an application to the
scheme.
2.6 The MRC Confidence in Concept Scheme is designed to support preliminary work or
feasibility studies to establish the viability of an approach in order to enable applications
for further more substantive follow on funding. The scheme will aim to support and
accelerate the earliest stages of research translation within the healthcare remit. Example
projects may include but are not limited to:
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Developments of new therapies
Improvements in existing therapies
Drug reprofiling
Development of assistive technologies or medical devices
2.7 Successful applications will demonstrate:
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Medical need and strategic fit
Novelty of the concept
That the concept has IP potential and freedom to operate
That there is a likely market for the concept
The level of anticipated or actual industry interest
How the research will be progressed beyond MRC Confidence in Concept scheme
funding i.e. What further, more substantive, translational funding schemes will be
applied for?
Upcoming funding opportunities that may represent possible means to progress the
work supported by an MRC Confidence in Concept Scheme award include, but are not
limited to:
o MRC DPFS/DCS: outline deadlines - 10 June 2013, Oct 2013 (anticipated),
Feb 2014(anticipated)
o TSB Biomedical catalyst (company-led): Outline deadlines - June 2013
(anticipated), Oct 2013 (anticipated), Feb 2014 (anticipated)
o BBSRC Follow-on fund: Oct 2013 (anticipated), Oct 2014 (anticipated)
o Wellcome Seeding Drug Discovery: Outline deadlines - June 2013
(anticipated), Oct 2013 (anticipated), June 2014 (anticipated)
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o Wellcome Translation awards: Open call for concept notes
o Wellcome Health Innovation Challenge Fund: Outline deadlines - 8 May 2013,
2 September 2013, May 2014 (anticipated)
o Wellcome Pathfinder awards: Oct 2013 (anticipated), Oct 2014 (anticipated)
o NIHR Research for Patient Benefit: Sept 2013 (anticipated), Jan 2014
(anticipated), May 2014 (anticipated)
(Please check the eligibility criteria to ensure your project is suitable for any of the
above).
2.8 Eligible costs include:
 All, or a proportion of, the salary of replacement staff to cover the teaching activities
of the academic investigator whilst working on the project. Applications must
therefore show the cost of a suitable replacement rather than the cost of the
academic investigator.
 The cost of technical or administrative staff that is essential to the project.
 Project-related consumables and equipment.
 Subcontracted consultancy or other development services.
 Market assessment
 Other costs, such as travel and subsistence.
2.9 The MRC stipulate that the Confidence in Concept Scheme cannot pay for:
 Entire translational projects
 Staff between posts/funding (i.e. as “bridging” funds) or PhD studentships
 Continuation of normal research grants
 Costs relating to protection of intellectual property
2.10 The University Financial Directives for the expenditure of funding must be adhered to
at all times and all projects must be costed using URMS but it is not necessary to formally
submit an URMS costing (see http://www.shef.ac.uk/ris/application/pricing/urms)
2.11 Salary costs will not be paid as personal salary (as with consultancy).
3. Monitoring
3.1 MRC requires that the University monitor how the scheme funds are used and follow project
progress.
3.1 By accepting the award, the applicant agrees to provide Interim Reports, dependent on
length of project and a Final Report upon completion.
3.2 By accepting the award, the applicants agree to engage with Research & Innovation
Services and Faculty Business Managers to monitor the progress of the project to allow the
reporting of outcomes back to the funder. This will include making non-confidential
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aspects available to assist with the development of funder and university case studies.
3.3 We reserve the right to recover funds where there is evidence that a project is failing to
adhere to the agreed application. Similarly, funds may be recovered where these have not
been spent in accordance with the application, unless a change has been agreed in writing.
3.4 This funding may only be used to support eligible project activities.
4. Application Process
4.1 Step by step guide to application process
 Register your project in the CAS system http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/ris/postproject/commercialising/process
 Meet with a Business Manager and discuss the application
 Submit application form
 Wait for decision
 Receive an offer/ decline letter
 Begin project
4.2 Application for MRC Confidence in Concept scheme funding is a single stage process
open to all areas of the University. Applications can only be made via the MRC Confidence
in
Concept
Application
Form,
available
for
download
http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/ris/application/funding/opportunities/confidence
4.3 Projects must have been submitted to the Commercial Assessment System (CAS) via a
COD form. See the following URLs:
http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/ris/post-project/commercialising/process
http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/ris/post-project/commercialising/cod-form
4.4 All applicants (PIs) must discuss their project with a Faculty Business Manager
prior to submission. The Business Manager will be able to offer advice and guidance for
completion of the application form.
4.5 Applications should aim to address the points detailed/raised in each section of the
application form.
4.6 All applications will be considered by an interdisciplinary panel and scored against the
criteria specified in 2.7.
4.7 A signed electronic copy of the application should be sent to [email protected]
or a signed hard-copy posted to:
Diane Maltby
Research & Innovation Services
New Spring House
4
231 Glossop Road
Sheffield
S10 2GW
Tel: 01142226086
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