The University has implemented a process to ensure that any research grant applications related to the Covid-19 pandemic can be carried out in accordance with current guidelines and rules on working practices. A cross-faculty panel will conduct internal assessments for any Covid-19 related proposals that requires access to, or use of Queen’s laboratories, equipment or resources (including technical support).

The Panel will assess:

• resource/estate implications (e.g. safe access to laboratories and facilities or use of equipment that may also be required for NHS purposes [incl. reagents/PPE])
• that the proposed work is in line with current guidance on safe working practices
• any potential duplication of effort and/or opportunities for collaborative proposals

All researchers planning to submit research grant proposals relating to Covid-19 research must ensure that they record their project appropriately on the Research Application System (RAS). If your proposed research will involve access to resources, buildings, or the use of equipment located on campus then you must complete the CTP pro-forma here and submit it to C19ResQueries@qub.ac.uk as early as possible prior to the application deadline/planned date of submission.

Prospective applicants are also advised to review the following portals which list recently funded Covid-19 related awards; this will help to avoid duplication but may also highlight opportunities for collaboration/synergy. Funders have noted that they will carry out “overlap checks” on all new applications.

• UKCDS Covid-19 Research project Tracker
• NIHR Covid-19 Studies
• Wellcome : Epidemic Preparedness Awards

If you have any questions or would like additional information on these, please contact the Research Development team.

Title: Open call for research and innovation ideas to address COVID-19

Funder: UKRI
Deadline: No Deadline for submissions
Duration: Between 12-18 Months
Funding: No upper limit
Summary: Applications are invited for new research or innovation projects with a clear impact pathway which aim to:

• Deliver a significant contribution to the understanding of, and response to, the COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts.
• Support the manufacture and/or wide scale adoption of an intervention with significant potential
• Gather critical data and resources quickly for future research use

Title: Covid-19 Rapid Response Call for Expressions of Interest

Funder:  Horizon 2020/European Commission
Deadline:  11^th June 2020
Duration:  not provided
Funding: €4M - €10M (total EU contribution per consortium
Summary: The focus of the second call is new funding for innovative and rapid health-related approaches that respond to COVID-19 and deliver quick results relevant to society and a higher level of preparedness of health systems. There are 5 topic areas covered by this call:

• Repurposing of manufacturing for vital medical supplies and equipment SC1-PHE-CORONAVIRUS-2020-2A
• Medical technologies, Digital tools and Artificial Intelligence analytics to improve surveillance and care at high Technology Readiness Levels SC1-PHE-CORONAVIRUS-2020-2B
• Behavioural, social and economic impacts of the outbreak responses SC1-PHE-CORONAVIRUS-2020-2C
• Pan-European COVID-19 cohorts SC1-PHE-CORONAVIRUS-2020-2D
• Networking of existing EU and international cohorts of relevance to COVID-19 SC1-PHE-CORONAVIRUS-2020-2E

Research Development, in partnership with InterTradeIreland, have launched a North-South Partnership platform to support collaborations. Prospective applicants can register here: https://h2020-2-covid19.meeting-mojo.com/register 

Title: COVID-19 Africa Rapid Grant Fund

Funder:  Various (including DFID & UKRI) 
Deadline:  17^th June 2020
Duration: up to 24 Months
Funding: Up to $100,000
Summary: This internationally collaborative funding call seeks to support work that responds specifically to the impacts of Covid-19 in Sub-Saharan African countries. Led by the South African National Research Foundation (NRF), proposals are invited for innovative research projects that align with one or more of the following challenge areas:

• Genetic/Possible Mutations in the Covid-19 virus
• African health governance system
• Socio-cultural Dynamics of Transmission
• Science Engagement
• Mental Health
• Vulnerability

Title:  IAA COVID Recovery and Re-imagining a Post-lockdown World

Funder:  ESRC (internally managed)
Deadline:  29^th June 2020
Duration:  None provided
Funding: Up to £10,000

Summary: This Covid-19 focused strand of the IAA invites applications that draw on social science research to propose and/or support measures to create sustainable recovery and adaptation to, or shaping of, the “new normal” after lockdown. Projects should be able to start immediately and able to be implemented under current ‘stay at home’ working conditions.

Title: COVID-19 Rapid Response Rolling Call

Funder: NIHR, UKRI
Deadline: Open
Duration: Up to 12 months
Funding: No upper limit given
Summary: Short term projects that specifically address health related aspects of the Covid-19 pandemic, proposals must be able to demonstrate the potential to deliver public health impacts within 12 months and should build on existing partnerships and/or collaborations. Interdisciplinary projects are welcomed, where appropriate. The funders expect to make decisions within 4 weeks of submission with projects expected to begin as soon as possible after notification. 

Title: HRC R&D Division Covid-19 Funding

Funder: HSC R&D NI
Deadline: None provided
Duration: Up to 18 months
Funding: Up to £200,000
Summary: This NI focused initiative will provide support across three general categories: [1] requests for co-funding for NI-based elements of a wider project in conjunction with applications to other funders (e.g. NIHR, UKRI, SFI); [2] Applications for NI-led studies where the primary aim is to understand the local context of Covid-19; [3] small scale studies such as pilot interventions or qualitative projects based in NI.

Title:  IAA COVID-19 Rapid Response Impact Fund

Funder:  ESRC (internally managed)
Deadline:  Open
Duration:  None provided
Funding: Up to £3,000
Summary:This Covid-19 focused strand of the IAA invites applications for impact generation projects and activities that that draw on social science research relevant to the current coronavirus outbreak. This could include initiatives relating to economic, health and wellbeing, behavioural, social, political, and communications implications of the pandemic. Projects should be able to start immediately and able to be implemented under current ‘stay at home’ working conditions.

Title: Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) Urgency Grants

Funder: AHRC
Deadline: 31st October 2020
Duration: Up to 12 months
Funding: Up to £150,000
Summary: This call provides an accelerated funding outlet for urgent arts and humanities research priorities.

Applications are invited in response to unanticipated urgent research needs, including (but not limited to) disasters, humanitarian emergencies, rapid radical political or economic change, changes to conflicts, or unanticipated time-limited opportunities for research to contribute to international development policy or practice. Research exploring the Covid-19 pandemic and associated international development challenges and impacts is particularly invited.

Title: COVID-19 Rapid Response Rolling Call

Funder: NIHR, UKRI
Deadline: Open
Duration: Up to 12 months
Funding: No upper limit provided (must provide a robust case for VfM)
Summary: This call aims to support a broad range of timely clinical and/or health related research projects to understand the disease, prevent, treat and control it; that can be rapidly activated to enable early and valuable outcomes to be established and/or to access time-dependent resources. The funders aim to make decisions within 4 weeks of submission and applicants may only have one submission under consideration at any time.

Title: Repurposing existing funding to address Covid-19

Funder: UKRI
Deadline: No Deadline for submissions
Duration: In line with existing award
Funding: No additional funds provided
Summary: Recipients of existing UKRI funding are invited to submit proposals to repurpose their current funding award to address research topics directly related to the Covid-19 pandemic in line with the aims above. 

Title: Government support for research related to COVID-19

Funder: NIHR
Deadline: Open
Duration: None provided
Funding: No upper limit given
Summary: Urgent Public Health Research is being prioritised to gather the necessary clinical and epidemiological evidence that will inform national policy and enable new diagnostic tests, treatments and vaccines to be developed and tested for COVID-19. Government support is available to prioritise, coordinate and deliver these studies, regardless of sponsorship and funding source

Title: Offer coronavirus (COVID-19) support from your business

Funder: UK Government
Deadline: Open
Duration: Open
Funding: no upper limit given
Summary: The UK Government is seeking proposals from UK businesses who can provided support, resources or manufacturing capacity to assist with the national response to the Covid-19 Pandemic. Any business that feels they may be able to help should complete the form at the link below.

Further opportunities can be found on the Coronavirus Funding Monitor, a curated list, updated daily, of open funding calls and other support for researchers, non-profit organizations and commercial organizations, specifically for COVID-19 and coronavirus-related research.