University of Basrah Announces Winning the UKABCS Capacity Building Grant 2026

The UK Association for Biotechnology & Computational Science (UKABCS) announces that the University of Basrah has been awarded the UKABCS Capacity Building Grant 2026, as part of an international program with a duration of two and a half years, aimed at enhancing the academic and research capacities of universities worldwide.
This achievement reflects the university’s research excellence and its ability to meet international standards for scientific quality, institutional governance, and sustainable research development.

Vision of the UKABCS Capacity Building Grant Program

The UKABCS Capacity Building Grant program aims to:

• Strengthen institutional academic and research capacity internationally.
• Support cross-border scientific collaboration between universities in the Global North and South.
• Empower researchers across diverse scientific disciplines, beyond purely computational fields.

The program spans two and a half years, and it goes beyond technical training in computational chemistry and drug design. It seeks to embed a new academic culture within universities, where computational methods become an integral part of research across all disciplines.The program’s vision is built upon:

• Integrating computational approaches as a core element of research.
• Building a sustainable academic environment that supports innovation and accelerates discovery.
• Enhancing international collaboration between universities and researchers.
• Enabling non-profit organizations and scientific societies to benefit from the program.
• Improving the quality of research outputs and positioning institutions as globally competitive.

Program Objectives and Strategic Benefits

This program represents a long-term institutional investment, focusing not only on individual skills but also on building sustainable research capacities within universities.Key objectives and benefits include:

• Enhancing research quality by improving the accuracy of scientific interpretation and analysis.
• Reducing research costs by minimizing reliance on expensive laboratory experiments.
• Accelerating the research cycle from concept to publication.
• Institutional empowerment by embedding computational expertise as a lasting core capacity.
• Global integration enabling researchers to engage with international scientific networks.
• Building a sustainable academic generation equipped with advanced tools for long-term innovation.

Grant Coverage

The program provides full financial coverage for all core educational and research activities, with no additional financial burden on universities or researchers.The UKABCS manages the grant and transfers funds directly to the implementing partners, in line with UKRI standards for transparency and accountability.

Coverage Includes:

• A comprehensive academic training program comprising 14 integrated modules.
• Digital and research infrastructure to support participating teams.
• Article Processing Charges (APC) for accepted research papers in international journals and conferences.
• Fees for poster presentations at international conferences.
• Accredited professional diplomas and certificates for all participants.

Detailed Budget (Fully Covered):

Academic Representation – University of Basrah

The University of Basrah is represented in the program by: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Iman A. J. Al-Timimi

Associate Professor of Chemistry – College of Science – Department of Chemistry – University of Basrah Her participation supports the program’s academic objectives and fosters the integration of computational methods into chemical research, enhancing the quality of scientific analysis and research outputs in alignment with international standards.

Coordination and Strategic Development

The program is strategically coordinated by: Ms. Israa Mohamed Shamkh (UK / Egypt)

Trustee | Partnerships & Strategic Development Lead Ms. Israa serves as Head of Computational Chemistry and Software Engineer at EBO Bio Solution Ltd, specializing in AI-driven drug discovery and the development of advanced computational research platforms.

Her role was pivotal in designing the program framework, aligning academic vision with institutional implementation, and strengthening the program’s strategic identity and international reputation.

Future Impact and Sustainability

Winning this grant represents a strategic step toward building a sustainable research ecosystem at the University of Basrah. The program is expected to:

• Increase the quality of research outputs.
• Enhance opportunities for international publication.
• Develop academic competencies.
• Expand global research collaborations.

The program’s implementation stages and resulting research reports will be announced in due course.