Call for Proposals: PACE Diagnostic Innovations 2024(Up to £300K Funding)

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Applications are open for PACE Diagnostic Innovations 2024. The Pathways to Antimicrobial Clinical Efficacy (PACE) is looking to drive an exciting and diverse pipeline of early-stage in vitro diagnostics aimed at improving diagnosis of bacterial infections with high unmet need. Up to 8 applicants will be awarded grant funding, with projects expected to last up to two years. Apply now!

PACE is not just about grant funding; they offer a truly collaborative approach to project development and delivery, and those who secure funding will feel the wider value of a network of potential project partners and receive advice and guidance from some of the best in the field, and they’re there for the long run, so whether you move to the next stage of development or are not successful in securing a grant this time around, you can stay plugged into their community and continue to benefit from their expert ecosystem.

PACE Diagnostic Innovations Funding Information

There will be awards of up to £300K for technical feasibility projects (Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 3, and up to £1M for product development projects (TRL 4-5).

Eligibility Criteria for PACE Diagnostic Innovations

Our funding is open to researches in academia and small to medium enterprises (SMEs) worldwide, including consortia (large diagnostic industry partners permitted, but must cover own costs). Applications should have a single lead applicant, however co-applications are welcome.

What they are looking for (in scope):

New in-vitro diagnostics in development at TRL stage 3-5 (late TRL 2 considered).
Between Technical Feasibility and Early Prototype including field studies for generating data in relevant environment.
Adaption of existing diagnostics that could be implemented in new healthcare settings/target regions/countries, or deployed for new indications/use-cases.
Proposals that include potential for community care (e.g. pharmacy, care home, school, community diagnostic centre) or ‘at-home’ use.
Analytes can be a direct measurement of bacterial markers or host-based biomarkers, or combination thereof.
Applications providing solutions tailored to a intended setting. This includes those tailored towards resource-limited settings, including in low and middle income countries (LMICs).

What they are not looking for (out of scope):

Later-stage diagnostic development (TRL6+), incl.
- Longer term studies in support of regulatory filings such as long-term stability studies.
- Manufacturing of the final instrument/scale-up activities.
- Marketing support including submission of marketing approvals.
Tests that require central lab infrastructure.
Standalone: pathogen ID, technology/method/device development, algorithm/ML model development, biomarker identification/validation, pilot lot production of reagents and instruments.
Surveillance-only approaches and solutions to improve empiric treatment based on surveillance data.
Diagnostics focused solely on fungal/viral/parasitic infections, sexually-transmitted infections or TB.
Projects over 2 years in duration.

Eligible Projects for PACE Diagnostic Innovations

They are looking for projects addressing unmet diagnostic needs for bacterial infections with the highest burden of antimicrobial resistance, which aim to:
Reduce inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions.
Provide faster results to indicate which antibiotic should be used.
Catalyse the move to personalised, narrow-spectrum treatments.
They are prioritising projects that are developing diagnostic solutions in Urinary Tract Infections, Lower Respiratory Tract Infections and Bloodstream Infections/Sepsis.