Bioinformatics and Biological Resources Fund (26BBR)

The 2026 Bioinformatics and Biological Resources (26BBR) Fund, administered by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) under UK Research and Innovation, is a solicitation designed to support the implementation, improvement, or consolidation of bioinformatics and biological resources for UK bioscience research. The fund targets the establishment of new innovative resources, the maturation of project-based resources into community-based ones, the maintenance of existing resources, and the integration of distinct resources to create higher-value assets. Eligible resources include software suites and databases for complex dataset management, as well as physical materials such as mutant lines, genetic libraries, and cultures. The total fund is 7,000,000 GBP, with individual awards capped at 2,000,000 GBP at 100 percent full economic cost, with the BBSRC providing 80 percent of the funding. The solicitation period opened on September 15, 2026, with a response deadline of November 19, 2026. Successful projects may have a duration of up to five years, with an earliest start date of July 1, 2027. Applications must be submitted via The Funding Service (TFS) portal and include a vision statement, a strategic case, a mandatory Gantt chart, and a data management plan. Project leads must hold a contract of employment at the lecturer level or equivalent, though Research Technology Professionals and Research Software Engineers are also eligible. Award decisions are based on a tiered approach, categorizing applications into three tiers based on quality, with final selection influenced by strategic relevance, bioresources ecosystem interdependencies, and future strategic value. Special requirements include compliance with the UK National Security and Investment Act for international collaborations and the adoption of environmental sustainability standards such as LEAF or mygreenlabs.