Confidence in Concept fund

The MRC Confidence in Concept fund is intended to support the transition from fundamental to translational research.

This funding is to support transition from fundamental to translational research to a point where a project is competitive for more substantive funding or industrial partnership.

Funding should accelerate this transition by establishing the viability of an approach, generating a data package that de-risks the project for funders, collaborators or investors.

Types of funded projects

Projects should be milestone led, with clear measurable objectives, requiring active project management for delivery. 

Projects will be funded in region of £50k-£100k at 80% FEC, over 6-12 months. This ‘Accelerating Translation from Medical Research in Edinburgh’ programme will have a broad remit covering, but not limited to, therapeutics, cell and gene therapies, medical devices, diagnostics and data based healthcare innovation.   Projects will be expected to commence in January 2021 or shortly thereafter.

Projects must demonstrate clinical utility. For example:

• will the proposed product be used by the NHS or other healthcare providers?
• what difference will the proposed product make to the patient/clinical pathway?
• will products be a game-changer in enabling research or the laboratory practice of research or medicine?

What the funding cannot support

• Entire translational projects. Applicants seeking funding for entire projects should consider MRC DPFS/DCS schemes.
• Administration costs.
• Staff between posts/funding (i.e. as “bridging” funds), or PhD studentships.
• Continuation of normal research grants.
• Costs relating to protection of intellectual property.
• Purchase of equipment.