Centres for Systems Biology Research (CSBR)

In response to the Strategic Action Plan Systems Biology of the Breimer Committee, this programme represents a first step towards realising the NWO theme Systems Biology from Science Valued!, the NWO strategy document for 2007-2010. The programme shall result in research centres that tackle important life sciences questions at several levels of complexity simultaneously (molecule, cell, tissue, or am, (information network in cell and/or organism), organism, population, ecosystem) with an approach that integrates experiments and models.

The approach follows the 'systems biology modelling cycle' which is also described in the programme brochure. Bioinformatics and modelling often fulfil a prominent role in obtaining (applicable) scientific insights from data.

The programme shall run for a limited period until 2015. Centres and their unique approach should, however, be firmly anchored and continued within the Dutch research landscape once the programme has been concluded.

Who can apply

This call was only addressing those applicants who have been invited to submit a full CSBR application, as a result of their submitting a previous CSBR preliminary proposal.

Senior researchers who are employed until at least 2015 at a Dutch university or institute eligible to submit proposals to NWO, can submit an proposal. The guest institute must also satisfy certain requirements. It should offer facilities and support and be dedicated to both the centre and to systems biology.

Researchers from abroad may apply

What can be applied for

A subsidy can be requested for direct salary costs (in accordance with the agreement of NWO and VSNU), equipment and consumables. Overhead costs and the required interventions in the organisation are not eligible for funding. All of this is subject to conditions, and in the event that the centre also (partly) dedicates itself to 'antimicrobial resistance (AMR)' then to AMR-specific conditions as well. The grant applied for should amount to between 3 and 5 million euro.

When can be applied

• Closing date for the submission of preproposals was 8 September 2009, 12:00 hours
• Closing date for the submission of full proposals was 8 December 2009, 12:00 hours

Extra Information

This is a call for the submission of full proposals, electronically submitted using a special form for full CSBR applications. Full applications should be written in English.

Although the grant remains limited to a period of 4 years, the submitting institutes should commit themselves to continue the centre and its activities until far beyond 2015.

A centre should be housed as much as possible 'under a single roof' in order to facilitate a comprehensive interaction between the various groups and disciplines involved.

If an application fits within the programme 'Priority medicine: Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)' and the 'relevance' in the sense of AMR is assessed as being at least 'good' by the AMR Committee then the programme budget shall be increased from M€ 13 to 14 when the grants are awarded.

Criteria

Full proposals shall be assessed on the basis of 4 criteria:

• Scientific quality;
• The quantity of systems biology in the research;
• Management structure and organisation;
• Relevance.

During the assessment procedure a programme consideration can be deployed to prevent similarities between centres in one or more aspects of the research or to prevent overlaps in the research (to be) performed.

Procedure

Full proposals in the English language will be assessed by an Evalution Panel consisting of foreign experts. It is to be expected that, for each full application, the Evaluation Panel will enable a few (co)applicants to explain about the application, have a discussion and to answer remaining questions.

Attached to the application form is a form that serves as an Embedding Guarantee Form. This part of the form needs to be sent in twice: once electronically (without a signature), once by regular mail, bearing the original signature of a board member authorized to sign, and commit to (financial) obligations, on behalf of the host institution and any other institution involved in the application. The signed embedding form should be sent before December 31st 2009 to the CSBR programme office, which uses the address of NWO-ALW in The Hague.

Based on the full applications and information gathered from interviews on January 14th and 15th, the Evaluation Panel will come to a ranking, based on 4 evaluation criteria, as explained in the programme brochure. The Evaluation Panel then sends the ranking, a report and an advice, which may contain programme considerations, to the Steering Group. It is expected that the Steering Group will come to a decision on granting in February 2010, after which the applicants will be informed.

It is expected that 3 to 4 submitted full applications can be granted, in full or in part.

Committees

An evaluation panel of foreign experts shall assess the full proposals and interviews according to the assessment criteria.

The Steering Group bears responsibility for the programme and takes, on behalf of the divisions and organisations involved, a decision on granting.

The programme committee has helped to shape this programme and shall follow its progress, but is not in any way whatsoever involved in the assessment procedure.

Budget

The budget is M€ 13. If at least one of the proposals to be awarded (partly) fits within the programme 'Priority medicines: Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)', and the 'relevance' in the sense of AMR is assessed as being at least 'good' by the AMR committee, then the programme budget shall be increased to M€ 14 using a budget earmarked for AMR.

Financiers

The initiative lies with Ministry of Health, NGI, STW and the NWO Divisions EW, ZonMw, CW-ACTS and ALW.

Contacts

• Dhr. drs. Th. A.W.M. Saat
  phone: +31 (0)70 344 07 91, e-mail: t.saat@nwo.nl
• Dhr. dr. R.V. Diemel
  e-mail: diemel@zonmw.nl