VaxHub Sustainable Platform Funding Call

Only VaxHub members^[1] are eligible to apply for platform funding. Proposals may be submitted independently by VaxHub members and/or are invited from VaxHub members working in collaboration with VaxHub academic partners with prioritisation given to projects that can show a novel collaboration that would not otherwise be possible.  Organisations that are not currently members of the VaxHub but would be interested in joining to be able to access funding opportunities and other benefits, are invited to contact vaxhub@ucl.ac.uk

Please note the following additional eligibility requirements:

• Individuals can submit one application as the lead applicant per funding call, but there is no limit on the same entities (institution/organisation) submitting multiple applications to each call.
• There is no limit on being a collaborator on multiple applications to the same call.
• Other HEI academics (for example, permanent members of academic staff) can lead a project, provided they are committed to ongoing interactions with the VaxHub.
• VaxHub PDRAs/RAs cannot apply for/lead a Platform Funded project, but they could be a co-applicant, with their Co-I, who would be on an open-ended contract, as the lead.

[1] Applications will be accepted from organisations that are in the process of joining the VaxHub but awards will be made subject to the completion of the required documentation by 4 April 2024, the closure date of the call.

• Value – Proposals should be submitted for projects with a value of between £75,000-£100,000 (inclusive of VAT). If your project is lower than this amount then we encourage you to explore other opportunities for funding.
• Duration – Projects should last between six and 12 months. Details of project start and end dates can be found in the table below.
• Number of projects funded – Up to four in each call.
• Matched funding – There is an expectation from the EPSRC, the funder, that funding will be matched by the VaxHub. As such, applicants must demonstrate a 20% contribution to the project.  For further details, visit the ‘matched funding’ section below on this page.
• Payment of funds – UCL will transfer funds to the lead organisation and up to 2 partner organisations per project. Payments will be made in two stages, the first following the award and the second following a satisfactory mid-term report for the project.

The VaxHub is pleased to offer funding to support projects which may choose to focus on one or more of the following vaccine technologies and research areas to support manufacturing:

• VLPs, subunit, glycoconjugates, viral vectored and mRNA vaccines
• Technology improvements
• Analytical development
• Upstream and downstream bioprocessing optimisation
• Scaling up/down
• Formulation and thermostability
• Environmental sustainability
• Life-cycle management
• Health economics
• Policy and regulatory systems
• Decisional tools (cost of goods, supply chain management, etc.)

VaxHub Sustainable projects are expected to focus on research and development studies that concentrate on developing and/or facilitate, new tools and technologies to speed-up vaccine manufacture. Projects aligned to the Hub Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) priorities, those delivering sustainability objectives within the company that could be applied to the wider sector and initiatives supporting employees’ development and upskilling are encouraged.

Applicants must demonstrate how proposed projects will:

• Contribute to VaxHub Sustainable aims and objectives
• Regular interactions with the VaxHub during and after project completion
• Benefit their business in the long-term
• Enable them to apply for follow-on initiatives
• Explore early technologies (at TRL 1-3)
• Generate pilot data for follow-on funding or test feasibility with key stakeholders.

VaxHub is committed to equality of opportunity and values diversity and a culture in which inclusion is promoted. There is an expectation that steps will be taken within funded projects to go above and beyond the routine EDI activities of the project teams and applications will be assessed on whether further steps are being demonstrably taken to promote equality, diversity or inclusion.

The VaxHub acknowledges that there are individual contexts that could lead to different cultural/ gender dynamics and this will need to be a consideration when assessing projects. We still endeavour to promote best practice and expect this to be considered in project proposals, as an example, to promote gender equality we expect there to be no “all male” working groups for VaxHub projects.

In line with UCL’s Due Diligence policy for research funding and in adherence to funder requirements, UCL undertakes full due diligence checks on all active grants within the VaxHub. All applicants^[1] receiving funds will be required to complete an enhanced Due Diligence questionnaire based on the amount of funding they are applying for; links to the Due Diligence questionnaires are provided in the submission section above.  Completed forms should be returned at the application stage.

Due Diligence form(s) (if applicable): Under £30k form       Over £30k form

[1] Please note Third-party due diligence checks will not apply to any of the following:

• When the third party is an individual 

• When the third party is on the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) list of UK higher education providers 

Applicants should use the Ethical Information section on the application form to demonstrate to reviewers that they have fully considered any ethical issues concerning the material they intend to use, the nature and choice, current public perceptions and attitudes towards the subject matter or research area.  VaxHub funds must be used in compliance with EPSRC rules on ethics and we will not fund a project if we believe that there are ethical concerns that have been overlooked or not appropriately accounted for.

Outputs are most likely to be in the form of a report, publication, tools, new products/processes/methods or proof of concept.  Data is likely to be an important feature of most projects, and we recommend that a data management plan is put in place to ensure that data is appropriately curated, stored and made available for future research, where feasible.

The budget sheet template should be used to list and describe the resources that are required to undertake the proposed Project. The justification for these resources should also be made clear in the application form.

Costs that can be funded include:

• Staff salaries
• Travel and subsistence, exclusively for the progression of the funded project
• Other direct costs (consumables, facilities fees, etc.)

The funding will not cover:

• Fees for undergraduate or postgraduate courses
• First class and business class travel costs or priority visa fees.
• Travel/trips which show no real outputs for professional development.
• Applications made on behalf of applicants without the applicants’ agreement.
• Capital or infrastructure expenditure is not an eligible cost.
• Equipment

We will not support proposals that:

• Do not align with the vision and aims of VaxHub
• Do not demonstrate sustainability
• Fund associated studentships
• Include new, external recruitment (except for casual/consultancy appointments).

There is an expectation from the EPSRC, the funder, that funding will be matched by the VaxHub. As such, applicants must demonstrate a 20% contribution to the project. For example, if you request £80,000 in funding, we expect to see an additional £16,000 contribution from the applicants to the project budget.   Examples of contributions to the project could include staff time, supply of consumables/ equipment, provision of travel or accommodation, etc.

All funded projects will be subject to the terms of the VaxHub Collaboration Agreement, in compliance with the clauses around Intellectual Property, Publication and Confidentiality . If you believe any further contractual requirements will be needed for your proposal, please contact vaxhub@ucl.ac.uk to discuss this as soon as you are aware of any potential additional needs.

Successful applicants will be required to provide updates on progress (if requested) and to comply with mid and end of project reporting requirements. Reporting requirements will be provided to successful applicants. These shall include commentary on whether aims have been achieved, methods used, data produced, publications or other outputs, other outcomes, impact achieved and planned, problems encountered, and forward plans. It is a condition of funding that successful applicants must give a presentation about their project to members of the VaxHub community.

Successful teams will also be expected to:

• Participate in VaxHub events, as required. This may include presentations to the VaxHub Users Group or International Advisory Board.
• Promote VaxHub through VaxHub and own networks. The VaxHub Project Manager will maintain contact with successful teams to receive updates and to ensure that important information and announcements are disseminated widely.