An Introduction to BBSRC & Current Funding Opportunities

1. An Introduction to BBSRC & Current Funding Opportunities Dr Jo O’Leary Science Delivery Manager Research Innovation and Skills Directorate University of Leicester 23 June 2010

2. Overview • Introduction to BBSRC • BBSRC’s Strategy and Priorities • BBSRC Grant Funding and Peer Review • BBSRC Studentships • University of Leicester Funding • Current Funding Opportunities

3. Introduction to BBSRC • BBSRC’s Strategy and Priorities • BBSRC Grant Funding and Peer Review • BBSRC Studentships • University of Leicester Funding • Current Funding Opportunities

4. Research Councils UK • Strategic partnership of the UK's seven Research Councils • Combined budget of £3.4 billion in 2010/11

5. ACADEMIA INDUSTRY STAKEHOLDERS PUBLIC GOVERNMENT Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council Our Mission (Royal Charter) is: • to support high-classscienceandresearchtraining,andtopromoteknowledge transfer • in support of bio-basedindustriesandpublicengagementinbioscience. BBSRC funding totals around £450M p.a. (09/10)

6. Introduction to BBSRC • BBSRC’s Strategy and Priorities • BBSRC Grant Funding and Peer Review • BBSRC Studentships • University of Leicester Funding • Current Funding Opportunities

7. Cross-Government Grand Challenges • Environmental Change • Food Security • Bioenergy • The Science of Life • Healthy Ageing • Diet and Health • Tools and technologies, including software • Importance of new techniques • Virtualisation of science • Distributed information and modelling

8. Delivery of Multidisciplinary Cross-Council Programmes • Food Security • Bioenergy • Living with Environmental Change • Ageing • Global Threats to Security • Bio-nanotechnology • (Digital Economy)

9. BBSRC Strategic Planning Documents 10 years 5 years 3 years Vision Practical delivery

10. BBSRC’s New Strategic Plan 2010 - 2015

11. BBSRC Strategy Membership and Agenda for Strategy Advisory Board and Strategy Panels will be on the BBSRC website Strategy Advisory Board and Strategy Panels Formulation Refreshment Delivery Committees

12. BBSRC Priorities • Historically, multiple priorities covering everything • Restructured to enable Excellence with Impact • Now fewer priorities • BBSRC-wide priorities

13. Research Priorities Ageing Research: Lifelong Health and Wellbeing Animal Health Bioenergy Crop Science (Food Security) Global Security Living with Environmental Change Nanoscience Through Engineering to Application: Bionanotechnology Synthetic Biology Systems Approach to Biological Research Technology Development for Bioscience Policy Priorities Economic and Social Impact Impact on Public Policy Increased International Collaboration Replacement, Refinement and Reduction (3Rs) in Research Using Animals Welfare of Managed Animals (including Livestock and Companion Animals) BBSRC Priorities 2008-2011 Details of all these are on the BBSRC website

14. Food Security • Greater agricultural yields • with fewer inputs of nutrients and water • in the face of competing demands for land use • and in the face of continuing threats of diseases of both plants and animals, and with a need for microbiological and nutritional safety “when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life”

15. Examples of BBSRC Food Security Work • Rinderpest • Close to global eradication • estimated to benefit Africa by over $1 billion annually • Striga (Witchweed) • BBSRC research has lead to management and reduction of striga weed

16. Bioenergy • BBSRC Bioenergy Review 2006 • Centre for Sustainable Bioenergy Research (launched in 2009) • Multi-disciplinary and systems approaches • International collaboration through SysMo Clostridium New Biofuel? Courtesy of Nigel Minton

17. Systems Biology • Emerging research area • Predictive models of biological systems (pathways, cells, organs, organisms, ecosystems) • Iterative cycles of modelling (dry) and biological (wet) experiments • 6 BBSRC Centres established (2005/06) and 6 SABR grants (2006/07) • International collaboration • ERASysBio (11 EU partners) • BBSRC:ANR (Fr)

18. Technology Development for the Biosciences • Need for improved technology from bioscience community • Multi-disciplinary (biosciences, physics, chemistry, engineering, computer sciences) • Engagement with industry, potential for spin-out

19. Synthetic Biology • Emerging area at intersection of biosciences and engineering • BBSRC-led UK Research Councils initiative to form networks to address Science and Engineering, Ethical, Legal, Societal Impacts • Need to form interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary partnerships • European Union – Transnational Roadmap for Synthetic Biology

20. Key Messages Responsive Mode is the major vehicle to deliver our priorities We need to deliver more inter-disciplinary and strategically focussed science with greater impact We must deliver excellence science with demonstrable impacts

21. The Funding Cycle Partnership

22. Excellence with Impact • What do we mean? • Excellent science • Strategic focus • Capturing outputs • Demonstrate benefit

23. Examples of high impact projects Bluetongue research at BBSRC’s Institute for Animal Health saves £485M in 2008 through prevention of outbreaks, and protected 10,000 jobs Tools and models which reduce leaching of nitrate from farmland by 38% Food safety: improving techniques to chill foods; extended shelf life; reduced food poisoning contribute > £100M pa to the economy

24. Pathways to Impact

25. What is impact? • RCUK recognises that the research we fund has both academic, and economic and societal impacts. • The potential to maximise both of these is assessed within peer review process • Academic impact: Academic beneficiaries and case for support • Economic/societal impact: Impact summary and Pathways to Impact

26. Pathways to Impact? • Changing name of ‘Impact plans’ to clarify their purpose • Not changing the purpose • ‘Pathways to Impact’ chosen to reflect that we want applicants to explore ways to enhance potential impact, not predict impact

27. What is economic and societal impact? • The demonstrable contribution that excellent research makes to society and the economy by: • Fostering global economic performance, and specifically the economic competitiveness of the UK • Increasing the effectiveness of public services and policy • Enhancing quality of life, health and creative output

28. RCUK is committed to excellence with impact • This means continuing to invest in the best research, people and infrastructure; whilst aiming to enhance the impact of that funding on society.

29. Why are we asking you to explore Pathways to Impact? • Asking applicants to consider activities to enhance economic and societal impact is not new • We know that the research we fund has a huge impact on the wellbeing and economy of the UK • Recent changes help emphasise the importance we place on this and ensure that potential impacts are demonstrated and supported • Also ensures common format for capturing and assessing this information across different Research Councils

30. What do I need to write in my application? • Academic beneficiaries • Should cover potential academic impact and pathways towards realising that. • Impact summary • Should cover potential economic and societal impact and seek to answer two questions: • Who might benefit from this research? • How might they benefit from this research? • Pathways to Impact • Should detail the activities which will help develop potential economic and societal impact, answering the question: • What will be done to ensure that potential beneficiaries have the opportunity to benefit from this research?

31. What exactly should I write? • Activities outlined in the Pathways to Impact should be • Project specific • Appropriate • For more guidance see individual Research Council websites. • From April www.rcuk.ac.uk/pathwaystoimpact

32. Will Pathways to Impact affect the funding decision? • Yes they could • The primary criterion is still excellent research • Beyond that, a number of considerations • Of which Pathways to Impact is one • Likely to affect decisions for example… • At the borderline • Where there is a clear need for user engagement

33. What if my research is assessed as excellent but my Pathways to Impact are deemed unsuitable? • BBSRC reserves the right to withhold the award of grant until Pathways to Impact are of a standard appropriate for the project. What if my Pathways to Impact are assessed as excellent but my research is deemed unsuitable? • Excellent research remains the primary criterion, you will not be funded.

34. How does Pathways to Impact assessment compare with REF considerations? • We share a common understanding on the description of economic and societal impact. • The REF aims to assess impact which has been achieved. • The BBSRC peer review process is not trying to assess impact. It is designed to explore the potential for impact by considering potential beneficiaries from the outset. • RCUK undertake impact evaluations, but this is a separate exercise, and they are done retrospectively.

35. Can I request resources to fund the activities detailed in my Pathways to Impact? • Yes, all Research Councils provide resources to enable impact generating activities. • Applicants may request resources to cover the costs of eligible, project specific activity within their Pathways to Impact, unless applying via STFC where separate funding schemes for impact should be used

36. Introduction to BBSRC • BBSRC’s Strategy and Priorities • BBSRC Grant Funding and Peer Review • BBSRC Studentships • University of Leicester Funding • Current Funding Opportunities

37. Responsive Mode Must Deliver: • Excellent science • Basic, strategic and applied research • Impact • Strategic priorities • Interdisciplinary science • Grants of all sizes e.g. LoLas • Hypothesis- and non-hypothesis-driven research

38. To Clarify • If there is no hypothesis it can be fundable • Applied research can be excellent research • We fund technology, resources and databases Responsive Mode Research Fundamental Research Blue Skies Research = =

39. animal welfare basic microbiology animal physiology applied plant science soil science diet & health basic plant science evolutionary biology A B agricultural systems animal disease applied microbiology population biology crop science genome analysis food borne pathogens behaviour environmental change systems biology neuroscience bioenergy ageing 3Rs Stem Cells developmental biology environmental biotechnology genetics/genomics immunology bioinformatics molecular biology mathematical tools for biology cell cycle synthetic biology metabolic engineering structural biology food technology technology development D C biotechnology recombination drug delivery chemical biology tissue engineering biomaterials bionanotechnology biological chemistry gene action & regulation bioprocessing bioinformatic tools bioimaging cell biology biochemistry methods development enzymology/biocatalysis biophysics Research Committees A: Animal Systems, Health & Wellbeing B: Plants, Microbes, Food & Sustainability D: Molecules, Cells & Industrial Biotechnology C: Technological & Methodological Development

40. Research Committee Membership CORE Deputy CHAIR CHAIR POOL • To serve on BBSRC Committees • Check BBSRC website • Subscribe to our monthly alert for opportunities to apply

41. Criteria for Peer Review Animal Usage Ethical & Social Concerns Data Sharing Impact Scientific Excellence Economic and Social Impact Cost Effectiveness Investment in People & Skills Timeliness and Promise Industrial/Stakeholder Relevance Relevance to BBSRC Strategy

42. Application via JeS Assessment by Referees Response to Referees Assessment by Committee Recommendation The Peer Review Principles

43. Council Strategy Advisory Board Strategy Panels Committee Input into Strategy Assessment Responsive Mode Proposals & Reported Outputs Evidenced Based Input Strategy Development

44. Responsive Mode Schemes • New Investigator Award • early-career researchers alan.harrison@bbsrc.ac.uk • Industrial Partnership Award • must have at least 10% of the full economic cost of the project (cash only) phil.holliday@bbsrc.ac.uk • Applications in these schemes receive an uplift in the rankings - significant increase in likelihood of funding

45. Highlight Notices • Will Deliver Timely Strategic Focus • Relate to BBSRC Strategic Aims • Time-limited • Focused

46. Strategic LoLas • Run on an annual call – next call expected Spring 2011 • Applications must be over £2M FEC and up to 5 years in duration • Support research projects requiring "big" science approaches: longer timescales, intensive resources or multidisciplinary approach • 2 stage application process via Je-S • Outline • Full proposal • All applications must address BBSRC's strategic priority areas • Ensure scientific excellence • Focus on the impact and quality of the research team

47. Simple pre-submission checks • Is your Institution eligible? • Is the research within BBSRC’s remit? • Which research committee? • Is it a resubmission? • Are the PI/ Co-Is eligible? • Has all the paperwork been done and submitted correctly? • Are the fEC costs correctly inputted to the form?

48. Make the case properly • A worthwhile and reasoned aim: what, why, how • Appropriate, measurable, achievable objectives with realistic timelines • Well-written, concise, & well-presented • Supported: evidence of skills, knowledge, preliminary data, etc • Risks and contingencies • Context: awareness/appreciation of current activity • Justify costs, related to case. Get the costs checked – appropriate admin help needed • Think about impacts: say what will be done to address them - links and contacts

49. Help is at Hand • Talk to us: • Prior to submission - submit 1-2 page research summary • After submission - read the feedback • Help the Office by: • Explaining your science (to intelligent non-experts) • Peer reviewing (refereeing) when asked • Reading the Je-S guidance notes and BBSRC grants guide • Treating the Office staff with respect

50. Introduction to BBSRC • BBSRC’s Strategy and Priorities • BBSRC Grant Funding and Peer Review • BBSRC Studentships • University of Leicester Funding • Current Funding Opportunities