SFI-HRB-Wellcome Trust Biomedical Research Partnership

1. Which schemes can I apply for?

A full list of Trust grant schemes covered by the Partnership is listed on the Wellcome Trust site: http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/Funding/Biomedical-science/Application-information/WTX062869.htm. Each of these schemes has different eligibility criteria, which are listed on the Trust’s website. Eligibility may be affected by, for example, the type of employment contract you hold or the length of time you have been involved in research.

2. Will funds be ring-fenced by the Wellcome Trust for awards under the SFI-HRB-Wellcome Trust Biomedical Research Partnership?

No; applications from the Republic of Ireland will be considered in competition with applications from other countries (including the UK) that are eligible to apply.

3. Can I apply for an award under the SFI-HRB-Wellcome Trust Biomedical Research Partnership if I have previously received an award from the Wellcome Trust?

Yes.

4. Will my current grant or grant application be affected by these changes?

The partnership agreement will only apply to applications submitted to the Trust after 1 October 2010.  Current Trust grants, or applications already under consideration with the Trust, will not be party to the agreement. 

5. Will the Wellcome Trust, SFI and the HRB share information about my application?

Yes; where an application is made under the Partnership, the Trust may share some or all of the information within this application, on a confidential basis, with SFI and the HRB. By submitting an application to the Trust, an applicant from the Republic of Ireland accepts that the Trust has the right to share information with SFI and the HRB in this way, without the need to obtain any further consent.

6. If my application is successful, from which agency will the funding be awarded?

Awards under the SFI-HRB-Wellcome Trust Biomedical Research Partnership will be made by the Wellcome Trust to the awardees’ host institution. Eligible research bodies are those deemed as such by the HRB and SFI. The grant award will be subject to and administered in accordance with the Trust’s grant conditions.

7. Which agency will manage the award?

The Wellcome Trust will manage all awards made under the SFI-HRB-Wellcome Trust Biomedical Research Partnership. Contact points within SFI and the HRB will also be available for assistance with queries at contact@wellcome-ireland.com

8. Will the progress of awards made under the SFI-HRB-Wellcome Trust Biomedical Research Partnership be formally reviewed?

Yes; grants will be formally reviewed by the Wellcome Trust. SFI and the HRB will be informed of the review outcomes as deemed appropriate.

9. Can I hold more than one award under the SFI-HRB-Wellcome Trust Biomedical Research Partnership at one time?

This may be possible, depending on the type of grant.  In the case of certain current large awards, applicants may be requested to justify and explain how they would propose to manage multiple work programmes.

10. Will the progress and outputs of my previous awards from SFI, the HRB or the Wellcome Trust be considered when my application for an award under the SFI-HRB-Wellcome Trust Biomedical Research Partnership is being assessed?

Yes; SFI, the HRB and the Wellcome Trust will exchange information regarding the outcome of previous awards where it is considered appropriate.

11. How many applications under the SFI-HRB-Wellcome Trust Biomedical Research Partnership can I submit?

Applicants may have only one application per award category (e.g. Fellowships, Investigator Awards, Strategic Awards) under review at any time (including the stage of expression of interest for PRFs and Strategic Awards).

12. If my application is declined following full review at the Wellcome Trust, can I reapply?

Applicants declined for funding following full review of their application at the Wellcome Trust may reapply according to the eligibility criteria specific to the Trust funding scheme applied for. PRF or Strategic Award applicants, who are declined a letter of endorsement from SFI and the HRB, may resubmit after 12 months of the date of the decision.

13. Is there any grant that replaces the former Wellcome Trust Project Grant which facilitated collaboration between investigators?

The Wellcome Trust Project Grants are no longer available but collaboration between investigators is encouraged.

14. How do I apply for an Investigator Award?

Investigator Award applications should be submitted directly to the Wellcome Trust as per instructions on the website (http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/).

15. Which criteria distinguish candidates suitable for New Investigator Awards and Senior Investigator Awards?

Investigator Awards support world-class researchers pursuing programmes of research excellence that will address the most important questions in health and disease. New Investigator Awardees will be within 5 years of their first established academic position and have a demonstrated ability to innovate and drive advances in their field. Senior Investigator Awardees will have an established academic post; they will be exceptional researchers at the forefront of their field who have a compelling long-term vision for their research. Applicants are advised to discuss the scope and scale of their application with the Trust in advance of submission. Further information is available from the Trust (http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/Funding/Biomedical-science/Funding-schemes/Investigator-Awards/index.htm).

16. Will a New Investigator Awardee be funded at the lower end of the allowable funding range and a Senior Investigator Awardee at the upper end?

Not necessarily; budget requests should be suited to and justified by the proposed research. Applicants are advised to discuss the scope and scale of their applications with the Trust prior to submission.

17. Can an applicant on a short-term contract apply for an Investigator Award?

Yes; however the host institution must be willing to offer a contract of indefinite duration if the application is successful.

18. How do I apply for a Fellowship Award (other than Principal Research Fellowship)?

Fellowship Award applications should be submitted directly to the Wellcome Trust as per instructions on the website (http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/).

19. How do I apply for a Principal Research Fellowship?

Prospective Principal Research Fellowship candidates should submit a concise expression of interest for endorsement (5 pages maximum) to SFI/HRB. This will include:

20. How do I apply for a Strategic Award?

Prospective Strategic Award applicants should submit a concise expression of interest for endorsement (5 pages maximum) to SFI/HRB. This will include:

21. How will my application be assessed?

Information on the review process, decision-making bodies and the assessment criteria is provided for each scheme on the Trust’s website (http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/).

22. In the case of PRFs and Strategic Awards, how will my expression of interest be evaluated?

Expressions of interest will be evaluated internally by the SFI/HRB Joint Executive Committee, and externally as deemed appropriate. 

23. What is the deadline for applications made under the SFI-HRB-Wellcome Trust Biomedical Research Partnership?

Fellowship applications (except PRFs) should be submitted directly to the Trust according to the deadlines indicated on the Trust website for the specific scheme applied for. Endorsed applications for Strategic Awards and Principal Research Fellowships will be accepted by the Trust on a rolling basis. Investigator Award applications should be submitted directly to the Trust according to the deadlines indicated on the Trust website. 

24. How long does the application and review process take?

Specific details on the application and review processes for Fellowship (except PRFs) and Investigator Award schemes are available on the Trust’s website (http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/). The entire application and review process, including application for endorsement, for Principal Research Fellowships and Strategic Awards is likely to take at least 12 months.

25. In the case of PRFs, will relocations from the UK to Ireland be considered?

Principal Research Fellowships are particularly suitable for exceptional senior research scientists, currently based overseas, who wish to work in the UK or the Republic of Ireland. Where a prospective PRF candidate holds an established post in the UK or the Republic of Ireland, he/she will be required to make a strong case to justify the requested relocation. This justification should be explicit in the expression of interest for endorsement from SFI/HRB.

26. Will the Wellcome Trust pay overheads under the Partnership? What about pension contributions and VAT?

No; Overheads will not be covered by the SFI-HRB-Wellcome Trust Biomedical Research Partnership. VAT and pension arrangements will adhere to Wellcome Trust policies.

27. What is the IP policy related to the SFI-HRB-Wellcome Trust Biomedical Research Partnership?

The Wellcome Trust’s policy on intellectual property and patenting will apply.

28. Can I move my grant to another host institution during the lifetime of the award?

Grant holders who wish to transfer their grant from one institution to another should first contact the Trust to discuss their proposal.

29. Can the same or similar proposal be concurrently under review for schemes under the SFI-HRB-Wellcome Trust Biomedical Research Partnership, and those of SFI or the HRB?

In certain circumstances, the Trust will accept applications that are concurrently under review with other funding bodies. However the Trust advises prospective applicants to contact them directly in advance of submitting any application to confirm the restrictions if any. Where an application under review by the Wellcome Trust is subsequently submitted for review under SFI or HRB funding schemes, SFI/HRB will inform the Trust.