Accelerator Grants: Migraine Research

Eligibility

This opportunity supports multidisciplinary teams that bring together the expertise required to address this complex neurological condition. Where appropriate, applicants are encouraged to meaningfully engage people with lived experience to ensure that research priorities, design, and outcomes reflect real world needs and perspectives. 
• Teams must include a minimum of two independent investigators, as described below, with one designated as the Principal Investigator. 
• Investigators must be conducting research at, and affiliated with, an eligible Canadian academic institution for the entire duration of the grant and must be considered a full-time independent researcher at their institution. Such an individual normally holds the rank of assistant, associate, or full professor; can initiate and direct their own independent lines of research as principal investigator; has full responsibility for running their laboratories; has full control of their research funds; and is permitted to supervise trainees, if applicable, as per their institution’s policy. Academic appointments must have started by the deadline for Full Application submission. Postdoctoral fellows, research associates, and adjunct faculty are not eligible to apply. 
• Teams may include additional members and collaborators, as needed, to ensure the required expertise is present to carry out the proposed research. 
• Proposals may be related but cannot be identical to any other funded projects. It is the responsibility of the applicants to notify Brain Canada immediately should overlap arise from funding awarded during the application and review process of this funding opportunity. Overlap is defined as having the same objectives and/or experimental aims as any other funded work. 
• Applicants can only submit one application as Principal Investigator. 
• Applicants must submit a Registration Form to be eligible to submit a Full Application. 
• Applicants must be able to initiate the project in February 2027, when funding is expected to begin.

Summary

The Accelerator Grants: Migraine Research program aims to support bold, innovative research that has the potential to drive new insights and improve prevention, diagnosis, and treatment strategies for migraine. The program will support research that advances our understanding of the causes, risk factors, and symptoms of migraine, including, but not limited to, the biological underpinnings of the condition; the identification of biomarkers to enhance prevention, diagnosis, and treatment management; and the development and testing of novel therapies or interventions. Projects must consider the influence of sex and gender-related factors in the design, analysis, and evaluation of the research given the disproportionate impact of migraine on women.

Overhead

Not supported.

Pre-application deadlines

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 Application