Deadline: November 05, 2025
Innovate UK Business Connect has announced the third funding round of PACE (Pathways to Antimicrobial Clinical Efficacy), focusing on early-stage, novel, antibacterial therapeutics.
The focus is on Hit-to-Lead and Lead Optimisation phase projects; any novel targets OR novel chemical classes including but not limited to the following mechanisms; direct-acting and non-direct acting antimicrobials, anti-virulence approaches, immunomodulatory agents, and potentiators; any modality, including but not limited to small molecules, natural products, peptides, nucleic acid-based, antibodies, proteins, complex/targeted modalities, phage; the therapeutic must have an antimicrobial effect. Exclusions include Target Identification, screening and Hit Identification; projects focussed on late-stage pre-clinical/IND-enabling studies; Clinical Phase R&D; antibiotics based on iterations of existing therapeutics e.g. β-lactams; vaccines; interventions focussed exclusively on mycobacteria (including TB), fungal infections, Gram-positive pathogens or Gram-negative pathogens that fall outside the scope of the call’s Target Product Profiles (TPPs); therapeutics solely focussed on out-of-scope indications with no potential to pivot (e.g. topical treatments for skin infections); projects not directly focused on antimicrobial development (e.g. diagnostics, delivery methods, biomarkers, standalone technology or model development).
Up to £6 million is available to support up to 8 projects, with a maximum of £1 million per project. Projects are expected to last for up to two years, and both large-scale and smaller innovative or higher-risk projects are welcome. Innovators worldwide are eligible to apply, with no requirement for a UK-based partner. Applications may come from academia, SMEs, or consortia, though large pharmaceutical partners must cover their own costs.
The scope prioritises therapeutics targeting Gram-negative bacterial infections with the highest burden of antimicrobial resistance, including lower respiratory tract infections, bloodstream infections, and complicated urinary tract infections. The pathogens of interest are Enterobacteriaceae, with emphasis on E. coli and K. pneumoniae, as well as A. baumannii and P. aeruginosa. Projects must demonstrate strong potential to meet WHO innovation criteria, such as a new chemical class, a new target, a new mechanism of action, or the absence of cross resistance.
For more information, visit Innovate UK Business Connect.
