To help scientists working within the NERC remit to take advantage of these opportunities, NEOF is providing funding for small pilot/development projects that wish to access the latest genome sequencing and metabolomics technologies. Applicants should consult the web pages of NEOF, the Centre for Genomic Research and Centre for Metabolomic Research (which host the omic capability of NEOF). Enquiries and project discussion should be made through our enquiries page.

Pilot/development projects should be directed at generating preliminary data or proof of concept in advance of full research grant or fellowship proposals, particularly when it is necessary to demonstrate the applicability or the technical feasibility of new techniques or approaches to NERC-relevant research problems. 

The pilot competition is also an excellent opportunity for researchers familiar with genomics to extend their research methodology and trial metabolomics as a means to explore the mechanistic or phenotypic basis of genomic results. 

Examples could include:

• Genomics: transcriptomics using next-generation sequencing, deep metagenomics of environmental samples, de novo genome assembly from long-read data, or the use of high-throughput sequencing as a genetic tool to study natural populations.
• Metabolomics: use of mass spectrometry in broad metabolite discovery and identification of metabolomic changes between samples, targeted metabolite identification, or the use of vibrational spectroscopy methods for spatial distribution of metabolites. See Metabolomics FAQs.
• See Case studies for all ‘omics.

Eligibility – please note:

• Projects must be within the NERC remit. For proposals that span council remits, the majority of the work should clearly be within NERC remit. The Steering Committee reserves the right not to consider submissions that are judged to be out of remit.  Please check that your proposal fits within the NERC remit, before requesting quotations from NEOF.
• Recipients of NEOF pilot funding in 2024 and 2025 will not be considered. 
• Only one project will be considered per applicant, although proposals that include more than one technology are eligible.
• Postgraduate students are not eligible as investigators; neither are applicants not currently based in a UK institution.
• Proposals for projects associated with PhD students (who do not themselves have to be NERC-funded) will be considered. In such cases, the application should show how the proposed work integrates within the timeframe of the doctoral project, and students should not be in their final year.
• Early Career applicants will provide confirmation from their supervisor that they will make the time available to applicants to conduct the research, should it be funded (not required for Research Fellows).
• The NEOF Steering Committee reserves the right not to consider resubmissions that are substantively unchanged; applicants must make clear how this proposal differs from a previous proposal and has incorporated feedback. 

Samples and bioinformatics – please note:

• Samples suitable for analysis (i.e. meeting minimum quality and quantity requirements) must be delivered to NEOF by Tuesday 1st December 2026; failure to deliver suitable samples to the NEOF by the submission deadline will result in funding being withdrawn.
• It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that any necessary permits or ethics approvals are in place before submission of samples.
• Applicants may either prepare samples in their own laboratory or use the NEOF Visitor Facility, which houses expertise and equipment for nucleic acid extraction and QC. If this is required, please flag this at enquiry stage.
• All proposals should include a clear plan for the bioinformatic analysis of the resulting data, noting that NEOF can, by agreement, provide some limited bioinformatic and statistical support as part of the funded project.

Applications will be graded by the NEOF Steering Committee, following the established NEOF procedures, but with particular reference to:

• Scientific excellence, including the novelty, timeliness and/or impact of the proposed work;
• How this proposal will prime future grant or fellowship proposals.

Each successful project will include access to staff, equipment and consumables costs, to a total value of up to £15,000 plus some limited bioinformatics support. Successful applicants will be required to report publications or other outputs arising from work conducted at the NEOF facility in line with NEOF standard terms and conditions.

Get started – Enquiry and consultation:

We invite potential applicants to submit an Enquiry to NEOF via our Contact page between Thursday 8th and 22nd January 2026. During this initial two-week period, applicants should provide a brief overview of themselves and their project, including:

• Position and institution
• Scientific background and project aim(s)
• Organism(s) under investigation
• Total number of samples and grouping (including group definitions and sample numbers per group)
• Whether any support is required for DNA/RNA extraction or bioinformatics

This information will be used to assess feasibility and determine eligibility for consultation. Eligible applicants will then be invited to schedule a single one-hour consultation between Monday 26th January and Friday 27th February 2026. Please note the following important guidance for this process: 

• Only one consultation meeting will be offered per project.
• Final quotes will be issued after the meeting, and no further revisions to project design or quotation can be made thereafter. Applicants may still seek support with other queries.
• In recent years, some project proposals have exceeded the funding limit of this scheme. If your proposed work is found to be over-budget, you will need to consider potential ways to reduce the scope of your project during your consultation, as no further changes can be made following this meeting.
• Consultation meeting availability is limited, and time slots will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. We strongly encourage applicants to book early, as we will not be able to accommodate late requests once all available slots have been filled. Applicants who do not attend a consultation will not receive a quote, which is required for submission.

Your project description should include:

• Underlying rationale, scientific and technological issues to be addressed
• Specific objectives of the project
• Methodology and plan of research including, for example, any bioinformatic analyses

Applicants will be asked how their proposal will help prime future grant or fellowship proposals.