Funding opportunity

NUTRIMMUNE: study nutrition-responsiveness of the immune system

• Opportunity status: Closed
• Funders: Medical Research Council (MRC)
• Co-funders: 10 international funders through the Joint Programming Initiative on a Healthy Diet for a Healthy Life (JPI HDHL)
• Funding type: Grant
• Total fund: £877,193
• Award range: £220,000 - £263,000
• Publication date: 4 March 2022
• Opening date: 15 February 2022
• Closing date: 21 April 2022 3:00pm UK time

Apply for funding to better understand the direct relationship between nutrition, immune function and infectious diseases relating to diet-related metabolic disorders.

UK work packages may also explore how interventions based on diet or food ingredients impact any mechanisms or immune function.

You must:

• be a UK-based researcher as part of a transnational consortium of three to six partners
• ensure the UK part of the project is within MRC’s remit.

The cost of the UK work can be between £220,000 and £263,000 (€250,000 and €300,000). MRC will fund 80% of the full economic cost (FEC), that is
a maximum of £263,000 (€300,000).

Find full details of the scheme and apply on the JPI HDHL website.

Who can apply

Standard MRC eligibility criteria will apply to the UK components of project applications.

We will not fund:

• PhD students
• items of equipment costing more than £10,000.

Find out more about eligibility on the JPI HDHL website.

What we're looking for

The UK components of applications should be costed in pounds sterling (GBP), on the basis of FEC.

If a grant is awarded, funding will be provided on the basis of 80% of FEC. This is in line with the standard MRC terms and conditions.

The submitting organisations must agree to fund the balance of FEC for the project from other resources. You should record the 20% contribution from the submitting organisations as an “in cash contribution”.

UK costs should be entered on the transnational application form in euros, at an exchange rate of £1 = €1.14. The funding requested must be equivalent to the 80% that will be requested from MRC.

You should include a statement in the application form to confirm the exchange rate used. You should also confirm that you have entered the requested costs at the 80% FEC level on the application form.

This statement should also confirm the amount requested in GBP.

Please refer to the additional UK budget guidance (PDF, 171KB) for information on how to complete the financial tables in the application form.

How to apply

Step one: read the full opportunity details

This is a JPI HDHL opportunity.

Before you prepare your application, please read the full opportunity details on the JPI HDHL website.

Step two: set up your consortium

You must apply as part of a transnational consortium of three to six partners.

Read the full consortium criteria on the JPI HDHL website.

Find project partners using the JPI HDHL NUTRIMMUNE partnership forum.

You are strongly advised to contact MRC (see the ’contact details’ section) before making an application, to check eligibility and remit criteria.

Step three: submit your proposal

You must apply through the JPI HDHL submission platform using the template provided.

Step four: record your successful application

If your application is chosen for funding, you’ll be asked to submit your application in the Joint Electronic Submission system (Je-S).

This is so UKRI can administer your funding through Je-S. Your application will not be reassessed.

This must be done by the end of October 2022.

Contact details

Get help with developing your proposal

For help and advice on costings and writing your proposal, please contact your research office in the first instance, allowing sufficient time for your organisation’s submission process.

Ask about this funding opportunity

Dr Karen Finney, Population and Systems Medicine Board

Email: karen.finney@mrc.ukri.org

Dr Charly Oakley, Infection and Immunity Board

Email: charly.oakley@mrc.ukri.org

Additional info

Supporting documents

UK national annex (PDF, 128KB)

Additional UK budget guidance (PDF, 171KB)