2023 Sex and Gender in Alzheimer's (SAGA 23) Award

Eligibility

General Considerations and Eligibility

This grant is open to U.S. and international researchers. Postdoctoral researchers, researchers with full-time staff or faculty appointments (Assistant Professor and above) are encouraged to apply. Any proposal must have a clear focus on AD/ADRD, the contribution of sex differences and be translational in nature. All proposals should clearly and explicitly outline the measure to be investigated, the methods for study, and outcomes. Researchers from underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply. 

Eligibility 

• In general, public, private, domestic and foreign research laboratories, medical centers, hospitals and universities are eligible to apply. State and federal government-appropriated laboratories in the U.S. and abroad and for-profit organizations are prohibited from serving as the applicant institution. However, state and federal government scientists can participate as collaborating scientists with research teams from other eligible applicant institutions.
• For the Letter of Intent (LOI), you will be required to upload proof of your organization's not-for-profit status.
• For non-profit organizations (non-academic), additional documentation may be required to confirm your organization has segregation of duties between transaction execution and transaction recording.
• The Alzheimer's Association recognizes the need to increase the number of scientists from underrepresented groups in the research enterprise. Researchers from these groups are encouraged to apply.

Ineligibility    

• Overlapping funding of more than one Alzheimer's Association grant is not allowed. Investigators who currently have an active Association grant may apply for another award in the last year of their grant if that last year concludes by 6 months of the award announcement. (There are some exceptions so please contact grantsapp@alz.org if you have questions regarding your eligibility).
• Investigators delinquent in reporting. The Alzheimer's Association will not accept new grant applications from investigators currently awarded an Association grant who are delinquent in submitting required reports and other deliverables on active grants. Investigators that have previous Alzheimer's Association awards closed as 'Incomplete' are not eligible to apply without exception. This policy will be strictly adhered to with no exceptions.
• Current members of the Association's Medical and Scientific Advisory Group (MSAG) and the International Research Grant Program (IRGP) Council are ineligible to (a) compete for any research grant or (b) be included as a co-investigator or to receive any financial benefit from an application. These individuals may be listed as key personnel or collaborators on an application and will be recused from participating in their peer-review.

Summary

The Sex and Gender in Alzheimer's (SAGA 23) request for applications 2023 funding program aims to support scientific investigation into the contributions of sex, gender, and gender identity to understanding the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related dementia (ADRD). 

Program Objectives: The Alzheimer's Association recognizes that even though Alzheimer's and dementia research has significantly advanced in recent years, the field still faces challenges in the knowledge and ability to fully understand the sex, gender, and gender identity differences in AD and ADRD. Building off the 2017 SAGA program and the continued investment by the Alzheimer's Association, the SAGA-23 funding program will aim to fund projects to directly advance the understanding and fill in gaps in knowledge of the contribution of sex, gender, and gender identity contributions to AD/ADRD. 

Potential themes: SAGA-23 is the second offering of an Alzheimer's Association funding program focuses on understanding the contributions of biological sex and gender to AD/ADRD and aims to address the gaps in our understanding of the role sex assigned at birth and related genetic, biological, lifestyle and societal factors may play in increasing vulnerability to ADRD. Areas of focus are defined broadly, and the examples cited are not intended to preclude or constrain other projects or proposals. Potential applicants are encouraged to submit proposals in their own areas of interest or formulate questions different from those presented in this announcement but with a focus on sex differences. Innovative and novel ideas to address challenges in research are the core of the Alzheimer's Association's research funding. In addition, there is a need to incorporate novel approaches from developing biology fields to contribute to our expanding field of sex biology research with AD pathophysiological studies. 

Discovery science (i.e. basic and translational studies) and human based studies of investigation are encouraged; clinical trials are likely to be considered outside of the scope for this request for this application call. 

Funding and award period: The Association anticipates funding up to six SAGA awards. Each award is limited to $250,000 (direct and indirect costs) for up to three (3) years. Requests in any given year may not exceed $100,000 (direct and indirect costs). Indirect costs are capped at 10 percent (rent for laboratory/office space is expected to be covered by indirect costs paid to the institution).

Pre-application deadlines

RSO internal deadline

Pre-application program deadline

Application deadlines

RSO detailed review deadline

RSO final internal review deadline

Program application deadline

NOTE: Consult your Faculty Associate Dean (Research) (ADR) regarding Faculty-specific deadlines and submission processes.

Principal Investigators: Complete a Research Management System (RMS) record, including a copy of your complete application, and submit this for approvals in RMS.

Postdocs, students, and trainees: For fellowships and externally-sponsored research training awards or opportunities, you must complete the Research Funding Application Approval (RFAA) Trainee PDF form, and submit it, along with a complete copy of the application, to Research Services at rsotrainee@ucalgary.ca. Trainees should not use RMS at this time.

Approvals: The University of Calgary requires that all funding applications be approved prior to submission. Approval requires signatures via either RMS or the RFAA Trainee form, in the following order:

• Principal Investigator
• Department Head
• Faculty ADR/Dean
• Research Services (on behalf of the Vice-President Research)

Read the Meaning of Grant Signatures policy to understand what your approval means. Please see the agency guidelines for details about which signatures are required on your application, as it may differ from internal requirements.

Late submissions: Late submissions will only be accepted in cases of medical or family emergencies, or other exceptional circumstances. If you submit your RMS record to Research Services after the internal deadline has passed, you must secure additional approvals. Please read: Late Applications Process.

Application Process - Letter of Intent

1. The Principal Applicant will first have to set up a personal account on Proposal Central (if not already in the PC database)
2. Complete your Letter of Intent according to the agency guidelines
3. To initiate internal approvals, complete a Pre-Award/Letter of Intent record in RMS (https://my.rms.ucalgary.ca/), attach a PDF of your completed Letter of Intent (along with any additional required attachments), and submit for approvals from your department head and/or faculty Associate Dean (Research). NOTE: when submitting in RMS, please ensure that you allow time for academic approvals prior to the Research Services Office internal review deadline of 12:00pm MT, February 10, 2023.
4. Once these approvals are obtained, RMS will automatically forward the Application record to Research Services for institutional review and approval.
5. Research Services will review, provide feedback (by email) if necessary, and will provide the institutional approval. If digital or wet-ink signatures are required, we will provide the capping institutional signature and will advise when ready.
6. A fully approved Letter of Intent, including any supplementary documentation, must be submitted via ProposalCentral by 5:00pm ET, February 15, 2023.

Applicants invited to submit full applications should contact Chantal Lemire, Research Grants Officer (chantal.lemire@ucalgary.ca) for additional information on the next stage of this competition.