Neurosciences, Rehabilitation and Vision Strategic Clinical Network (NRV SCN) 2024 Research Grant Competition: Chronic Neurological Conditions in Alberta

Eligibility

For an application to be eligible, it must include, at a minimum:

• The Principal Investigator (PI) must be an independent researcher, affiliated with an Albertan post-secondary, academic institution and/or its affiliated institutions (including hospitals, research institutes and other non-profit organizations with a mandate for health research and/or knowledge translation).
• Front-line clinicians are welcome and encouraged to act as co-investigators but can only be the PI if they meet criterion above.
• The project area of the research includes one or more of the following themes of health research: clinical, health services, and/or population and public health.
• The PI is not a member of the NRV SCN leadership.
• The PI is not actively holding a seed grant from the NRV SCN. The PI can only submit one application as PI, but could be a co-investigator or Co-PI on another application.
• At least one knowledge user from Alberta Health Services is included on the research team.

Summary

The 2024 Neurosciences, Rehabilitation and Vision Strategic Clinical Network (NRV SCN) Research Grant Competition: Addressing Care Challenges and Opportunities in Chronic Neurological Conditions in Alberta funding opportunity supports research grants that generate evidence to address care challenges or leverage opportunities in the care for persons with lived experience of chronic neurological conditions Such conditions include: Alzheimer's Disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy, Dementias, Headache and Migraine, Multiple Sclerosis/Demyelinating Disorders, Neuromuscular Disorders (e.g., Myasthenia Gravis), Parkinson's Disease, Post-Concussion Syndrome, Seizure/Epilepsy.

Primary Objectives

• Explore current issues and innovations related to Access, Quality of Life, and Technology (digital health) applications for individuals affected by chronic neurological conditions in Alberta.
• Identify the potential impact, feasibility and fit of research projects relative to community needs.
• Identify potential synergies for future work and care quality advancement.

Priority Research Areas:

This funding opportunity will support a submission relevant to the above-stated objectives and ANY of the following research areas for any of the above-stated patient populations:

• Improving wait-times and access to case management and/or multidisciplinary care
• Establishing standards of care for chronic neurological conditions in Alberta
• Improving timely, accurate diagnosis
• Developing or implementing workforce-specific strategies in the neurosciences professions
• Development and support of providers (including allied health professionals), especially in non-urban areas
• Collaborative care models, including collaboration across Zones, professions, specialties
• Equity, including geographical inequities, inclusion of marginalized and vulnerable populations
• Patient outcomes, including quality of life, function, mental health, social isolation
• Resources and education (for patients, for providers)
• Transitions in care for patients and families
• Data strategies to improve data collection and mobilization for care
• Exploring virtual modalities for neurorehabilitation delivery
• Understanding leveraging opportunities with virtual care and digital health (including telehealth, remote monitoring, electronic health records)

While it is not required, this funding opportunity may prioritize research that seeks to, or is able to, leverage in-kind and monetary supports from other institutions, organizations and funders to promote broader impact and enable researchers to do more.

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.

Full Proposal

The Full Proposal, plus approval in the Research Management System (RMS) using a Pre-Award/Application record, must be submitted to RSO by March 27, 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 via email by April 1, 2024.

This application also requires a signed signature page from the RSO prior to submission (this document will be available for download in RMS).

Competition Resources

• NRV SCN 2024 Research Grant Call for Proposals
• NRV SCN Contact: Kiran Pohar Manhas, Assistant Scientific Director, NRV SCN, kiran.poharmanhas@ahs.ca

Overhead

N/A

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 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 Erin.OToole@ucalgary.ca for more information.

Support for Research Security:

The new Research Security Division is available to offer guidance and support on safeguarding research and ensuring that principles of research security are upheld while conducting leading edge research. Learn more on their webpage or contact researchsecurity@ucalgary.ca.

RMS: Creating a Pre-Award Application