Research Calls

Joint Programming Initiative on Antimicrobial Resistance (JPIAMR) is a global collaborative platform, engaging 28 member nations to curb antibiotic resistance (AMR) with a One Health approach. The initiative coordinates national funding to support transnational research and activities within the six priority areas of the shared JPIAMR Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda – therapeutics, diagnostics, surveillance, transmission, environment and interventions.

The call One Health interventions to prevent or reduce the development and transmission of AMR has a two-step procedure.

14 January 2021 (11.00 CET) – Call opens

16 March 2021 (12.00 CET) – Deadline pre-proposals

12 July 2021 – Deadline full proposals

Please contact the call secretariat if you have any questions about the call: JPI-AMRCalls@agencerecherche.fr

A live webinar will be held on the 28th of January 2021 presenting the call and the partner search tool. Representatives from funders participating in the call will be available to answer questions live.

Read more and register to the webinar: https://invajo.com/l/IxlLhJbppQ

Topic of the call

Proposals should aim to either:

• Understand the impact of interventions on the development and transmission of antibiotic resistance in, and/or between, at least two One Health settings;

OR

• Design, implement, evaluate, and/or compare innovative interventions to control the development and transmission of antibiotic resistance in, and/or between, at least two One Health settings.

As stated, research proposals must focus on at least two out of the three “One-Health” settings, being: Human Health, Animal Health, and Environment. Participation of low and middle income countries is encouraged.

Novel technologies continue to revolutionise life sciences research. The 2020 TRDF call aims to pump prime the next generation of cutting-edge enabling research technologies with the potential for transformative impact in biosciences research. It will support applications for early stage technology development and research into the development of novel techniques and technologies that have the potential to enable transformative step changes in research capability.

The 2020 TRDF call has a strategic highlight on transformative research technologies for the detection and diagnosis of plant and animal diseases, and in particular infectious agents with zoonotic potential. It is expected that these technologies will lead to a step change in the ability of researchers to investigate UK plant and animal health problems caused by endemic or emerging pathogens or pests. Applications not related to the detection and diagnosis of plant and animal diseases will be considered out of the scope of the 2020 TRDF call.

The call has an indicative total budget of up to £2.75 million, subject to the quality of the applications received. The budget includes significant co-funding from UKRI-EPSRC. Applications must be between 6 and 18 months duration and are not expected to exceed £150K (£187K 100% FEC).

Scope
We are partnering with UKRI-EPSRC for the 2020 call; collectively we aim to encourage transformative technology development across a broad range of disciplines and to enable interdisciplinary collaborative working.

The aim of the call is to support the early-stage development of cutting edge, high-impact transformative research technologies, which are essential to sustaining the vibrancy of biosciences discovery research in the UK. These technology developments should offer the potential of a step-change in the state-of-the-art for the given field.

This call intends to support small and short ‘high risk/high reward’ pilot studies directed towards development of a new technology where little to no preliminary data exists. The outcome of the application does not necessarily need to be a fully-fledged tool but could be demonstration of proof-of-concept, or production of a prototype for further development.

2020 Strategic Highlight: Detection and Diagnosis of Plant and Animal Diseases

Pests and pathogens can have a major impact on the health of plants and the health and welfare of animals. The 2020 TRDF call has an exclusive focus on proposals which develop innovative detection and diagnostic technologies that support research to understand and help combat plant and animal diseases, in particular those with zoonotic potential. It is expected that these technologies will lead to a step change in the ability of researchers to investigate UK plant and animal health problems caused by endemic or emerging pathogens or pests. This highlight falls within strategic priorities relating to the development of novel strategies to predict, detect and manage disease threats to plant and animal health and the one health agenda. More details on our strategic areas can be found in our Forward Look for UK Bioscience.

Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases 2020
Application deadline: 17:00 (GMT) 18 November 2020
UKRI (BBSRC, ESRC, EPSRC, MRC and NERC), in collaboration with:
• National Science Foundation (NSF),
• National Institutes of Health (NIH),
• S. Department of Agriculture (USDA),
• United States – Israel Binational Science Foundation, and
• National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC),
are pleased to announce a call for international partnerships involving researchers from the UK, and US, China and/or Israel under the Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases programme (EEID).
Scope
The funders wish to encourage high quality, innovative research conducted by transdisciplinary teams of researchers on the ecological, evolutionary, and social drivers that influence the transmission dynamics of infectious diseases of animals, humans and plants. The central theme of submitted projects must be the quantitative or computational understanding of pathogen transmission dynamics.
The collaborative proposals must include researchers from the UK and the US and can include researchers from Israel and China. Applications for both research projects and Research Coordination Networks that involve researchers from the UK and US, China and/or Israel will be considered.
Further information on the scope of the call and how to apply can be found on the NSF website.
More info available on the BBSRC webpage.

The first international Call on infectious animal diseases of the ERA-NET Cofund on International Coordination of Research on Infectious Animal Diseases (ICRAD) is open.

ERA-NET ICRAD builds on the successful work of two predecessor ERA-NETs (EMIDA and ANIHWA) and the global network of animal health STAR-IDAZ under Framework Programme 7 (FP7).

The main purpose of this Call, co-funded with the European Commission (EC), is to support multi-disciplinary research to improve animal health and welfare, addressing some of the key epidemic and (re)-emerging threats e.g. African Swine Fever and Animal Influenza, and developing novel detection and intervention strategies.

Consortia must include a minimum of 3 independent entities from a minimum of 3 different countries being eligible and requesting funding from EU Member States, Associated Countries or Regions participating in the co-funded call and a maximum of 6 independent entities. The consortium cannot include more than two partners from one country.

The International Coordination of Research on Infectious Animal Diseases (ICRAD) is a new ERA-Net Cofund Action under Horizon 2020 building on the achievements of the ERA-NET EMIDA (Emerging and Major Infectious Diseases of Animals) and the ERA-NET ANIHWA (Animal Health and Welfare). Its aims to:
• support cross-cutting research to improve animal health and welfare, with associated benefits towards public health, the environment and economy.
• connect research partners with different but complementary scientific and technological expertise to maximise resources and share risks, costs and skills.
The partnership between industrial and academic researchers will improve and accelerate the development of technological solutions for the benefit of animal health and welfare.

Research and innovation jointly funded by the European Commission (EC) and the ICRAD partners will seek concerted approaches towards developing new and improved instruments to address and control infectious diseases, particularly regarding detection, intervention and prevention strategies.
ICRAD has announced the upcoming call for joint transnational research projects on animal health. The Joint Call, with an indicative budget of approximately 23.7M€, brings together 23 funding organizations from 19 countries. The co-funded call covers the major groups of infectious diseases of animals (including fishes and bees), and infections by viral, bacterial, parasitic and fungal pathogens, prions, and multifactorial diseases, with particular emphasis on ASF and animal influenza. Pre-proposal should be submitted by 31 March 2020.

The Carnot institutes Pasteur Microbes & Health (Pasteur Microbes & Santé, Pasteur MS) and Livestock Industry for the Future (France Futur Elevage, F2E) are jointly launching their 6th Inter-Carnot annual Call, aiming to strengthen synergies between both institutes. The 6th Inter-Carnot Pasteur MS-F2E 2019 call is a white/open call to support collaborative projects between scientific teams, which belong to both Carnot institutes (IC). Particular attention will be given to projects focusing on:
◦antimicrobial and anti-parasite resistance,
◦emerging and re-emerging diseases,
◦vectorized diseases and vectors.

Scope of the call is open as long as in the frame of the IC following research topics:

Pasteur MS research topics:
◦Microbiota and Non-communicable Diseases
◦Early, rapid and sensitive Diagnostics tools
◦Emerging and Re-emerging diseases
◦Nosocomial infectious Diseases and antibiotic resistance
◦Therapeutic strategies targeting the host – personalized medicine

F2E research topics:
◦Health: animal infection diseases – parasites; insect vectors / microbial ecology / emerging diseases- modelling / diagnostic & therapies / vaccines / precision medicine
◦Nutrition & breeding systems: feed / metabolism / microbiota / animal welfare
◦Genetics: immunogenic / genomic selection

FUNDING

Up to 250k€ for 1 to 3 years.

Funding of up to £5,000 per award is available to help scientists add an international dimension by making and establishing contacts with international counterparts in the area of ecology and evolution of infectious diseases.

This scheme is open to proposals involving collaboration with the USA, China and/or Israel only.

Funding is available to support collaborative activities:
To establish first contact type activities that require short-term travel support; and
To allow researchers to travel outside the UK to initiate transdisciplinary collaboration and prepare transdisciplinary proposals with an intention to submit for the next Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases programme

The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) is a USA competitive grants program providing funding for fundamental and applied research, education, and extension projects in food and agricultural sciences. In this RFA, NIFA requests applications for six AFRI priority areas through the Foundational and Applied Science Program for FY 2019 and FY 2020. Applicants considering applying to the second year should check the AFRI RFA webpage and http://www.grants.gov . The goal of this program is to invest in agricultural production research, education, and extension projects for more sustainable, productive and economically viable plant and animal production systems, to meet the food needs of the growing global human population; thus, it is imperative to develop innovative, safe and sustainable management strategies for livestock, crops, and critical underlying resources.

In FY 2019 and FY 2020, applications are sought in 6 priority areas including:

Animal health and production and animal products;
and Food safety, nutrition, and health;

The anticipated amount available for new grants in this FY 2019 and FY 2020 Foundational and Applied Science RFA are approximately $192.585 million and $192.585 million respectively.

UK Research and Innovation are opening an online discussion platform to collect thoughts and ideas to help shape research in digital innovation for development across Africa. This Platform will allow sharing of thoughts on issues and challenges faced by people living in Africa to determine where digital solutions could have the biggest impacts. From undemocratic elections, infectious diseases, lack of access to education, to global warming, we want to realise the challenges faced by communities across Africa and consider the potential value digital research and innovation.
The platform will create an online community that will engage and connect local actors, researchers, entrepreneurs, charities, etc., and allow users to exchange ideas and expertise. The ideas gathered from this Platform will be collated and used to shape future UKRI spending activities under the Global Challenge Research Fund. Thoughts collected on the challenges and potential for digital innovation to solve these will provide recommendations for research and innovation in these areas to make progress in addressing these challenges.
To express your interest in joining this platform, please complete this Survey https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/DigitalInnovationinAfrica/.
Expressions of Interest to join the online platform will close at 16:00 BST 19th October 2018. After this, users will be selected and notified from the expressions of interest. Please note, there is a limited number of users permitted to use the online platform, therefore, by completing the survey, you will not be guaranteed an invitation to use the platform.
For further information, please contact GCRF@rcuk.ac.uk

The Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning.

36 million crowns will be announced for research projects with aim to improve the animal health and welfare. The research can for instance focus on giving scientific base to judgement of the compliance of animal welfare regulations, to improve the legality and fairness of controls or examine the economic consequences of reduced levels of animal welfare. The projects can have a duration of three years, with a maximum budget of six million Swedish crowns per project.