Climate + Health Excellence Centers (CHEX)

Eligibility

Only non-profit research and training institutes in the United States or Canada may submit applications. Consortia may include institutions outside the US or Canada.

Summary

The Climate + Health Excellence Centers (CHEX) award is a new institutional research and training opportunity that will help institutions bridge the gaps between fields that will have important roles to play in understanding the impacts of climate change on human health and diminishing their effects. Creating new lines of research connecting climate change and human health will be the focal priority for the programs that are funded. Applications from groups that are just starting to integrate Climate + Health into their planning are expected to be uncompetitive. Proposals from consortia face a higher bar, as they need to demonstrate shared interests and convince reviewers that they will be able to overcome the challenges involved in working across multiple institutions. Supported centers are expected to both launch what will become long-lasting research partnerships and to have well-planned training and post-graduate training components. Each institution will orient its proposal around a core interest.

Post-graduate training and the curricular innovations that accompany are a necessary element and are seen as an important way to strengthen interdisciplinary connections. Programs may train PhD students, but may instead or additionally train postdoctoral fellows; medical or veterinary students, residents, or fellows; advanced nursing students; master’s students; undergraduates or other kinds of research trainees. We do not expect the bulk of this award to be spent on training. Applicants should develop a training program that fits their strengths and the goals of their proposed center. Planning to train simultaneously in all the directions described in this RFP is likely to yield a weaker proposal. The training grant element will not be more than 20% of a funded center’s budget.

This opportunity utilizes the ProposalCentral online application system. The Signatory Official is Tiago Lier, Director, Grants, Awards and Ethics.

• UCalgary Internal Notice of Intent (iNOI) Template
• CHEX Request for Proposals
• CHEX LOI Instructions

Submission Process

Internal Notice of Intent (iNOI)

Institutions are limited to one application per competition. As such, an internal selection stage may be required if multiple applications are brought forward for submission to the competition. An internal Notice of Intent (iNOI) is due to Research Services by May 20, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. Please use the iNOI template and submit via email to Katie Cupello (katie.cupello@ucalgary.ca).

Note: Submission of an iNOI is mandatory. Any applications submitted to the funding agency without having undergone this stage will be rejected.

Further details about UCalgary's internal submission process for the CHEX program are yet to be determined. These details will be provided at a later date to those who submit an iNOI.

Main Competition

This is a two-stage process consisting of a Letter of Intent (LOI) and Full Application, which is by invitation only. Both stages of this competition will be part of the Research Management System (RMS), and approvals will be obtained electronically.

Overhead

Not applicable. BWF does not permit overhead costs.

Pre-application deadlines

RSO internal deadline

Pre-application program deadline

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  

Reminder: The sooner the researcher engages with Research Services, the more help we can be! 

 Contact the following Research Service units for support with: 

Projects Involving Indigenous Research: 

Support with incorporating wise practices in Indigenous research, community engagement, and Indigenous data management 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. 

Knowledge Mobilization, Research Impact Assessment, DORA:  
Support for knowledge mobilization/engagement/translation, community partnerships, research impact, responsible research assessment (DORA), and open science, is available through the Knowledge to Impact team.  

Applicants can reach out by email to the KI team at knowledge.impact@ucalgary.ca.  
For more information and access to resource archives, please visit the KI team webpage. 

Research Data Management: 

For information on research data management plans, processes, or best practices for your research program, please contact research.data@ucalgary.ca.    

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 edi.rso@ucalgary.ca for more information. 

Research Security: 

The Research Security Division is available to ensure researchers adhere to research security guidelines and policies, including the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships (NSGRP) and the policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern (STRAC). 

Visit the Research Security website to learn more or contact researchsecurity@ucalgary.ca.  

Pre-Award Submissions: 

RMS: Creating a Pre-Award LOI
RMS: Creating a Pre-Award Application