Institutional Strategic Support Fund Phase2 FY2014/16 (360G-Wellcome-105621_Z_14_Z)

a) Seedcorn Our rationale will be to direct resources where, based on individual cases, we can see the most impact. We will be flexible in what can be requested; we will consider funding for personnel with support for consumables or multiuser small equipment. Our priorities will be new investigators, projects with a clear demonstration that the funding will lead to grant application, projects where critical data is required to translate an important discovery or where we can see significant leverage by securing external funding for strategic priority areas. b) Enhancing and developing core multi-user facilities We have identified two such key core facilities in this period, bioinformatics and biophysics. Bioinformatics builds upon our success from the last round (vide supra) and biophysics will be a core facility for entire BSRC. Bioinformatics (http://bioinformatics.st-andrews.ac.uk/ [http://bioinformatics.st-andrews.ac.uk/]) is a joint Biology and Medicine initiative. The biophysics facility coupled to investment in protein production facilities and crystallization ensure we remain competitive. ci) People: bridging We have an excellent track record of bridging researchers into their own independent careers or between positions This flexible pot of money allows us to fund people not projects cii) People: Key technologists For the biophysics centre we will fund a person for two years to set up and establish the facility and continue support for Dr Miguel Pinheiro. Other key core technologists are currently self-sustaining we have reserved some funding in case we need to invest over the two year period. d) Public engagement We will use ISSF funds to create a coordinated effort for public engagement across life sciences. We will recruit a person and provide dedicated administrative support.