In an unusual standalone early-stage funding award, the TSB and the Medical Research Council are looking to fund pioneering SMEs and researchers to find solutions to healthcare issues. The challenges tackled by eligible life sciences projects include disease prevention and management of chronic illnesses, earlier and improved detection of disease and effective treatment tailored to patients' needs.  Key Objective: To improve the efficiency and effectiveness of current healthcare provision worldwide.

Investors: The Technology Strategy Board (TSB) and the Medical Research Council

Funding available: Business-led applications £250k - £2.4m Grant
3 years Maximum duration
Up to 60% proportion of eligible project costs

Academic-led applications.
No formal limit for grant or duration.
Funding proportion awarded according to RCUK fEC rules

Opening: Currently open (2^nd October 2014)

Application deadline: Registration closing on Wednesday, 21^st January 2015. The application deadline will be Wednesday, 28^th January 2015.)

Details: In collaboration with the Medical Research Council, the TSB is seeking to fund companies and academics to tackle the physically and financial challenges proposed by healthcare. Specifically, the grant is looking to fund projects which tackle disease prevention and proactive management of chronic medical conditions, earlier and more effective detection and diagnosis of disease, as well as more effective treatments tailored to patients' requirements. Examples of specific areas that projects may address include stratified healthcare, regenerative medicine, diagnostics, eHealth and mHealth solutions and enabling technologies and devices for the field of medicine.

            This grant is to evaluate the technical feasibility of an idea and establish proof of concept in a model system, through:

• experimental evaluation (lab-scale)
• initial demonstration using in vitro and
• in vivo models (not human trials)
• exploration of potential production mechanisms
• early-stage prototyping
• product development planning

• intellectual property protection

Business-led applications:

• Duration - up to three years
• Maximum grant - £2.4m**
• Funding proportion - SMEs up to 60% of eligible project costs

Academic-led applications:

• Duration - up to three years
• Maximum grant - £3m
• Funding proportion - awarded at RCUK fEC rules

Conditions: The project must involve a concept based on substantial previous research conducted in the UK, and if business-led must be by a UK-based SME. If academic led, the total non-business proportion on total eligible project costs should not be more than 50%.

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