Wellcome Trust: Biology of Fungal Adaptation Call

Support for innovative studies that explore the biology of fungal adaptation, particularly in environments that are associated with disease and/or impacted by climate change.

Founded in 1936, the Wellcome Trust is an independent foundation that seeks to improve health by supporting researchers, addressing big health challenges, campaigning for better science and encouraging everyone to get involved with science and health research.

The Trust has launched the Biology of Fungal Adaptation one-off call to support studies that explore the mechanisms and triggers for fungal adaptation, particularly in environments that are associated with disease and/or impacted by climate change. The funding is aimed at supporting an ambitious programme of research in this underserved and undervalued but increasingly important field. Awardees will generate important breakthroughs, strengthen research networks and empower future leaders.

This call focuses specifically on studies that explore the molecular mechanisms of, and triggers for, fungal adaptation. Proposals must: 

• Demonstrate a link to human health and/or climate change, for example, studies involving plant pathogenic fungi could be considered relevant if it can be demonstrated that the pathways investigated are applicable in wider contexts and contribute to the understanding of fungal adaptation beyond this specific setting. It is essential that this association is well-established and clearly demonstrated. 
• Consider adaptation from the perspective of the fungal organism.
  

The research proposal can include:

• A focus on the molecular mechanisms of adaptation of: 
  • Non-model and understudied fungal species; or 
  • Fungal organisms affected by climate change; or 
  • disease-relevant fungal organisms.
• Fungal adaptation catalysed by climate change and niche expansion, for example: 
  • Mechanisms that lead to heat resistance and environmental adaptation.
  • Understanding historical trends and looking at potential future adaptation.
  • Response to extreme weather events.
  • Geographic range shifts.
• Mechanisms and processes of fungal adaptation that lead to zoonotic shifts and human pathogenesis.
• Fungal adaptation in the context of tolerance and/or resistance towards antifungals (intrinsic and/or acquired). This could include metabolic pathways that can contribute to drug resistance mechanisms or inform drug development. (However, direct drug development itself is out of scope.) 
• Understanding pressures and mechanisms that lead to fungal adaptation to the host immune response and regulation of the host immune system by fungi.

Applications will be prioritised if they consider non-model fungal species and how fungi are adjusting to environmental change or have disease relevance. This includes (but is not limited to) adaptation leading to the production of antimicrobials or resistance to antifungals, as well as adaptation that is triggered or encouraged by climate change and results in expansion into novel niches or increased pathogenicity.

This opportunity aims to transform understanding through discovery-driven research, and the Trust encourages collaborations that include partners from relevant disciplines, even if they do not all have a background in fungal research.