We are excited to announce the launch of the call for the second round of Pathfinder Projects , offering researchers and research technical professionals the opportunity to tackle real-world barriers to making life sciences data FAIR and AI-ready. We invite innovative proposals that diagnose challenges and prototype practical, data-driven solutions, grounded in a scientific question. Pathfinder Projects will act as exemplars, driving requirements for the BioFAIR initiative and developing proofs-of-concept that can benefit from, and be incorporated into, the national infrastructure (in particular, BioFAIR’s upcoming Data Commons in 2027).
We will fund 10 – 12 projects across the scientific domains. Successful projects will receive up to £100,000 funding for 12 months to test new approaches, drive culture change, and accelerate the adoption of FAIR practices. Don’t miss this chance to help shape the future of UK life sciences research infrastructure.
Key dates
Award summary
| Funding type: | Grant |
| Total fund: | £1,000,000 |
| Maximum award: | £100,000 |
| Project duration: | 12 months |
| Number of projects funded: | 10-12 |
| Open to: | UK research organisations eligible to receive UKRI funding |
| Funder: | Earlham Institute (administering on behalf of BioFAIR) |
Last updated: 02 Nov 2026
Eligible organisations and teams
We welcome applications from UK research organisations that are eligible for UKRI funding – check if your organisation is eligible. Industry partners and SMEs are welcome to collaborate with academic organisations, typically under subcontractor agreements. Overseas organisations cannot lead an application but may contribute as subcontractors or on an unfunded basis. If your application has an industry or overseas partner, in an arrangement that is not listed here, please get in touch with us to clarify if you are eligible to apply (opportunities@biofair.uk).
Applications are open to teams with demonstrable, relevant experience. Building on the Technician Commitment UKRI Action Plan and the UKRI people and teams action plan, we particularly encourage applications from Research Technical Professionals (RTPs) as either project leads or project co-leads. Team member roles may include but are not limited to:
- Research scientist or group leader
- Research software engineer or architect
- Research technical professional
- Data steward or data manager
- Bioinformatician
- Researcher focused on workflows or data
- Platform or core facility staff
- Training and outreach staff
- Technician with data management responsibilities
- Other specialist
Equality, diversity and inclusion
We are committed to ensuring that our committees, panels and boards are inclusive, diverse and representative of the UK Life Science Research community.
We are committed to the principle of providing equal opportunities for all.
We strongly encourage applications from:
- Underrepresented groups in research infrastructure roles
- Applicants with non-linear careers or career breaks
- Those based in under-resourced regions or institutions
- Applicants with part-time contracts or caring responsibilities
- We recognise that diverse ideas, experiences, backgrounds and perspectives are fundamental to successful research and technical development.
In this application process, we collect information about your age, gender (including previous gender identity if applicable), disability, ethnic origin and sexual orientation as part of our equality monitoring procedures. Data collected from your application form is used to assess your suitability for the role and, as appropriate, make arrangements for appointment. Special category data collected as part of our equality monitoring procedures is used to provide anonymised data and reports to ensure we maintain and promote equality of opportunity across our recruitment practices. As appropriate, it may also be used to ensure reasonable adjustments are made to recruitment processes in relation to any disability, in accordance with the Equality Act 2010. Our full privacy statement can be found here https://biofair.uk/privacy-policy/
If you require reasonable adjustments to apply, please contact: opportunities@biofair.uk
BioFAIR is looking to fund a set of diverse projects spread across the life science domains, and geographically spread across the UK. We are interested in projects solving FAIR challenges to unlock scientific potential in all areas from, imaging, multi-omics, single-cell and spatial biology, to microbiomes, health, crop sustainability, and food security, with a clearly articulated impact to the relevant domain.
The Pathfinder Projects cohort will together provide a national picture of FAIR maturity across the life sciences and reveal the most effective interventions the BioFAIR Data Commons should help facilitate.
Please visit our website for a summary of projects from last year’s cohort and watch a recording of our launch webinar to learn more about the types of projects we are looking for.
Scope
A good Pathfinder Project will start from a specific, well-scoped bottleneck faced by researchers working in a particular life sciences domain, bring together a team that bridges researchers and research technical professionals to carry out a programme of work that uncovers underlying FAIR challenges and develops realistic ways to address them. The research use case should motivate the FAIR work; the project does not need to carry out new research itself. Addressing underlying FAIR challenges could include (but are not limited to):
- Adapting emerging or historical data assets for discoverability, portability, interoperability and reproducibility
- Unblocking barriers at various stages in the data lifecycle (from sample collection to data deposition) that is hampering research insights
- Bridging gaps between data producers, software developers, and infrastructure providers
- Driving adoption of metadata standards, ontologies, and identifier frameworks (or extending these to enable solutions to a very specific scientific question)
Connection to BioFAIR spokes: Successful projects will also show the value proposition to BioFAIR, if funded. Example modes of interactions with our platform could include standards and training modules to be embedded in the Data Commons or Knowledge Hub, or in-roads into the long tail of communities through engagement to drive adoption of BioFAIR services.
Out of scope
The following types of projects (list not exhaustive) will not be considered eligible for this call:
- Projects whose main aim is to establish a start-up company, charity or other new legal entity. The costs of setting one up, such as legal fees and incorporation or registration costs, are not eligible. You may still describe such plans as part of your longer-term approach to sustaining your outputs, provided they are funded from other sources.
- Projects with a technological motivation, not a scientific one. To be in scope, projects must describe at least one driving scientific or research-based use case as part of the proposal. Projects whose main objective is to roll out or expand development of existing tools, databases or standards are considered technology-motivated, and out of scope. If, however, your proposal approaches new, niche communities and adapts existing FAIR practice to unblock their research, this may be a suitable Pathfinder.
- Projects with a narrow or local focus that deliver benefits only within a single project or organisation, without clear alignment to any wider national capabilities.
- Projects that duplicate existing tools or standards, without a clear rationale of the domain-specific value added through duplication.
- Projects that aim to develop standalone services or databases without considering how the work could inform or connect to national-level infrastructure. For example, a project that created a new database for single-cell resolution imaging data in mice would not be considered, but a project that identified data standards needed to create an interoperable network of single-cell resolution imaging datasets in mice, and a reference implementation, would be considered eligible.
- Projects that only focused on community engagement or training. We anticipate that outreach will form a part of most proposals but it is not sufficient that this is the sole basis of their work plan, particularly when not attached to a clear scientific question.
Human data, animal research and ethics
Human data: Projects using open or appropriately consented human data are in scope. Projects focused on sensitive or identifiable clinical data that can only be accessed in a Trusted Research Environment or Secure Data Environment are out of scope, unless the methods developed can be transferred to data outside those environments.
Animal research: Projects that reference existing animal data are in scope, but generating new animal data is not. Applicants using animal data must confirm it was generated with the appropriate ethical approval.
Ethics: The host organisation is responsible for any ethical approvals the project needs.
Duration
Pathfinder projects are expected to start early 2027 and last 12 months.
Deliverables and Activities
Awardees will be expected to participate in the following:
At the start of the project:
- Participation in a kick-off BioFAIR event to share the scientific question being addressed and proposed plans
During the project:
- Participation in quarterly catch up meetings with all Pathfinder projects and the BioFAIR Hub team.
At the end of the project:
- A report on project outcomes, impacts, and future needs, as well as negative findings and lessons learned.
- Participation in a Pathfinders showcase event at the end of the 12 months to share stories, experiences and outcomes.
Sustainability of outputs
Pathfinder Projects are 12-month awards. Proposals should not assume that BioFAIR will automatically host or maintain services, databases or software created during a project after the award ends. You may choose to explain how your outputs will be sustained beyond the 12 months (for example, deposit in an existing repository or registry, hand-over to an existing service, or a realistic maintenance plan), in proportion to the scale of the output, but your application will not be judged on it. Requirements, reports and lessons learned (including negative findings) are valuable outputs in their own right.
Total award cap: £100,000 per Pathfinder Project (including overheads).
Funding model:
- Direct costs are funded at 100% of actual eligible costs
- An overhead contribution is paid at 25% of eligible direct costs
- The combined total (direct + overhead) must not exceed £100,000
Eligible direct costs (illustrative, not exhaustive):
- Staff salary and employer on-costs directly attributable to the project
- Project consumables and small project-specific equipment/software/licenses
- Cloud/compute/services and reasonable data storage used during the award
- Travel, subsistence, and dissemination directly related to the project
- External consultants or contractors for clearly defined, project-specific work
Ineligible costs:
- Institutional overheads/estates/indirects beyond the 25% overhead contribution
- General institutional costs not directly attributable to the project
- Contingency lines
- Fees for setting up new legal entities
- New animal experiments
Overhead notes:
- The 25% overhead contribution is calculated only on eligible direct costs included in the approved budget.
- Some hosts organisations may elect to claim <25% in line with their internal policy; any unclaimed overhead cannot be reallocated to direct costs.
Virement & changes:
- No virement between Direct and Overhead.
Application process
To apply to the BioFAIR Pathfinder Project call, you must complete the BioFAIR Pathfinder Project application form.
- Download and complete the application form provided.
- Please turn your application form and any letters into a single PDF file and send by email to opportunities@biofair.uk by the advertised deadline.
- Institutional authorisation: Each application must include a letter of support from the host organisation, signed by a senior staff member (e.g., Head of Department or Group Leader) confirming that the Project Lead is authorised to submit the proposal and that the organisation will administer the award, if funded.
- Allow sufficient time to read through your application and for your organisation’s research support team to complete internal review and authorisation processes.
- Please turn your application form and any letters into a single PDF file and send by email to opportunities@biofair.uk by the advertised deadline.
The application deadline is Tuesday 15 December, 16:00 GMT . Late applications will not be accepted.
Stage one:
The BioFAIR Hub team will conduct an initial review of all applications to check eligibility, fit to call and correct completion of the application form.
Stage two:
The applications will then be reviewed by a panel consisting of members from the BioFAIR Hub team and independent experts.
Projects will be assessed against the following criteria by the review panel. The panel’s scores will be used to create a shortlist of potentially fundable applications.
| Criterion | Weight |
| Strategic rationale Clear description of the scientific challenge that acts as the driving use case, motivating the FAIR transformation being proposed Rationale for the work proposed, clearly identifying needs that are not met by existing resources, and measures for success Vision of how solutions will impact UK life sciences and align with BioFAIR objectives | 30% |
| Approach and outcomes Feasibility of solution and delivery plan Quality of any data or software that is produced (or improved) over the course of the project Clear explanation of how the chosen approach will contribute to alignment of FAIR challenges and consolidation of solutions used, rather than a further proliferation of the FAIR-enabling tools available Feasibility of approach to experiment with alternative approaches that address the FAIR challenge, for example through engagement with BioFAIR fellows, previous Pathfinders and BioFAIR Spoke teams with a plan to learn from approaches that do not work. | 30% |
| Community and stakeholder engagement plan Approach to dissemination Clear identification of who will benefit from the outputs and how they will be reached | 15% |
| Team Capability to deliver proposed plan | 15% |
| Justification of resources and cost | 10% |
Stage three:
Reflecting BioFAIR’s team-first approach, the BioFAIR team will consider the shortlisted fundable applications to create a diverse but cohesive portfolio of projects across domains, institutions, and challenge types that has the potential to add value across the breadth of BioFAIR strategy and emerging activity. As part of this approach, and where applicants are of comparable quality within the above assessment criteria, the following portfolio factors will be considered:
- Diversity of research performing organisations and institutional settings
- Scientific focus, to ensure coverage of the opportunity remit
- Geographic coverage to ensure that, as far as possible, the final project portfolio gives a representative view of pan-UK FAIR challenges
Webinars
BioFAIR will host a launch webinar and a pre-submission Q&A session to support applicants and address any questions.
Please check the call text, FAQ and webinar recordings before getting in touch, as most questions are answered there. For anything not covered, email opportunities@biofair.uk by 08 December 2026. We cannot review drafts or advise on whether an individual idea is likely to be funded.
Launch Webinar
The BioFAIR Hub will hold an informational webinar on 03 November to introduce this round of Pathfinder Projects and answer common questions from prospective applicants. A recording of the webinar will be made available here shortly after.
You can register for the webinar below to learn more about the programme, eligibility, and how to apply.
Q&A/Application clinic
A second live Q&A webinar will take place on 19 November, offering another opportunity to meet the team and ask your questions directly. A recording of the webinar will be made available here shortly after.
You can register for the Q&A webinar below to learn more about the programme, eligibility, and how to apply.
Scope and Eligibility
Funding and Costs
Timeline and Future Calls
Ready to apply?
Applications are now open until 15 December 2026. Please submit your applications to opportunities@biofair.uk by 16:00 GMT!
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