Global Challenges Research Fund Networking Grants

The Academy of Medical Sciences is delighted to be working with the British Academy, the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Royal Society to offer GCRF Networking Grants, available through the GCRF, which is part of the UK’s Official Development Assistance (ODA).  The GCRF is an initiative that aims to support cutting-edge interdisciplinary research that addresses the global issues faced by developing countries. The GCRF is administered through 17 delivery partners including the Research Councils, the UK National Academies, the UK Space Agency and funding bodies.

The UK National Academies will work collaboratively across the GCRF delivery partners to ensure that these grants provide opportunities for researchers, drawn from a wide spectrum of disciplines and backgrounds, to develop new collaborations, improve interaction between UK researchers and those in developing countries and build communities of researchers that can submit high quality applications for other GCRF funding calls.

Applications should focus on building a collaborative network and therefore should be submitted jointly by a lead overseas researcher from a developing country and a lead researcher based in the UK.

To be eligible to apply, both applicants must:

• Have completed a PhD or have experience at an equivalent level
• Have proven research experience in their field
• Hold a permanent position at an eligible institution (in the UK or a DAC-listed country), or a fixed term contract for the duration of the award

Lead applicants must not be affiliated to a private or commercial organisation. Applications will not be considered if there is more than one UK co-applicant or an overseas applicant not from a DAC-listed country.

This grant forms part of the UK’s Official Development Assistance (ODA), which promotes economic development and welfare in developing countries. In order for applications to be eligible for this grant, applicants must clearly show that their proposal’s aims are in-line with those of the ODA. These include strengthening global peace and security, promoting global prosperity and tackling extreme poverty. The delivery partners for this scheme have provided some ODA guidance for applicants, which can be downloaded from the right side of this page.

Projects must start between 1^st January 2018 and 31^st March 2018, and the funding will last for one year. Full details of eligibility for this scheme are outlined in the guidance, which can be downloaded from the right side of this page when the scheme is open for applications. Please read this carefully before submitting an application.

Please contact the grants team if you have any queries on 0203 1413 244, or email us at gcrfnetworking@acmedsci.ac.uk

This scheme is targeted at experienced researchers who are looking to form new international collaborations. The maximum amount available is £25,000 of which £5,000 can be used for consumables for pilot experiments, archival research or fieldwork. The remainder can be used to contribute towards travel and subsistence costs, costs associated with networking events, administrative support and access to technical support.

Grants cannot be used to pay for salary costs or to employ research assistants, PhD students or postdoctoral staff.

The Selection Panel will be Chaired by:

Professor Keith Gull CBE, DSc(Hon), FRS, FMedSci, FRSB (Chair), University of Oxford

Additional members of the selection Panel will be listed shortly.

Applicants should not approach Panel members to discuss their application. All queries should be directed to the Panel secretariat on gcrfnetworking@acmedsci.ac.uk 

All GCRF Networking Grants awardees will be required to report via Researchfish annually by the end of March each year throughout their grant and for three years after the completion of their award. Click here for full reporting instructions.

You will also need to submit a Final Expenditure Report within 3 months of the end of your grant in addition to submitting Researchfish data. You can download the final expenditure form from the right hand side of this page.