SYNAPSE Awards
The Liverpool Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Centre has established the LINC Synapse Award, a pump priming research fund which brings together neuroscience researchers from different disciplines, who have not previously worked together.
LINC Synapse Awards will support the generation of pilot or proof-of-principle data which will lead to competitive grant and fellowship applications. We particularly want to support Early Career Researchers.
Each LINC Synapse Award will be awarded in alignment with the nine LINC Themes, with a call to be announced in time for each of the LINC Theme Workshops across 2025-26 and 2026-27.
2025-2026 Workshops
- Neuro-infection and Inflammation 24 September 2025
- Epilepsy 18 December 2025
- Neuro-oncology and Surgery 18 March 2026
- Mental Illness date TBC June 2026.
Other themes will follow in 2026-2027.
Award amount and timescale
One award of £5-10k maximum is available per theme.
| Research Theme | Deadlines / Awarded project |
|---|---|
| Neuro infection & inflammation |
Awarded project: How do signals from brain tumour disrupt brain activity? |
| Epilepsy |
Application deadline: close of play Monday 19 January 2026 Panel decision: Friday 6 February Spend deadline: 31 July 2026 |
| Neuro-oncology & Surgery |
Application deadline: close of play Monday 20 April 2026 Panel decision: Friday 1 May 2026 Spend deadline: TBC |
| Mental Illness |
Application deadline: 1 month after event Panel decision: 2 weeks after deadline Spend deadline: TBC |
Assessment criteria
Translational neuroscience projects which:
- Describe a clear strategy to address an unmet clinical need.
- Develop pilot data to support more substantive grant applications and must identify the specific funding call to target for follow-on work.
- Foster collaboration between a UoL lead applicant and at least one co-applicant who are:
- partnering for the first time and
- from different disciplines
- The lead applicant must be a University of Liverpool academic (with substantive or honorary position). Early Career Researchers must demonstrate appropriate senior support for the duration of the research.
- Have a clear and achievable work plan
- Have realistic and justified costs.
Eligible costs
Eligible costs include directly incurred staff, consumables and access charges for specific facilities i.e. BSU and CRF costs.
Please note that the funding is not intended to support:
- The purchase of equipment which is not allowed under this scheme
- Costs of PI time (FEC costs) for existing University staff
- Administration costs
- Staff between posts (i.e. as bridging funds) or PhD studentships
- Continuation of normal research grants
- Costs relating to protection of intellectual property.
Download the SYNAPSE awards application form.
Assessment panel
Applications will be evaluated by a panel of senior academics from Liverpool Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Centre.
Each application will be read by panel members and using the MRC Peer Reviewers Handbook Scoring Matrix, scored 1-6. All scored applications will then be discussed by the full panel to decide awards.