New Investigator Research Grant Program

Eligibility

• Applicants must be independent investigators affiliated with a non-profit academic institution at the time funding commences and for the duration of the award.
• New investigators are considered to be within seven years of their first independent faculty-level position when the grant would be awarded. Years as a resident physician, fellow physician, or post-doctoral fellow are considered to be training years and are not included in the seven-year guideline.
• A researcher must be in an independent faculty-level position at the time the application is submitted. An independent position is a scientist who has dedicated laboratory space, directly hires and supervises laboratory personnel, and makes all decisions concerning research activities and use of the grant funds.
• Adjustments for career interruptions can be made. These could include but are not limited to family leave, military service, major illness, or injury. It is the responsibility of the applicant to point out and document such interruptions.
• Applicants are not required to be US citizens. Research projects from outside the US are eligible.
• Applicants with a KO8, R00, or R99 grant are eligible. The total grant amount will not be applied toward the $175K per year threshold on total direct costs.
• DOE, DOD, NSF, R21, or other grants with less than $175K per year in total direct costs are permitted.
• Only one LOI may be submitted from the same applicant (Principal Investigator).

NOTE: Exclusions from eligibility include the following:

• Applicants with any active single grant (or multiple grants added together) that total $175K or greater in total direct costs per year are not eligible (as noted above, KO8, R00, R99 grant awards are excluded from this total threshold).
• Fellows are not eligible to apply.
• Applicants with NIH RO1 funding, VA Merit Award, or equivalent.
• Renewal applications will not be accepted and investigators who have received a Leukemia Research Foundation new investigator award in the past are not eligible to apply.
• Co-PI's are not permitted.

Summary

Our New Investigator Research Grant Program supports early-career investigators of exceptional creativity who propose highly innovative research projects with the potential to impact broad, essential areas of leukemia research. For the program to support the best and brightest minds, applications are sought from investigators who reflect the full diversity of the research workforce and represent diverse backgrounds, institutions, and geographic locations. Grants of up to $150K are awarded over a two-year period to new investigators -- researchers within seven years of their first independent faculty-level position.

Funding Information:

• The maximum funding request is $150k over a two year period.
• The Leukemia Research Foundation does not provide funds for capital equipment (i.e., equipment purchases above $7,500). Any request for an exception to this policy must detail the specific need of the capital equipment for the proposed research project.
• Salary support for the principal investigator is not provided.
• Using funds for research travel is permitted but should not exceed $3K. The funds are intended only to enhance the study.
• All other support for the project must be detailed, including all sources for the requested and related projects. Any funding overlap must be clearly indicated.
• Indirect cost recovery or institutional overhead costs are not provided.

Overhead

Overhead is not allowable.

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.

Timeline
December 6, 2024: Letter of intent opens and link to ProposalCentral is posted
February 14, 2025: Letter of intent due by 12pm CT
March 21, 2025: Notification if invited to submit a full application
April 25, 2025: Full application due (if invited to submit) by 12pm CT
By June 30, 2025: Grant recipients notified of award

Letter of intent
A letter of intent (LOI) allows the Leukemia Research Foundation to assess if there is a good match between our goals and the project. If it appears to be a good match and you are eligible to apply, we will invite you to submit a full application. Please plan to submit your LOI in advance of the deadline in case there are technical issues.

Letters of intent and the full application are submitted via ProposalCentral, a research grant management system. A ProposalCentral account is required to submit materials. 

Full application (by invitation only)
After the LOI review, the researchers selected to submit a full application will receive an email with instructions and a link to the full application.

Notification of results
In early June, all full applications for the upcoming funding cycle will be reviewed by the Leukemia Research Foundation's independent Medical Advisory Board. The Foundation approves applications for funding based on the recommendation of this panel. Leukemia Research Foundation reviewers do not prepare written reviews or provide feedback on individual applications due to the volume of proposals.

Questions
If you have questions, please email the research grants administrator at grants@leukemiarf.org

Additional Resources

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.

RMS: Creating a Pre-Award LOI

RMS: Creating a Pre-Award Application