ALSF Innovation Grant

Eligibility

• Applicants must be appointed as faculty (or equivalent) at an academic institution.
• Applicants must have an MD, PhD, or MD/PhD or equivalent. 
• Applicants must have a track record of publication and funding productivity that demonstrates the project can be accomplished by the investigators.
• Applicant must propose a new research direction, not a continuation of ongoing funded research.
• Applicant institutions must be based in the United States or Canada; however, applicants need not be United States citizens.
• Funds must be granted to non-profit institutions or organizations.

Summary

Innovation Grants provide critical and significant seed funding to experienced researchers with a novel approach to pediatric oncology scientific investigation. Proposals should have clinical translation in view. This may represent a change in research direction and/or an innovative new idea that moves away from an investigator’s prior research but for which a strong case is made for the potential impact on childhood cancers.

Submission Process

All applications are submitted through the Research Management System (RMS) to initiate internal approvals. Please note that when the RMS record finally reaches Research Services by the internal deadline, it should contain all the relevant Department and Faculty approvals. Please allow additional time for these approval steps. Late applications 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 will need to secure additional late approvals from your Faculty Associate Dean (Research) and the Executive Director, Research Services. Training resources are available on the RMS website.

Note: The application process is comprised of two stages: 1) submission of a Letter of Intent (LOI) and, upon approval, 2) submission of a Full Application. Once the LOI has been reviewed, the applicant will be notified via e-mail as to whether they have been invited to submit a Full Application. Complete your LOI according to the agency guidelines.

Step 1: Letter of Intent (LOI)

1. Complete LOI according to the agency's guidelines.
2. To initiate internal approvals, complete the Pre-Award/Letter of Intent record in RMS, attach your completed LOI, and submit for approvals from your Department Head and faculty Associate Dean (Research). Important: When submitting in RMS, please ensure that you allow time for academic approvals prior to the Research Services review deadline of October 6, 2022 at 12:00 pm. Please also note that approvers do not routinely receive notifications that an LOI is awaiting their approval. We suggest that you reach out to your approvers to let them know you have submitted an application for their review.
3. Once these approvals are obtained, RMS will automatically forward the LOI record to Research Services for institutional review and approval.
4. Research Services will review, provide feedback (by email) if necessary, and secure the institutional approval. If digital or wet-ink signatures are required, we will provide the capping institutional signature and will advise when ready.
5. The applicant must submit the LOI to the agency by October 11, 2022 at 8:00 pm (ET) via the ALSF online portal (https://alsfapps.force.com/).

Step 2: Full Application (by invitation only)

1. Complete the full application according to the agency's guidelines.
2. To initiate internal approvals, complete the Pre-Award/Letter of Intent record in RMS, attach your completed application, and submit for approvals from your Department Head and faculty Associate Dean (Research).  Important: When submitting in RMS, please ensure that you allow time for academic approvals prior to the Research Services review deadline of March 10, 2023 at 12:00 pm. Please also note that approvers do not routinely receive notifications that an LOI is awaiting their approval. We suggest that you reach out to your approvers to let them know you have submitted an application for their review.
3. Once these approvals are obtained, RMS will automatically forward the application record to Research Services for institutional review and approval.
4. Research Services will review, provide feedback (by email) if necessary, and secure the institutional approval. If digital or wet-ink signatures are required, we will provide the capping institutional signature and will advise when ready.
5. The applicant must submit the application to the agency by March 15, 2023 at 8:00 pm (ET) via the ALSF online portal (https://alsfapps.force.com/).

Resources

• ALSF Resources for Grant Applicants
• 2023 Innovation Grant Guidelines

Relevant Documents

 2023_innovation_full_application_guidelines_final.pdf

Pre-application deadlines

RSO internal deadline

Pre-application program deadline

Application deadlines

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.

• One resubmission of a full application previously reviewed by ALSF's Innovation Grant Review Board is permitted.
• ALSF does not fund proposals for research utilizing human embryonic stem cells or nonhuman primates. Research with human induced pluripotent stem cells is permissible.
• Investigators may only submit one LOI for one project.