Hope for Tomorrow Research Competition 2023

Eligibility

The Principal Applicant is responsible for the direction of the research project and the coordination of research activities. The Principal Applicant must:

• Be an independent researcher in the fields of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias
• Be affiliated with a degree-granting research institution in Alberta
• Have their substantive academic position be in Alberta for the duration of the requested funding
• Be a member of Campus Alberta Neuroscience (join here)
• Be able to comply with the Terms and Conditions of the award as per the Competition Guidelines
• Not be in a Conflict of Interest with regard to this funding opportunity
• Not have active funding from the Alzheimer’s Society (some exceptions apply)

Applicants can only submit one application to this competition as Principal Applicant. Multiple submissions from the same Principal Applicant are not permitted.

The application may include one or more co-applicants, which can be any of:

• Independent researchers from inside or outside of Alberta
• Knowledge Users
• Trainees

Research Projects must be related to Quality of Life research as defined in the Area of Focus section of the Competition Guidelines and must be conducted within Alberta.

Summary

The Hope for Tomorrow Research Competition, a partnership between Campus Alberta Neuroscience (CAN) and the Alzheimer Society of Alberta and Northwest Territories (AS AB/NT), focuses on research that has the potential to make a significant impact on the quality of life of patients, families, and caregivers through exploration into the causes, prevention, treatment, and cure of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Research that pushes the boundaries of what is currently understood as having a positive impact on improving and maintaining quality of life for those affected by these diseases is encouraged - researchers should think “outside of the box” and bring disciplines together in unexpected ways to form bold, innovative perspectives.

Area of Focus: Innovative and novel Quality of Life research that has the potential to make a significant impact for patients, families, and caregivers. Quality of life embodies the overall physical and mental health and wellbeing of a person in relation to the cultural, environmental, and social context in which they live. This research competition aims to accelerate and focus the knowledge gained from innovative scientific findings, in the short or long term, into outcomes that will result in the reduced burden or enhanced quality of life for patients, families, and caregivers in Alberta and elsewhere.

Funding Considerations

Awards up to CAD $250,000 total funding for a period of up to three (3) years. Requests may not exceed CAD $250,000 and must be matched at a minimum of 1:1 ratio through funding from one or more funding partners secured by applicants. Matching funding must be cash. A signed letter guaranteeing the matched funds or other proof of secured matching funds is required by the Full Application deadline (February 21, 2024)

Submission Process

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.

Application to this funding opportunity follows a two-stage process: a Notice of Intent (NOI) and Full Application.

1. Notice of Intent (NOI)

Applicants intending to submit a Full Application to this funding competition are required to submit an NOI electronically through the Online Notice of Intent Submission by December 13, 2023 at 12:00 pm (MT).

RSO review and RMS approval are not required at this stage.

2. Full Application

The Full Application, plus approval in the Research Management System (RMS) using a Pre-Award/Application record, must be submitted to RSO by February 16, 2024 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.

Do not submit to the agency until RSO's approval has been granted in RMS. Once this institutional approval has been obtained, the Principal Investigator will receive an automated message from RMS to their @ucalgary email address. You can then proceed with submitting your application by February 21, 2024 at 12:00 pm (MT). A personalized link for the online Full Application submission will be sent to the Principal Applicant once the NOI has been received.

Resources

• Hope for Tomorrow Research Competition 2023 Program Guide
• Budget Summary Template (required for Full Application)

Overhead

N/A

Application deadlines

RSO detailed review deadline

RSO final internal review deadline

Program application deadline

Application deadlines

NOI

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.