Biomedical Catalyst Fund Opens
Following the previous announcement of a Biomedical Catalyst Fund, the Medical Research Council and the Technology Strategy Board have launched the scheme.
The Biomedical Catalyst programme acknowledges that healthcare models are facing great challenges and that to meet these challenges both companies and academics must recognise the drivers behind them and work together towards developing innovative technologies and processes which provide solutions for:
- disease prevention and proactive management of health and chronic conditions;
- earlier and better detection and diagnosis of disease leading to marked improvements in patient outcomes; and
- highly effective treatments that are tailored to patients’ needs and either modify the underlying disease or offer potential cures.
Support is available for projects arising from any sector or discipline that are aimed at addressing healthcare challenges. Three categories of award are available:
| Feasibility award | Early-stage award | Late-stage award | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aim: | Gather sufficient evidence to make a decision on whether to apply for an early-stage or late-stage award. | Evaluate the technical feasibility of an idea and establish proof of concept | To take a well developed concept and demonstrate its effectiveness in a relevant environment |
| Duration: | 3 to 12 months | 1 to 3 years | 1 to 3 years |
| Maximum grant: | £150k at 75% | £2.4m at 50% | £2.4m at 50% |
Although the Biomedical Catalyst will operate in response mode, there will be key submission and assessment dates depending on the category of award and applicant type. Registration and submission dates for the first two rounds are in late June, late October 2012 and late February 2013. See Biomedical Catalyst Batch Dates FY 2012/13 for further information.
Applications from academia should be submitted to the Medical Research Council through the existing programmes: Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme/Developmental Clinical Studies scheme (DPFS/DCS), Translational Stem Cell Research Programme (TSCRP) and Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation programme (EME). Further information is on the MRC website at www.mrc.ac.uk/Ourresearch/ResearchInitiatives/Translationalresearch/index.htm#P2.
Further information abou the Biomedical Cayalyst programme is available on the website of the Technology Strategy Board at www.innovateuk.org/content/competition/biomedical-catalyst.ashx. There is a Biomedical Catalyst flyer and Biomedical Catalyst overview.