BBSRC new investigator award: applicant-led mode
BBSRC new investigator award: applicant-led mode supports new investigators’ first major bioscience and biotechnology research projects to build independent research profiles and leadership.
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Funder: UK Research and Innovation
Due Dates: Rolling (no closing date) | May 1, 2026, 9:00am UK time (opened)
Funding Amounts: Up to £2 million full economic cost over five years; BBSRC funds 80% (up to £1.6 million).
Summary: Supports new investigators’ first major research funding for curiosity-led bioscience and biotechnology within BBSRC’s remit.
Key Information: Project leads must not have held competitively obtained funding that included postdoctoral research staff support, including fellowship-linked grants.
Description
The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), part of UK Research and Innovation, supports excellent new investigator-led research across its scientific remit. The scheme helps newly employed university lecturers, lecturer-equivalent researchers in research council institutes, and lecturer-equivalent fellows secure their first major research support. It also supports independent research profiles, research leadership and longer-term career development.
Research may address plants, microbes, animals and humans, or tools and technologies underpinning biological research, from molecules and cells to populations and landscapes. Support covers research projects, data-intensive research, technology development, equipment, existing facilities, community resources, new infrastructure, research networks, coordination and summer schools. Multidisciplinary proposals are welcome where their primary focus remains within BBSRC’s remit.
