Cancer Research for Screening and Prevention (CRSP) Funding Program 2023-2024

Eligibility

Eligible Institutions (General Stream):

• Publicly funded post-secondary institutions
• Incorporated provincial non-profit community organizations
  • Organizations must be in operation for a minimum of one year and be in good standing with required filings and their status
• Alberta Health Services, including the Strategic Clinical Networks, Primary Care Networks (PCNs), and Community Health Centres (CHCs)
• Métis settlements and First Nations communities and organizations
• Municipalities (cities, towns, villages etc.)

Eligible Institutions (Indigenous Stream):

• First Nation “Band” as defined in Canada’s Indian Act
• First Nations
• Tribal Councils and Treaty Organizations
• Métis Settlements General Council
• Métis Settlements
• Métis Nation of Alberta association
• Other Métis regional or local associations or societies
• Indigenous not-for-profot organizations

Post-secondary institutions are ineligible as primary applicants under the Indigenous Stream but can be co-applicants or partner organizations. Alternatively, a UCalgary-led application involving Indigenous groups, communities, and/or organizations can be submitted to the competition's general stream.

Eligible Proposals:

The Cancer Research for Screening and Prevention (CRSP) Program Fund is accepting both project-based (implementation/evaluation-based) and research-based applications. For an application to be considered eligible under the CRSP program, a gap in cancer prevention and screening should be identified and addressed in the proposal.

Examples of proposals that will be considered include, but are not limited to:

• Research and/or proof of concept initiatives that promote improvements to cancer screening practices;
• Cancer prevention and screening, which, for the purposes of this call, includes: health promotion/prevention research with improved cancer-related outcomes; early detection; chronic diseases; development, implementation, and/or evaluation of care pathways.

Considerations for exceptions may be possible for proposals that consider other aspects of cancer (e.g., secondary or tertiary prevention, survivorship, treatment, etc.); however, research/projects focused on primary prevention and cancer screening will be given priority.

Summary

The purpose of the Alberta Health Cancer Research for Screening and Prevention (CRSP) Program Fund is to invest funding to support and encourage cancer prevention and screening research initiatives that will promote the early detection of disease and demonstrate opportunities for widespread implementation and value to the health care system.

New to the competition this year is the addition of an Indigenous Stream. The Indigenous Stream of CRSP prioritizes Indigenous-led initiatives that foster cancer prevention and screening within Indigenous communities and organizations. This funding stream will specifically consider Indigenous-led programs that foster reconciliation, healing, and cultural safety for Indigenous peoples and communities, while addressing the challenges posed by cancer. Proposals related to Indigenous-specific cancer initiatives will undergo evaluation by Elders and the Cancer Expert Review Panel. Such projects may encompass Indigenous-led research, implementation/evaluation projects, and community-based initiatives.

The objectives of the CRSP Program Fund are to:

• support cancer research, focusing on prevention, early detection and screening to improve the overall health of Albertans;
• build capacity for cancer research and innovation excellence with eligible institutions to promote implementation, collaborations, and investments; and
• promote investment in cancer research that supports sustainability of the health care system.

Funding Considerations

Projects must not be currently receiving funding from another area of Alberta Health. Other funding sources or potential sources for the project must be disclosed. CRSP funding can build on an existing project or a portion of the project that has already been started.

Major infrastructure costs and ongoing operational funding for existing programs are not eligible for funding. Operational expenditures for expansion or pilot projects are eligible. Please refer to Appendix A of the CRSP Program Guidelines for a detailed list of eligible and ineligible project costs.

Submission Process

There is a two-stage process consisting of an Expression of Interest (EOI) and Full Application, which is by invitation only. Both stages of this competition will be part of the Research Management System (RMS), and approvals will be obtained electronically. Research Funding Application Approvals (RFAA) forms are not required as approvals are collected electronically in RMS.

1. Expression of Interest (EOI)

The EOI, plus approval in the Research Management System (RMS) using a Pre-Award/Letter of Intent record, must be submitted to RSO by  June 27, 2023 at 12:00 pm. Please be sure to select 'Submitted for approval' (under Save & Progress) in RMS in good time to allow for approvals from your Department Head and/or ADR prior to the RSO internal deadline. Consult your department and faculty for more information on their approval processes and timelines. 

Once you have received RSO approval, you must submit the EOI by email to cancergrants@gov.ab.ca by June 30, 2023.

2. Full Application (by invitation only)

The Full Application, plus approval in the Research Management System (RMS) using a Pre-Award/Application record,* must be submitted to RSO by September 26, 2023 at 12:00 pm. Please be sure to select 'Submitted for approval' (under Save & Progress) in RMS in good time to allow for approvals from your Department Head and/or ADR prior to the RSO internal deadline. Consult your department and faculty for more information on their approval processes and timelines.

*Creation of a new Pre-Award/Application record in RMS is not necessary. You can automatically generate an Application record from the existing LOI record by changing the status of the LOI record to 'Invited to full application' (under Save & Progress).

Once you have received RSO approval, you must submit the Full Application by email to cancergrants@gov.ab.ca by September 30, 2023. Since this date falls on a weekend, the CRSP will accept applications until Monday, October 2.

Resources

• CRSP Program Guidelines
• CRSP Indigenous Stream Guidelines
• Expression of Interest (EOI) Template
• Alberta Health program contact: cancergrants@gov.ab.ca

Overhead

N/A

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.

Support for projects involving Indigenous Research:

Support with the early 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.