Research Grants

Program details

Notice of Intent to Apply deadline:   August 1 
Full Application deadline: Monday, October 1, 2012

Application forms

Review process 

Cystic Fibrosis Canada Grants & Awards Guide

Recent grant competition results
In 2012/2013, seven research initial grants were awarded (25% success rate) and thirteen research renewal grants (69% success rate). In 2011/2012, five research initial grants were awarded (23% success rate) and sixteen research renewal grants (76% success rate).  In 2010/2011, seven research initial grants were awarded (22% success rate) and eleven research renewal grants (92% success rate).

Annual financial reports

Progress reports 

Purpose

Research grants are intended to facilitate the scientific investigation of all aspects of cystic fibrosis.

Eligibility

A principal investigator should hold a recognized, full-time faculty appointment in a relevant discipline at a Canadian university or hospital. Under exceptional circumstances, and at the discretion of the Research Subcommittee, research grant applications from other individuals may be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, with significant emphasis placed on the degree of independence of the applicant, and on the institutional commitments to this individual. Such applications must include a statement from the applicant addressing the issue of salary support during the term of the grant, and the availability of laboratory space; and letters from the Departmental Chair and Dean of Faculty, clarifying the nature and extent of the institutional commitment to the applicant.  This same eligibility criterion regarding a faculty appointment applies to any named co-investigator.

While applications may be submitted by groups of individuals who plan to collaborate, only one principal investigator may be listed on an application. Co-principal investigators are not allowed on an application.  There are no limits on the number of co-investigators or collaborators that can be listed.  The investigators must have clearly defined roles which are justified.  Only one initial grant may be submitted to the October competition. The institution receiving funds indicates where the ultimate responsibility for the grant lies.

Generally, Cystic Fibrosis Canada funds research which is carried out in Canada, and the principal investigator must be based at a Canadian institution. While Cystic Fibrosis Canada will fund a collaboration from outside of Canada, funds must be directed through a Canadian institution and Canadian investigators intending to collaborate with individuals from outside of Canada should contact Cystic Fibrosis Canada.

Term

Research grants are awarded for a term of one, two, or, in a limited number of instances, three years.

Value

The amount of a grant will be determined by the Medical/Scientific Advisory Committee, following a detailed review of the applicant's proposed budget.

Criteria

Decisions concerning the amount and term of any given award, are made by Cystic Fibrosis Canada's Medical/Scientific Advisory Committee, on the basis of the following considerations:

• the quality and scientific merit of the research proposal;
• the relevance of the proposal to cystic fibrosis;
• the qualifications of the principal investigator, along with any co-investigator(s) and/or collaborator(s) named in the application, to conduct the proposed research;
• the availability to the applicant(s) of the resources necessary to conduct the proposed research;
• the degree of overlap with other operating grants held by the applicant(s);
• the potential of the proposed work to produce significant results.

Application requirements

Application forms are updated annually.

All applicants, for initial and renewal grants, must advise Cystic Fibrosis Canada’s office, by August 1, of their intent to apply for funding by completing a notice-of-intent to apply form and submitting the following information:

• name and address of principal investigator;
• name(s) and address(es) of co-investigator(s) and collaborator(s);
• title of grant application;
• keywords and a 250-word proposal summary; and
• suggested external reviewers and name(s) of any external reviewer(s) to whom you would prefer that the application not be sent to.

Full applications must be received by Cystic Fibrosis Canada no later than October 1.  Incomplete and/or late applications will be returned to the applicant. All investigators must submit all required institutional approvals for experiments involving human and/or animal subjects, and/or biohazardous materials by December 1 of the year in which the application for a Research grant is submitted.

Investigators are eligible to hold more than one research grant. No more than one initial application may be submitted to a single competition; and it is a requirement that the focus of a second grant application be clearly delineated from an existing one. The specific aims of a second grant should represent new approaches to the CF problem, and not an expansion of an existing research program.

Renewal applications will be treated independently.

Use of funds

(a)    Guidelines for expenditure

Grants are awarded in global annual amounts. Minor reallocations between budget categories are permitted, provided that the global budget is not exceeded. However, major deviations (greater than 10%) require the prior approval of the Medical/Scientific Advisory Committee.

Research grants may be allocated, in accordance with the approved budget, to:

• personnel (research assistant(s), technicians, fellows, students5, specified other personnel);
• materials and supplies (expendables, animals, services);
• equipment (total not to exceed $10,000, once per term grant);
• travel ($1,750-Ontario/Quebec; $2,000-Prairies; $2,250-BC/PEI/NS/NB; $2,500-NL).

Research grants do not provide support for:

• construction costs;
• institutional overheads for laboratory facilities;
• institutional overheads and/or indirect costs of research;
• purchase of equipment in excess of $10,000;
• severance pay/packages.

(b)    Clinical Trials

Cystic Fibrosis Canada recognizes the importance of strong support for clinical trials of new drugs or treatments for cystic fibrosis.

In most instances, particularly where new products are involved, funding will emanate from the manufacturer, as a normal component of the drug or product development process. In cases where such funding is not available or appropriate, Cystic Fibrosis Canada will entertain applications for limited support.

In no instance will Cystic Fibrosis Canada provide financial support to trials which, by their nature, should be assumed by pharmaceutical companies or equipment manufacturers.

Clinical trial funding from Cystic Fibrosis Canada will be considered by Cystic Fibrosis Canada’s Medical/Scientific Advisory Committee for scientific merit, within the context of the overall medical/scientific budget. Given the significant costs associated with clinical trials, and the limited resources of Cystic Fibrosis Canada, Cystic Fibrosis Canada support for such initiatives will, of necessity, be of relatively modest proportions and, generally, will be directed to the research component of the study. In most cases, support will also be contingent upon the identification of at least one additional funding partner. It is expected that the Canadian CF Clinical Studies Consortium (CSC) will emerge as an information resource to investigators with respect to co-funding arrangements.

The following components of single- and multi-centre clinical trials will be considered allowable budget items in grant applications: (a) salary support for personnel involved in study design, coordination, monitoring, and analysis, including supplies and equipment needed for sample analysis; (b) meeting and travel expenses associated with study design and the data safety monitoring committee.

Funding should be requested using Cystic Fibrosis Canada’s standard Research Grant application form. In addition, the principal investigator must submit a cover letter which includes a detailed budget for the entire project, in order that the support requested from Cystic Fibrosis Canada can be placed in context; and the details of requests submitted or pending to other funding agencies, and the date on which decisions are expected.

(c)    Travel

Research grants include a travel component. Cystic Fibrosis Canada encourages investigators to attend CF-related meetings in Canada or elsewhere, to report on their own research and to remain abreast of significant developments in CF research. Presentation of a paper at a reputable scientific meeting, or attendance at a major symposium or conference related to the grantee's research are considered legitimate uses of travel funds.

(d)   Funds received from National Support Groups

It is Cystic Fibrosis Canada’s policy that if funds are donated by National Support Groups directly to a Cystic Fibrosis Canada-funded researcher, or to the hospital/host institution foundation in the researcher’s name, an equal amount will be deducted from his/her research grant in the following fiscal year.
 

Terms and conditions

(a)    Payment of grants

Grant payments will be made at the beginning of each fiscal quarter, and will coincide with the fiscal year of most universities: April 1 through March 31.

(b)    Unexpended funds

An unexpended balance at the end of each fiscal year and at the end of Cystic Fibrosis Canada support period does not lapse.  Grantees will have an additional one fiscal year to use unspent funds.  Any funds remaining at the end of this additional one fiscal year period must be returned to Cystic Fibrosis Canada.  Additional extensions will not be considered.

(c)    Over-expenditure

Any commitment incurred by a grantee in excess of the amount of the Research grant is not the responsibility of Cystic Fibrosis Canada. In the case of multi-year, renewal and terminal grants, over-expenditures may be applied to the budget of the following year(s), up to a ceiling of 10%.

(d)    Financial reports

Grantees must provide an annual financial report by June 1.  On the recommendation of the Research Subcommittee, if financial reports for the granting period ending March 31st have not been submitted, the October 1st quarterly payment will be withheld.

(e)    Budget increases

Cystic Fibrosis Canada does not provide funds for unanticipated increases in cost, or for the expansion of a research project during the term of a grant.

For multi-year grants, and subject to the availability of funds, the Medical/Scientific Advisory Committee may recommend that a cost-of-living allowance be added to Research grants.

(f)    Termination of funding

In the event of a renewal application failing in the annual competition and subject to the availability of funds, the Medical/Scientific Advisory Committee may, on a discretionary basis, award terminal funding. Terminal funding, if awarded, would be equivalent to three months at the existing level of support.

(g)    Progress reports

Grantees may be requested to submit interim progress reports, in addition to the report which is required on renewal applications.  If a grantee chooses not to renew his/her research project, he/she must complete and submit Cystic Fibrosis Canada’s progress report form, with attached publications that relate to his/her Cystic Fibrosis Canada-funded research by October 1.  The progress report form will be sent, in advance, to those grantees.

(h)    Experimental approvals

All investigators must submit all required institutional approvals for experiments involving human and/or animal subjects, and/or biohazardous materials by December 1 of the year in which the application for a Research grant is submitted.

(i)    Patents and royalties

All grantees must agree to the terms of Cystic Fibrosis Canada's policy on patents and royalties. 

(j)    Indirect costs

Cystic Fibrosis Canada-funded research, clinic and transplant centre grants do not provide for institutional overheads and/or indirect costs of research or clinical care.
 

(k)    Robbie Promising New Research Award

On the recommendation of Cystic Fibrosis Canada's Medical/Scientific Advisory Committee, an applicant for an initial research grant in the October competition receiving the highest ranking will be awarded the Robbie Promising New Research Award. This annual award is for a one-year term.  The award does not carry any supplementary monetary value.

Cystic Fibrosis Canada should be contacted regarding the set maximum guideline for the amount that may be deducted for fellows and students supported on a Research grant.

Reviewed/updated: 2012-06-05