1) New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF) – Transformation Stream
We are anticipating a call for proposals in November 2019 for the Transformation Stream of the New Frontiers in Research Fund. The Transformation stream is designed to support large-scale, Canadian-led interdisciplinary research projects that address a major challenge with the potential to realize real and lasting change (high reward). The challenge may be fundamental, leading to a scientific breakthrough, or applied, with a social, economic, environmental or health impact. Projects are expected to be world-leading, drawing on global research expertise, where relevant.
The Transformation stream grants will support projects that:
- tackle a well-defined problem or challenge;
- propose a novel world-leading approach that is different from the current state-of-the art approaches to the issue;
- are interdisciplinary, bringing different perspectives to the defined problem; and
- have the potential to be transformative, defined as the potential to create a significant and real change or impact—a noticeable leap or tangible breakthrough versus an incremental advance.
Further details can be found here. As these are large-scale, interdisciplinary research projects, if you are considering applying, please contact a Research Facilitator to discuss further.
2) Next Phases of Alliance Grants
NSERC is pleased to announce the opening of the next phases of Alliance grants.
On December 2, 2019, Alliance grants will be open for Option 1 applications requesting over $30,000 annually from NSERC. Applications requesting between $20,000 and $30,000 annually from NSERC will be accepted beginning on December 11, 2019.
Option 2 applications requesting support for up to 90% or 100% of the costs of the project will be accepted in early 2020. This component of the Alliance grants is intended for proposals that:
- aim at conducting natural science or engineering research that addresses an unmet societal need. This may include research affecting public goods, or that will address national or global issues that benefit more than a single or a few organizations, and where sources of funds are unavailable;
- connect partner organizations willing and able to overcome existing barriers to address these challenges and achieve results that can lead to a societal impact beyond economic benefits, and where an increased level of support from public funds is justified.
More details on the objectives and on the application and evaluation processes for Option 2 will follow soon.
For full details about Alliance grants and how to apply, please visit the Alliance webpage.
3) Notice of Upcoming Funding Opportunity: 2019 Platform Support Grants
The Brain Canada Foundation is pleased to announce the second funding opportunity to arise from the $40 million committed by the Government of Canada in Budget 2019. Building off the success of past competitions, the 2019 Platform Support Grants (PSG) competition will be formally launched on November 26, 2019 with a Request for Applications outlining the guidelines, eligibility criteria, and application components. To date, Brain Canada has supported 25 projects through the PSG program, with over $40 million dollars invested.
Support for operations and maintenance of Canadian research platforms has been identified as a gap in the neuroscience research funding environment. Through this sponsored PSG funding opportunity, Brain Canada aims to address this gap in order to enhance the technical and research capabilities of collaborative research teams in the neurosciences and/or mental health fields. Examples of platforms that fall within the scope of PSGs include brain banks, clinical trial networks, imaging facilities, transgenic animal facilities, specialized high-throughput genomics facilities, drug discovery platforms, data repositories, informatics systems, and data-sharing systems.
Briefly, the competition will be open to groups of investigators working in brain research (interdisciplinary teams are especially encouraged). Research teams must apply for funding with sponsors who will commit to providing matching funds (50% of the total funding requested). Grants are generally $1.5 million over three years, although there may be some flexibility to accommodate the needs of specific platforms, with funding to start in Summer/Fall 2020.
Following the release of the Request for Applications, interested applicants will be required to submit a Registration Letter in early February 2020, which includes an overview of the platform they intend to implement or build upon and a Letter of Support from prospective sponsor/s. The Registration Letter will not be peer reviewed but will be used to guide the formation of an expert panel of national and international reviewers for full applications. Formal commitments with sponsors do not need to be in place until the Full Application deadline in March 2020.
For more information, contact platformgrant@braincanada.ca.