2025 Terry Fox New Frontiers Program Project Grants Competition

Eligibility

This competition is open to faculty-level scientific and clinical research groups at eligible sponsoring Canadian institutions.

Eligible Applications

The minimum requirements for an eligible Application include:

1. One of the Principal Investigators is designated as Project Leader. The Project Leader must be a Principal Investigator in the group applying for support, be able to assume scientific leadership of the group and have experience in leading and administering research. It is possible to propose another Principal Investigator as a Co-Project Leader.

2. The Application must comprise no fewer than three innovative, independently fundable research projects, each led by separate Principal Investigators who contribute significantly to a well-defined research theme or topic. The PPG research must be distinct in its objectives from those for which members of the group currently receive research funding. Please note that during the review process, one or more components (individual projects or cores) may not be considered as appropriate for funding within the Terry Fox Program with the result that only a subset of components is recommended for funding. Regardless, the final recommended program must be comprised of, but not limited to, at least three individual projects each with a different Principal Investigator to receive funding. The core(s) must also be approved for funding if viewed as necessary for the success of the PPG. Historically, funded PPGs have been comprised of four to seven components.

3. The Application may include one or more cutting-edge core technology platforms, the use of which is essential to the performance of two or more of the fundable individual research projects. A core technology platform must be led by a Principal Investigator, who may (i) also be a Principal Investigator of one of the individual research projects or (ii) an expert in the technology who is a Co-Investigator on one or more individual research projects. A core is not mandatory but often serves to gel the team’s research.

4. The Applicants are encouraged to profile collaborations with investigators in other countries in their proposals. However, TFRI will not fund research to be conducted outside of Canada and the Application cannot include such requests.

5. The Applicants may wish to consider including TFRI New Investigator(s) if mentored by one or more of the senior Investigators of the Application as Principal Investigator(s) or Co-Investigator(s).

6. The Applicants are strongly encouraged to adhere to equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) principles in nominating project leadership, with both gender balance and diversity taken into consideration for both Project Leaders and PIs of individual projects and cores as this will be assessed during the review process.

Summary

This opportunity targets the aggregation of independently fundable research projects around a common theme, and optionally the inclusion of core technologies that are used by each of the projects, into a Program Project. The funding program provides support to a group of independent researchers from multiple disciplines conducting high quality investigations in a complex area of cancer research. The purpose of the program is to stimulate new breakthroughs through group interactions based on the premise that high impact work in complex areas of cancer research requires collaboration. The Terry Fox New Frontiers Program Project Grant (PPG) is designed for researchers with complementary skills, who investigate different aspects of a given cancer relevant topic, the results of which will be realized more rapidly and efficiently than if the individual projects were to be funded as a series of independent operating grants. This long-standing funding opportunity has supported many of the best cancer research groups in Canada.

The goal of the Terry Fox New Frontiers PPG is to discover and explore new knowledge with the potential to transform cancer diagnosis, treatment and/or understanding of cancer biology.
 

Secondary goals are:
1. High-quality research that addresses an important cancer topic that is best approached through collaborative teams.
2. Innovative and high-risk projects with potential for large impact, for which the group research environment will maximize the chance of success. As part of the revised funding envelope for the competitions going forward, TFRI will look favorably upon applications which incorporate high risk/high reward strategies or research plans.
3. Leveraging of cutting-edge technologies that builds synergistic collaborations, and
4. An innovative and supportive training environment for the next generation of cancer researchers.

Full Call for proposals is available here

Submission Process:

LOI Stage:

1. Complete LOI application form as provided in the LOI template on the TFRI website.
2. Upload a copy of your final and complete LOI 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, July 3, 2024.
3. RMS will notify you that institutional approval has been provided. If digital or wet-ink signatures are required, we will provide the capping institutional signature and will advise when ready. You may now submit as a pdf/excel document to ppg@tfri.ca on or before July 8, 2024 at 3:00PM Mountain time.

For Full Application:

1. Complete Full Application as instructed by the agency if invited to submit.
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 November 13, 2024. 
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. If digital or wet-ink signatures are required, we will provide the capping institutional signature and will advise when ready.
5. Full Applications, including any supplementary documentation, should be submitted to the agency by November 18, 2024 by 3:00PM Mountain Time.

Overhead

Not applicable

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.

RESOURCES 

Support for projects involving Indigenous Research: 

Support with the development of your grant application is available 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. 

Support for Knowledge Engagement: 

Support for knowledge mobilization/engagement/translation, community partnerships, and responsible research assessment (DORA) is available through the Knowledge Engagement Team. Applicants can reach out by email to the KE team at knowledge.engagement@ucalgary.ca. For more information, please visit the KE team webpage. 

Support for Research Data Management: 

For information on research data management plans, processes, or best practices for your research program, please contact research.data@ucalgary.ca OR research.data@ucalgary.libanswers.com. 

Support for EDI in Research: 

RSO can provide resources and support to research teams on the integration of equitable and inclusive practices in research design and research practice. Contact Jaya.Dixit@ucalgary.ca for more information. 

Support for Research Security: 

The Research Security Division is available to assist researchers adhere to research security guidelines and policies, including the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships (NSGRP) and the new policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern (STRAC). Visit the Research Security website to learn more or contact researchsecurity@ucalgary.ca.  

Reminder: The sooner the researcher engages with RSO units, the more help we can be! 

RMS: Creating a Pre-Award LOI 

RMS: Creating a Pre-Award Application