Next Gen Pregnancy Initiative

Eligibility

• Citizens and non-citizen permanent and temporary residents of the U.S. and Canada who are legally qualified to work in the U.S. or Canada are eligible.
• Public or private non-profit organizations [501(c)(3) or equivalent] in the United States and Canada, including degree-granting academic institutions, research institutes, and teaching hospitals affiliated with academic degree granting institutions are eligible to receive Burroughs Wellcome Fund support.
• Proposals that cross discipline and/or institutional boundaries (partnerships between multiple universities or collaborations within larger universities) are encouraged.

Summary

BWF’s Preterm Birth initiative was the Fund’s first funding mechanism in reproductive sciences. This award mechanism ran alternating years from 2009-2019 initially stemming from consortium meetings that brought together research leaders in this space. This 2025-2026 cycle is the first step in a full program revamp that will prioritize the refinement of the scope of research areas to be considered for the award. 

The updated priority areas BWF aims to support include underlying mechanisms of normal pregnancy, preeclampsia, preterm birth, and late term pregnancy loss (projects focused on miscarriage at 10wks or less and infertility related loss are beyond the scope of this mechanism). These conditions remain both pervasive challenges in reproductive medicine and persistently underexplored in reproductive biology. 

We especially welcome applications focused on subtyping adverse pregnancy outcomes, investigating maternal–fetal interactions, and integrating animal models with clinical outcomes.

Full application guidelines can be found in the RFP at this LINK. 

Overhead

Not supported.

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