Expert Review Group scientific remits
There are nine Expert Review Groups which together constitute a body of internationally renowned researchers with high level expertise and experience across the disciplines relevant to the Trust's biomedical remit. These Groups are responsible collectively for assessing and shortlisting Investigator Award and senior level fellowship applications.
Expert Review Group scientific remits
We recognise that some applications may span more than one ERG remit or be multidisciplinary. The Trust will ensure that these applications are considered by the most appropriate Group on the basis of science and expertise.
Cell and Developmental Biology
This ERG will consider requests for support focused on cells, their behaviour, lifecycle and interactions with their environment. Its remit includes:
- Developmental biology including neurodevelopment at all stages
- Stem cells
- Cell biology
- Cell cycle
- Extracellular matrix
- Cell migration
- Cell signalling
- Membranes and receptors
- Gene expression where the study is focused on the biology of cell function
Details of the membership and meeting dates for this Expert Review Group can be found here.
Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
This ERG will consider requests for support to improve understanding of how the brain functions at the molecular and cellular level. Its remit includes:
- Basic neurobiology
- Neural signalling and function
- Sensory neuroscience
- Autonomic Nervous System
- Neuro-immunology
- Genetics with detailed phenotypic assessments at the cellular level
Details of the membership and meeting dates for this Expert Review Group can be found here.
Cognitive Neuroscience and Mental Health
This ERG will consider requests for support to improve understanding of how the brain functions at the cognitive level, and to find improved approaches for treating brain and mental health disorders. Its remit includes:
- Systems-based research including cognition and behavioural neuroscience
- Neurological disorders
- Mental health disorders
- Translational neuroscience including cognitive interventions
- Genetics with detailed clinical phenotypic assessments
Details of the membership and meeting dates for this Expert Review Group can be found here.
Genetics, Genomics and Population Research
This ERG will consider requests for support to improve understanding genetic variation in individuals and across populations. Its remit includes:
- Studies of interactions between genes and environment
- Bioinformatics and statistics as generic tools
- Genetic/genome evolution
- Population based genetics
- Genetics in Health and Disease
Details of the membership and meeting dates for this Expert Review Group can be found here.
Immune System in Health and Disease
This ERG will consider requests for support to improve understanding of the immune system. Its remit includes:
- Cellular and molecular immunology
- Inflammation, allergy and auto-immunity
- The immune response to infection
- Immunity and disease susceptibility/resistance
- Identification and early-stage development of vaccine candidates and adjuvants
Details of the membership and meeting dates for this Expert Review Group can be found here.
Molecular Basis of Cell Function
This ERG will consider requests for support focused on the structural, biophysical and biochemical properties of genes, chromosomes and proteins. Its remit includes:
- The fundamentals of gene expression (alternative splicing, imprinting, methylation, transcription, translation, DNA repair and DNA replication)
- Chromosome structure/biology and the fundamental biology of mitosis and meiosis
- Biochemistry
- Chemistry and chemical biology
- Biophysics
- Structural biology
- Proteomics
- Bioinformatics
- Mathematical modelling
- Nanotechnology
Details of the membership and meeting dates for this Expert Review Group can be found here.
Pathogen Biology and Disease Transmission
This ERG will consider requests for support to improve understanding of the emergence, transmission, pathogenesis and control of acute and chronic infectious diseases. Its remit includes:
- Parasite, bacterial and viral infections of humans and animals
- Vector biology
- Identification and early-stage development of antimicrobial agents
- Antimicrobial drug resistance
- Population studies of the distribution and transmission of infectious agents
Details of the membership and meeting dates for this Expert Review Group can be found here.
Physiology in Health and Disease
This ERG will consider requests for support focused on the physiology, pathology and pharmacology of cells, tissues and systems relevant to health and disease. Its remit includes:
- Physiology, pathology and pharmacology relevant to health and disease
- Physiological processes at the cellular level
- Specific disease mechanisms, which will be tested on small groups, e.g. looking at clinical or pharmacological interventions
- Integrative physiology
- Research focusing on how a body system is influenced by neuronal activity
- Gene expression studies focused on a disease state or body/organ system
- Environment at individual health level
Details of the membership and meeting dates for this Expert Review Group can be found here.
Population and Public Health
This ERG will consider requests for support of population-based research for the improvement of public health, focusing on UK and low- and middle-income countries. Its remit includes:
- Epidemiology, demography, social science and health economic studies
- Multifactorial studies of disease and complex interactions using longitudinal and case-control studies
- Informatics - health records and public health
- Impact of climate and environment change on health and populations
- Healthcare systems and policy research
- Small/pilot non-pharmacological intervention studies, particularly those investigating behavioural change
- Promoting translation into policy and practice
Details of the membership and meeting dates for this Expert Review Group can be found here.
Expert Review Groups: management of conflicts of interest
Expert Review Group members are subject to the Wellcome Trust Policy on Conflicts of Interest, which sets out certain standards of conduct required by the Trust. These standards are expressed to ensure that each individual acting on behalf of the Trust is aware of the Trust’s expectations and behaves accordingly.
In addition to the Trust’s Policy on Conflicts of Interest, and to ensure that a fair and objective approach is taken to the assessment of all applications by the Expert Review Groups (ERGs), certain key principles for managing Committee member restrictions apply:
- ERG members may submit applications for Investigator Awards and other types of Trust funding. However, when an ERG member’s application is to be considered by the ERG of which he/she is a member (or an ERG onto which he/she has been co-opted), that ERG member must be excluded from the entire ERG meeting at which the application will be considered.
- If an ERG member’s application is scheduled to be considered by a separate ERG, the ERG member may attend the meeting of the ERG of which he/she is a member. Under these circumstances, the ERG member is required at the start of that meeting to register that he/she has an application under separate consideration in the same shortlisting round.
- An ERG Chair who has an application under consideration in a shortlisting round may not attend any ERG meeting in that round.