Opportunity status:
Open
Funders:
Co-funders:
Environment Agency (EA)
Funding type:
Grant
Total fund:
£4,762,000
Maximum award:
£4,762,000
Publication date:
26 September 2025
Opening date:
30 September 2025 9:00am UK time
Closing date:
2 December 2025 4:00pm UK time
Apply for funding to develop a Network Plus with academic, business, and policy partners to investigate how antifungal resistance emerges and spreads in the environment through healthcare, agriculture, and household mould-preventative product use.
You must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) funding in a role that meets the individual eligibility requirements.
The full economic cost (FEC) of your network can be up to £4,762,000 (£2,857,200 for network and £1,904,800 for flexible fund). We will fund 80% of the FEC.
Your network must start by 1 May 2026 and last for up to 36 months.
Who can apply
Before applying for funding, check the following:
* * * if you are unsure whether your proposed research falls within the remit of Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has introduced new role types for funding opportunities being run on the new UKRI Funding Service.
To lead a project, you must be based at an eligible organisation. .
Who is eligible to apply
This funding opportunity is open to research groups and individuals. We:
* encourage multidisciplinary research and collaborations with other UK organisations
* welcome applications from individuals at any career stage, subject to NERC eligibility criteria
You may be involved in no more than two applications submitted to this funding opportunity. Only one of these can be as project lead.
The project lead must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for NERC funding. This includes eligible Public Sector Research Establishments (PSREs) and Independent Research Organisations (IROs).
Project partners fund their own involvement. We will only fund minor incidental expenses, such as some travel costs, if needed for project partners.
You should include all other international collaborators (or UK partners not based at approved organisations) as project partners. This includes organisations from the business or financial sectors.
Sub-contracting aspects of the work, meaning particular goods and services, to non-eligible institutions is possible in line with the .
Be aware that the Environment Agency must not be included as project partner on applications as they are a partner for this network.
Who is not eligible to apply
Project partners fund their own involvement. We will only fund minor incidental expenses, such as some travel costs, if needed for project partners.
International researchers
As our research council (NERC) is the lead funder for this funding opportunity, international researchers can apply as ‘project co-lead (international)’ subject to the eligibility criteria set out in the .
We do not fund overseas organisations, except for specific costs for project co-leads from Norway and the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA).
You should include all other international collaborators (or UK partners not based at approved organisations) as project partners. This includes organisations from the business or financial sectors.
Equality, diversity and inclusion
for all funding applicants. We encourage applications from a diverse range of researchers.
We support people to work in a way that suits their personal circumstances. This includes:
* career breaks
* support for people with caring responsibilities
* flexible working
* alternative working patterns
for UKRI applicants and grant holders during the application and assessment process.