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Minister Halligan announces €6.7 million joint research investment by Science Foundation Ireland and UK research council

Minister for Training, Skills and Innovation, John Halligan TD, has today announced an investment of €6.7 million, supporting 14 research awards under a joint funding scheme between Science Foundation Ireland and the UK’s Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). The awards will support a total of 26 research positions in Irish institutions over a period of 3-4 years.

Researchers from the UK and Ireland will work together on research and technology development addressing key global challenges in biosciences for health, agriculture, food security, industrial biotechnology and bioenergy. Research areas being funded through the partnership include rapid bone graft synthesis; gut bacterial influences on the nutrition of Atlantic salmon; modelling the spread of tuberculosis in cattle in the UK and Ireland; a study of the genetic diversity of oats across the UK and Ireland and the influence of climate change on their ability to fight fungal infection.

Announcing the awards, Minister Halligan said: “I am very pleased to announce this significant investment in research and development by the BBSRC and Science Foundation Ireland, which will strengthen research links between Ireland and the UK. Connecting our scientific communities will enhance scientific and technological collaborations in both countries, maximising infrastructure and talent. These joint ventures can produce important scientific discoveries and innovations, while improving the overall scientific competitiveness of both countries internationally.” 

Discussing the partnership, Prof Mark Ferguson, Director General of Science Foundation Ireland and Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government of Ireland, said: “The international collaboration between the BBSRC and Science Foundation Ireland, along with the very high calibre of projects receiving funding, demonstrates our commitment to supporting excellent and impactful research.“ 

“Through the BBSRC-SFI partnership, we are promoting the crucial sharing of resources, knowledge and expertise among the international research community. This will empower researchers both here in Ireland and in the UK, and further builds on Ireland’s global reputation for research excellence.”

 ENDS

Notes for Editor:

About the BBSRC and Science Foundation Ireland Partnership

Since the establishment of the BBSRC-SFI partnership in October 2015, there have been three rounds of funding:

  • Under the first funding call there were three successful applications, supporting seven research positions, with a total value of €1.6m. (June 2016)
  • Under the second call there were seven successful applications, supporting 12 research positions, with a total value of €3.4m. (November 2016)
  • Under the third, and most recent funding call, four applications were successful, with a total value of €1.7m, supporting seven research positions. (March 2017)

Joint applications are processed according to the normal procedures of the BBSRC Responsive Mode Scheme, and if successful, the UK-based research groups are funded by BBSRC and the Republic of Ireland-based research groups are funded by SFI. The BBSRC will be the lead agency, and the partnership welcomes, encourages and supports research applications that cut across national boundaries involving collaborative teams led by researchers from the UK and Ireland. 

Science Foundation Ireland – BBSRC-SFI Joint Funding Scheme Awardees

Lead Irish Researcher

Irish Institution

Title of Research

Value of SFI Award including overhead: (€)

UK Institution

Lead U.K. Researcher*

Lead Irish Researcher

Prof   Andrew Bowie

Irish Institution

Trinity College Dublin

Title of Research

Innate immune signalling underpinning Klebsiella-host   interactions

Value of SFI Award including overhead: (€)

€364,311

UK Institution

Queen’s   University of Belfast

Lead U.K. Researcher*

Prof Jose   Bengoechea

Lead Irish Researcher

Dr Anne   Parle-McDermott

Irish Institution

Dublin City University

Title of Research

Deciphering the function of the human Dihydrofolate reductase 2   gene

Value of SFI Award including overhead: (€)

€612,534

UK Institution

University   College London

Lead U.K. Researcher*

Prof   Nicholas Greene

Lead Irish Researcher

Dr Adrian   Bracken

Irish Institution

Trinity College Dublin

Title of Research

Understanding the impact of divergent Sin3A/HDAC1 complex   assemblies in gene regulation

Value of SFI Award including overhead: (€)

€537,132

UK Institution

University of Leicester

Lead U.K. Researcher*

Dr Shaun   Cowley

Lead Irish Researcher

Dr Cormac   Murphy

Irish Institution

University College Dublin

Title of Research

Investigation of Fengycin Mechanism Using Biological, Chemical   and Biophysical Tools

Value of SFI Award including overhead: (€)

€187,200

UK Institution

University of Durham

Lead U.K. Researcher*

Dr Steven   Cobb

Lead Irish Researcher

Dr Kanishka Nilaweera

Irish Institution

Teagasc

Title of Research

The role of   hypothalamic neuropeptide network in regulating tissue sizes in response to   diet energy content and composition

Value of SFI Award including overhead: (€)

€617,166

UK Institution

University of Aberdeen

Lead U.K. Researcher*

Prof John Speakman

Lead Irish Researcher

Prof Stephen Gordon

Irish Institution

University College Dublin

Title of Research

Tackling a   multi-host pathogen problem - phylodynamic analyses of the epidemiology of M.   bovis in Britain and Ireland

Value of SFI Award including overhead: (€)

€316,821

UK Institution

University of Glasgow

Lead U.K. Researcher*

Prof Rowland Kao

Lead Irish Researcher

Dr Paula Bourke

Irish Institution

Dublin Institute of Technology

Title of Research

EnvironSafe: Cold   Plasma Innovations for Food Safety and Sustainability

Value of SFI Award including overhead: (€)

€597,562

UK Institution

Queens University   Belfast

Lead U.K. Researcher*

Prof Brendan Gilmore

Lead Irish Researcher

Dr Frank Wellmer

Irish Institution

Trinity College Dublin

Title of Research

Characterization of   a novel Polycomb group protein complex and its effects on the plant epigenome

Value of SFI Award including overhead: (€)

€539,205

UK Institution

University of   Edinburgh

Lead U.K. Researcher*

Dr Justin   Goodrich

Lead Irish Researcher

Prof Jeremy Simpson

Irish Institution

University College Dublin

Title of Research

Elucidating the   mechanisms and pathways of extracellular vesicle uptake and intercellular   stress response

Value of SFI Award including overhead: (€)

€407,712

UK Institution

Oxford Brookes

Lead U.K. Researcher*

Dr David Carter

Lead Irish Researcher

Dr Oliver Blacque

Irish Institution

University College Dublin

Title of Research

Structure-function   relationships in the ciliary transition zone

Value of SFI Award including overhead: (€)

€630,296

UK Institution

University of Leeds

Lead U.K. Researcher*

Prof Colin   Johnson

Lead Irish Researcher

Prof Robert Lahue

Irish Institution

National University of Ireland Galway

Title of Research

Mechanisms &   consequences of HDACs in the NCoR complex, in controlling the activity of   MutSb in trinucleotide repeat expansions

Value of SFI Award including overhead: (€)

€286,291

UK Institution

University of   Leicester

Lead U.K. Researcher*

Prof John   Schwabe

Lead Irish Researcher

Prof Fiona Doohan

Irish Institution

University College Dublin

Title of Research

Oats for the   future: deciphering the potential of host resistance and RNAi to minimise   mycotoxin contamination under present and future climate scenarios

Value of SFI Award including overhead: (€)

€540,175

UK Institution

Cranfield University

Lead U.K. Researcher*

Prof Naresh   Magan

Lead Irish Researcher

Dr Philip McGinnity

Irish Institution

University College Cork

Title of Research

A microbial basis   for Atlantic salmon energetics

Value of SFI Award including overhead: (€)

€638,903

UK Institution

University of Glasgow

Lead U.K. Researcher*

Dr Martin   Llewellyn

Lead Irish Researcher

Dr Manus Biggs

Irish Institution

National University of Ireland Galway

Title of Research

Rapid Bone Graft   Synthesis Through Dual Piezoelectric/Nanomechanical Stimulation

Value of SFI Award including overhead: (€)

 

€387,894

UK Institution

University of Glasgow

Lead U.K. Researcher*

Prof Matthew   Dalby

Lead Irish Researcher

*Funded by   the BBSRC

 For further media information contact: 

Science Foundation Ireland Donna McCabe 01 607 3042 / 087 675 6845 donna.mccabe@sfi.ie 

About Science Foundation Ireland 

Science Foundation Ireland funds oriented basic and applied research in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) which promotes and assists the development and competitiveness of industry, enterprise and employment in Ireland. The Foundation also promotes and supports the study of, and engagement with STEM and promotes an awareness and understanding of the value of STEM to society and in particular to the growth of the economy. 

Science Foundation Ireland has launched the #BelieveInScience campaign to promote the potential that science and discovery offer Ireland, today and in tomorrow’s world. The #BelieveInScience campaign will see Science Foundation Ireland work in partnership with the Irish research community to share a mutual passion for science with the public; to promote an understanding of the ability of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) to create positive change in the world and to drive a sustainable economy in Ireland. Visit www.ScienceFoundationIreland.ie for more information. 

About the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)

Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council is the lead funding agency for academic research and training in the biosciences at universities and institutes throughout the UK. It is one of seven Research Councils that work together as Research Councils UK (RCUK). BBSRC is funded by the Government's Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). Their vision is to lead world-class 21st century bioscience, promoting innovation in the bioeconomy and realising benefits for society within and beyond the UK.