2024 Parkinson Canada Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program

Eligibility

Parkinson Canada wishes to support training excellence and development of the wide scope of Parkinson’s research in Canada. Applications will be accepted from applicants who meet the eligibility criteria established by Parkinson Canada (as summarized in this Request for Applications) and who propose to continue their training or conduct research with the following organizations (an “Approved Institution”):

• Canadian post-secondary institutions and their affiliated institutions, including hospitals and research institutes; or
• Other organizations, as determined by the Research Policy Committee of the National Board of Parkinson Canada in consultation with the Advisory Council, provided that the applicant’s research or research-related activities fall within the mandate of Parkinson Canada.

Applicants must hold a doctoral degree (PhD or MD) obtained in the last 5 years and be graduates of a university recognized by Parkinson Canada. Applicants must be pursuing a research project as their primary focus.

In the evaluation of an Application, Parkinson Canada will typically consider any research experience acquired after the receipt of a doctorate degree as postdoctoral research training. Such work experience may be either full or part time and may be in an academic or private setting. Applicants will be given an opportunity to describe any career interruptions. Those currently funded by Parkinson Canada or with pending final reports from a Parkinson Canada grant or award are not eligible to apply.

Summary

Parkinson Canada is pleased to offer its Postdoctoral Research Fellowship program (the “Program”) as a strategic initiative to encourage promising young scientists to enter the field of Parkinson's research and to invest in research training that offers promise for future work in the area of Parkinson’s disease. Funds awarded under the Program are to be used to cover salaries, benefits and expenses for research fellowships in Parkinson's-related areas.

Through this initiative, Parkinson Canada invites fellowship applications (“Applications”) from applicants committed to conducting research in areas relevant to the cure, cause, prevention, improved treatment and/or understanding of Parkinson’s disease, and related disorders including: Multiple System Atrophy (MSA), Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) and other Parkinson’s conditions. Parkinson Canada encourages applications from the fields of biomedicine, health services and systems research, population studies, and clinical research. This initiative is consistent with, and reflects, Parkinson Canada’s commitment to support innovation and renewal in the national Parkinson’s research field and to foster international leadership potential in this area.

Parkinson Canada provides funding to support research projects that are aligned with the identified research themes which have the highest potential impact for the health and well-being of people with Parkinson’s. Applications are encouraged to focus on novel and innovative research in the following areas:

1. Symptomatic Treatments: treatments that ease outward symptoms of Parkinson's (e.g., medications for tremors).
2. Disease Modifying Therapies & Treatments: treatments that target the underlying mechanisms of Parkinson’s to interfere with disease progression.
3. Prevention: interventions aimed at reducing the risk or severity of Parkinson’s Disease.
4. Diagnosis & Progression: understanding predictors of Parkinson’s for earlier diagnosis and intervention (e.g. biomarkers).
5. Causes of Parkinson’s (and related symptoms): understanding the physiological processes that lead to Parkinson’s and its symptoms (ex. alpha-synuclein aggregation).
6. Living Well with Parkinson's: improving the quality of life (QoL) of people living with Parkinson’s and understanding the barriers to positive QoL.

All applications must be submitted via our online application system (SMApply – https://parkinsoncan.smapply.io/). The deadline to submit applications is December 5, 2023 (11:59 pm EST).

For more information, please read the Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Request for Applications

Overhead

Institutional overhead may not be charged against Parkinson Canada Funding.

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.

For more information please refer to the Parkinson Canada Research Program Application Guidelines Manual available from the Parkinson Canada Web site at www.parkinson.ca or contact Ko Currie, Research Funding and Partnerships Manager Email: ko.currie@parkinson.ca