Equid Annual - Open Topic

Eligibility

Established Investigator: Competitive applicants for this award will have a record of expertise demonstrated through peer-reviewed publications.

First Award: First Award grants are designed to assist early career researchers in establishing a successful research program by supporting their first award as an independent investigator. The applicant must have completed a PhD, DVSc, DVM, or equivalent degree and have a faculty or staff position in a university, accredited zoo, conservation organization, or a non-academic equivalent (not including a for profit institution). Principal Investigators should have a history of research publication as a Co-PI or Co-Investigator. Individuals currently in a residency program are not eligible. Postdoctoral researchers should be completing their program and proposing research intended to be conducted in a guaranteed position. Applicants must not have received previous funding of more than $25,000 for any single extramural award as a principal investigator leading independent research.

Pilot Study: Pilot Study awards provide funding for proof-of-concept studies in animal health research.

Summary

This request for pre-proposals is focused on advancing the health and overall welfare of domesticated horses, ponies, donkeys, and/or mules. Please note that for racehorses and wild equids, we fund research focused on health and quality of life only where outcomes are likely to be of universal equine/equid benefit. The universal outcomes must be clearly outlined in the animal health impact section of your proposal. Use of other species as models (including laboratory rodents) is not appropriate for this topic.
To ensure we fund only the most impactful research, successful pre-proposals will:
1. Identify a well-defined animal health need
2. Demonstrate collaboration with key stakeholders before, during, and after the project
3. Describe a clear strategy for achieving meaningful outcomes
Guidelines not marked otherwise apply to all four award categories (Established Investigator, First Award, Pilot Study, and Fellowship Training). Award-specific instructions appear in bold italics. Please review all instructions carefully to ensure you are following the correct eligibility requirements, award criteria, budget limits, project duration, and page limits for your selected award.

Established Investigator maximum project duration is 36 months. There is no limit to the budget request, however we expect the average award to be approximately $100,000.
First Award maximum project duration is 24 months, and the budget cannot exceed $120,000.
Pilot Study maximum project duration is 12 months, and the budget cannot exceed $20,000.

Overhead

Up to 8% of the budget’s total direct costs can be applied to indirect costs.

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