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Cross research council responsive mode pilot has already supported 36 projects
UKRI has announced the launch of a second round of a landmark interdisciplinary research pilot scheme, making £32.5 million available.
The UKRI cross research council responsive mode (CRCRM) pilot is designed to support interdisciplinary ideas from across the research community.
The first round supported a total of 36 projects, which have also been announced today, sharing £32.4 million.
UKRI already has a number of responsive mode research grants available. However, CRCRM is the first to cross disciplines.
CRCRM aims
The scheme is geared to unlocking “new research, approaches and methods” that would not come about unless interdisciplinary thinking was brought into play.
“The [scheme] is designed to break down silos and champion research that transcends, combines and significantly spans traditional discipline boundaries,” said Alison Park, CRCRM champion and deputy executive chair of the Economic and Social Research Council.
“The perspectives of different disciplines, working together in collaboration, are vital to solving some of the most pressing problems we face as a society,” she added.
The scheme also aims to support research that will be “potentially transformative for the participating disciplines”, or even “lead to the creation” of brand new disciplines across the board.
First round
Projects funded in the first round include the building of a “snake-like robot” to treat a rare form of cancer in the bile duct, navigating the organ and creating a 3D map of the cancer, so stents can be fitted to “stimulate the death of cancer cells”.
Another successful bid was a project aimed at changing “perceptions about children and their personal data”, forming new teaching practices and developing “child-centred tools”.
Park said: “The projects announced today will drive progress across diverse fields by creating fresh approaches to research questions, methodologies and ways of working.
“We were all excited to see the innovative and bold approaches being adopted to tackle major issues ranging from climate change to global healthcare, and look forward to following their progress.”