Accelerator Grants: Neurodegeneration x Immunology

Eligibility

• Investigators must be conducting research at, and affiliated with, an eligible Canadian academic institution for the entire duration of the grant, and must be considered an independent researcher at their institution. Such an individual normally holds the rank of assistant, associate, or full professor; can initiate and direct their own independent lines of research as principal investigator; has full responsibility for running their laboratories; has full control of their research funds; and is permitted to supervise trainees, if applicable, as per their institution’s policy. Academic appointments must have started by the deadline for Full Application submission. Postdoctoral fellows, research associates, and adjunct faculty are not eligible to apply. 

• This funding opportunity is open to multidisciplinary research teams and must include the following: o a minimum of two independent investigators, as described above, with at least two distinct Canadian institutions or distinct research groups within the same institution represented on the team; o additional team members and collaborators, as needed, to ensure the required expertise is present to carry out the proposed research. 

• Research applications may be related but cannot be identical to any other funded projects. It is the responsibility of the applicant to notify Brain Canada immediately should overlap arise from funding awarded during the application and review process of this funding opportunity. Overlap is defined as having the same objectives and/or experimental aims as any other funded work. 

• Applicants must submit a Registration Form in order to be eligible to submit a Full Application. 

• Applicants may only submit one application as Principal Investigator. 

• Applicants must be able to initiate the project in March 2026 when funding is expected to begin.

Summary

The Accelerator Grants: Neurodegeneration x Immunology program aims to support innovative, bold, and exploratory research to understand the role of the immune system in neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and/or Huntington’s disease. The program will fund experimental research, in the early conceptual or fundamental stages, with potential to provide insights on disease pathogenesis, progression, diagnosis, prevention, and/or treatment. Preference will be given to projects with novel hypotheses or unconventional approaches that, if successful, could shift existing paradigms and open new lines of inquiry for the field. 

Projects must explore the role of immune mechanisms and how they contribute to and/or modulate neurodegeneration. Examples of immune mechanisms include, but are not limited to, the role of innate or adaptive immunity, neuroinflammation, central or peripheral immune responses, interaction between the nervous system and immune system in aging, or the gut-immune–brain axis.

Overhead

Not allowable.

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.

How to Apply 

Please note that this funding opportunity includes a Registration Form and a Full Application stage. Applicants must submit a Registration Form in order to be eligible to submit a Full Application. Following an administrative check and relevance review, applicants deemed eligible will be invited to submit a Full Application. 

Registration Forms and Full Applications must be submitted using Brain Canada’s electronic grant management system – SmartSimple (https://braincanada.smartsimple.ca/s_Login.jsp). It is the sole responsibility of the Principal Investigator to ensure their submission adheres to the requirements and is received by the deadlines outlined above. There will be no appeal to late submissions. Receipt of the Registration Form and Full Application will be acknowledged by Brain Canada within two business days.

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.