Wellcome Trust Awards
Newcastle University holds two awards from the Wellcome Trust to support our research.
Newcastle Wellcome Trust Translational Partnership
The Newcastle Wellcome Trust Translational Partnership (WTTP) enhances Newcastle University’s translational activities. It does this in the “invention to proof of concept” landscape. Researchers gain mentorship, support and expertise to advance scientific discoveries towards real-world impact.
The partnership is arranged around four strategic themes:
- promoting translational engagement, mentorship and development as part of our Translational Explorer Portfolio
- using strategic funds to support translational activities
- extending our network and portfolio of partners to provide expertise to projects
- enhancing our institutional translational readiness
We announce funding calls periodically. Support for mentorship and external engagement is available through the Translational Explorer Portfolio. This is available at all times.
For information email Dr Emma Campbell, Early Translational Research Funding Development Manager, or Dr Dale Athey, Senior Translator in Residence.
Early Translational Funding
The funding supports projects to overcome problems in the translation pathway. This will enable projects to access the next stage of research and funding. The intention is not to fund an entire project to adoption in a clinical or commercial setting.
The partnership will support a broad range of activities to enable translational research.
Examples of eligible activity include, but are not limited to:
- laboratory studies to gather data on project feasibility
- analysis of data and application of statistics to develop translational opportunities
- market research, intellectual property reviews, freedom to operate or regulatory guidance
- skills development via secondments, placements, people exchanges, or specialist training
- development of policy and implementation of best practices
Eligibility
Applications are open to Newcastle University staff and honorary staff members. We are currently prioritising the translation of Wellcome Trust funded research.
To be eligible, applicants must be a named applicant on a recent Wellcome Trust grant. The Humanities and Social Science funding scheme is not eligible. This may be reviewed in future funding rounds.
If you want to discuss this funding further, please contact Dr Emma Campbell.
Institutional Strategic Support Fund
We benefit hugely from this flexible funding which is used to invest and promote areas of strategic importance.
Wellcome provides a funding allocation which is matched by the University. Our faculty uses this to fund a number of key internally administered schemes.
A key area is in providing support for our Research Fellowship scheme.
Bridging Funding supports the salaries of research and technical staff between funding contracts. In exceptional circumstances it can support new PhD graduates.
It provides employment stability and continuity in career progression for staff. It enables the University to keep key members of staff, their skills and expertise.
This scheme can support a period of up to 6 months and will cover a third of costs. Applications should be made at least one month in advance.
If you have any enquiries about Bridging Funding, please email marjorie.holbrough@newcastle.ac.uk.
- present their work at external conferences
- attend specialist training courses
- undertake short placements with external research groups to develop collaborations and learn new skills
- enable early career researchers to seek mentorship opportunities from research leaders outside Newcastle
- organise small meetings to bring together researchers from different disciplines
The Wellcome Trust funded ISSF Small Grant Scheme encourages interdisciplinary collaboration across the University. It provides seedcorn funding to allow researchers to:
- test the feasibility of initial ideas and of potential future studies, with a view to this leading to an external funding application
- support research, following the end of an award, which has the potential to generate significant additional outputs and lead to further substantial funding applications
- support activity which will directly lead to an improvement in the quality of a research paper, potentially in response to internal or external reviewers’ comments
- allow inter-disciplinary projects to gather preliminary data
In accordance with the Wellcome Trust strategy, this call is open to research in any discipline that has the potential to lead to significant shifts in the understanding of life, health and wellbeing. The scheme specifically encourages inter-disciplinary research across Institutes, Schools and Faculties.
The scheme is aimed at individuals who have limited funding. Applications from early career researchers are encouraged.
To enquire about this fund contact Marjorie Holbrough.