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UK Bioimaging User Access Fund

Up to £5000 funding available to access imaging technologies and analysis services at the UK Node of Euro-BioImaging

Overview

This UKRI-BBSRC and UKRI-MRC- supported User Access Fund is for UK researchers seeking access to biological imaging technologies and data analysis services through one of the current sites comprising the UK Node of Euro-BioImaging or other Euro-BioImaging Nodes. There are more than 25 imaging technologies as well as image analysis services available through the UK Node - for more info, please go to the Euro-Bioimaging webpage.

  • Application Deadline: Rolling basis with evaluation every 4 months (31 March, 31 July, 30 November) and decisions expected not more than 4 weeks later
  • Funding Available: Up to £5000 at 100% FEC for access to bioimaging hardware and image analysis or up to £2000 for image analysis services only (maximum funding for applicants without current funding support)
  • Funding Coverage: This scheme can cover facility access/instrument time, data scientist time, user consumables, travel costs, accommodation, sample shipment, and other reasonable justified project costs
  • Eligibility: 
    • UKRI eligible research organisations within the UK (academic institutions only - industry-based users are not eligible for this funding)
    • Projects at your own institution are not eligible — for example, a researcher based at the University of Liverpool cannot apply to access Liverpool's facilities, but may apply to any other UK Node site. 
  • Application Limit: Maximum of one funded application per applicant per year
  • A preview of the application questions is available.
Apply Now!

Important Documents and Links

Application Form (Link)
UK Node Contact and Info Sheet

(PDF)
Preview of Application Questions

  (PDF)

Submission Guidelines

Before Submission:

MANDATORY: Discuss and agree your experimental plan (feasibility, cost, timeframes) with the chosen host facility(s).

We expect most applications to be for one of these UK Node sites*:

  1. Babraham Institute: Imaging Facility
  2. University of Birmingham: COMPARE; Microscopy Facility; Intravital Microscopy Suite
  3. ESRIC (Edinburgh Super-resolution Imaging Consortium)
  4. The Francis Crick Institute: CALM facility
  5. King's College London: Nikon Imaging Centre; Microscopy Innovation Centre; London Metallomics Facility; Centre for Ultrastructural Imaging
  6. University of Leeds: Bioimaging Facility; CryoEM Facility; Hyperspectral Facility; AFM 
  7. University of Liverpool: Centre for Cellular Imaging, Biomedical EM Unit, Pre-clinical Imaging
  8. Newcastle University: Spatially Resolved 'Omics
  9. University of Oxford: Micron; Cellular Imaging Core; Oxford-Zeiss CoE
  10. Oxford Brookes University: Centre for Bioimaging
  11. University of York: Imaging and Cytometry Facility
  12. UK-BIAS

*Since the CLF OCTOPUS facility at Harwell already benefits from having dedicated UKRI-funded user access arrangements in place, this facility is excluded from this funding scheme; to access their equipment please visit the relevant pages on the Central Laser Facility website

Here is a list of eligible UK Node Facility information and contacts - 

UK Node Information and Contact Sheet



Evaluation Criteria:

  • Scientific excellence and potential impact of the work
  • Career stage (priority for PhD Students, Research Technical Professionals (RTPs), junior Post-docs (< 2 years in role), junior PIs (< 2 years in role)
  • Existing financial support available to applicant/team
  • Evidence of need and lack of local technology/expertise availability
  • Justification for non-UK facility access (if applicable)
  • Value for money
After Submission:
  • Applications are evaluated in March, July, November by the Biological User Access Panel (BL-UAP)
  • We expect funding decisions to be communicated within 4 weeks of panel meeting
  • Successful applicants receive award letters with detailed terms and conditions
  • Project must commence within 6 months of timeline described in question D3
Important Notes:
  • Maximum one funded application per applicant per year
  • Since the OCTOPUS facility at Harwell already benefits from having dedicated UKRI-funded user access arrangements in place, this facility is excluded from this funding scheme; to access their equipment please visit the relevant pages on the Central Laser Facility website
  • All biological research projects or fields are within scope
  • Completion of a short post-access survey is mandatory
  • All costs must be pre-agreed with facilities
  • Costs will be paid after completion of the work and completion of the post-access survey 

Support: For assistance with this application or facility connections, contact: UK Node Manager: Georgina Fletcher.
 

Apply Now!