Innovate UK is to invest up to £8 million in collaborative R&D projects to stimulate the development of regenerative medicines and cell therapies in the UK.

The aim of this competition is to address the challenges of developing regenerative medicines and cell therapies as clinical treatments and commercial products. We are seeking proposals that advance the development and commercialisation of novel regenerative medicines and cell therapies. The focus is on the preclinical testing, clinical development and manufacture of regenerative medicines and cell therapies, and the development of underpinning tools and technologies.

Proposals must be collaborative and led by a business. We expect to fund mainly industrial research projects. Small businesses could receive up to 70% of their eligible project costs, medium-sized businesses 60% and large businesses 50%.

Regenerative medicine could offer treatments in many areas. Around 30% of the UK population suffers from a chronic disease where there is no cure or where treatment is inadequate.

Recent therapeutic advances have already been demonstrated for conditions such as diabetes, liver disease and blood disorders. Small-scale clinical trials of cell-based cancer immunotherapies have also encouraged increased commercial investment.

The global market for regenerative medicine and cell therapy is expected to grow from $1 billion to $5 billion before 2020. Regenerative medicine has been recognised by the government as one of the eight great technologies where the UK can be a global leader.

The competition will support both the clinical development of novel therapies and the development of platform tools and technologies that address product safety or manufacturing challenges.

Competition information

• Projects are open to businesses of any size working with at least one partner
• Small businesses could receive up to 70% of their costs, medium-sized businesses 60%, large businesses 50%
• We expect projects to range in size from total costs of £500,000 to £2.5 million and to last 2 to 3 years
• The competition is now open and the deadline for applicants to register is at noon on 26 August 2015
• A briefing webinar for potential applicants takes place on 16 July 2015

Click here for more information and to apply

Competition opens: 8 July 2015
Competition briefing webinar: 16 July 2015
Registration deadline noon: 26 August 2015
Expressions of interest (EOI) deadline: noon 2 September 2015
Stage 2 opens for invited applicants: 28 September 2015
Deadline for invited applications: 4 November 2015