Canada Biomedical Research Fund and Biosciences Research Infrastructure Fund – Stage 2 2023

Eligibility

Each proposal can include one or more of the following components:

1. Partnered, applied research in the biomanufacturing and life sciences sector to accelerate the translation of discoveries into products and services to strengthen the sector.
2. Partnered talent development to provide skills and training needed to drive innovation and growth in Canada’s biomanufacturing industry.
3. Research infrastructure to support Canada’s biosciences research needs.

Talent and research infrastructure proposals must be linked with one or more research proposals.

Summary

CHECK THE "ADDITIONAL INFORMATION" SECTION BELOW FOR UPDATES RELATED TO THIS COMPETITION

Through Canada’s Biomanufacturing and Life Sciences Strategy (the Strategy), the Government of Canada is investing more than $2.2 billion over seven years to continue growing a strong, competitive biomanufacturing and life sciences sector, and to ensure Canada is prepared for future pandemics by increasing domestic capacity through investments and partnerships to produce life-saving vaccines and therapeutics.

The expected outcomes of delivering on this large-scale vision include:

• increased capacity to accelerate the translation of research into product/service development;
• accelerated translation of promising discoveries into innovative products (e.g., vaccines and therapeutics) and processes;
• increase of skills and training needed to take greater risks and drive innovation and growth in Canada’s biomanufacturing sector; and
• enhanced academic collaboration with industry, not-for-profit organizations, and public sector partners.

Stage 1 (complete) funded five research hubs to improve pandemic readiness and sector growth by strengthening research and talent capacity in Canada, and contributing to and leveraging collaborations across the entire biomanufacturing ecosystem and various sectors.

This opportunity: Stage 2 – launched in early March 2023 – will support partnered proposals for high risk and applied research, talent development and research infrastructure funding.

Stage 2 proposals must contribute to pandemic preparedness and the following goals:

• Increase specialized infrastructure, and capacity for multidisciplinary, applied research.
• Support training and talent development, to expand the pipeline of skilled research and talent.
• Accelerate the translation of promising research into commercially viable products and processes.

SUBMISSION PROCESS

To be eligible for Stage 2 funding, proposals must be aligned with and contribute to the program of research one of the five CBRF research hubs funded in Stage 1.  Hubs are developing processes to govern these connections; contact the relevant hubs for details (contact information in "Additional Information" section below).

Institutional and agency milestones are listed below, additional instructions follow.

This is a two-stage application process.  Applications must be submitted via the Convergence portal.

Timeline

Phase: Intent to apply

• Activity:       Notify Research Services of intent to apply to Research Services at ipd@ucalgary.ca; this will allow Research Services staff to offer early support services

Deadline:    As soon as possible

Phase: Notice of Intent (NOI) development

• Activity:       PI consults with relevant CBRF research hubs as required

Deadline:    While developing NOI

• Activity:       Submit final NOI for institutional review

Deadline:    to 9:00am, Thursday, June 1, 2023

• Activity:       Research Services submits final NOI to funder

Deadline:    Thursday, June 8, 2023

No Research Management System (RMS) approval is required at the Notice of Intent stage.

Phase: Full application

Details TBD; will be communicated to teams that submit NOIs. Full applications due to funder by September 7, 2023

Funded CBRF research hubs will develop processes related to their required endorsement of associated project requests.   

Full application approval requirements will be provided to applicants that submit NOIs.

RESOURCES

Notify Research Services as soon as possible regarding the intent to apply.  This will ensure RSO can offer support materials and services appropriate for the proposal.

- Support for projects involving Indigenous Research:

   Support with the development of your grant application is available internally through the Indigenous Research Support Team (IRST). Applicants can reach out by       email to IRST at IRST@ucalgary.ca in advance of the RSO internal deadline. For more information about IRST, please visit the IRST webpage.

- For knowledge engagement or knowledge mobilization support:

   Contact the Knowledge Engagement Team at knowledge.engagement@ucalgary.ca.

- For assistance in identifying international partners, contact the International Research Team at UCIresearch@ucalgary.ca.

- RMS: Creating a Pre-Award Application

CBRF-BRIF_Stage 2_NOI_En.pdf

CBRF-BRIF_Stage 2_NOI_Fr.pdf

CBRF-BRIF_Research Hubs_EOI Timelines and Contact Information.pdf

CBRF-BRIF Stage 2 webinar - English recording

CBRF-BRIF Stage 2 webinar - French recording

Overhead

N/A. (Note that CBRF finding includes up to 25% of the total award value for indirect costs of research.)

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.

No approvals required at the NOI stage.  Full application approval requirements will be provided to NOI applicants.

Webinars: links to webinar presentations and recordings can be found in the Resources section.

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The University of Calgary is a partner organization in the PRAIRIE Hub for pandemic preparedness. Potential applicants are invited to the following information sessions on the application process and connecting to the PRAIRIE Hub’s vision and program of research:

PRAIRIE Hub EOI public townhall

April 13th, 2023 1-3 PM MDT

register here 

PRAIRIE Hub in-person (hybrid) town hall - Edmonton, Alberta

April 18, 2023 Edmonton Alberta

This hybrid information session is open to everyone to attend and learn about the CBRF/BRIF program objectives and Stage 2 proposal guidelines, and how they align with the PRAIRIE Hub’s priorities, vision and program of research. 

The EOI process will also be discussed here if you are unable to attend the April 13 webinar.

For Zoom link: please request at prairie.hub@ualberta.ca

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Contact information for the five research hubs (based on information shared during April 12 CBRF/BRIF funder webinar):

• University of Toronto; Canadian Hub for Health Intelligence & Innovation in Infectious Diseases (HI3) - hi3@utoronto.ca
• University of Ottawa/McMaster University; Canadian Pandemic Preparedness Hub (CP2H) - klawles2@uottawa.ca, lawlessd@mcmaster.ca
• University of British Columbia; Canada's Immuno-Engineering and Biomanufacturing Hub - immunoengineering.hub@ubc.ca
• Université de Montréal/McGill University/Université Laval; The Eastern Canada Pandemic Preparedness Hub (ECaPPH) - ecapph-pppec@brdv.umontreal.ca
• University of Alberta; The CBRF PRAIRIE Hub - prairie.hub@ualberta.ca