Sick Kids Foundation New Investigator Research Grants

Eligibility

The Principal Investigator must be eligible to apply for grants as an independent researcher
(autonomous regarding their research activities and has an academic or research appointment) and be
formally affiliated with an Eligible Institution, where that institution is willing to financially administer
the grant.

The Principal Investigator will usually hold a doctoral degree (Ph.D) or equivalent medical/health care
degree and have had formal research training. If there will be two applicants (Principal Investigator and
Co-Principal Investigator) on the same project, both must be eligible as a New Investigator.
Co-Investigators are researchers who may or may not have a formal affiliation (faculty appointment)
with the Eligible Institution but will take responsibility for particular administrative and scientific aspects
of the research project. Trainees (i.e. doctoral students or fellows) cannot be Principal Investigators but
they may be Co-Investigators.

Eligible applicants are required to work with a clearly-identified Mentor/Mentors (up to two). The
mentor will work with the applicant on a plan; review the application before submission; provide advice
throughout the project to ensure it is competitive in terms of both scientific excellence and relevance to
child health.

The applicant must be a new investigator at the date of application; i.e. at the application deadline of
April 20, 2023. For the purpose of this award, a new investigator is defined as an individual who:

• As a Principal Investigator has not been awarded combined Operating Grant funding of
$500,000 or more Canadian dollars. An "Operating Grant" is defined as a grant that can be used
to cover administrative or any other research-related costs (including salary of trainees or
students) in order to carry out a research project. This does not include startup funds, salary
awards, equipment or infrastructure funds.

Note: Should an Operating Grant be received after the application is submitted, the
applicant must notify SickKids Foundation immediately.

• Is within 5 years from appointment of their first academic appointment. Academic
appointment is defined as an appointment that allows an individual to apply for research grants
as an independent researcher. (See page 5, ‘Recognition of a break in research career’ for
additional considerations related to delays due to COVID).

• Has at least 50% of protected research time for the duration of the project.

** Please note that overhead is not an eligible expense for this grant

Summary

New Investigator Research Grants provide important early career development support to child health
researchers. It is intended this program will enhance the grant recipient’s ability to compete with more
senior investigators for research grants from other funders. Through this grants program we are seeking
to fund research carried out by new investigators across Canada who successfully lead, participate in,
and translate outstanding child health research that will respond to children’s health challenges and
needs.

The New Investigator Research Grant Program is a jointly sponsored program of SickKids Foundation and
the Canadian Institutes of Health Research ("CIHR") - Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth
Health (IHDCYH). Grant recipients may obtain up to three years' support for research in biomedical,
clinical, health systems and services, and population and public health sectors.

Funding for Research Operating Grant
New investigator researchers may obtain up to a maximum of $100,000 annually for up to three years
for a maximum of $300,000 for their research project. The research operating grant may be used for:
• Research costs – materials, services, salaries of staff including research assistant /technicians
etc., knowledge translation or dissemination of results, travel, supplies, resources, animals.
• Equipment purchase or rental (including computers) required for the project.
• Funding is paid to a Canadian institution that is a registered Canadian charity that the Principal
Investigator has a formal affiliation with and agrees to administer the grant funds (the "Eligible
Institution").

Full guidelines available here

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.

Applications are submitted through the Research Management System (RMS) to initiate internal approvals.  Please note, when the RMS record finally reaches Research Services by the internal deadline, it should contain all the relevant Department and Faculty approvals, so please allow additional time for these 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.  A link to RMS can be found here which includes training resources.

Submission Instructions:

1. Complete Full Application on the Sick Kids Online Application Portal and download a preview to pdf format.
2. To initiate internal approvals, complete the Pre-Award/Application record in RMS (https://research.ucalgary.ca/conduct-research/additional-resources/resea...), attach your completed Application, and submit for approvals from your department head and/or 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 12:00pm on Monday April 17, 2023
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 will provide the institutional approval. RSO will provide the capping institutional signature if needed and will advise when ready.
5. Full Applications should be submitted to the agency via the portal on April 20, 2023 by 3:00PM Mountain Time.