2025 Platform Support Grants (PSG)

Eligibility

One of the platform team members will be designated the Principal Investigator (PI), nominated by the platform team, to be the individual responsible for submitting the application and for all communications with Brain Canada. The PI is generally the individual responsible for the overall management of the platform. If the platform is a physical entity, it would generally be located at the PI’s institution. The PI must be conducting research at, and affiliated with, a Canadian institution for the entire duration of the grant. Academic appointments must have started by the deadline for Full Application submission. 

• Investigators must be considered independent researchers at their institution. Such individuals normally hold the rank of assistant, associate, or full professor; can initiate and direct their own independent lines of research as PI; have full responsibility for running their laboratories; have full control of their research funds; and are permitted to supervise trainees (if applicable, as per their institution’s policy). 

• A PI can only submit one application to either Stream 1 or Stream 2 but can be a team member or collaborator on multiple applications.

• For Stream 1: Previous Platform Support Grants recipients can apply to Stream 1, but their PSG end date must be no later than August 31, 2026, including any No-Cost Extensions. 

• For Stream 2: Please note that Platform Support Grants that are currently ongoing must have ended by August 31, 2026, including any No-Cost Extensions. o Stream 2 applicants with ongoing PSGs will need to demonstrate a track record of progress. Progress will be assessed administratively by Brain Canada through a review of previously submitted financial and scientific progress reports as well PSG 2025 Full Application components (i.e., budget forecast and budget forecast justification). • For Stream 2: Only one application per previously funded platform will be considered. Any team member previously involved in the funded platform, and meeting the eligibility criteria, can serve as Principal Investigator; however, they must notify the other team members of their intention to apply.

Summary

The Platform Support Grants program supports major research platforms at a local, regional, and/or national scale with the goal of providing enhanced technical and research capabilities to multiple investigators in the neurosciences. Through the 2025 Platform Support Grants program, researchers can apply for funding through one of two streams. NOTE: RMS records are NOT required for the registration step (July 25, 2025 @ 3:00 PM). Only invited applications need an RMS record for internal review.

Stream 1: Will support platforms that are in development or already existing but that have never been funded through Brain Canada’s Platform Support Grants program. 

Stream 2: Will support platforms that have previously received funding through Brain Canada’s Platform Support Grants program. Platform Support Grants that are currently ongoing must be completed by August 31, 2026, including any No-Cost Extensions.

Platform Support Grants must be utilized to directly support platforms that provide the research community with access to resources, technology, and services to conduct neuroscience research. Given this, proposals should be broader than a single research project designed to address specific research questions and instead, serve multiple investigators and research projects over time.

Overhead

Brain Canada does not support overhead/indirect costs.

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.

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 to Impact Team. Applicants can reach out by email to the KTI team at knowledge.impact@ucalgary.ca in advance of the RSO internal deadline. For more information, please visit the KTI 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.