Funding Opportunities

The Funding Opportunities section provides a list of external funding opportunities available to our Researchers, Graduate Students & Postdoctoral Fellows and Undergraduate Students. If you have any questions regarding external funding opportunities please contact Mike Folinas or Sam D’Alfonso.

All Applicants submitting through the University of Toronto MUST have submitted their application information online via the My Research Applications (MRA) portal.

Additional comprehensive funding opportunities are available here:

Researchers

Cancer Research Society: Translational Research Partnership Program

The goal of this program is to support collaborative and pivotal translational research projects. Amount: Up to a maximum of $1,500,000 over up to 3 years per project of which up to 50% may come from the Cancer Research Society. Projects must be translational research and may include clinical trial studies, aim the development of a therapeutic and/or novel technologies, and have excellent preliminary data to support the proposed project. Letters of Intent from applicants with high potential projects will be invited to submit an official application for funding, which is then peer-reviewed.

There is no deadline associated with this program.

Canadian Cancer Society - Spark Grants

The Canadian Cancer Society (CCS), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research - Institute of Cancer Research (CIHR-ICR), and Brain Canada Foundation (BC) have committed a total of up to $2.4M over one year to jointly fund Spark Grants at up to $150K each, focused on Novel Technology Applications in Cancer Prevention and Early Detection.

The intent of this program is to “spark” new activity in the development and/or application of truly novel approaches to cancer prevention and early detection.

Spark Grants will harness the power of new technologies and interventions to prevent the onset of cancer and/or reduce its severity through early detection when the disease is at its most treatable, including the early detection of recurrence and metastatic spread. Spark Grants will support the development of new partnerships and the exploration of highly novel concepts, involving researchers from any research area, and particularly from non-traditional cancer fields, such as engineering, AI, robotics, physics, nanoscience, statistics, informatics, computer and data sciences, behavioural science, and any other discipline poised to seed the next generation of disruptive technologies in cancer control. These grants are intended to support research that will provide the evidence for future larger grants that will serve as “game-changers” in the way we approach cancer prevention and early detection, disrupting existing methods and displacing the status quo.

Deadlines:

Registration deadline is August 28th, 2020
Full application due date: October 16, 2020 - MRA required

Additional information on this funding opportunity can be found here.

CanCOVID - New Canada-wide COVID-19 collaboration network: Accepting registrations

CanCOVID is an expert network of Canadian COVID-19 researchers, clinical collaborators, and healthcare stakeholders from across the country. It is accepting registrations from recognized experts in the COVID-19 research and response community, including the following areas:

Diagnostics	Vaccines & Therapeutics	Modelling
Fundamental Science	Clinical trials	Cohort studies
Social & behavioural sciences	Healthcare	Policy decision-making
Indigenous knowledge	Medical devices	Patient services
Community health

The CanCOVID network membership is by invitation. To be considered a recognized expert, you must have professional affiliation with a university, hospital, clinic, government office, non-profit association or business. All prospective members will be vetted, including verifying email addresses and professional affiliations.

Post Doctoral and PhD Trainees will qualify for membership ONLY if serving as representatives for faculty supervisors who are actively researching COVID-19, or if they can demonstrate substantial prior research experience on COVID-relevant topics.

Researchers who meet the above criteria can register to join the network at https://cancovid.ca/#join.

Please do not register if you do not meet the above criteria. Limiting membership in this way will enable COVID-19 researchers to focus on critical research without distraction. It will also enable the platform administrators to focus their efforts on supporting core platform activities.

Canada’s Chief Science Officer mandated the creation of CanCOVID to expedite communication and collaboration between the scientific, healthcare and policy communities during the COVID-19 crisis. The CanCOVID networkis designed to support collaboration, coordination and communication between scientists, clinical collaborators, funding agencies, government policy makers, and healthcare practitioners. CanCOVID is linking up Canada’s research network using Slack, an online messaging and collaboration platform. Volunteers are available to help members who are new to Slack; you can indicate your need for Slack assistance on the registration form.

For more information, visit the CanCOVID website https://cancovid.ca/ or follow us on Twitter @CanCOVID.

CRIS Supports for Adapting Research During COVID-19

CRIS Spotlight: Resources for Researchers during the COVID-19 Pandemic

In preparation for the 2020-21 academic year, the Centre for Research & Innovation Support (CRIS) has developed new supports for researchers adapting their research programs during COVID-19:

New Webinar Series: Making & Sustaining the Pivot

On August 18, 2020, CRIS is launching a monthly webinar series, Making & Sustaining the Pivot: Adapting Your Research during COVID-19 and Beyond. Each session will offer perspectives from faculty members and other experts, and provide strategies for adapting or reinventing research methods and approaches, with opportunities for dialogue. Topics focus on practical supports and tools for planning, conducting and disseminating research; and sharing effective methods for collaboration and engagement.

These 1-hr webinars are usually scheduled for the 3rd Tuesday of every month.

Session 1: Introduction to REDCap – A tool to support data collection at a distance, is August 18, 2020. 11:00am-12:00pm. Register here.
Session 2: Remote Research Involving Human Subjects – Exploring security, privacy and ethical considerations, is September 22, 2020. 10:00-11:00am. Register here.

Spotlight Resource Pages:
In addition, CRIS has begun to develop resource pages for the research & innovation community on issues that have emerged during COVID-19:
• CRIS Spotlight on Working Securely: Remote Data Collection & Storage
• CRIS Spotlight on Virtual Research Events and Conferences
• CRIS Spotlight on Resources for Conducting COVID-19 Research

To stay informed about the lastest resources, subscribe to our CRIS mailing list.

Cyclica Academic Partnership Program (CAPP) - Call for Proposals to Accelerate Small Molecule Drug Discovery

Cyclica’s aims to empower academic research experts with computational medicinal chemistry technologies to accelerate small molecule drug discoveries. Cyclica’s technology is disease agnostic and they welcome all labs that work on small molecule drug discovery to apply.

Each successful applicant will be offered one of two awards to support small molecule design or screening efforts.

Cyclica Academic Partnership Program goal is to bring small molecules from the bench to bedside faster. They believe CAPP will help achieve this mission by:

Accelerating Publications that will contribute to better understanding of diseases and therapeutic opportunities Advancing Commercialization Opportunities by bringing novel
therapeutics to clinical settings faster

For Program information: https://www.cyclicarx.com/capp?utm_source=LinkedIn&utm_medium=Organic&utm_campaign=CAPP-announcement

Ligand Design Award

Generate novel compounds with desired ADMET properties that are specific to your target(s) of interest while avoiding anti-target(s)

Please see the link for Application: https://www.cyclicarx.com/ligand-design-award-form

Ligand Express Award

Screen existing compounds for mechanisms of action, ADMET predictions, or repurposing opportunities

Please see the link for Application: https://www.cyclicarx.com/ligand-express-award-form

Fall 2020 Cohort Deadline: Oct 31st, 2020.
Only submit non-confidential information. Contact your commercialization manager (IPO) with any concerns.

Employment and Social Development Canada – Sustainable Development Goals Funding Program – Grants

In 2015, Canada and all other United Nations Member States, committed to implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which set 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to eliminate poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity by the year 2030. Applications are currently being accepted, on an ongoing basis, from organizations interested in receiving up to $100,000 in grant funding from the SDG Funding Program for projects that are up to 12 months in duration.
Sponsor Deadline: Ongoing

Entrepreneurship for Cardiovascular Health Opportunities (ECHO) – Call for Applications

The Translational Biology & Engineering Program (TBEP), at the University of Toronto and the Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, in partnership with the Health Innovation Hub (H2i) is pleased to announce a call for applications for the 2020-2021 Entrepreneurship for Cardiovascular Health Opportunities (ECHO) program.

ECHO is a specialized experiential training program with the main objectives to:

Provide entrepreneurship training, mentorship, networking and funding opportunities for early ventures in the cardiovascular health sector.
Aid in transferring research innovations and intellectual property from academic and hospital institutions into the economy.
Create more start-ups in cardiovascular health sector.

To reach teams across Canada, ECHO is now entirely virtual, beginning in 2020.

What We Offer

A 12-month online training program, involving a unique combination of five complementary modules delivered by experts in the entrepreneurial field:

Module 1 - Principles of Entrepreneurship: The MaRS Entrepreneur’s Toolkit Workshops focused on fundamental entrepreneurship business principles.

Module 2 - Health Venture Rounds: A series of interactive workshops focused on key subjects pivotal to the success of early stage start-ups in the health sector.

Module 3 - Lessons from Leaders: A webinar series in which successful entrepreneurs and business leaders share their experiences in commercializing technologies in the cardiovascular health sector.

Module 4 - Community of Mentors: Successfully ranked ventures will become clients of H2i, a University of Toronto campus-linked accelerator, with access to H2i’s extensive network of mentors, professional funding and events.

Module 5 - Ignite Start-up Funding: The program will culminate with pitch training, private pitch sessions and ECHO PITCH 2021 - a public pitch competition event, where the program ventures will have the opportunity to win start-up funding from a $250,000 pool.

Eligibility

Any Canadian-based researcher, clinician, student and/or entrepreneur developing cardiovascular technologies and innovations is eligible to apply.

Competitive Enrolment Process

Expression of Interest (EOI): For priority considerations within the candidate pool, submit the ECHO EOI Form to Soror Sharifpoor by Friday July 24, 2020.
Application: Complete the following two forms and submit by Friday August 28, 2020.

ECHO Application Form: submit to Soror Sharifpoor
H2i Venture Application Form: submit online

Interviews: Interviews will commence September 2020 for select applicants. The program begins October 2020.

For full program information and enrolment instructions, please visit the ECHO program page or contact Soror Sharifpoor (Director, Strategy & Translation; TBEP)

The ECHO program is funded and organized through TBEP in partnership with H2i. TBEP is the University of Toronto component of the Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, focused on heart failure research across the lifespan. H2i is a University of Toronto campus-linked accelerator facilitating the commercialization of health matters.

Federal COVID-19 Immunity Task Force Seeks Information on COVID-19 Studies

The COVID-19 Immunity Task Force has a mandate to identify how many Canadians have been exposed to the SARS-CoV-2 virus and determine the degree and duration of immunity. As part of its due diligence, the Task Force is undertaking a rapid landscaping survey that is seeking to identify individuals and organizations that are either leading COVID-19 related studies or have established infrastructure that could potentially engage in its work.

For example, this includes studies or services that:

Survey general populations and collect biological specimens; Examine specific populations at defined parts of the life course such as antenatal, Children/youth, adults, elderly; by occupation such as health care workers, long term care workers or first responders, or by markers of vulnerability such as incarcerated, the homeless or persons living with co-morbidities; Engage Indigenous Peoples, First Nations (on/off reserve), Inuit, Metis, and non-status First Nations

https://www.covid19immunitytaskforce.ca/survey-for-key-informants-understanding-opportunities-to-assess-covid-19-immunity-in-canada/

Also, if you have not already done so, please take advantage of COVID-19 information and collaborative resources available and the UofT Centre for Research & Innovation Support (CRIS) website

If your are leading such studies or services, please complete the brief survey questionnaire:

French Institutes for Advanced Study Fellowship Programme - Call for Applications

The French Institutes for Advanced Study Fellowship programme offers ten-month fellowships distributed amongst the four Institutes of Paris, Lyon, Montpellier and Marseille to high-level international researchers in the social sciences and humanities (SSH).

Eligibility: Fellowships are awarded to outstanding researchers of all career levels, from postdoctoral researchers to senior scientists. The minimum requirement is a PhD + 2 years of research experience at the time of the application. Exception will be made for scholars with a Master + 6 years of full-time research experience after the degree (PhD training will not be considered in the calculation of experience).

Researchers from all countries are eligible to the Programme but they have to have spent no more than 12 months in France during the three years prior to the application deadline.

Sponsor's deadline: September 15, 2020, 3pm (Paris, France time)

Fulbright Canada research opportunities at US institutions

The 2021-2022 Fulbright Canada Research Chair Program is accepting applications from academics and professionals through November 15th, 2020.

These grants support research with colleagues at institutions across the US for a 4 to 9-month period. Opportunities include:

Humanities and Social Sciences

Research Chair in Aboriginal/Indigenous Cultures, Sovereignties, and Languages, University of Arizona
Research Chair in the Humanities and Social Sciences, The Citadel
Research Chair in Social Sciences, University of Hawai‘i at M?noa

Canadian Studies
Distinguished Chair in Québec Studies, State University of New York College at Plattsburgh

Science & Technology
Research Chair in Computers, Science, and Engineering, Florida Polytechnic University
Environmental & Arctic Studies

Research Chair in Arctic Studies, Dartmouth College
Research Chair in Arctic Studies, University of Washington
Research Chair in Climate Change, Air Quality, and Atmospheric Chemistry, Univ. of California, Irvine

Health
Research Chair in Public Health, Johns Hopkins University

Policy/Law & Governance
Distinguished Chair in International Area Studies, Yale University
Research Chair in Canada-U.S. Relations, Johns Hopkins University
Research Chair in Military Social Work, University of Southern California
Research Chair in Peace and War Studies, Norwich University
Research Chair in Public Diplomacy, University of Southern California

Field Open
Research Chair (field open), University of California, Santa Barbara Research Chair (field open), Vanderbilt University

Eligibility requirements
Eligibility for these awards require the candidate to meet the minimum requirements mentioned below:

Have Canadian citizenship (Permanent residence is not sufficient) and not dual US citizenship. Hold a PhD or equivalent professional training or experience/terminal degree as appropriate. Be proficient in English.

Applications are made directly to the sponsor. For an overview of the application process and full list of opportunities, please see: https://www.fulbright.ca/programs/canadian-scholars/visiting-chairs-program/how-to-apply

Detailed Eligibility requirements are available here.

The sponsor will hold a webinar on September 23, 2020, 2pm ET on how to prepare a successful application. Please register online here.

Heart and Stroke Foundation

Due to the unprecedented financial challenges caused by a decreased ability to fundraise during the COVID-19 pandemic and in the uncertain future – we would like to explicitly advise that Heart & Stroke may not be in a position to offer/fund any awards from this competition.

Heart & Stroke is offering the competitions for those who choose to apply understanding that no awards (one year or multi-year) may be offered.

Funding Opportunities:
Grants in Aid - The Grant-in-Aid (GIA) program provides operating funds to support important, pertinent, novel research in the areas of heart disease and stroke. GIA funding promotes research discovery, exploration and innovation across all health research themes. Knowledge gained from scientific findings contributes to the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health of Canadians through prevention, treatment and recovery.

Research is supported across the four health research themes:

Basic biomedical
Clinical
Health services/systems
Social, cultural, environmental and population health.

Researchers at all career stages are encouraged to apply to the GIA program. Principal Investigators (and co-PIs) must have a full-time academic or faculty appointment (i.e., at minimum, at the assistant or clinical assistant professor level) in Canada at the time of application.

Grant-in-Aid Program Guidelines
Applications for Grant-in-Aid must be submitted by 16:00 (EDT) 27 August 2020 using the Heart & Stroke’s online system (CIRCUlink)

Impact award - The Impact Award is a transformative, multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional and competitive research award. This peer-reviewed award will focus on addressing the most urgent and relevant priorities and incorporate the perspective of people with lived experience. Heart & Stroke has defined its priorities with the support of its advisory committees and broad consultation.

Eligibility for this award includes all career stages from early to senior-level investigators. While based in Canada, it is hoped that the Principal Investigators will pursue collaborations with international teams, if appropriate.

There are no Impact Award competitions available at present. Watch this space for information or sign up to our quarterly Research e-newsletter for updates as well as all available funding opportunities.

National New Investigator Award - The National New Investigator (NNI) program is a salary award to support new investigators who have demonstrated excellence in their doctoral and post- doctoral training and wish to establish their own independent research career (e.g., lab). Salary support opportunities of this kind provide an added incentive for researchers to continue or begin their program of research within Canada.

Application Submission Deadline Applications for the New Investigator award must be received by the Heart & Stroke no later than 16:00 (EDT) on September 4, 2020. Information can be found here.

International Doctoral Cluster (IDC) Applications

An International Doctoral Cluster (IDC) is a research and doctoral education arrangement in a well-defined area/topic of research that brings together, through in-person and virtual activities, a critical mass of complementary talent (PIs, PDFs and graduate students). An IDC is a partnership between faculty and trainees at U of T and international partner institutions (academic/corporate/NGO etc.) in the form of an alliance that is more than the sum of its parts.

We are inviting IDC proposals which support cross-disciplinary and cross-border collaborations to catalyze new ideas and transformational innovations.

Taking into account the changing ways in which collaborative research is being conducted, the IDC program will give strong consideration to proposals that aim to develop robust international research and training opportunities and networks through a combination of in-person, virtual, and other novel approaches to global collaborations.

Funding and Duration:

The Office of the Vice-President International (OVPI) and the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) will together provide one third of the budget, up to a maximum of $33,000 CAD/year for the associated mobility costs for U of T students, PDFs, and faculty, for up to 3 years initially. The IDC will be subjected to an internal review and if there is a good case to be made for a longer period of funding, could be renewed for a maximum of two further years.
The funding may also be used to cover the costs of novel virtual approaches to global collaborations, such as the use of online communication platforms, virtual workshops and lab group meetings, virtual journal clubs, and online open access lab notebooks. Please contact OVPI for more information/questions concerning this.
PIs should secure the remaining 2/3rd from within and beyond the University (e.g. Tri-Agency, industry, philanthropy, etc.).

Application Deadline: February 15, May 15, September 15, and December 15.
Notification to Successful Applicants: Decisions will be communicated within 8 weeks of submission.
Eligibility: U of T applicants must have a faculty appointment with U of T and be eligible to hold research funding.

Selection Criteria:
1. Proposed academic case including research strength, design, and rationale
2. Engagement of a critical mass of PIs at U of T & overseas and complementarity amongst all co-PIs
3. Proposed implementation plan, including for graduate training
4. Novelty of approaches used in implementation plan
5. Desired outcomes: knowledge transfer, attract top global talent, multidisciplinary global knowledge networks
6. Funding: leverage larger sources of external funding to sustain partnership
7. Enhance global exposure of U of T community

For more information on this call, including detailed instructions on how to submit a proposal, please see the funding opportunities page.

Contact: Skandha Sunderasen, International Strategic Partnerships Officer (s.sunderasen@utoronto.ca) for any questions about the IDC call and to submit IDC applications.

Lung Cancer Canada - 2020 Geoff Ogram Memorial Research Grant

The Geoffrey Ogram Memorial Research Grant (GOMRG) supports advancement in lung cancer research programs that are anywhere in the continuum from basic, high impact discovery to translational work of direct relevance to the clinic and beyond. The goal of the GOMRF program is to provide a mechanism for scientists to study innovations and accelerate the application of new knowledge relating to the early detection of lung cancer and the etiology of lung cancer in different demographics and populations. Applications are encouraged from, but not limited to, the areas of biomedical, clinical, health services, social, and population health research. Guidelines can be found here.

Objectives
The overall goal of the GOMRG is to reduce the burden of lung cancer and optimize patient care. It is not intended to support awareness programs and is not intended to solely support research infrastructure.

Funding
One competition per year - one $25,000 (CDN) grant will be awarded. Funding will be provided to support the direct costs of a defined research program, including supplies, expenses,* wages and equipment associated with the proposed work. Indirect costs** are not eligible expenses.
Deadline
August 17, 2020 by 11:59 EST
Additional information can be found here.

MDC - Psychiatry Consortium: Validation of Novel Molecular Drug-targets

The Medicines Discovery Catapult (MDC), representing a consortium of charities and global pharmaceutical companies (“Psychiatry Consortium”), is looking for proposals that focus on the validation of novel molecular drug-targets.

The Psychiatry Consortium will work collaboratively with successful researchers to develop the projects and provide, in addition to project funding, access to drug-discovery expertise, drug-discovery capabilities through specialised Partner Organisations, commercial know-how, and project management resources.

Scope
The Psychiatry Consortium is seeking project proposals which focus on the validation of novel molecular drug-targets for the following mental health conditions:
psychotic disorders, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, stress-related disorders, PTSD, OCD, autism spectrum disorders as well as psychiatric symptoms associated with dementia and other cognitive disorders

The Psychiatry Consortium intend to fund projects which:

show some evidence that links the molecular target to human disease and of the target modulation having a therapeutic effect, which can be further developed or validated
will enable tools for target validation e.g. through optimisation of existing tool compounds to improve selectivity, potency, bioavailability

Funding
Projects will be expected to last up to 3 years and the total eligible funding will be between £200,000 and £1,000,000, depending on the specific requirements of each project.

Application Process
The call for applications for project funding will run twice per year;

For 2020 the call dates will be:

Call 3 Open: October 5th | Deadline: November 20th

Before submitting your application, please read their Terms and Conditions. You may also find their FAQs useful.

For more information and to apply, please visit: https://psychiatryconsortium.org/call-for-proposals/
Projects seeking to identify target modulation biomarkers relevant to disease will also be in scope.

Medicine by Design Grand Questions Program

Medicine by Design is now accepting applications for its Grand Questions Program. Phase 1 proposals are due August 21, 2020.

Medicine by Design’s Grand Questions Program aims to change the future of regenerative medicine through research that addresses some of the field’s biggest unanswered questions. Through this program, Medicine by Design is investing in bold ideas and developing transformative and revolutionary solutions that will be of critical importance to regenerative medicine over the next 20 years. These solutions will enable new therapies that promise dramatically better health outcomes for people around the world, ensuring Toronto and Canada continue to lead this health-care transformation.

Medicine by Design will invest up to $3 million in the Grand Questions Program. Successful teams will receive up to $1 million each over the period of March 1, 2021- August 31, 2022.

Funded by the Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF), Medicine by Design harnesses world-leading regenerative medicine expertise at the University of Toronto and its affiliated hospitals, and encourages creativity, risk-taking and excellence at the convergence of science, engineering and medicine.

The Grand Questions

Medicine by Design invites researchers to submit proposals outlining how they will address one of the following Grand Questions. These questions have been developed and refined in consultation with investigators at U of T and its affiliated hospitals and Medicine by Design’s Scientific Advisory Board.

Designing Tissues de novo — Can we make tissues that perform better than nature?
Affordability and Accessibility — How can we make regenerative medicine available to everyone?
New Technology for Cell Tracking — Can we record the m/RNA/protein/signaling history of a cell?
Physics of Regeneration — What are the core physio-chemical principles governing organ formation, and can they facilitate organ regeneration?
Senescence and Aging — How can we turn back the clock, making old cells young again?
Reversing Organ Failure — Can tissue damage that is considered to be permanent actually be reversed?

Eligibility

Investigators with a faculty appointment at the University of Toronto are eligible to apply.

Medicine by Design Cycle 2 lead principal investigators (PI) are not eligible to be lead PIs for projects funded under this program, but are eligible to be co-PIs. Cycle 2 co-PIs and all other investigators who have previously received Medicine by Design funding are eligible to be lead PIs for this program.

Only one application will be accepted from each lead investigator. Each project may have only one lead PI but there is no limit to the number of co-PIs.

Multiple teams may submit proposals around the same Grand Question. Not all Grand Questions will receive funding.

Please click here to learn more about the Grand Questions, and how to apply.

If you have questions, please contact Stephanie Hume, Scientific Manager, Medicine by Design at stephanie.hume@utoronto.ca.

Merck KGaA Research Grants

Stimulating Innovative Research

In 2020, Merck KGaA is offering a series of research grants to stimulate innovative research in challenging areas of future importance.
Grants of 100,000 EUR - 500,000 EUR per year for up to 3 years are available in the areas of:

Drug discovery
Bioreactor design for cultured meat
Next generation machine learning
Pandemic preparedness / fighting new emerging viral infectious disease

Application Process

The research grants program is open to scientists in all career stages who are affiliated with any research-based institution, university or company.
Applicants submit their application for the focus topics containing non-confidential information only.
You may apply for more than one focus topic. If your application is successful, you will be invited to submit a full proposal and join a deep-dive workshop with the other finalists in 2020.

To submit an application, researchers must first register with Merck’s online portal. On your first visit, you will need to register (click "register" in the online form) with a valid email address. Your registration link will then be forwarded to this email address.

Deadlines

Application submission deadline for the Drug discovery, Bioreactor design, Next generation machine learning topics is August 31, 2020, 5:59 p.m. EST.

There is no fixed deadline for the Pandemic preparedness topic as it will be reviewed on a rolling basis to provide a quicker response.

MITO2i Innovation Grants

MITO2i Innovation Grants are meant to fund impactful projects that brings novel ways to transform mitochondrial health and be able to have a direct impact on the quality of life of patients with mitochondrial disease or dysfunction. The objective of the Innovation grants is to generate new knowledge, promoting innovation and interdisciplinary research. MITO2i will invest in bold interdisciplinary ideas, ranging from basic (e.g. fundamental biological concepts) to clinical and translational research (diagnostic and novel treatments for mitochondrial dysfunction) and health policy, economics, law and ethics and epidemiology, to cultivate new concepts that are expected to be of critical importance to mitochondrial medicine and research.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION: MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14TH, 2020 AT 5PM EST
Workshop: Q&A Session for Grants, Fellowships & Scholarships
August 14, 2020
11am & 3pm EST
Register here

Successful grants will be awarded up to $100,000 for a two-year project.

More Information on the MITO2i Innovation Grants can be found here

National Research Council of Canada: The Pandemic Response Challenge Program - Call for Expression of Interest

The Pandemic Response Challenge Program is currently structured around four main research areas:

Rapid detection and diagnosis
Therapeutics and vaccine development
Digital health

Purpose: This program will build teams to address challenges requiring further research and development for solutions to meet COVID-19 related needs. The NRC will build these teams drawing on internal-to-government capacity and academic researchers who register using the button below to indicate their interest, and related areas of expertise and capabilities.

The NRC will receive $15M to form dedicated teams to address challenges in the areas of greatest research and development (R&D) need in the fight against COVID-19. The NRC Pandemic Response Challenge Program will accelerate the development of diagnostics and medical countermeasures for a rapid front-line response to protect and treat Canadians. This national vehicle will convene the best Canadian and international researchers from academia and small and medium-sized businesses to collectively accelerate R&D to address specific COVID-19 gaps and challenges as identified by Canadian health experts.

Researchers at Canadian and international universities, government departments, colleges, and highly innovative firms with relevant expertise can now register their interest to work with NRC on these challenges by Registering via the link below.

On that linked page, you will be asked to identify your primary area of interest. Please note that, as a 'radio button,' you can only select one Challenge area at a time.

Funding is available to help cover the costs of research for academic institutions, small and medium-sized businesses, and other eligible recipients participating in the challenge teams. Over the coming weeks, NRC will post the specific R&D challenges, send information to registered researchers, and invite them to indicate the expertise and capabilities they can bring to a team.

https://nrc.canada.ca/en/research-development/research-collaboration/programs/expression-interest-challenge-program-collaboration

Additional Information and Submission Guide

For more information about the different research areas for the NRC Pandemic Response Challenge, please visit the program website.

In order to manage the University's response to the COVID-19 Challenge, please confirm your registration via a courtesy email to strat.initiatives@utoronto.ca identifying the Challenge stream to which you have registered. As with other Challenges in relation to COVID-19, this is a rapidly evolving real-world situation, so please be patient as NRC finalizes program details.

New Frontiers in Research Fund – Exploration 2020

The 2020 Exploration competition of the New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF) program is now open.

NFRF Exploration: Overview
Open to researchers at all career stages, the objective of Exploration is to provide researchers with an opportunity to conduct high-risk, high-reward and interdisciplinary research not available through funding opportunities currently offered by SSHRC, NSERC, or CIHR.

Value: Up to $125,000 per year over 1 or 2 years (includes $25,000/year indirect costs).

Application process: applicants complete a mandatory Notice of Intent (internal deadline: August 11, 2020 by noon; sponsor deadline August 18^th, 2020) followed by a Full application (internal deadline - October 13, 2020 by noon; sponsor deadline October 20^th, 2020).

Eligibility: to encourage projects that push the boundaries of interdisciplinarity, proposals must be submitted by research teams composed of at least two individuals.This minimum applies to all stages of the competition – NOI and Full application. Projects must meaningfully engage members of underrepresented groups within the research team, and are expected to integrate sex and gender in their research designs, when appropriate.

The NOI and Full application are completed on the Convergence Portal, which is now open.

Additional Information
Details about Exploration are available on the NFRF website.
NFRF Program contact: NFRF-FNFR@chairs-chaires.gc.ca

Webinar (Recordings)
Webinar slides, recordings, U of T Tips, and Checklist are available below:

An NOI Tips and Checklist prepared by Research Services
Recordings and slides from the SSHRC Webinars held on July 7th, 2020

English	French
Recording	Recording
Slides	Slides

NOI Convergence walkthrough recordings (English version Password: AhKJ3wdu, French version Password: Ep7mQjJ6)

NIH POCTRN: Fast-Track Program for COVID-19 Test Development and Distribution

The National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) is urgently soliciting proposals and can provide up to $500M across multiple projects to rapidly produce innovative SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic tests that will assist the public’s safe return to normal activities. Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx), is a fast-track technology development program that leverages the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Point-of-Care Technology Research Network (POCTRN). RADx will support novel solutions that build the U.S. capacity for SARS-CoV-2 testing up to 100-fold above what is achievable with standard approaches. RADx is structured to deliver innovative testing strategies to the public as soon as late summer 2020 and is an accelerated and comprehensive multi-pronged effort by NIH to make SARS-CoV-2 testing readily available to every American.

NIBIB is providing substantial support to accelerate the development, validation, and commercialization of innovative point-of-care and home-based tests, as well as improvements to clinical laboratory tests, that can directly detect SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. NIBIB will support the full range of product development including commercialization and product distribution.

Design features might include technical innovations that:

Improve analytical performance, e.g., sensitivity, specificity, dynamic range, limit of detection, reliability, accuracy, speed (time to test result) and throughput
Enhance operational performance through, e.g., development of a patient- and user-friendly design, use of alternative sampling strategies (e.g., saliva, exhaled breath), integration with mobile-devices, designs for home-based use or strategies to overcome bottlenecks with current testing approaches
Improve access and reduce the cost of testing

Application Process:

Project proposals will be accepted through the online RADx portal on a rolling basis and will be reviewed within a week of receipt.

Based on meritorious review, RADx will select projects for a 3-phase process (Phases 0, 1 and 2). Each phase will have a budget and deliverables that must be reached to move to the next phase.

Phase 0: Work Package Development. An external expert panel will rapidly review all project proposals submitted to RADx for program suitability and technology readiness level. Following review, if NIH accepts a project into the RADx program, project teams will initiate Phase 0, a “deep dive” with content and commercialization experts that produces a customized one- or two-phase work package. Awards of up to $25,000 will be provided to cover the approximately one week participation in the RADx deep dive. Based on the results of this deep dive, a subset of projects will be selected for progression to Phase 1. More advanced approaches with higher technology readiness levels will be selected for acceleration directly to Phase 2.
Phase 1: Work Package #1. Once NIH approves a project for entry into phase 1, funding will be provided immediately to allow work to begin. Depending on the structure of the work package, some funding may be dependent on successful achievement of interim milestones. The awarded budget will be sufficient to address gating risks identified in Phase 0 on a maximally accelerated timetable. In-kind support may be provided in technical, clinical, manufacturing, and regulatory domains. Depending on the milestones that must be met, project budgets are expected to range from $500,000 to millions of dollars.
Phase 2: Work Package #2. The awarded milestone-driven budget will be sufficient to enable full product deployment on a maximally accelerated timeline. Additional accelerating resources will be made available through partnerships established by NIH and in-kind support provided by NIH and RADx. For projects that meet all milestones toward product distribution, budgets of tens of millions of dollars are anticipated. NIH will negotiate cost sharing with for-profit institutions as appropriate.

For more information and to apply, please visit: https://www.poctrn.org/radx

FAQs about this program can be found here.

NIH Various Opportunities

The National Institutes of Health has released the following requests for applications and program announcements:
Advanced Development of Informatics Technologies for Cancer Research and Management (U24)
(RFA-CA-20-009) Submission Deadlines: November 18, 2020

Assessing the Effects of Cannabinoids on HIV-Induced Inflammation (R01) (RFA-DA-20-022)
Application Receipt Date(s): AIDS Application Due Dates

Biomedical Knowledgebase (U24)
(PAR-20-097) Submission Deadline: September 25, 2020; January 25, 2021; September 24, 2021

Building in vivo Preclinical Assays of Circuit Engagement for Application in Therapeutic Development (R01) (PAR-19-289).
Submission Deadline: Standard deadline dates apply.

Clinical Characterization of Cancer Therapy-induced Adverse Sequelae and Mechanism-based Interventional Strategies (R01) (PAR-19-325)
Submission Deadlines: September 30, 2020.

Clinical Studies of Mental Illness (R01) (PAR-19-297)
Submission Deadline: Standard dates apply

Clinical Characterization of Cancer Therapy-induced Adverse Sequelae and Mechanism-based Interventional Strategies (R01) (PAR-19-325)
Submission Deadline: September 30, 2020.

Data Coordinating Center for Multi-Site Investigator-Initiated Clinical Trials (Collaborative U24) (PAR-19-330).
Submission Deadline: October 14, 2020.

Data Coordinating Center for Multi-Site Investigator-Initiated Clinical Trials (Collaborative U24 Clinical Trial Required) (PAR-19-330).
Submission Deadlines: October 14, 2020.

Development of Medications to Prevent and Treat Opioid Use Disorders and Overdose (UG3/UH3)
(PAR-20-092).
Submission Deadlines: Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, beginning on February 24 , 2020.

Development of Innovative Informatics Methods and Algorithms for Cancer Research and Management (R21) (RFA-CA-20-007). Submission Deadlines : November 18, 2020

Early-Stage Development of Informatics Technologies for Cancer Research and Management (U01)
(RFA-CA-20-008) Submission Deadline: November 18, 2020

Ethical Issues in Translational Science Research (R01) (RFA-TR-20-001)
Application Receipt Date(s): October 6, 2020, and October 6, 2021

Fundamental Mechanisms of Affective and Decisional Processes in Cancer Control (PAR-20-034).
Application Receipt Date(s): Standard dates apply.

Genetic Architecture of Mental Disorders in Ancestrally Diverse Populations (U01) (PAR-20-026).
Application Receipt Date(s): September 15, 2020, September 15, 2021

Genetic Architecture of Mental Disorders in Ancestrally Diverse Populations (Collaborative U01)(PAR-20-027).
Application Receipt Date(s): September 15, 2020, September 15, 2021

Grand Opportunity in Medications Development for Substance-Use Disorders (U01) (PAR-19-327).
Submission Deadline: on a rolling basis, beginning on August 26, 2019

Grand Opportunity in Medications Development for Substance-Use Disorders (U01 Clinical Trial Optional) (PAR-19-327).
Submission Deadlines: Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, beginning on August 26, 2019

Human-Animal Interaction (HAI) Research (R01) (PAR-20-031)
Application Receipt Date(s): November 30, 2020; November 30, 2021

Human-Animal Interaction (HAI) Research (R03) (PAR-20-032)
Application Receipt Date(s): November 30, 2020

Human-Animal Interaction (HAI) Research (R21) (PAR-20-033)
Application Receipt Date(s): November 30, 2020;

Heart, Lung, and Blood Co-morbiditieS Implementation Models in People Living with HIV (HLB SIMPLe) (UG3/UH3) (RFA-HL-20-025).
Application Receipt Date(s): Only accepting applications for the AIDS Application Due Date(s)

Heart, Lung, and Blood Co-morbiditieS Implementation Models in People Living with HIV (HLB-SIMPLe) Research Coordinating Center (U24) (RFA-HL-20-026)
Application Receipt Date(s): Only accepting applications for the AIDS Application Due Date(s)

Integrative Research on Polysubstance Abuse and Disorder (R61/R33)(PAR-20-035)
Application Receipt Date(s): November 17, 2020, March 17, 2021

International Research in Infectious Diseases (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
(PAR-20-108) Submission Deadlines: July 15, 2021; July 15 2022

Mechanisms of Mycobacterial-Induced Immunity in HIV-Infected and/or Uninfected Individuals to Inform Innovative Tuberculosis Vaccine Design (R01) (PAR-19-307)
Submission Deadline: January 14, 2021

Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells (MDSCs) as Potential Therapeutic Targets in TB/HIV (R21)(PAR-19-364).
Only accepting applications for the AIDS Application Due Dates

Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells (MDSCs) as Potential Therapeutic Targets in TB/HIV (R01) (PAR-19-357).
Submission Deadline: AIDS Application Due Dates

NCI Clinical and Translational Exploratory/Developmental Studies (R21) (PAR-19-356)
Submission Deadline: October 20, 2020

Neural Regulation of Cancer (R01) (PAR-19-353)
Submission Deadline: October 21, 2020

Neural Regulation of Cancer (R21) (PAR-19-354)
Submission Deadline: October 21, 2020;

NIA Multi-site Clinical Trial Implementation Grant (R01) (PAR-19-302)
Submission Deadline: Standard dates apply

Non-Invasive Neurostimulation in AD/ADRD (R01) (PAR-19-298)
Submission Deadline: Standard dates apply

Program to Assess the Rigor and Reproducibility of Extracellular Vesicle-Derived Analytes for Cancer Detection (R01) (PAR-20-053)
Application Receipt Date(s): Standard dates apply

Small Research Grant Program for the Next Generation of Clinical Researchers in AD/ADRD Research: Area of Focus Archiving and Leveraging Existing Data Sets for Analyses (R03) (PAS-19-391)
Application Receipt Date(s): Standard dates apply

Small Research Grant Program for the Next Generation of Clinical Researchers in AD/ADRD Research: Area of Focus Basic Science (R03) (PAS-19-392)
Application Receipt Date(s): Standard dates apply.

Small Research Grant Program for the Next Generation of Clinical Researchers in AD/ADRD Research: Area of Focus Systems Biology (R03) (PAS-19-393)
Application Receipt Date(s): Standard dates apply

Stimulating Innovations in Behavioral Intervention Research for Cancer Prevention and Control (R21) (PAR-19-309)
Submission Deadline: Standard dates apply

Sustained Support for Informatics Technologies for Cancer Research and Management (U24)
(RFA-CA-20-010) Submission Deadline: November 18, 2020

Transgender People: Immunity, Prevention, and Treatment (R21) (PAR-20-054)
Application Receipt Date(s): May 11, 2021

Utilizing Invasive Recording and Stimulating Opportunities in Humans to Advance Neural Circuitry Understanding of Mental Health Disorders (R01) (RFA-MH-20-350)
Application Receipt Date(s): October 9, 2020; June 10, 2021

Utilizing Invasive Recording and Stimulating Opportunities in Humans to Advance Neural Circuitry Understanding of Mental Health Disorders (R21) (RFA-MH-20-351)
Application Receipt Date(s): October 9, 2020; June 10, 2021

Visit here to see the National Institutes of Health’s recently released requests for applications and program announcements. For more information on NIH application and the submission process, please visit the University’s Research Funding Opportunities found here.

NSERC Alliance grants: Canada’s Research Partnerships Program

NSERC is pleased to announce that Alliance grants are now open for all Option 1 requesting more than $20,000 annually from NSERC, and Option 2 applications requesting over $30,000 and up to $100,000 annually from NSERC. For Option 2, the number of applications from each applicant (as principal investigator or as co-applicant) will be limited to one within a 12-month period. As with the staged Option 1 introduction in 2019, the full range of Option 2 applications will be accepted only at some point in future. Alliance Option 2 applications will be evaluated in two stages. Complete applications will be submitted to a multidisciplinary and multisectoral selection committee that will assess whether the higher NSERC contribution (associated with Option 2) is justified. The selection committee will meet on a quarterly basis, starting in the Spring of 2020. If selected, applications will then proceed to the second step for review of overall merit, similar to Option 1. NSERC personnel have been invited to present a workshop on optimizing Alliance applications on the downtown St. George campus in late March 2020. Details of this visit will be shared in a subsequent Research Alert.

For full details about Alliance grants and how to apply, please visit: http://www.research.utoronto.ca/research-funding-opportunities/natural-sciences-and-engineering-research-council-of-canada-alliance-grants/

Please consult the Alliance Latest News page and the updated Frequently Asked Questions for more information.

NSERC Discovery Grant_ Notification of Intent to Apply

NSERC has announced the process for the NSERC Discovery Grant program. This involves a two phased application process, which includes:

A mandatory Notice of Intent form (now available through the NSERC Research Portal)
Full application (only available when the mandatory Notice of Intent form has been submitted) - November 2, 2020, 8pm (ET)

In order to apply for a Discovery Grant in November 2020 an applicant MUST complete and submit an online Notice of Intent by August 4, 2020, 8pm (ET)

NSERC will not accept any NOI after the deadline and an MRA is not required at NOI stage and is only required for your full application.

For additional information on the memo to potential applicants and the Discovery Grant program.

Webinars:

Due to COVID-19, NSERC is replacing live webinars with pre-recorded videos:

Memo to Potential Applicants – Notification of Intent to Apply for a Discovery Grant – 2021 Competition
Instructions for Completing the Notification of Intent to Apply for a Discovery Gran t
Canadian Common CV – How to Complete NSERC’s Version

NSERC PromoScience

NSERC's PromoScience Program offers financial support for organizations working with young Canadians to promote an understanding of science and engineering (including mathematics and technology). Organizations may request funds for up to three years at a time.

NSERC invites applications for initiatives that promote the natural sciences and engineering to Canada’s young people, particularly to under-represented and disadvantaged groups in natural sciences and engineering careers, including girls and Indigenous peoples. Taking equity and diversity into account, NSERC may support additional meritorious applications that focus on under-represented and disadvantaged groups if sufficient funds become available.

PromoScience supports activities and content designed for youth in elementary school and high school (including those in the equivalent first year of college in Quebec), and their teachers, and activities that will encourage Indigenous undergraduate students to pursue graduate studies in natural sciences and engineering.

Furthermore, NSERC encourages organizations to consider the needs of official language minority communities in their area while developing the activities to be proposed in the application and to strive to have official documentation and promotional material in both official languages.

NSERC will not fund 100% of the costs of a proposed activity. NSERC’s contribution is generally up to one-third of a program’s funding, but NSERC will allow more flexibility if justified for competition 2020 given the circumstances surrounding COVID-19. If your request deviates significantly from the one-third guideline, demonstrate your efforts to secure other sources of funding in the budget section of your application. The maximum allowable request is $200,000/year for three years.

Key Deadlines:

Internal Deadline: September 4, 2020, 9am EST

Sponsor Deadline: September 15, 2020, 5pm EST

2020 Sony Research Award Program

The Sony Research Award Program provides funding for cutting-edge academic research and helps build a collaborative relationship between faculty and Sony researchers. With awards up to $150,000 USD* per year for each accepted proposal, both the Faculty Innovation Award and Focused Research Award create new opportunities for university faculties to engage in pioneering research that could drive new technologies, industries and the future.

Target Award

The Sony Faculty Innovation Award provides up to $100K USD* - One (1) year, with a possible extension

The Sony Focused Research Award provides up to $150K USD* - One (1) year, with a possible extension

Internal Deadline: Sep 8, 2020

Sponsor Deadline: Sep 15, 2020 11:59 pm PDT

Each Award category features a broad range of themes and potential projects of interest to Sony. For a comprehensive list, please review the respective links to both Focused Research themes and Innovation keywords accessible via the link below.

For detailed program and application information, please visit:

https://research.utoronto.ca/funding-opportunities/db/2020-sony-research-award-program

SOSCIP COVID-19 Response - Call for Applications

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ontario-based industries and academic institutions are coming together to form strategies and provide support to fight this ongoing global crisis. As such, the work that needs to be done in advanced manufacturing, bioinformatics, molecular modelling, vaccine development and epidemiology demands considerable computational capacity.

The SOSCIP COVID-19 Response aims to provide rapid access to high-performance computing (HPC) resources on their advanced computing platforms. Through industry-academic partnerships, compute space for collaborators committed to responding to COVID-19 will be fast-tracked, and successful applicants will be rapidly launched onto the compute systems.

SOSCIP COVID-19 Response Details
Include a brief description of

Your COVID19 solution,
Your compute needs,
Your organization,
Your academic / industry partner.

Contact SOSCIP: covid.response@soscip.org

If your application is eligible, they will send you a formal application form for you to fill out.

For complete program information, please visit: https://www.soscip.org/covid19/#

Please note: As indicated above, the applicant must also upload and submit the application through the university's My Research Application (MRA) System. The MRA approval process should be started well in advance in parallel to ensure a successful submission since it can take several business days to complete the approval process.

SSHRC Insight Grant competition

SSHRC has now updated the Insight Grant competition guidelines for the 2020 competition. Insight Grants support long-term research initiatives in the social sciences and humanities. They offer awards from $7,000 to $400,000 over 2 to 5 years, with a maximum annual budget of $100,000. Funding is available to emerging and established scholars for projects conducted by an individual researcher or team of researchers.

For further information, and the link to the application form, see the SSHRC Insight Grant funding opportunity description (you will also find a link to the IG application instructions, so please refer to them when completing the application).

***Please note: that the final SSHRC deadline for this 2020 IG competition, October 1st, is earlier than in the past, so the following Research Services internal deadlines are in response to that:

Wednesday, September 23, 2020 (9 am) - receipt of approved MRA
Monday, September 28, 2020 (9 am) - online submission of final SSHRC application via the SSHRC site

For more information on the 2020 SSHRC IG competition, please visit the UofT Research and Innovation IG webpage (particularly for the internal deadlines for this competition) and the SSHRC IG webpage.
Webinar

SSHRC will be holding webinars for applicants and research administrators to provide information and answer questions about the Insight Grants and the Insight Development Grants.

The webinars will be held via WebEx at the following times:

Webinar

Date

WebEx link

Insight Grants (French)

Mercredi le 19 août, 2020

13 h 00 – 14 h 30 HE

https://sshrcvideo.webex.com/sshrcvideo-fr/onstage/g.php?MTID=e79c8aa7a87695f46281f7cd2a53310c7

Insight Grants (English)

Thursday, August 20th, 2020

1:00 PM -2:30 PM ET

https://sshrcvideo.webex.com/sshrcvideo/onstage/g.php?MTID=e333b5431c9f6e19fd0d9817d7c3c5bee

Please note that you do not need to register in advance and a question and answer period will follow the presentation. With WebEx, questions will be submitted via the chat function.

To join via WebEx:

Click on the WebEx webinar link on the date and time specified. Enter your name, email address and the event password. Adjust the volume on your computer.

SSHRC Knowledge Synthesis Grants - Skills and Work in the Digital Economy

SSHRC, in collaboration with the Future Skills Centre, is launching this Knowledge Synthesis Grant funding opportunity to foster a deeper understanding of the state of knowledge on the implications of digital technologies for workers in a global landscape. The resulting synthesis reports will identify how academic, public, private and not-for-profit sectors can support workers in response to the new challenges and opportunities presented by digital technologies and the COVID-19 crisis. The reports will also suggest ways that educators, employers and policy-makers can encourage lifelong learning and create effective, resilient and inclusive workplaces in a rapidly changing economic landscape.

Knowledge Synthesis Grants are not intended to support original research. Rather, they are intended to support the synthesis of existing research knowledge, the identification of knowledge gaps, and effective knowledge mobilization to engage cross-sectoral stakeholders and Indigenous rights-holders. This call is particularly focused on the state of research knowledge emerging over the past 10 years.

The following are the broad themes related to this funding opportunity:

Education and training: Skills, competencies and lifelong learning
Work and the worker: Innovation and engagement
The workplace: Workspaces and interpersonal relationships
Society: Changing social dynamics
Governance: Regulations and ethics Geopolitical considerations:
Local, regional and global contexts

Value: $30,000

Duration: 1 year (synthesis reports must be completed by June 2021

Internal deadline and submission process

Research Services must receive a completed application form and approved MRA by noon, Monday August 31, 2020.

For further information, please see:
SSHRC Knowledge Synthesis Grant funding opportunity or Research Services website

SSHRC Partnership Engage Grant

The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) is pleased to announce the partnership Engage Grants. These grants are expected to respond to the objectives of the Insight program and the Connection program. Please note that Partnership Engage Grants cannot respond exclusively to the objectives of the Connection program.

These grants provide short-term and timely support for partnered research activities that will inform decision-making at a single partner organization from the public, private or not-for-profit sector. The small-scale, stakeholder-driven partnerships supported through Partnership Engage Grants are meant to respond to immediate needs and time constraints facing organizations in non-academic sectors. In addressing an organization-specific need, challenge and/or opportunity, these partnerships let non-academic organizations and postsecondary researchers access each other’s unique knowledge, expertise and capabilities on topics of mutual interest.

Sponsor Deadlines: December 15, March 15, June 15 by 8pm EST.

SSHRC Partnership Engage Grants COVID-19 Special Initiative

SSHRC is developing initiatives to support the social sciences and humanities research community during this time of unprecedented disruption and distress. As part of this effort, we are pleased to announce the launch of a new initiative within our Partnership Engage Grants: the PEG COVID-19 Special Initiative.

The potential contributions of researchers from the humanities and social sciences, including Indigenous research, are considerable – from highlighting the lessons of history, to probing individual and group behaviour, to exploring possible responses in policy and practice from all sectors and disciplines, be it education, arts, economics, etc.

The PEG COVID-19 Special Initiative provides short-term and timely support for small-scale, stakeholder-driven partnerships through Partnership Engage Grants (PEG). This Special Initiative will allow researchers and their partners the possibility to address urgent and specific needs, as well as challenges or opportunities through collaborations. It will also provide a unique opportunity to foster knowledge exchange between postsecondary researchers and different sectors of society while including students, PhDs, PDFs and other HQPs on the COVID-19 crisis related issues, challenges and impacts.

SSHRC is committed to investing up to $1.5 M over the next two PEG competitions to support COVID-19 related projects. Grants are valued at a maximum amount of $25K per project for duration of one year.

Value	$7,000 to $25,000
Duration	1 year
Application deadline	8 p.m. (eastern) on June 15 and September 15

Further details, including application information, are available on SSHRC’s website at the following link: https://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/funding-financement/programs-programmes/peg-sep-covid-19-eng.aspx

SSHRC Partnership Development Grant

The SSHRC 2020 Partnership Development Grants competition is now open. These grants provide support over one to three years to teams of researchers, working in formal parterships between postsecondary institutions and/or organizations of various types, to:

develop research and/or related activities in the social sciences and humanities—these can include knowledge mobilization and the meaningful involvement of students and emerging scholars, by fostering new partnerships with existing and/or potential partners; or
design and test new partnership approaches for research and/or related activities that can result in best practices or models—these can either be adapted by others or have the potential to be scaled up to a regional, national or international level.

Partner organizations can be Canadian or international institutions or organizations (public, private, not-for-profit) of any type. Funds are available to support a variety of formal partnership development initiatives in all of the disciplines and themes eligible for funding at SSHRC.

Value and duration

Partnership Development Grants are valued at $75,000 to $200,000, over one to three years.

While there is no minimum contribution requirement, institutions and their partner organizations are expected to support the activities of the formal partnership through cash and/or in-kind support.

Internal deadlines

October 19, 2020: submission of documents for optional editorial review

November 11, 2020: online submission of completed application and receipt of fully approved MRA annd support documentiation for UofT commitments

Further information

SSHRC Partnership Development Grant funding opportunity
Research Services Partnership Development Grant webpage

United States Department of Defense (DOD) - Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs - Funding Opportunities

US Department of Defense (DOD) Office of the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) has released pre-funding announcements for the following programs:

Hearing Restoration Research Program (HRRP)

Focused Research Award

Neurotoxin Exposure Treatment Parkinson’s (NETP)

Early Investigator Research Award
Investigator-Initiated Research Award
Synergistic Idea Award (NEW!)

Prostate Cancer Research Program (PCRP)

Prostate Cancer Pathology Resource Network Award
*Descriptions of each of the funding opportunities, eligibility, key mechanism elements, and funding can be found in the respective Program pre-announcement at http://cdmrp.army.mil

Application Information:
UofT campus based applicants should select Toronto, University of for the institution and indicate the appropriate Research Services Office contact (see below) as the Business Official in their pre-application in the eBRAP System.

Contact Information:
Krista Montgomery (krista.montgomery@utoronto.ca): for UofT Faculty appointed within Dalla Lana, Applied Sci & Eng, Dentistry, Forestry, Kinesiology & PE, Nursing, Pharmacy, UTM, and Medicine (last names A-M only).

Deadlines: Individual deadlines available at http://cdmrp.army.mil

Graduate Students & Postdoctoral Fellows

Award Explorer

Interested in awards at the University of Toronto? Whether you’re thinking of coming to U of T – or you are a current student pursuing undergraduate or graduate studies – this tool can help you explore the diverse funding opportunities that recognize your achievements and financially support your studies.

Graduate and Postdoctoral Awards database is available here.

2020 Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship Program

SGS has recently announced the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships for the 2020-21 fiscal year. The Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships Program is intended to attract and retain top-tier postdoctoral talent, both nationally and internationally. The program offers Postdoctoral Fellows a 2-year non-renewable award with a value of $70,000 per year. The Postdoctoral Fellows areas of research can be within Health research, Natural sciences and/or engineering and the Social sciences and/or humanities. Information on the program can be found in the attached material, the Banting PDF website and on our Funding Opportunities Page.

The Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy has been allocated one (1) Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship nomination for 2020. As a result, we will be implementing an internal review process to select the top ranked applicant from the Faculty and provide the endorsement. Please review the material and submit the nominations by the internal application deadline (Tuesday, August 11, 2020 by 5pm EDT).

Who is this for?
Any current Postdoc or Graduate student who have fulfilled or will fulfill all degree requirements for a PhD, PhD-equivalent or health professional degree between September 15, 2017 and September 30, 2021, and before the start date of their award. Additional information on eligibility can be found here.

Deadlines:

As the Faculty of Pharmacy can only submit one Banding Postdoctoral Fellowship application, we will be implementing an internal review process; details are outlined below:

Internal Review (Deadline: Tuesday August 11, 2020 by 5pm EDT)

Applicants are required to submit an application package to the LDFP Research Office for review and selection. If selecting another Host Institution you need to submit your application through their research office and should consult their process and timelines.

For submission to the Faculty of Pharmacy please email a PDF copy of your complete application package to sam.dalfonso@utoronto.ca by Tuesday, August 11^th, 2020 by 5pm EDT – do not send your application to either SGS or Banting.

Full Applications - SGS Review & Sponsor Submission (Deadline: Thursday, October 1, 2020 – 8pm EDT)

Only the top-ranked PDF application will be endorsed by the Faculty of Pharmacy and be forwarded to SGS. Details on the final submission of the application will be provided by SGS before the application can be submitted (through ResearchNet) to the Banting PDF Secretariat. Details on the full application process can be found in the Application Guide.

Internal Application:
An application package can be submitted to Sam D’Alfonso (sam.dalfonso@utoronto.ca) in PDF format as one file using the naming convention LastFirst_BPDF_AUG2020. The PDF file must contain the following items:

Curriculum Vitae – Please note that Banting Application requires the Canadian Common CV
Significance of research and leadership contributions (Max 1 page)
Special circumstances, if applicable (Max 1 page)
Research proposal (Max 2 pages)
Supervisor's reference (Max 1 page)
A list of 3 referees’ that will provide an assessment at the full proposal stage
Notification of results from the LDFP are expected by late August.

Selection Criteria:
A selection committee constituted from members of the professorial staff within the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy will review all applications. Applications will be evaluated based on the following selection criteria:

Research excellence and leadership in the research domain - demonstrated capacity for research excellence based on track record as defined by quality of applicant's research contributions, and demonstrated capacity for leadership in the research domain defined by the sphere of influence achieved to date by the applicant.
Quality of the applicant’s proposed research program - examined in terms of the potential of the proposed research program (taking into consideration feasibility, timelines and novelty of research), executed in the proposed institutional environment, to position the applicant for significant impact through a research-intensive career (potential for significant impact).
Institutional commitment and demonstrated synergy between applicant and institutional strategic priorities – examined in terms of:
- demonstrated commitment of institution to support the development of the applicant’s research and leadership capacity through institutional support (funding, facilities, equipment, etc.) and professional development; and
- demonstrated alignment and synergy between the applicant's research ambitions and the institution's potential to benefit strategically from its engagement with the applicant (alignment with institution's strategic priorities)

See the Banting Postdoctoral Fellows selection committee guide for further information.

Marie Sklodowska-Curie (MSC) Global Fellowship

The Marie Sklodowska-Curie (MSC) Global Fellowship opportunity is offered by the European Commission and is designed to help create long-term collaborations and new knowledge transfer between European Member States (MS) and Associated Countries (AC) and countries outside Europe (Third Countries) such as Canada.

These fellowships enable experienced European researchers (PhD or with 4 years of full-time research experience) who are national or long term residents of a MS or AC to be trained and to acquire new knowledge in a Third Country (TC) research partner organization (e.g. U of T) during an Outgoing Phase for a total duration of 12-24 months. Fellows must return to the European Host Organization for a mandatory 12 month period following their Outgoing Phase.

Submission Process

By the internal deadline, the applicant's proposed UofT Supervisor must upload & submit the following documents through the University's My Research (MR) System:

Internal Deadline: Tues. September 2, 2020
Sponsor Deadline: Tues. September 9, 2020

Applicant's application Editable draft letter of commitment

For further details on this funding opportunity, please click here

Mitacs Globalink Research Award – Call for Applications

Up to 200 senior undergraduate and graduate student, as well as postdoctoral fellows from the university can participate in research exchanges through the Globalinks Research Award pathway. Faculty at U of T and an international university from a partner country will jointly supervise research projects. In addition, up to 80 students and postdoctoral fellows from international universities will come to Canada to conduct research at U of T. The funding for this international research mobility will allow students and researchers to build on their professional and academic networks, to refine their research skills in new environments and gain global fluency.
Award amount: $6,000 Canadian for 12-24 week long research projects*
Application deadline: 3 months prior to student arriving at host university
Eligible participants: undergraduate and graduate Students, and postdoctoral fellows in all disciplines
Application process: https://learningabroad.utoronto.ca/funding/gra/
Contact: mahvish.wesley@utoronto.ca

Mitacs Accelerate Graduate Student Internships

The Mitacs Accelerate program can help fund your research and trainee costs! The Mitacs Accelerate program helps fund partnered research projects by supporting Masters, PhD students, or PostDocs through "units" consisting of 4-month paid graduate student internships. Each Mitacs Accelerate grant is a $15,000 award, with at least $10,000 to support the student stipend and the balance available for project resources. In addition to single awards, the program can support “clusters” of units that can span multiple years and dozens (or more) of pre-approved internship opportunities. No deadlines - apply at any time.

Mitacs is a national funding agency and their programs can help you connect with industry, not-for-profit, community and other external partners.

For information about the Mitacs Accelerate program, please see: Mitacs Accelerate
For general information on Mitacs, please see: https://www.mitacs.ca/en/about

Contact innovations.partnerships@utoronto.ca for more information on the internal process.

MITO2i - The Postdoctoral Fellowship & Graduate Student Scholarship Awards

The Postdoctoral Fellowship & Graduate Student Scholarship Awards will provide funding support to highly accomplished post-doctoral and graduate student candidates who demonstrate outstanding potential to become independent researchers in Mitochondrial Research and Medicine.

For Graduate Students Scholarships each award provides up to $10,000 for one year in salary support, from January 1st, 2021 to December 31st, 2021.

For Post-Doctoral Fellowships each award provides up to $30,000 for one year in salary support, from January 1st, 2021 to December 31st, 2021.

More Information on the MITO2i Innovation Grants can be found here

Applications must be submitted to info@mito2i.ca by the deadline, September 14^th, 2020 at 5pm EST

Undergraduate Students

Award Explorer

Undergraduate Awards database is available here.

Mitacs Globalink Research Award – Call for Applications

Mitacs Globalink Research Award – Call for Applications. Up to 200 senior undergraduate and graduate student, as well as postdoctoral fellows from the university can participate in research exchanges through the Globalinks Research Award pathway. Faculty at U of T and an international university from a partner country will jointly supervise research projects. In addition, up to 80 students and postdoctoral fellows from international universities will come to Canada to conduct research at U of T. The funding for this international research mobility will allow students and researchers to build on their professional and academic networks, to refine their research skills in new environments and gain global fluency.
Award amount: $6,000 Canadian for 12-24 week long research projects*
Application deadline: 3 months prior to student arriving at host university
Eligible participants: undergraduate and graduate Students, and postdoctoral fellows in all disciplines
Application process: https://learningabroad.utoronto.ca/funding/gra/
Contact: mahvish.wesley@utoronto.ca