Call for proposals: COVID-19 pandemic research and preparedness
SciLifeLab now seeks proposals on COVID-19 research within five calls; two that represent the continuation of the ongoing KAW-supported SciLifeLab coordinated COVID-19 research program initiated in the spring of 2020; one that is targeting effects of vaccination; one focused on suggestions for ideas on pandemic preparedness; and one on suggestions for data-driven research on COVID-19.
About the calls
SciLifeLab now opens five calls for proposals on COVID-19 research (announced at the same time to help scientists plan their efforts in light of the funding possibilities). Two calls represent the continuation of the ongoing KAW-supported SciLifeLab coordinated COVID-19 research program initiated in the spring of 2020. One call is specifically targeting effects of vaccination. One call focuses on suggestions (letter of intent) for ideas on pandemic preparedness and one on suggestions for data-driven research on COVID-19 (letter of intent).
Questions? Please contact covid19-calls@scilifelab.se.
The deadline for applications to Call 1-3 and 5 is on Jan 15, 2021. The deadline for applications to Call 4 is on Jan 31, 2021.
The SciLifeLab-KAW national COVID-19 research program (SciLifeLab-KAW COVID-19 program in the text below) was first established in the spring of 2020. The first grants awarded established a broad COVID-19 research program, including 67 different research projects in nine research areas, all focusing on combating the pandemic. So far, the program has led to the development of e.g. new molecular diagnostic methods, high-throughput and high-content serology, analysis of the host immune response, environmental virus profiling, understanding the molecular pathogenesis as well as researching how the virus could be inhibited. The COVID-19 research grants now to be awarded will allow continuation of the progress as well as include new studies, such as long-term consequences of COVID-19 infection as well as the specific new program on vaccine effects.
Calls
1. Proposals from existing research areas (RAs) in the SciLifeLab-KAW COVID-19 program
Call for continuation of the SciLifeLab National COVID-19 Research Program. The ongoing research areas are welcome to send in a few well-coordinated collaborative proposals to continue and strengthen their ongoing research program and to seek new directions, such as by collaborations across the research areas.
Guidance for budget: 5-6 MSEK for each team science proposal. Up to 12 MSEK for large-scale projects across several research areas.
Funding period: 2021-2022
2. Proposals from individual scientists with new contributions to the SciLifeLab-KAW COVID-19 research program
Call for new contributions to the SciLifeLab National COVID-19 Research Program. PIs at Swedish universities are welcome to suggest new individual contributions to COVID-19 research that are relevant to the program, but not already covered and do not fit within the proposals of call 1.
Guidance for budget: 1-2 MSEK per proposal.
Funding period: 2021-2022
3. New KAW supported COVID-19 research program on vaccine effects
Call for proposal for monitoring the impact of the different COVID-19 vaccines that will be introduced in Sweden. We welcome team science applications by PIs at any Swedish university and collaborators in health care.
Guidance for budget: 7.5 MSEK per proposal.
Funding period: 2021-2022
4. Laboratory preparedness for pandemics
Call for proposal for pandemic preparedness. We solicit suggestions (in a short letter of intent format) from PIs and scientists at Swedish universities to develop capabilities that could be quickly deployed to monitor the pandemic, but also create long-term capabilities for analysis and detection of pandemics.
Guidance for budget: Since this is a letter intent, detailed budgets are not pre-defined, but applicants should keep in mind that annual SciLifeLab support to a single well-established facility are 2-5 MSEK per year, while platforms with a broad repertoire of technologies receive more than 10 MSEK per year. Also, please note that almost all SciLifeLab facilities and platforms also receive other infrastructure funding, so consider this aspect in planning the long-term capabilities.
Funding period: 2021-2022
5. Data-driven life science (DDLS) on COVID-19
Call for Data-Driven Life Science for COVID-19. We solicit suggestions (in a short letter of intent format) for data-driven ways to intervene in the COVID-19 pandemic, including support to the creation of databases and data mining capabilities to understand the pandemic.
Guidance for budget: 0.5-1 MSEK per proposal for the period of 2020-2021.
Funding period: 2021-2022