Flexible Mobility Award – Impact Report (FMA-Impact) Funding
Funding Call OPEN: The deadline for application review is 31st December 2024
FMA-Impact awards, valued at up to £25,000, are designed to foster collaboration between academia and industry in the creation of impactful documents aimed at influencing policy. The goal is to present clear, evidence-based insights to those capable of implementing change.
The purpose of these awards is to assemble a working group tasked with producing an impact document. This document should synthesise existing evidence from published trials, demonstrating the benefits of gut-modulating products such as prebiotics and probiotics. Additionally, it should ideally include a cost analysis to estimate potential savings for the NHS or in reducing lost workdays if certain population groups consume these functional foods.
Collaboration with an economist is highly recommended to strengthen the cost analysis. The project should be led by an early career researcher, who will manage meetings, set objectives, and oversee the completion of the document. The final report should be accessible to non-specialist readers. These teams are expected to comprise both industry representatives and academics, with a particular emphasis on involving early career researchers.
FMA-Impact funding is available on a rolling funding call. Applications will be reviewed in January, April, July and October 2025.
Who can apply?
Funding is available to staff and researchers from any public or private UK organisation with an activity in functional foods, gut health and recovery. Priority will be given to Early Career Researchers (ECRs).
You do not need to be a member of the INFORM ORIC to apply, but we would recommend it, and if you are successful, you would need to join. It’s simple to join and lets you hear about our funding calls and events before anyone else. You can be a member of other ORIC hubs, too. If you haven’t already, please sign up here.
Duration FMA Impact Reports:
FMA Placement funding will support working groups involved with completing the Impact document for up to six months.
Costs the funding will cover
Academic staff will be offered a £1000 fixed honorarium for working on the project. The ECR can claim a part-time salary for the duration to reflect the time contribution made to the project. An economist is expected to be costed in based on time contributions.
Funding should also cover expenses to support face-to-face meetings to bring the working group together to work on the document.
Projects are awarded at 100% FEC (excluding any associated estates and indirect costs).
Costs that cannot be claimed
Please note you cannot apply for:
- indirect or estate costs at the research organisation
- undergraduate or postgraduate activities, training, or core PhD training, including tuition or bench fees.
Funding – payment arrangements
Payment of the award is in arrears, as detailed below.
The Award Holder shall invoice The University of Reading quarterly in arrears based on actual expenditure. The University Reading shall pay the Award Holder within thirty (30) days of a valid invoice, subject always to receipt of funds from the Funder and subject to the satisfactory completion by the Award Holder of any due diligence checks as may be reasonably required by the Awarding Institution or by BBSRC.
The final invoice should be sent to Reading within one month of the end of the placement. The cost statement should include the breakdown of the indexed FEC figures and the actual sums claimed.
Review and assessment
When we receive your application, our Hub Manager will ensure the eligibility criteria are met, the application has been completed, and full financial information is included.
FMA Impact Report applications will be peer-reviewed by four members of our panel.
The document should support INFORM’s aims. On passing these requirements applications will be assessed across the following areas.
- Eligibility
- Status of candidates
- Project in scope
- Quality of project
- Potential outcomes (benefit to ECR, long-term collaboration, potential for policy changes)
The Hub Management Committee will further assess the applications for the awards.
Reviewers will be expected to adhere to the highest standards of scientific integrity. In the event of a conflict of interest, this must be declared to the hub manager, who will reassign the proposal to an alternative reviewer.
Before the compilation of an Impact Report commences, a start date must be agreed upon with the Hub manager. Applications for the next funding review close at 5 pm, 30th December 2024.
A copy of the FMA Impact Report application form template and a guidance document can be downloaded below to assist with the application process.
INFORM Hub Funding Call FMA Impact Report Financial Breakdown Template
Click HERE to apply for FMA Impact Report Funding.