Foundations of a Resilient Microbiome (FORM)

Eligibility

Performers from universities and research institutions: small, medium, and large companies (including venture-backed); and government or non-profit research organizations are invited to propose.

Wellcome Leap accepts project proposals from any legal entity, based in any legal jurisdiction, including academic, non-profit, for-profit, and regulatory/professional organizations. Applicants are encouraged to contact Wellcome Leap about joining its Health Breakthrough Network by executing its MARFA (or CORFA for commercial entities) agreement. Full execution of the Wellcome Leap MARFA is not required for application submission but is required for any award.

Summary

We are soliciting abstracts and proposals for work over three (3) years in one or more of the following thrust areas (see Thrust areas in full program description). Proposers should clearly relate work in these thrust areas to one or more of the program goals.

It is not necessary to form a large consortium or teams to address all facets of the program. The strength of this approach will manifest through program-level integration of efforts from individuals and small agile teams with deep (and sometimes narrow) expertise. Across all projects, Wellcome Leap will facilitate iterative and collaborative integration of findings to refine models and improve and validate predictive measures and adapt approaches as teams make progress towards shared goals.

To achieve the goals of the program we seek advances in 3 thrust areas.

To test if the gut microbiome is a missing link and determine if we can meet the requirements of a solution with the potential to reduce the number of children experiencing severe autism-related difficulties by 75%, we need advances coordinated across three thrust areas.

• Thrust 1: Identify the proportion of children experiencing ASD attributable to gut microbiome dysfunction, with >90% balanced accuracy, and identify what combination(s) of early life pressures (and when) drive the specific microbiome dysfunction influencing neurodevelopment.
• Thrust 2: Develop objective and scalable methods to: 1) screen the functional contribution of the maternal and infant gut microbiome to infant neurodevelopment to predict cognitive, language, social and executive function challenges, aiming for >70% accuracy; and 2) diagnose a gut microbiome-based functional disorder or disorders predictive of severe autism-related difficulties with >90% accuracy. These performance metrics are comparable to existing early ASD screens like M-CHAT, and sufficient to trigger referral for formal diagnosis, with the clinical grade accuracies expected for a diagnostic test for ASD and other metabolic disorders that result in neurodevelopmental challenges.
• Thrust 3: Pair diagnostic tests with strategies to protect, preserve and restore gut microbiome functions and resilience — in pregnancy and infancy — aiming for >80% effectiveness to support healthy neurodevelopment. Test whether this can meet the requirements of a solution with the potential to reduce the number of new cases of severe autism-related difficulties by 75%.

Advances across thrusts will inform each other to improve and validate screening methods, diagnostic biomarkers, and restoration strategies. It is not necessary to form large consortiums or teams to accomplish all the thrust goals. Synergies and integrated system demonstrations will be facilitated by Wellcome Leap on an annual basis as we make progress together towards the program goal.

The LOI stage of this program is a 7-page abstract submission:

1. Download guidelines
2. Download abstract template (and cost and schedule template)
3. Application portal opens on 7 November 2025 at 11:59pm ET.
4. Upload your abstract and submit your application before 14 November 2025 at 11:59pm ET.

Overhead

Overhead costs are allowable at 25%. 

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.

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