Status: Closed funding calls

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

(This funding call is now closed)

With the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, we are providing £15 million to fund up to three Innovation Hubs that accelerate the development of solutions to improve the health of people with cystic fibrosis

LifeArc and Cystic Fibrosis Trust logos on gradient background

Application timeline

Expressions of interest (EOI) opening date:11 May 2023
Expression of Interest deadline31 July 2023
Notification of advancement to Stage 2end of August 2023
Workshop date27 September 2023
Full application deadline22 January 2024
Funding decision announcementApril 2024

About the project 

The Translational Innovation Hub Network on Lung Health and Infection aims to enhance the lung health of individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF). In partnership with the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, we aim to fund up to three Translational Innovation Hubs dedicated to translating and developing solutions and interventions for lung health and infection in the CF community.  

The Innovation Hub Network will build on the success of Cystic Fibrosis Trust’s existing Innovation Hub at the University of Cambridge, creating additional scale and capacity by providing a national infrastructure which will consist of up to three geographically distinct, but interconnected and collaborative, Innovation Hubs. 

As well as fast tracking discoveries into new therapies, a key focus of the Innovation Hub Network will be to transform the way infections are detected, treated and managed. 

The hubs will spearhead interdisciplinary programmes across institutions, tackling major themes in scientific translation. They are designed to overcome the key challenges in improving outcomes for people living with CF and will prioritise embedding user perspectives into their operations.  

Funding available

This fund is now closed to new applications.

Scope

Total funding is £15m over five years. 

UK research institutions are invited to express interest in leading the development of Innovation Hubs within our Hub Network. 

Each Hub will be led by a Director and must include a project manager. Collaborations are essential and can be national or international, involving academia and industry. Large organisations may collaborate but cannot request funding. 

Each Hub must outline a strategy for industry engagement, business development, and institutional communications. Leveraging additional funding is highly encouraged. 

Themes of the call

Each Innovation Hub will take an integrated, holistic approach and should be guided by the themes below and the JLA refreshed CF research priorities

Within the themes: 

  • 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 

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

Expressions of interest

Applicants are asked to outline or highlight: 

  • previous experience in developing technologies to impact 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 are 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.