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Translation Fund frequently asked questions

How many Translation Awards does the Wellcome Trust expect to support?
This depends on the nature, quality and cost of the applications received in a given financial year.

How do I apply for a Translation Award?
The purpose of Translation Awards is to provide significant momentum to advance translation in areas the Wellcome Trust perceives require exceptional effort to achieve a fundamental or strategic outcome. You should contact Technology Transfer staff if you have a concept for a TA.

Is there a preliminary application process?
Yes, applicants must first submit a concept note. Feedback will then be provided as promptly as possible on the appropriateness of the topic for translational funding and, if necessary, will include guidance on aspects of the project. Prospective applicants for Translation Awards should contact a member of Technology Transfer staff to discuss their application.

Can I make multiple applications for Translation Awards?
Yes.Each of the applications will be considered on its own merit. Principal investigators seeking support will, however, be expected to demonstrate that they can commit the time and attention needed to bring each project to a satisfactory conclusion.

Are resubmissions of unsuccessful applications permitted?
Generally no. Applicants wishing to re-apply are required to describe how the proposal varies from the previous application. We reserve the right not to process an application if it is too similar to one that has been declined previously.

Are applications from multiple organisations permitted?
Yes. The precise role of each principal investigator and organisation should be made clear in the application, together with details about how the work will be shared and intellectual property owned, managed and exploited.

Will the Wellcome Trust fund a translation project alongside other funders?
We would be willing to co-fund alongside others. We will not usually provide support for projects that have already attracted significant levels of professional investment. Please contact Technology Transfer staff if you have a specific query.

My university spin-out company needs to raise funds to further develop some exciting new technology. How do I know whether to apply for a Translation Award, approach Syncona or the Wellcome Trust's Investment Division?
For university spin-out companies, your technology transfer office can assist in judging what are the best options for fundraising. All applicants can also contact Trust staff who will be happy to offer advice on request.

What criteria are used by Syncona, the Investments Division and Technology Transfer in deciding on the case for support?
Syncona is a provider of long-term capital to emerging healthcare technologies and companies.Syncona works in partnership with academics, inventors, entrepreneurs, healthcare providers and companies. Syncona is likely to make individual investments of <£20M and invests for financial returns. Please contact Dr Martin Murphy, CEO, Syncona for any queries you may have: M.Murphy@synconapartners.com.

The Investment Division is managed for financial returns and will only invest when the technology/products have demonstrated proof-of-concept.

Technology Transfer at the Wellcome Trust is focused on the potential of a technology to impact on healthcare.  It provides translation award funding in areas of unmet medical need and aims to bridge the gap between basic research and translation of that research into developed products or outcomes that will be taken forward by others for healthcare applications. A credible case as to how and why an innovation will be developed further by the market is necessary, but the level of revenue return to the Trust is not the driver behind funding decisions.  Nevertheless, when Technology Transfer makes an award, it expects to be treated equitably in any benefit sharing arrangements. The typical range for awards is between £0.5 to £5 million.

Are applications relating to cancer permitted under the translation awards?
Yes. Proposals in the field of cancer aimed at bridging the gap between fundamental research and commercial product development will be considered. We have a policy on funding cancer research.

Can researchers from disciplines outside biomedicine apply?
Yes, providing the application of the research is designed to facilitate or meet a need in healthcare. For example, the application of physics, chemistry, computing, engineering and materials science to the development of medical products is entirely appropriate.

What should I do if the technology I wish to develop addresses a healthcare need in an area that is not commercially attractive?
We are committed to the translation of research into practical health benefits across the spectrum of disease. Disease areas neglected by industry because of the lack of a return on investment pose a particular problem, but imaginative ways forward can sometimes be developed such as partnering with NGOs or public-private partnerships (e.g. the Medicines for Malaria Venture).Technology Transfer staff or staff from other funding programmes will be happy to help with any specific queries.

Must I hold a tenured university post to be an applicant?
For university based applicants, our normal rules allow for tenured staff and staff on fixed-term contracts with no less than 12 months' service remaining to be coapplicants. Normally only tenured staff or permanent employees may be principal applicants.

Are applications from companies allowed?
Yes, applications from spin-outs and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) can be considered, together with projects from large enterprises. However, we will need to understand why commercial support for the project is not available.

Can I apply for my personal salary on a Translation Award?
If you hold a tenured university or a permanent post, you may not re-charge your salary (in full or part) to a Translation Award.

What capital expenditure may be requested?
Providing it is adequately justified, modest equipment purchase and maintenance costs may be included in a Translation Award application. Building or refurbishment expenditure will not normally be considered.

Can I apply for overheads?
Translation Award applications may not include requests for institutional overheads.

What are the arrangements for funding?
In the case of not-for-profit organisations, our standard Grant Conditions are modified in a Translation Fund funding agreement to be completed between us and the institution. This reflects the strategic nature of the award and our need to be involved in the governance and conduct of the project. The agreement also covers arrangements for intellectual property management, which differ from the Grant Conditions, as we may take a more direct role in translating any outcomes. Companies will normally be funded under a TF convertible loan agreement which will provide for Trust involvement in the conduct of the project and also intellectual property management.

What is the Wellcome Trust's policy on publication of the results arising from Translation Award projects?
We wish to encourage the dissemination of findings arising from the research we support in order to achieve maximum public benefit. At the same time, it is essential that any intellectual property (IP) is protected to ensure that downstream investment is not deterred. It is therefore appropriate that publication or release of research findings is delayed until patent protection of the IP has been put in place. For further information, read our policy on intellectual property and patenting.

Does the Wellcome Trust expect a share of any cash revenues or equity that may arise from commercialisation of a technology developed under one of its awards?
Yes. The primary purpose of Translation Awards is to secure a healthcare benefit from the development of new technologies/products. Many of these technologies will ultimately fail to reach the market so awards are made with no expectation of a financial return. However, in the event that a company is formed or a licensing agreement is entered into, we have a responsibility as a charity to share in the financial benefits in order to channel that back into the pursuit of our charitable mission (see below for details of the our revenue and equity-sharing arrangements in respect of standard Trust grants).

Why does the institution or company have to seek the Wellcome Trust's consent before it can exploit Trust-funded intellectual property, and how should it do this?
For institutions: Normally, an institution has to seek our consent prior to exploitation because, as a charity, we are under an obligation to ensure that the useful results of research that it funds are applied for the public good and that the exploitation is an appropriate means of achieving the public benefit. In order to obtain our consent, the institution must inform us about the exploitation activity that is planned.

For companies: This will be addressed under the funding agreement convertible loan note, please see our template agreement.

For Translation and Strategic Translation Awards granted prior to July 2013 please read/review the consent application form [Word 86KB] ; consent and revenue/equity-sharing agreement [Word 89KB] and the revenue-sharing calculator [Excel 38KB] documents.

How are inventors rewarded for Wellcome Trust-funded intellectual property that has been exploited?
Each institution is responsible for compensating its inventors from its share of income received, in accordance with its own inventors' reward scheme. Equity transactions are treated differently, because inventors are usually allocated founders' shares in return for their efforts. You should contact your institution or technology transfer office if you have any questions about this.

Does the Wellcome Trust provide financial support for biotechnology development as a venture capital investor?
Yes. This is administered by the Trust's Investment Division.

What happens if my project doesn't meet its milestones?
If, in our opinion and under the terms of the funding agreement, a milestone has not been met and there is no viable and acceptable contingency plan, we may exercise our right to terminate the funding. The award recipient is expected to take account of the milestone nature of the awards when entering into contractual commitments related to the award. In the event of early termination by the Trust, the award recipient will not be required to repay the cost of any non-cancellable commitments incurred prior to the date of termination, and any legitimate redundancy payments resulting from such termination may be funded out of the award monies. Please see our see our termination policy for further information

I have been told I can submit a preliminary application but when I logged onto e-grants it only has Part 1 and Part 2, which sections should I complete?
If you have been asked to submit a preliminary application please only complete Part 1 on e-grants. If you have been invited to submit a full application please now complete Part 2 on e-grants. For full applications only - Please note that Part 1 will be removed before it goes out for peer review and to the Committee therefore you need to ensure any critical information is repeated in Part 2 of the application.

I have been told I need to submit my application by 5pm, but I am based overseas, does this mean local time?
Wherever a time is referenced this will be the time in London rather than local time.

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