2025 Young Investigator Grant

Eligibility

Applicant Eligibility: At the time of application 
• Applicant institutions must be based in the United States or Canada. Applicants need not be United States citizens. Funds must be granted to nonprofit institutions or organizations. 
• Applicants must have an MD, PhD, or MD/PhD or equivalent and must not have achieved an appointment higher than Instructor. Assistant Professors, including adjuncts at this level, will not be considered. In addition: 
o Applicants from accredited clinical fellowship programs are automatically eligible for the duration of their training and during their first three years at the Instructor level. 
o Applicants not from accredited clinical fellowship programs must meet the following criteria: 
            Applicants holding an MD or MD/PhD must be within seven years from the granting of the last doctoral degree at the time of application. 
            Applicants holding a PhD must be within four years from the granting of the last doctoral degree at the time of application. 
• A minimum of 75% of the applicant’s time during the Young Investigator period must be allocated as non-clinical protected time for all research activities. This percentage of time includes both Young Investigator activities and the applicant’s other research responsibilities. 
• Research mentor(s) must be identified and have a track record in pediatric cancer research. If no such record exists, a co-mentor with such a record must be identified. The application must document the mentor(s) involvement in experimental design and execution. A detailed plan for training activities is required. At the time of application or successful award 
• Applicants must not hold an NIH independent (R or P Award) or individual training (F or K Award) grant. Institutional training grants (KL2, K12, T32) are permitted. Funding from other foundations is permitted provided there is no scientific or budgetary overlap.

Summary

The Young Investigator grant is a three-year award designed to support early career researchers, such as postdoctoral fellows, clinical fellows or instructors, pursuing promising childhood cancer research ideas. These grants aim to cultivate the best and brightest researchers of the future who demonstrate a commitment to a research career in pediatric cancer. A mentor is required, and a career development plan must be included. The Young Investigator grant offers up to $60,000 in direct costs per year for three years.

Scope of Proposal 
• Proposals must fall within the scope of Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation’s mission, focused on childhood cancers. Proposals with a sole/primary focus on patients >19 years of age will not be considered. 
• Translational and Clinical Research Projects are encouraged.

Budget 

The requested budget should be in proportion to the scope of the proposed project and should be at or under $180,000 USD in direct costs over 3 years. A maximum of $60,000 in total costs may be requested per year. 

Restrictions: 
o ALSF adheres to the NIH salary cap for principal investigator(s). 
o Indirect costs are not allowed. 
o The grant may not be renewed; one no-cost extension request is allowed. 
o Other budget items may include fringe, travel, supplies and small pieces of equipment. ALSF funds cannot be used for tuition remission. View ALSF’s complete budget policy. 
o If utilizing a subcontract or subaward, you must include this expense in the budget. 
       No indirect costs will be paid. 
       The PI’s institution is responsible for disbursing funds for subawards and/or subcontracts.

Overhead

Not allowed.

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.

Childhood Cancer Data Lab Collaboration (optional) 

Applicants may elect to work with the Childhood Cancer Data Lab, at no cost to the investigator(s), as part of this award. This is not required and is meant to serve as a benefit. If you are interested in collaborating with the Data Lab, please fill out this form (preferably at least 3 weeks before Grant due date) and indicate your submission is associated with an Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation grant application. This resource does not have a cost associated with it and should not be included in the budget.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

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.

Support for Knowledge Engagement:

Support for knowledge mobilization/engagement/translation is available internally through the Knowledge Engagement Team. Applicants can reach out by email to the KE team at knowledge.engagement@ucalgary.ca in advance of the RSO internal deadline. 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@libanswers.ucalgary.com and/or visit https://libguides.ucalgary.ca/researchdatamanagement.

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 Erin.OToole@ucalgary.ca for more information.

RMS: Creating a Pre-Award LOI

RMS: Creating a Pre-Award Application