Translational Innovation Hub Network for Lung Health and Infection in Cystic Fibrosis

Innovation Hub Networks at a glance

A collaborative Network of Translational Innovation Hubs to address Lung Health and Infection in cystic fibrosis. The Network will comprise of three Innovation Hubs with cross-institutional collaborations. The total funding available is £15m over five years.

  • Call for Expressions of Interest opens: 11 May 2023

  • Expression of Interest deadline: 31 July 2023

  • Notification of advancement to Stage 2: end of August 2023

  • Workshop date: 27 September 2023

  • Full application deadline: 22 January 2024

  • Funding decision announcement: April 2024

Mission

The mission of the Translational Innovation Hub Network on Lung health and Infection is to improve the lung health of people with cystic fibrosis. Building on the success of the first Cystic Fibrosis Innovation Hub based at the University of Cambridge, our vision is to fund up to three Translational Innovation Hubs that take an integrated approach to move forward innovation to improve the lung health of people with CF.

LifeArc and Cystic Fibrosis Trust have come together in a partnership to fund a Network of Innovation Hubs for translation and development of solutions and interventions in lung health and infection for people living with CF. The LifeArc and Cystic Fibrosis Trust Innovation Hub Network will consist of up to three Innovation Hubs that will develop interdisciplinary programmes across institutions to address major themes in science translation. The Innovation Hubs will be capable of addressing the key obstacles in improving outcomes for people living with CF and clearly demonstrate how to embed user perspectives into the operations of the hubs.

  • Scope of the Cystic Fibrosis Translational Innovation Hub Network in Lung Health and Infection

    • Total funding is £15m over five years. We expect to create at least three Innovation Hubs within the Network.
    • Expressions of interest are welcomed from UK research institutions who will lead the development of the Innovation Hubs within the Hub Network.
    • Each Innovation Hub will be led by an Innovation Hub Director. Collaborations within the Innovation Hub are essential and these can be national and international, with academia and with industry. Large organisations can be collaborators but may not request funding.
    • Each Innovation Hub must have a project manager and must clearly define a strategy on industry engagement and business development as well as demonstrate clear links and engagement with institutional communications teams.
    • Institutional/other leverage funding is highly encouraged.
  • Themes of the call

    Each Innovation Hub should aim to take an integrated, holistic approach to improve the lung health of people with CF guided by the themes below and the JLA refreshed CF research priorities.

        • new and repurposed therapeutics development for the treatment of lung infection and inflammation in CF
        • treatment and prevention and treatment of exacerbation
        • diagnosis of infection and inflammation

    It is not expected that each Innovation Hub addresses all of the themes but each Hub must ensure that their proposal has a clear view to impact for improving lung health.

  • Expressions of interest

    The applicants are asked to outline or highlight:

    • Within the themes:
      • Previous experience in developing technologies to impact on the lives of people with CF
      • Previous experience and plans to engage with industry partners
      • Development capabilities including clinical testing
    • Plans for training the next generation of scientists and clinician scientists through schemes such as research and clinical fellowships and studentships.
    • Previous experience of and plans to engage with people living with CF
    • Any potential for leveraged funding from other partners
  • How to apply for an Innovation Hub

    The Innovation Hubs awarded and funded through a two-stage, open, peer-reviewed competition. The first, expression of interest stage, is now open and the deadline for applications is Monday 31 July 2023. Successful applicants will be informed in mid-September 2023. Applicants will be invited to a mandatory workshop at the end of September before submitting a full application. The deadline for full applications will be mid-January 2024. Final funding decisions are expected in April 2024 with funding to start summer 2024.

    Please see a summary of the dates below.

    Call for Expressions of Interest opens: 11 May 2023

    Expression of Interest deadline: 31 July 2023

    Notification of advancement to Stage 2: end of August 2023

    Workshop date: 27 September 2023

    Full application deadline: 22 January 2024

    Funding decision announcement: April 2024

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