Transformative Research Technologies for the Detection and Diagnosis of Plant and Animal Diseases

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.