Sources for research funding

Each week this section will list funds available for academic researchers. Details should be submitted to research@thesis.co.uk.

Arthritis Research Campaign

www.arc.org.uk. Programme Grants. Awarded to established centres undertaking research relevant to the aims of the ARC that have a substantial track record of research already supported by project grants from the ARC, research councils or similar research organisations operating peer review. They may be particularly suitable for researchers holding multiple project grants in a particular field and wishing for an opportunity for innovation and creativity. They aim to provide longer-term support where the aim is to answer an interrelated set of questions on a broader front than would be feasible with project grant support. While being hypothesis-based, the application may take the form of a single field of research in which more than one approach is being taken, or a group of related activities harnessing an appropriate mix of techniques and skills to provide added value.

Initially, applicants should submit an outline application so that the ARC can be satisfied that their programme meets the stated criteria before they prepare a full grant submission. Outline applications should not exceed three pages and should include: a. A summary of the applicant's research over the past three years.

b. An outline of the proposed programme including short-term and long-term aims.

c. The relevance to the aims of the ARC.

d. Selected publications by the applicants (up to 15).

e. A list of grants currently held by the applicants.

Deadline for outline proposals: June14.

Application forms can be downloaded from the web or obtained from the address below. For all queries relating to the ARC grant funding procedure contact: Head of Research and Education Funding Copeman House, St Mary's Court, St Mary's Gate, Chesterfield. S41 0DY Tel: +44 (0)1246 558033. Fax: +44 (0)1246 558007. Email: R&E@arc. org.uk Institut Curie

Prix Jeanne Loubaresse

www.curie.fr/ annonces/ prix-loubaresse.html Miss Jeanne Loubaresse bequeathed a sum to the Institut Curie, to reward a researcher for a discovery made in physics, chemistry, biology or medicine that is likely to contribute at short, middle or long term, for an improvement of cancer prevention, diagnosis or treatment. For 1999, the amount of the prize is Fr400,000.

Deadline June 15.

To obtain the prize regulations and an application form please contact: Prix Jeanne Loubaresse - Institut Curie, Presidence 26, rue d'Ulm - F-75248 Paris Cedex 05, France. Email : Coordination.Scientifique@curie.fr Corporation of London Education Department Higher Education Research and Special Expenses Fund Study grants are available to teachers and lecturers at institutions in the Inner London (ex-GLC/ILEA) area. Preference is given to applicants engaged in teaching engineering and allied technical subjects, but other applicants may be considered. Recent awards have ranged from Pounds 200 - Pounds 500. Details available from: Assistant Education Officer (ref: HERSEF 2), Corporation of London, PO Box 0, Guildhall, London EC2P 2EJ. Fax (020) 7332 1621.

Applications can be made at any time.

The European Chemical Industry Council The Long-range Research Initiative www.cefic.org/ lri/ The council is funding basic research into health and environmental effects of chemicals. A governing principle of the LRI is that research will be carried out by internationally recognised, independent research experts. A science panel of experts from academia and research institutes will oversee the programme.The European Centre for Ecotoxicology and Toxicology of Chemicals will manage the programme. Research results will be published in peer reviewed journals and communicated via workshops, open literature and internet.

CEFIC invites grant applications from research institutes in the areas of:

* Chemical Carcinogenesis

* Marine Risk Assessment and Ecosystem Dynamics

* Environmental Exposure Modelling

* Uncertainty Analysis in Risk Assessment

* Respiratory Toxicology and Immunotoxicology

* Human Exposure Project specifications including budget details and an application form are on the web site.

Deadlines: environmental, June 10; others June 30.

Only proposals on an official application form and that fit the published project specifications will be considered. These should be sent electronically to rta@cefic.be; Dr. Rob Taalman, CEFIC-LRI, Avenue E. van Nieuwenhuyse 4, Bte 2, B-1160 Brussels. Tel: 32 2 676 73 28.

James S. McDonnell Foundation www.jsmf.org Programme in Brain Cancer Research - second call for proposals The foundation is interested in funding novel research that will increase rates of survival and improve functional recovery for individuals with brain cancer. This programme does not provide additional funding for ongoing research projects. It is intended to encourage new ideas and approaches early in development, that are unlikely to be funded from other sources. The programme will preferentially support:

* Investigations exploring novel approaches, based on information from neurobiology, genetics, molecular biology, immunology and neuropathology, to the development of new brain cancer therapies.

* Studies that apply advances and information from research on non-nervous system cancers to the tumours arising in the unique environment of the brain.

* Research improving diagnosis and treatment of brain tumours through better understanding of cellular and molecular characterisation of brain cancers.

Deadline: June 15.

Guidelines available on the website. Questions should be emailed to: Susan M. Fitzpatrick at braincancer@jsmf.org.

Wales Office of R&D for Health and Social Care (WORD) http://dialspace.dial. pipex.com/word/ index.htm Health R&D Responsive Grant Scheme Applications should generally be under the three areas listed below and in the Strategic Framework "Making a Difference". However, applications in other areas may be considered.

* Best Care for Patients - addressing the effectiveness of health care delivery;

* Sustainable Health and Well-being - covering issues around determinants of health;

* Accessing and Using Research - ensuring that the research findings, positive and negative, are integrated into service planning and practice.

Applications must be supported by an NHS organisation. Projects must be completed within three years with a maximum cost of Pounds 200,000.

Deadline:June 16.

The scheme will only run once this year. To request a preproposal form or to receive more information, please contact WORD: Wales Office of R&D for Health and Social Care, 4th Floor, Hallinans House, 22 Newport Road, Cardiff, CF2 1DB Tel: (01222) 460015 Fax: (01222) 492046 Email: word@ word.wales.nhs.uk National Institutes of Health www.nih.gov Studies of the ethical, legal and social implications of research into human genetic variation RFA: HG-99-002 This Request for Applications solicits projects that examine the ethical, legal and social implications of the study of human DNA sequence variation. Of particular interest are studies that explore:

* How research on human genetic variation can be conducted in an ethically and culturally sensitive way

* How the information that results from this research will interact with current concepts of race and ethnicity

* How cultural and socioeconomic factors influence the interpretation and use of this information

* How this information may influence access to and use of genetic health services by various groups.

Deadline: Prospective applicants are asked to submit, by June 15 a letter of intent that includes a descriptive title of the proposed research; the name, address, and telephone number of the principal investigator; the identities of other key personnel and participating institutions; and the number and title of the RFA in response to which the application may be submitted. The letter of intent is to be sent to: Elizabeth Thomson, R.N., M.S., C.G.C., Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications Research, National Human Genome Research Institute, 38 Library Drive, MSC 6050, Room 617, Bethesda, MD 20892-6050. Tel: (301) 402-4997. Fax: (301) 402-1950. Email: et22s@nih.gov. The research grant application form PHS 398 (rev. 4/98) is to be used in applying for these grants. These forms are available from the Division of Extramural Outreach and Information Resources, National Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7910, Bethesda, MD 20892-7910. Tel: 301/435 -0714. Email: GrantsInfo@nih.gov.

Final deadline: Applications must be received by August 31.

Direct inquiries regarding programmatic issues to Elizabeth Thomson at the above address.

Eppendorf Young Investigator Award Increased prize amount of e15,000.

The Eppendorf Young Investigator Award is donated annually to acknowledge outstanding contributions to biomedical research based on methods of molecular biology. Young researchers residing in Europe who are not considerably older than 35 years are invited to apply for the Eppendorf Award. The prize is awarded by an independent jury composed of four renowned experts from the fields of:

* Molecular Biology (Prof. Winnacker, Munich, Germany)

* Immunology (Prof. Melchers, Basle, Switzerland)

* Protein Biochemistry (Prof. Lohse, Wurzburg, Germany)

* Applied Medical Research (Prof. Scriba, Munich, Germany) Applications with a short c.v., list of publications and paper(s) to be evaluated should be submitted in English. Deadline: June 30.

Eppendorf - Netheler - Hinz GmbH Dr. Gunter Bechtler, 22331 Hamburg, Germany. Tel: 00 49 40 5 38 01-291 Fax: 00 49 40 5 38 01 757.

Japanese Ministry Of Education (Monbusho) www.embjapan.org.uk Research Scholarships for 2000 The Japanese Ministry of Education, UK is offering 20 postgraduate Research Scholarships for study in Japan for 2000. There are two categories: a two-year scholarship from April 2000 or 18-month scholarship from October 2000. Graduates need not have any knowledge of Japanese. Return airfare, tuition fees and a monthly allowance of about Pounds 925 are provided. The term shall include six months for the study of Japanese language. Study may be undertaken in almost any field. Applicants must be under 35 as of April 1, 2000 Deadline: August 6.

Applications must be made on forms available from the Embassy of Japan, 101-104 Piccadilly, London W1V 9FN. Tel: Susan Meehan 0171 465 6583 or Carolyn Gallop 0171 465 6592. UK nationals may only apply to London and other nationalities should apply to the Japanese Embassy of their own country.

The Times HigherJMAY 14J1999RESEARCH 43 Funding listings are compiled by Sarah Knowles0171 782 3225Email: sarah.knowles@ newsint.co.uk.