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Elizabeth Blackwell Catalyst Fund 2014/15:
Building new research communities by seeding novel interdisciplinary research
http://www.bris.ac.uk/blackwell/funding/catalyst/
The Wellcome Trust and the University of Bristol have made available funding to support a range of strategic health
research activities across the University. Part of this funding has been reserved for investment in pilot projects that will
address key health-related research questions through the building of new research communities via the development
of novel interdisciplinary (cross-Faculty and/or cross-sector) collaborations. Awards will support work that is either new
to the applicants or applies a new technique to existing work. Applicants must demonstrate that their project will likely
lead to future major applications for funding from external bodies.
The Elizabeth Blackwell Institute will support the creation of these new research communities and collaborations
through arranging and facilitating workshops/sandpit events to explore all possibilities, ensure the widest range of
potential collaborators have been engaged and identify the big questions that can be answered only by bringing
together groups of academics and other collaborators from various disciplines. We particularly encourage establishing
links and collaborations with researchers outside the traditional medical faculties (namely, Faculty of Medical and
Veterinary Science and Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry).
Applications submitted as a result of an EBI-facilitated workshop are, therefore, the most likely to succeed in being
supported. We will, however, accept applications directly, although you will need to fully justify why you felt the use of
a workshop was unnecessary (for example, how did you go about finding the most suitable collaborators).
Eligibility: This funding scheme is open to all University of Bristol permanent academic staff or senior, independentlyfunded, research fellows. Collaborations with external partners are allowable, as long as the Principal Investigator is a
salaried employee of the University of Bristol.
Allowed costs: Awards of up to £30,000 are available. These funds can be spent as creatively as you like, including
on research staff, consumables, travel and/or facility costs. Requests for equipment costs will be considered but this
will be exceptional. Applicants must fully justify the request for resources. Exceptionally, and where fully justified, a
request for additional funding will be considered. Funds must be spent by the 31st December 2016 and are for direct
costs only. Internal applicants must submit an approved full Economic Costing (fEC) as part of the application process.
External applicants will be expected to liaise with their Schools Account Manager to complete a fEC once advised the
application has been successful.
Terms & Conditions: The funds for this scheme include contributions from our Wellcome Trust Institutional Strategic
Support Fund and as such are covered by the Wellcome Trust terms and conditions which can be read here:
http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/stellent/groups/corporatesite/@sf_central_grants_admin/documents/web_document/wtx026668.pdf
We would like to draw your attention to one particular clause which refers to the revenue and equity sharing terms of
the Wellcome Trust that you would have to accept should any intellectual property arise from the project. You can find
further details here: http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/stellent/groups/corporatesite/@technology_transfer/documents/web_document/wtd003534.doc
(You may need to copy & paste these links into your browser for them to work).
Please read and understand these terms and conditions carefully prior to making an application to ensure
suitability of this funding source for your project. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Dr
Nina Couzin, EBI Manager (nina.couzin@bristol.ac.uk, 0117 954 6982)
Application process: If your proposal does not arise from an EBI-funded workshop, you must discuss whether it
meets the above criteria with Dr Nina Couzin at the earliest possible stage. All completed applications should then be
submitted by email to ebi-health@bristol.ac.uk. Applications will be reviewed bimonthly by the EBI Advisory Board. For
submission deadlines in 2014/2015 please visit http://www.bris.ac.uk/blackwell/funding/catalyst/
Elizabeth Blackwell Institute, Royal Fort House, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1UH
EBI 114 AP(SB) Catalyst Funding Application Form
www.bristol.ac.uk/blackwell
Page 1
Principal Applicant:
School:
Proposal title:
Start date of award:
Duration of award:
*fEC ID:
*All internal applicants must complete and submit a fully approved FEC with their application and enter the FEC ID in
the field above. Please attach a PDF of the fully approved fEC.
1. Name and School of key collaborators
2. Short description of the research you propose to undertake using these funds. (700 words maximum)
This should address:

Background

Scientific case

The novel aspect of this work (new research direction, collaboration or technique)

Value added by new interdisciplinary collaboration

Potential impact, benefits and significance of this work

Please list briefly any key publications (max 5) or other background material (e.g. patents) that are relevant to
the project
3. Why will funding this project be strategically important to the University of Bristol? (150 words max)
Elizabeth Blackwell Institute, Royal Fort House, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1UH
EBI 114 AP(SB) Catalyst Funding Application Form
www.bristol.ac.uk/blackwell
Page 2
4. How does your project address the strategic priorities of the Wellcome Trust? (150 words max)
http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/About-us/Strategy/index.htm
5. Please provide a brief list of goals (or milestones) against which success of this funding will be
judged (this is required for reporting purposes to the Trust) (500 words max)
Please make reference to any unmet clinical needs, basic biomedical question, product development, technical
demonstration or other milestone that will result from this project.
6. Where do you plan to apply for follow on funding for this work? Please note the funding body and
scheme if known. (150 words max)
Please state as clearly as possible how this funding will enhance your ability to obtain further funding or
development of this project by some other means (e.g. via partnering opportunities.)
7. Has this, or a substantially similar, application, been considered in whole or in part by any other
funding body? If yes, then what was the result and feedback provided?
Elizabeth Blackwell Institute, Royal Fort House, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1UH
EBI 114 AP(SB) Catalyst Funding Application Form
www.bristol.ac.uk/blackwell
Page 3
8. Does this project arise from a workshop previously supported by the Elizabeth Blackwell Institute? If
not (i) why was this not necessary and (ii) what steps have you taken to broaden the collaborative
nature of the work
9. Will your research project involve patients and/or the public? If you answer ‘yes’, please highlight
how these beneficiaries will be engaged in the research process and how the engagement and
facilitation costs will be met. If you answer ‘no’ then please justify why not. (150 words max.)
10. Please justify your request for resources (150 words max)
11. Do you know who will conduct the research described here? If not you are advised to liaise with HR
and consider the redeployment pool for suitable candidates (150 words max)
Elizabeth Blackwell Institute, Royal Fort House, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1UH
EBI 114 AP(SB) Catalyst Funding Application Form
www.bristol.ac.uk/blackwell
Page 4