The University’s Research Support Office has offered three ways Researchers can continue to engage with the international agenda amid Covid-19, including an ODA Rapid Response Fund, collaborations and partnerships.
Details are as follows:
ODA Rapid Response Fund
The university’s Global Challenges Strategy Group has opened up its ODA Rapid Response Fund to support research projects of up to £10,000 to tackle the coronavirus challenge faced by low and middle-income countries. Projects from all disciplines are welcome. Examples of projects already funded include:
- Adapting psychological interventions for nurses in China.
- Examining the impacts of disinformation and fake news in Venezuela.
Project requirements
- ODA compliant – projects must primarily benefit low and middle income countries;
- All spend and activity must occur by 31st July 2020 and must comply with University of Liverpool restrictions around travel and laboratory usage.
How to apply
The deadline for applications is Friday, 17 April 2020. Please see the Covid-19 ODA Rapid Response funding page for further information. Contact Andrew Holmes from Research Development to discuss your project: A.Holmes4@liverpool.ac.uk
For projects running in 2020/21 (1st August 2020-31st July 2021), please consider the next round of the ODA Research Seed Fund which is scheduled to open in May 2020. Note that the May call will be open to the full range of global challenges research (health, poverty, hunger climate, clean water and the other Sustainable Development Goals) as well as Covid-19 proposals.
International collaboration and partnerships
There are emerging opportunities for collaboration and partnering with international universities and research organisations to work together on Covid-19. Here is just one example from China.
UKRI and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) issued a joint statement affirming both sides’ shared commitment to strengthening global collaborations and encouraging openness and data sharing to help ensure diagnostics, vaccines and prevention measures are developed rapidly for the benefit of every nation.
The British Embassy China’s UK Science & Innovation Network wants to hear from UK academic institutions looking to collaborate with China on Covid-19 related research, vaccine development, or medical equipment. SIN can help to identify suitable partners or potential funding routes. If you are collaborating with China on Covid-19 or are interested in exploring possibilities please contact: Xiaofeng Wu (International Development Office) xfwu@liverpool.ac.uk and William Mitchell (Research Development) William.Mitchell@liverpool.ac.uk
Keeping up to date
The Research Support Office (RSO) is collating Covid-19 updates and funding calls. In addition to our weekly funding bulletin and other channels, the latest international and ODA opportunities will be posted on the RSO site: https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/intranet/research-support-office/