Coeliac UK and Innovate UK announce £180K funding available for research
Coeliac UK, the UK charity for people who need to live gluten free, along with Innovate UK, the UK’s innovation agency, have £180k available for research and are inviting applications from UK businesses and researchers.
Coeliac UK in collaboration with Innovate UK are launching a second research call to industry and researchers to make improvements for people living with the autoimmune condition, coeliac disease. Projects must underpin and support Coeliac UK’s top ten research priorities, for example:
- improving diagnostics for coeliac disease, refractory coeliac disease and/or gluten related neurological conditions
- developing tools for the long term management of coeliac disease
- enhancing the quality of staple gluten free food
Total project costs can range from £50k to £250k and researchers and businesses can jointly apply for a share of the funding up to the maximum £180K available. Applicants can find out more about this competition at: www.coeliac.org.uk/innovateuk * and must apply by the closing date: 16 September 2019, 10:00 (GMT+1).
Hilary Croft, CEO of Coeliac UK said: “We want to change the course of coeliac disease treatment through improved diagnostics, technology and food innovations that truly bridge the gap between people, health professionals and products. Research has the power to do this and by combining forces with Innovate UK and industry, our charity demonstrates its unwavering commitment to the UK’s growing gluten free community.
Kathryn Miller, Innovation Lead for Food and Nutrition at Innovate UK, said: “It’s fantastic to be working with charities such as Coeliac UK to promote innovations that will have a real, positive impact on people’s lives. Innovate UK has long supported businesses innovating in the areas of healthcare diagnostics, digital support and enhancing nutritional quality of foods, themes already supported through joint Coeliac UK / Innovate UK funding awarded earlier this year.”
Earlier this year, three projects based in Birmingham, Newcastle and Edinburgh, were awarded Coeliac UK / Innovate UK grants from the first joint research call. Including the contribution from industry, a total £750k was committed to research.
- A new test to provide a less invasive way of diagnosing coeliac disease that may not rely on someone having to eat ongoing amounts of gluten if they have already adopted a gluten free diet.
- Development of three new plant proteins derived from crops, which are underused in the UK: rapeseed cake, faba beans and naked oats, to help improve the ingredients used in gluten free bread.
- Software innovation to help in the ongoing management of coeliac disease, so that those who need additional care receive access to crucial support when they need it and those living well can receive the assurance of being clinically followed up without the inconvenience, time and cost of hospital appointments.
NB * applications and information at www.coeliac.org.uk/innovateuk will go live on 6 June 2019
About Coeliac UK
Coeliac UK campaigns for better access to diagnosis of coeliac disease and funds critical research into potential cures. It provides expert and independent information to 65,000 members to manage their health and gluten free diet.
The charity also fights for wider availability of gluten free food by working with food manufacturers, service providers and venues. Currently 3,000 products and 200 companies use the charity’s Crossed Grain certification scheme and 3,200 food outlets, cafés and restaurants have achieved its Gluten Free accreditation.
About Innovate UK
Innovate UK is part of UK Research and Innovation, a non-departmental public body funded by a grant-in-aid from the UK government. For more information visit www.ukri.org.
Innovate UK drives productivity and economic growth by supporting businesses to develop and realise the potential of new ideas, including those from the UK’s world-class research base.
We connect businesses to the partners, customers and investors that can help them turn ideas into commercially successful products and services and business growth.