Call for applications - tissue directory and coordination centre

The Medical Research Council has issued a call on behalf of funders, including the NIHR, for applications for a UK centre to deliver and evaluate a resource finder/directory to enable researchers to discover, search across and contact multiple human tissue and biosample collections via a unified interface.

This comes following a recognised need for increased harmonisation of collection and storage of samples across academia, the NHS and industry; and the importance of public engagement around tissue donation for research.

A maximum of £900k is available to invest in a centre over three years.

Eligible institutions include:
  • UK higher education institutions

  • research council units and institutes

  • eligible Independent Research Organisations (IROs), including NHS bodies. See the RCUK website for information on eligible IROs.

Collaborative applications to deliver the range of expertise required and those that include commercial parties will be welcome, although proposals that are led by commercial entities are not eligible. The successful centre may be cross-site.

The deadline for applications is 18.00 on 14 April 2014.

For more information visit the Medical Research Council website.