Melbourne-Calgary Collaborative Seed Grants 2024

Eligibility

This collaborative funding call is open to all research staff whose primary appointment is at one of the named partner Institutes. Eligible proposals will be jointly led by one principal investigator (PI) from each Institution, however they may include co-investigators from affiliate institutions. A history of prior collaboration is not necessary. 

Applications should meet the following mandatory criteria:
• Two Principal Investigators, one based at the University of Calgary and one based at The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity.
• An outline of a pathway for how the project can build or strengthen a research partnership i.e. colloborative gain must be articulated between both institutions.
• A statement of a clear vision and timeline of how the funding will be expended.
• A commitment to attending any relevant seminars/workshops throughout the course of the project timeline.

Competitive proposals will be those that support further developing cutting edge and novel capabilities, potential for impact, collaborative gain, and alignment with one of the designated areas. Applications which align to institutional missions, further strategic goals, and support priority development areas for both the Cumming Global Centre for Pandemic Therapeutics and the University of Calgary will be prioritized. Applications which demonstrate equity, access and inclusion through the applicants and the utilisation and access to the capability will be viewed favourably.

Summary

The aim of the Collaborative Seed Grant 2024 is to encourage capability building and to develop research collaborative partnerships between the Doherty Institute, an unincorporated joint venture between the University of Melbourne and Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Australia, and investigators located at the Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine and other Faculties within the University of Calgary, Calgary Alberta, Canada. This grant opportunity has been jointly funded through the Cumming Global Centre for Pandemic Therapeutics and the Snyder Institute.

Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis to investigators conducting collaborative research initiatives in the areas of One Health/AMR, Rapid Diagnostics, and Clinical Trials, within both the Doherty Institute and the University of Calgary.

Successful grants will support projects that have a clear pathway for driving collaboration broadly representing the areas of infection and immunity, and which support expanding research relationships, primarily in the nominated areas of One Health / AMR, Rapid Diagnostics, and Clinical Trials.
The application must state a clear vision and timeline of how the seed grant will be implemented, and how it might link with other programs, and foster further funding opportunities both within Canada, Australia and potentially internationally beyond the two countries.

Competitive proposals will be those that demonstrate research excellence, novelty/impact, collaborative
gain, and alignment with one of the three designated areas. Projects ranging from laboratory-based
discovery research to translational clinical research are encouraged to apply.

Projects are required to be completed by December 31 2025. All monies received must be expended or have a discrete plan for completion of spending by this time.

Overhead

Funding will be available to primarily support direct research costs, however, applications to support travel costs may be considered where appropriate.

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.

What is the application process?
The following documents must be submitted electronically through the SmartyGrants portal by 11:59pm 
Melbourne time / 6:59am Calgary time, Thursday October 10th 2024.
•  Completed application form
•  Most recent CV for both Principal Investigators, and any co-investigators*
•  Signed certification forms from respective Authorised Representatives from both Doherty and  Calgary, as well as signed Co Investigator consent forms, to be uploaded into your application.  Forms are shared here.
•  * For Canadians we recommend the CCV (CIHR Biosketch format)

Incomplete applications and applications submitted after this time will not be considered. All 
correspondence to applicants will be via email.

Applications submitted outside the SmartyGrants portal, including via email and PDF, will not be
considered.
 

Further information 

Contact Eliza Copsey (eliza.copsey@unimelb.edu.au ) for further inquiries.
 

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