Seeding Drug Discovery

Purpose

This five-year, £91 million initiative aims to develop drug-like, small molecules that will be the springboard for further research and development by the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry in areas of unmet medical need.

See the information for applicants [Word 3.72MB] for details on the background of the scheme and more information about its aims.

What's included

Project duration will be determined by how advanced the candidate compounds have to be to have a good prospect of attracting third-party funding. Typically, this will be to the stage of selection of an optimised lead molecule.

On this basis, projects beginning with a confirmed chemical hit starting point may take two to three years; projects may take less time if the starting point is more advanced.

See the Forms and Guidance tab on this page for details on what is and is not included in an award.

Eligibility

Projects must address an unmet need in healthcare or in applied medical research, offer a potential new solution, and have a realistic expectation that the innovation will be developed further by the market.

Institutions

Eligible institutions are not-for-profit research institutions, including those funded by the Medical Research Council, Cancer Research UK and Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, in the UK, that are able to sign up to our Grant Conditions. Overseas institutions should check their eligibility first with Technology Transfer and may be invited to apply.

Companies

We are able to use our charitable monies to fund commercial companies to meet our charitable objectives through programme-related investment (PRI). For further details please refer to our policy on PRI [Word 23KB]. Companies will normally be expected to sign up to specific terms relating the scheme(see the Forms and Guidance tab on this page).

Overseas organisations

Organisations located outside of the UK must contact Technology Transfer staff regarding their proposed project.Proposals will be taken forward by invitation only.Uninvited applications will not be considered.UK organisations may contract or collaborate with overseas organisations.

Principal applicants and coapplicants

Applicants should normally hold a position of responsibility within the eligible organisation and be able to sign up to or comply with the conditions or terms of an award.

In addition, postdoctoral research assistants - whether seeking their own salary as part of the grant proposal, funded by the Wellcome Trust on another grant, or funded by another agency - are eligible for coapplicant status if they make a significant contribution to a research proposal and have agreement from their funding agency.

Other eligibility information

Cancer research
Proposals in the field of cancer aimed at bridging the gap between fundamental research and commercial product development can be considered for Translation Award funding.

Disciplines outside biomedicine
Researchers from disciplines outside biomedicine can apply providing the application of 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.

Healthcare need in an area that is not commercially attractive
We are committed to the translation of research into practical healthcare benefits across the full 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 (e.g. public-private partnerships such as the Medicines for Malaria Venture).

Intellectual property rights (IPR)/publications
If there are any restrictions on IPR or publications arising from your research, you must provide a written statement that details them. Restrictions on intellectual property may affect your eligibility to apply to the Trust. Please refer to our Grant Conditions.

For further information please refer to our policy on IP and patenting and the information for applicants [Word 3.72MB].

Application process

A preliminary application form [Word 109KB] should be completed and returned to Technology Transfer by the published deadline.

Applications will be considered at one of the two Seeding Drug Discovery Committee meetings in each 12-month period.

Successful applicants will be short-listed and invited to complete a full application.

Application advice

Technology Transfer staff will be pleased to assist with any enquiries concerning the Strategic Drug Discovery initiative.

The information for applicants [Word 3.72MB] contains details of the types of projects funded, as well as information about the thinking behind the initiative and the application review process.

See the Forms and Guidance tab on this page for application guidelines, specimen application forms and other helpful guidance notes.

The most common application queries are addressed by our FAQs.

Deadlines

Preliminary applications may be submitted twice a year.

The 2009/2010 deadlines for preliminary applications, together with their corresponding review dates, are set out below:

All applications received by 17.00 GMT on the deadline date will be considered.

The review process is set out in the information for applicants [Word 3.72MB].

Contacts

Technology Transfer
Wellcome Trust
Gibbs Building
215 Euston Road
London NW1 2BE, UK

T +44 (0)20 7611 8202
F +44 (0)20 7611 8857
E techtransfer@wellcome.ac.uk

Forms and guidance

• Information for applicants [Word 3.72MB]
• Preliminary application form [Word 138KB]
• Seeding Drug Discovery Committee
• Eligibility
• Grant conditions
• Information on full economic costing in UK universities
• Allowed costs
• Disallowed costs
• Funding agreement for institutions [Word 262KB]
• Convertible loan agreement for companies [Word 309KB]
• Frequently asked questions