CRI Clinical Innovator

Eligibility

Candidates must be the Principal Investigator (PI) of the proposed study. CRI has no citizenship restrictions, and research supported by the award may be conducted at medical schools or research centers in the United States or abroad. 

Please note that CRI does not support research at for-profit institutions.

Summary

The Clinical Innovator provides funding for clinician-scientists aiming to launch innovative phase I/II or phase II clinical studies using novel immunotherapies. In addition to the merits of the clinical and scientific rationale, studies will be selected based on their novelty, feasibility, and clinical impact. Competitive applications will have a strong focus on yielding mechanistic insights into clinical response and potentials for biomarker discovery and/or validation. CRI will coordinate efforts on selected trials by advising on the following areas: standardizing sample collection, correlative assays, analysis, and data sharing, including, if applicable, deposition of immunogenomic data into the CRI iATLAS platform. 

Overhead

Overhead is 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.

SUBMISSIONS

An Initial Protocol Concept must be submitted electronically using the CRI online submission portal. If this is the first time you are submitting a grant application to CRI, you will be asked to create a new user account to catalog all applications you submit to CRI.

The deadline to submit an Initial Protocol Concept is December 1. Candidates will be notified by late February if they are invited to submit a full proposal, including protocol. Invited applications are due May 1. 

NOTE: If these deadlines fall on the weekend, proposals will be accepted until the close of business that following Monday.

Supporting Materials

The Initial Protocol Concept must include:  

1. A brief protocol concept (maximum 2 pages, excluding study schema and references) including;
   a. Study rationale
   b. Primary objectives 
   c. Secondary objectives
   d. Number of patients to be treated
   e. Patient eligibility criteria
   f. Sample collection plan
   g. Biostatistics plan
2. A separate one-page study schema should be uploaded outlining the clinical design.
3. A brief translational plan (maximum 1 page, excluding references)
   a. Translational aims and rationale 
   b. Assays intended to use and samples to be tested
4. Biographical sketches for PI(s) and co-PI(s) (limit bibliography to past 5 years or publications relevant to proposed study)

Notes:

• Only PDF documents will be accepted. All files must be submitted individually on the attachments page of the online application.
• When you have finished uploading the attachments, click “Submit.” You will receive a notice confirming that you have successfully submitted your Application Form. Immediately after, an automated notification from CRI will be sent to your email address, also confirming submission. If you encounter problems uploading your attachments, email them to grants@cancerresearch.org. Be sure to note the application number, which will be assigned to you at the time of submission.
• Online applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date. If the deadline falls on the weekend, applications will be accepted until the close of business that following Monday. We strongly suggest submitting your applications as early as possible to provide ample time in case your application is incomplete. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
• Formatting Guidelines: Any documents you attach to your online application form must be typed single-space using a 12 point or larger font size.

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.