2025 Fall Clinical Research Award with LOI

Eligibility

• United States residents and applicants from outside the United States are welcome to apply.
• Applicants must be independent investigators. An independent investigator is an individual who is out of fellowship training and whose institution allows them to submit applications for research funding as a Principal Investigator.
• Applicants must be from a non-profit or academic institution; for-profit entities are not eligible to apply. For-profit entities should visit Industry Funding Opportunities for more information.
• Additional eligibility requirements can be found in Section IV of the Program Guidelines.

Summary

Clinical Research Awards are offered to provide support for investigator-initiated clinical research projects that have the potential to make an important contribution to the CF Foundation’s mission. Research projects may address diagnosis, treatment, management of disease or symptom, or the pathophysiology of CF using clinical (observational/interventional), translational or epidemiologic study approaches. Applicants must demonstrate access to sufficient numbers of CF patients and appropriate controls. 

Funding for most investigator-initiated clinical research award is a tier two process. The CF Foundation requires CP&FA, CRA, and CRA+ to submit either a Letter of Intent (LOI) or Concept Proposal in advance of a full application. Full applications are accepted on an invite-only basis; however, applicants may be able to by-pass the LOI with prior approval from the Program Officer. 

Applicants interested in the Multiple-PI option should contact the Program Officer, Dara Riva (driva@cff.org).

Overhead

Indirect Costs up to twelve (12) percent may be requested from CFF.
• Applicants may request indirect costs on the first $25,000 of each subcontract for the project period.

Indirect costs may be requested for all expenses except for the following:
• Equipment (items over $5,000 in value)
• Computer software
• Software licenses

Pre-application deadlines

RSO internal deadline

Pre-application program deadline

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.

Submission Information

• A Letter of Intent (LOI) must be submitted and approved prior to submitting a Full Application. Applicants may only submit one LOI and one full application per cycle. Submit online at https://awards.cff.org (Refer to Section IX and X of the Program Guidelines for specific submission instructions)
• An application will be considered incomplete if it fails to comply with the instructions, or if the submitted material is insufficient to permit adequate review.
• Specific requests regarding a deviation from these guidelines must be submitted to the Program Officer Dara Riva (driva@cff.org) for approval prior to submitting their application.
   
• Key Dates: Fall 2025 Cycle
  Published February 10, 2025
  LOI Submission Deadline: April 3, 2025
  LOI Applicant Notified: June 2025
  Full Application Deadline: August 14, 2025
  Committee Review Date: November 2025
  Notification to Applicants: December 2025
  Earliest Project Start Date: February 1, 2026

Additional Resources

Using RMS:

RMS: Creating a Pre-Award LOI

RMS: Creating a Pre-Award Application

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.