The proposed project must involve development of an innovative technology that is at a minimum of Technology Readiness Level 5 (UKRI definitions) and address an unmet clinical need;
or
develop an application / protocol requiring advancement through clinical development to create the evidence base for assimilation into practice (for example validation of novel clinical trial endpoints).
The application will be expected to include a clear timeline for expected progress after completion of the project. We welcome projects that have robust commercial potential, likely to attract large scale follow-on funding from other charitable, statutory or industry funders.
Outcomes should be relevant to the widest possible proportion of those living with IRD; any proposals necessitating focus on a single gene for the purposes of the work should include a full explanation of how the outcomes may be more widely relevant.
By way of confirming host institution commitment to the applicant(s) we would like to receive applications where the proposed project staffing includes at least one PhD student fully funded by the applicant’s institution.
Please note that the following areas are not appropriate for this award :
- Fundamental or basic research into the causes of conditions.
- Disease modelling research.
- Exploratory research (e.g. screening libraries for biological targets)
- Projects with no clear pathway to a defined patient benefit.
- Projects without pre-clinical proof of concept preliminary data.
- PhD studentships.
- Salaries of staff between posts/funding (i.e. as “bridging” funds).
- General consumables.
- General support for a research group.
- The development of software.