PRE-ANNOUNCEMENT: GLOBAL CORONAVIRUS RESEARCH AND INNOVATION NETWORK – FUNDING

1. Title: PRE-ANNOUNCEMENT: GLOBAL CORONAVIRUS RESEARCH AND INNOVATION NETWORK – FUNDING2. Awarding Authority: Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), The Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), GB Email: elly.tyacke@bbsrc.ukri.org. Web: (Dr. Elly Tyacke)3. Contract type: Service contract4. Description: Pre-announcement: Global Coronavirus Research and Innovation NetworkApply for funding to establish an international network for research into coronaviruses. The network may run for up to four years.You must be of lecturer level and based at an eligible UK research organisation.This is a pre-announcement. Details on how to apply will be available soon.Who can applyConsortia of academics based internationally may apply, with one UK principal investigator acting as the network director.For UK-based network directors, BBSRC standard eligibility criteria will apply, as set out in the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)-BBSRC grants guide .Principal investigators (network directors) must be of at least lecturer level (or equivalent), be based at a UK research institution and meet the standard UKRI-BBSRC eligibility criteria.Institutions and researchers eligible for UKRI-BBSRC funding under this call include:higher education institutionsstrategically funded instituteseligible independent research organisationspublic sector research establishments. See a full list of eligible organisations (PDF, 62KB).The network director (principal investigator) can be assisted by one network co-director (co-investigator). It is expected that the day-to-day management of each network will be undertaken by a suitably qualified network manager.Scope of the callProposals should seek to coordinate research in the following areas:pathogen biology (including the seasonality, transmission, ecology and evolution of coronaviruses)host responseeffective intervention strategies.This research should support an integrated ‘one health’ approach to tackling existing and emerging coronaviruses, utilising comparative biology between animal and human coronaviruses, and encouraging data use, sharing and accessibility across public and veterinary healthcare.International partnersThe funded network can work with multiple international partners, but will be particularly encouraged to partner with the following regions:ChinaNorth AmericaEuropeSouth East Asia.Note that funding cannot be sought for, or transferred to, international partners.ObjectivesThe funded network will draw together the major global research and industry players working on veterinary and human coronaviruses to compare, contrast and advance the understanding of coronaviruses.The main aims of the network should be to embrace a one health approach to understanding coronaviruses, to facilitate research collaborations, and serve as a communication gateway for the global coronaviruses research community.The expected outcomes of this network activity are as follows:increased integration of human-veterinary coronaviruses research and innovation capacity and capability (one health approach)deeper understanding of coronavirusesstrengthening understanding of ecologies at the animal-human-environment interfaceenhancing understanding of coronaviruses and possible intervention tools.5. CPV Code(s): 73110000, 73100000, 73210000, 73200000, 80500000, 80000000, 80521000, 389000006. NUTS code(s): UKK, UKK1, UKK147. Main site or location of works, main place of delivery or main place of performance: South West (England), Gloucestershire, Wiltshire And Bristol/Bath Area, Swindon.8. Reference attributed by awarding authority: Not provided.9. Estimated value of requirement: Total fund: £500,000Maximum award: £500,00010. Closing date: 23.2.2021 (17:00:00).11. Address to which they must be sent: For further information regarding the above contract notice please visit:12. Other information: Funding type: GrantOpening date: 4 January 2021 09:00 UK timeOpportunity status: UpcomingThis is a pre-announcement. Details on how we will assess your application will be available soon.Call webinarsBBSRC and DEFRA will be hosting a webinar to provide further information and context on this call for all who are interested and eligible to apply.Please join us on either Wednesday 2 December 2020 11:00-12:00 GMT or Tuesday 8 December 2020 16:00-17:00 (each webinar will provide the same content).Webinar joining details will be provided upon registration, you can:register for Wednesday 2 Dec 2020 11:00-12:00 (Zoom)register for Tuesday 8 Dec 2020 16:00-17:00 (Zoom).# funding opportunity# COVID-19