Catalyst Pump-Priming Projects

Catalyst funding for pump-priming projects is available to support collaborations between Network members in bacterial vaccinology to explore new approaches and strategies to advance their vaccines in partnership with LMICs and industry, and acquire the data to support substantive funding applications.

Four glass jars filled, from the left, with increasing amounts of money and a plant gradually growing

The catalyst funds are flexible, typically up to £50,000 and expect to provide deliverables within 6 months post-award. Projects for this round of funding must focus on pathogens with outbreak potential and priority will be given to projects that also:

Facilitate onward progression of bacterial vaccines along the pipeline to licensure
Offer robust solutions to overcome the difficult preclinical to clinical transition
Involve BactiVac partnerships, particularly new partnerships, with a long-term work plan
Include LMICs and/or industrial partners
Demonstrate a clear pathway to impact
Have realistic plans in place to demonstrate intellectual property (IP) has been considered
Include plans for achieving further substantive funding at the end of the project

February 2024 Important Update on Eligibility

Due to restrictions imposed on BactiVac from our funding bodies, there has been a change of policy from some of the funders which impacts on the ability of the Network to provide any funding to members based within an institution in the People’s Republic of China (China). This means that for Network members based in China wishing to be involved in a Catalyst Pump Priming Project Application:

You cannot be a lead applicant on a Catalyst Project Application
Whilst you can be a co-applicant, unfortunately this would have to be without any request for funding within the budget of the Application.

How to apply

Applicants will need to be members of the Network to be eligible to apply. The allocation of funding will be decided by the Network Management Oversight Board (PDF, 210KB).

Follow us @BactiVac using the hashtag #BactiVacFunding. You can also download BactiVac Catalyst Funding flyer (PDF, 400KB) to circulate and/or display within your organisation.

Pump-priming projects supported in previous rounds of funding are highlighted in 'Funded Work'.