Sixth transnational call for research projects for the JPIAMR within the ERA-NET JPI-EC-AMR

Deadline: Mar 7, 2018  
CALL EXPIRED

1. Aim of the call

The primary aim of the sixth joint call of the Joint Programming Initiative on Antimicrobial Resistance (JPIAMR) is to combine the resources, infrastructures, and research strengths of multiple countries in order to address the identification and validation of new targets, the development of new therapies, and new tools for new treatments (including new antibiotics).

The goal is to foster multinational research collaborations to add value to, and to build upon, the research conducted independently at national level, as well as to work together to develop new and urgently needed therapies.

A number of bacterial pathogens are associated with an alarming increase in rates of drug resistance development in healthcare and community settings. In September 2017, WHO published the Global priority list of antibiotic-resistant bacteria1 with the aim to guide research, and the discovery and development of new therapies. The priority pathogens list have been classified according to three categories:

Priority 1 : Critical

• -  Acinetobacter baumannii; carbapenem-resistant

• -  Pseudomonas aeruginosa; carbapenem-resistant

• -  Enterobacteriaceae (Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter spp., Serratia spp.,
  Proteus spp., Providencia spp. and Morganella spp.); carbapenem-resistant, 3rd generation cephalosporin-resistant

Priority 2 : High

• -  Enterococcus faecium ; vancomycin-resistant

• -  Staphylococcus aureus; methicillin-resistant, vancomycin intermediate and resistant

• -  Helicobacter pylori; clarithromycin-resistant

• -  Campylobacter; fluoroquinolone-resistant

• -  Salmonella spp.; fluoroquinolone-resistant

• -  Neisseria gonorrhoeae; 3rd generation cephalosporin-resistant, fluoroquinolone-resistant

Priority 3: Medium

• -  Streptococcus pneumoniae; penicillin-non-susceptible

• -  Haemophilus influenzae; ampicillin-resistant

• -  Shigella spp.; fluoroquinolone-resistant

In addition of those three priority classes, Mycobacterium tuberculosis multi-and extensively drug resistant has also been identified as a priority for discovery and the development of new therapies.

JPIAMR has the objective to address the major societal challenge of AMR, which no
country is capable of handling on its own. This includes alignment of national, European and international policies, programs and issuing calls, a large spectrum of joint activities in the field of AMR, as well as updating the JPIAMR strategic research agenda (SRA). The JPIAMR thus promotes transnational cooperation in order to combine resources, infrastructures and research strengths to overcome the challenge of antimicrobial resistance.

Control of AMR needs actions addressing issues at human, animal and environmental levels, according to an approach usually referred to as “One Health”. Following publication of the WHO Global priority list of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (including Mycobacterium tuberculosis multi-and extensively drug resistant), the JPIAMR is launching a joint transnational call with the aim to discover new targets, compounds and tools with the potential to help controlling diseases caused by resistant bacteria from the above-mentioned WHO pathogen list in human, animal or environmental settings.

Projects considered for funding will involve fundamental and/or translational research, with the exception of clinical trials.

1.1 Topics of the call

The call will cover research tackling the bacterial pathogens and the resistances identified by the WHO (see list above). For the JPI AMR, research on the bacterial pathogens of priority 1, 2 or 3 are equal in relevance for this call.

The proposal should address at least one of the following topics: - New targets:

 Studies of new bacterial targets or mechanisms of resistance (examples include studies on novel enzyme or efflux pump inhibitors or others), including studies aimed at understanding and overcoming the mechanisms controlling the generation of resistance.

- New therapies:

•   Discovery of new compounds (including new antibiotics and alternatives).

•   Strategies to inhibit or reduce the acquisition of resistance, such as single molecular agents effective

  against multiple targets as well as therapeutics that enhance immune-mediated pathogen elimination, disrupt colonisation or biofilm development, and reduce virulence.

•   Discovery of novel therapies to overcome known antimicrobial resistance mechanisms and/or to restore susceptibility to conventional antibiotics.

- New tools/assays:

•   Strategies and/or innovative tools or assays that improve, enhance, and/or facilitate the identification or validation of new effective compounds or therapies.

•   Strategies and/or innovative tools for optimization of drug use, dosage and delivery of new drugs.

•   Exploration of bacterial genes e.g. expression of latent gene clusters

The following sub-topics are not within the scope of the call:

•   Investigations addressing cross-talk between the host and pathogen, as well as the relationship between microbes, environment and infection.

•   Studies on bacteria not in the WHO Global priority list above (see page 1).

•   Investigations on the initial steps of the infection process.

•  Investigations based on, or involving, clinical trials.

•  Re-evaluation of existing anti-microbial compounds in the context of their combination with new, innovative targets, compounds or tools.

1.2 Ambition of the call

It is expected that through international collaborations combining complementary and synergistic research strengths, this JPIAMR call will contribute to the urgent need to curb the burden associated with the most prioritised infections. It is also a topic area suitable to reinforce academic - industry collaborations. The participation of industry is encouraged. The results of the funded projects should have an added value to society as a whole, the public health and finances by closing knowledge gaps and discovering new therapies. Although stand-alone projects are fully eligible, links with other European or international research programs and initiatives in the field will be of added value.

2. Application

2.1 Eligibility

Applicants must adhere to the specific regulations of the national funding organisations. Eligibility rules for the consortia are:

•   Minimum of three (3) eligible partners from three (3) different countries participating in the call.

•   Maximum of six (6) project partners. However, consortia including partners from Czech Republic, Egypt, Latvia, Poland or Romania may increase the total number of partners to seven (7), in order to increase representation of these countries in JPIAMR projects.

•   Maximum number of partners from each participating country per project is limited to one partner for Italy and to two partners for other participating countries. For Belgium this is limited to one partner per region/community, which in practice comes down to one partner per participating Belgian funding agency.

•   Participants not eligible for funding (e.g. from non-funding countries or not fundable according to national/regional regulations of the participating funding organisations) may be involved in projects if they secure their own funding. However, the maximum number of six (6) participants should not be exceeded (or seven (7) in the case of inclusion of partners from Czech Republic, Egypt, Latvia, Poland or Romania).

•   Non-funded partners can participate if they have a secure funding for participation. Consortia should always consist of a majority of project participants eligible for funding according to the criteria above. The budget of a non-funded partner shall not exceed 30% of total transnational project budget requested.

•   Project participants not eligible to be funded cannot be consortium coordinators and must accept all JPIAMR rules and guidelines just as funded members.

(TABLE NOT AVAILABLE)

2.2 Submission of joint transnational proposal

Submissions of proposals will be in two steps. In both cases, one joint proposal document (in English, and following the provided template) shall be prepared by the project participants of a joint transnational proposal, and must be submitted by the coordinator to the submission tool implemented on the JPIAMR website.

The two-step application process (pre-proposal, full proposal) will have the following timetable:

January 11th 2018
Publication of the JPIAMR ERA-NET 2018 Call

March 7th 2018 (17:00 CET)
Submission deadline for pre-proposals

Beginning May 2018
Full proposal invitations send to project coordinators

June 14th 2018 (17:00 CET)
Submission deadline for full proposals

October/November 2018
Final funding decision announced to applicants

End of 2018/Early 2019
Start of funding

2.3Financial modalities and funding prerequisites

Funding is granted for a maximum of three years in accordance with national regulations and applicable legal provisions. Applicants must comply with their own specific national regulations and scientific remits as detailed in the National and Regional Requirements (see Annex B).

The financial commitment made by the Parties are listed in the table below. The “virtual common pot model” shall apply for this transnational call. As such, each country will fund its own approved project partners. The proposals will be funded following the ranking list recommended by the Peer Review Panel.

Anticipated funding provided by each Party

Belgium
Research Foundation-Flanders
FWO
Contribution (M€)0.2

Belgium
Fund for Scientific Research-FNRS
F.R.S.-FNRS
Contribution (M€) 0.2

Czech Republic
Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports
MSMT
Contribution (M€) 0.25

Egypt
Academy of Scientific Research and Technology- Egyptian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research
ASRT
0.25

Finland
Academy of Finland
AKA
Contribution (M€) 0.3

France
The French National Research Agency
ANR
Contribution (M€) 1.5

Germany
Federal Ministry of Education and Research
DLR/BMBF
Contribution (M€) 5

Ireland
Health Research Board
HRB
Contribution (M€) 0.37

Israel
Chief Scientist Office, Ministry of Health
MOH-CSO
Contribution (M€) 0.3

Italy
Ministry of Health
MOH
Contribution (M€) 0.5

Latvia
State Education Development Agency
VIAA
Contribution (M€) 0.42

Norway
The Research Council of Norway
RCN
Contribution (M€) 1.5

Poland
National Science Centre
NCN
Contribution (M€) 0.5

Romania
Ministry of Research and Innovation
MCI
Contribution (M€) 0.25

Spain
Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness – State Research Agency
MINECO-AEI
Contribution (M€) 0.5

Spain
National Institute of Health Carlos III
ISCIII
Contribution (M€) 0.25

Sweden
Swedish Research Council
SRC
Contribution (M€) 1.5

Switzerland
Swiss National Science Foundation
SNF
Contribution (M€) 0.6

2.4Contact persons

The only official communication line of the proposal is between the Joint Call Secretariat (JCS) and the project coordinator. The project coordinator will be the person contacted by the JCS during the application procedure, so he/she must forward this information to other participants. Each funding organisation has national contact persons who can be contacted for information about the specific national requirements (see Annex A).

The JCS is hosted by the French National Research Agency (ANR). The contact details are: Virginie Mouchel, Martine Batoux
JPI-AMRCalls AT agencerecherche.fr

Tel. +33 (0)1 78 09 80 44

Please note that country specific requirements might apply to this call. Compliance with the national/regional regulations specified in the country specific information is mandatory (See Annex B). We strongly advise you to contact your national/regional representative prior to submitting a pre- proposal.

3. Evaluation

Pre-proposals and full proposals will be assessed according to specific evaluation criteria (see below), using a common evaluation form. A scoring system from 0 to 5 will be used to evaluate the proposal’s performance with respect to the different evaluation criteria.

Scoring system:
0: Failure. The proposal fails to address the criterion in question, or cannot be judged because of missing or incomplete information.

1: Poor. The proposal shows serious weaknesses in relation to the criterion in question.

2: Fair. The proposal generally addresses the criterion, but there are significant weaknesses that need corrections.

3: Good. The proposal addresses the criterion in question well but certain improvements are necessary. 4: Very good. The proposal addresses the criterion very well, but small improvements are possible.
5: Excellent. The proposal successfully addresses all aspects of the criterion in question.
Evaluation criteria:

1. Excellence

1. Clarity and pertinence of the objectives

2. Credibility of the proposed approach and methodology

3. Soundness of the concept

4. Innovative potential

5. Competence and experience of participating research partners in the field(s) of the proposal (previous work in the field, specific technical expertise)

2. Impact

1. Potential of the expected results for future clinical, public health and/or other socio-economic health relevant applications including patient needs

2. Added value of transnational collaboration: gathering a critical mass of patients/biological material, sharing of resources (models, databases, diagnosis etc.), harmonisation of data, sharing of specific know-how and/or innovative technologies

3. Effectiveness of the proposed measures to exploit and disseminate the project results (including

   management of IPR), to communicate the project, and to manage research data where relevant

4. Industry and Patient Organisation participation/engagement (when appropriate/applicable)

3. Quality and efficiency of the implementation

1. Coherence and effectiveness of the work plan, including appropriateness of the allocation of tasks, resources and time

2. Complementarity of the participants within the consortium

3. Appropriateness of the management structures and procedures, including risk and innovation management

4. Concept for sustainability of infrastructures initiated by the project

5. Budget and cost-effectiveness of the project (rational distribution of resources in relation to project’s activities, partner responsibilities and time frame)

Evaluation scores will be awarded for the three main criteria, and not singularly for the different aspects listed below the criteria. The threshold for individual criteria will be three. The maximum score that can be reached from all three criteria together is 15 points.

4. Reporting requirements and other obligations of JPIAMR grantees

Each partner from selected projects will be funded through national grants from their respective funding agency. National reporting requirements apply according to the national rules of each specific country (See Country-specific information).
Each funded consortium should provide a consortium agreement (CA) signed by all participants. The project participants are encouraged to sign this CA before the start of the project in order to deal with the issues related to the protection of Intellectual Property (such as licensing in, licensing out, patent and exploitation strategy). All points that should be addressed in the CA are detailed in the Annex C.

In addition, grantees have an obligation to submit progress and final scientific reports to the JPIAMR Joint Call Secretariat and supply the JPIAMR with updated information of the consortium and its results for promotion of the call.
All dissemination of results from the funded projects should acknowledge funding from the JPIAMR. Coordinators are expected to participate in and contribute to JPIAMR workshops and other events associated with this call.