Special Purpose Grant: Brain Changes Initiative Award for Traumatic Brain Injury

Eligibility

Applicants must be affiliated with and conducting research at an eligible Canadian institution for the entire duration of the grant. The Principal Investigator must be considered an independent researcher at their institution. Such an individual normally holds the rank of assistant or associate professor; can initiate and direct their own independent lines of research as principal investigator; has full responsibility for running their laboratories; has full control of their research funds; and is permitted to supervise trainees (if applicable, as per their institution’s policy). Postdoctoral fellows or adjunct faculty are not eligible to apply
• Academic appointments must have started by the Full Application submission deadline
• Research applications may be related but cannot be identical to any other currently funded projects. It is the responsibility of the applicant to notify Branch Out Neurological Foundation immediately should substantial overlap arise from new funding awarded during the application and review process of this competition
• Applicants must submit a Registration Form in order to be eligible to submit a Full Application
• Applicants must initiate the project in September 2023, when funding will start

Summary

The purpose of this funding opportunity is to improve our understanding of the potential for non-pharmacological interventions to improve brain recovery after injury. Establishing scientific evidence for the effectiveness of combining two or more non-pharmacological interventions as a treatment that can be administered by the injured individual themselves is expected to have an enormous impact for patients who can be empowered by this knowledge.

By adopting a holistic brain health perspective, the focus of the research projects must investigate the interaction of two or more non-pharmacological intervention modalities for TBI recovery in patients with mild TBI (concussion) and/or moderate-to-severe TBI. Non-pharmacological intervention modalities of interest include, but not limited to, physical activity, cognitive activity, mindfulness meditation, brain healthy nutrition, limiting harmful exposure, restorative sleep, system navigation, nutraceutical, personalized therapies, and new technologies. For more information on these non-pharmacological intervention modalities, please visit these resources from Branch Out Foundation and Brain Changes Initiative.

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.

Submission Process:

LOI:

1. Upload a copy of your final and complete LOI to the RMS Application record, and submit for academic approvals.  Please ensure that you allow enough time for academic approvals prior to the Research Services (RSO) final internal deadline of NOON, January 17, 2023.
2. RMS will notify you that institutional approval has been provided. You may now submit to the agency by email at research@branchoutfoundation.com  no later than January 20, 2023 at 3PM Mountain time.

Full Application (by invitation only):

1. Upload a copy of your final and complete application to the RMS Application record, and submit for academic approvals.  Please ensure that you allow enough time for academic approvals prior to the Research Services (RSO) final internal deadline of NOON, April 18, 2023. Please note this is a hard deadline. Exceptions will only be made with the approval of your faculty Associate Dean (Research).
2.  RSO will provide institutional sign-off on the application and internal approvals in RMS. RMS will provide any required institutional signature pages and notify you that institutional approval has been provided and to go ahead with the full submission.
3. Full Application Package must be submitted via BONF's electronic grant management system (access provided upon invitation) by 3PM Mountain time on April 18, 2023