Department of Biotechnology (DBT) Government of India and UK Research Councils are pleased to invite expressions of interest to participate in an Antimicrobial Resistance Sandpit. This sandpit will lead to collaborative research projects aimed at addressing the issue of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in humans and animals in India. The sandpit will facilitate the formation of teams and development of outline proposals that will subsequently be developed into full proposals for submission to the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) Government of India-UK Research Council; Antimicrobial Resistance Initiative. Successful proposals developed through the sandpit will be jointly funded by the Department of Biotechnology DBT and UK Research Councils.

Applications are invited from Indian academics/​researchers eligible to receive funding from any Department of Biotechnology. 

Applications are invited from individual researchers who can contribute to the sandpit and the resulting research projects. Up to 20 Indian participants will be identified to take part.

Indian applications must be from researchers eligible to receive funding from any DBT.

ESRC will run a parallel, but separate, process to select up to 20 UK applicants. Participants will be chosen to allow equal and complementary representation from the India and UK.

This sandpit will be held in/​around Delhi, India in the w/​c 6^th November 2017. Submission of an application will be taken as confirmation that the applicant is available to attend on the specified dates, and will make a commitment to attend if selected. Additional details of the location, venue, will be provided to those invited to participate.

Applicants should complete an Expression of Interest form available on DBT website. The deadline for applications is 1 st October 2017.

In order to participate, applicants must be available for the whole of the w/​c 6^th November (one day of the weekend either side of this week might be needed for travel).

Please note: Expressions of Interest received after the deadline for applications will not be considered. Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application to attend the sandpit event by the end of 15^th October 2017. If successful, information provided in the background and expertise section of the Expression of Interest form will be made available to everyone invited to attend the sandpit, to facilitate networking and collaboration at the event.

The information provided on the Expression of Interest form will be used to assess your application and demonstrate that you have the suitable skills and attitude to participate in the Antimicrobial Resistance Sandpit