Research Network of Excellence (RNoE) in Women's Heart and/or Brain Health

Eligibility

For an application to be eligible:

• The network must be interdisciplinary, multi-institutional and have representation from at least three (3) different provinces across Canada.
• The NPA and PAs must be independent researchers at eligible Canadian institutions.
• Applicants can be the NPA for only one network; however, they may be involved in different capacities in other network applications. The NPA may also be a PA on one of the other currently funded Research Networks of Excellence (RNoE).
• The NPA and PAs may not change between the registration and the full application.
• The NPA, PAs, and CC Theme Leads must collectively represent at least two (2) Eligible Research Pillars (basic science, clinical science, health systems, population health), and multiple disciplines, as outlined in the guidelines.
• The PAs leading the Program Areas within the Network must be from different institutions. Only Team Leads may be named as PAs, while additional network members must be identified by their specific titles (e.g., CC Theme Lead, Collaborator, etc.).
• The Indigenous Peoples CC Theme Lead must self-identify as Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit or Métis) or provide evidence of meaningful and culturally safe engagement with Indigenous communities.
• The PAs must include early and mid-career researchers. An ‘early-career researcher’ (“ECR”) is within the first five (5) years of their first faculty appointment at the Assistant or Clinical Assistant Professor level, or equivalent, at the time of submission. A mid-career researcher is between 5 and 15 years since their first faculty appointment at the Assistant or Clinical Assistant Professor level, or equivalent, at the time of submission.
• At the time of the full application deadline, the NPA, PAs, and CC Theme Leads must have successfully completed and submitted a Certificate of Completion in at least one CIHR Sex and Gender Training Module. For Applications involving Indigenous Peoples of Canada, the NPA, PAs and CC Theme leads are required to complete the CIHR Training Module on Research Involving First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples of Canada.
• The Host Institution is the institution or organization that is responsible for receiving and administering the network funds on behalf of the grant recipient and is the home institution of the NPA. Documentation of support for the NPA and the application by the Host Institution shall be required as part of the full application process.

Summary

An information webinar will be presented on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. (MT) for interested applicants to learn more about the grant and application process. Register here.

Priority Research Area: Rehabilitation and Recovery for women following acute heart-brain health events

The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada and Brain Canada Foundation are collectively launching a funding opportunity to enable cutting-edge, interdisciplinary research that addresses urgent research questions and significant gaps in rehabilitation and recovery for women with heart-brain health conditions (i.e. stroke, heart conditions, vascular cognitive impairment, and/or mental health in relation to these conditions). This includes research that addresses neurological or cerebrovascular conditions that impact cardiovascular health, or heart conditions impacting brain health. The network is expected to bring together interdisciplinary, multi-institutional and multi-provincial health research teams and collaborators (e.g., researchers, clinicians, people with lived and living experience (PWLLE) navigating women’s heart-brain health, health care providers, Indigenous Elders and/or Knowledge Keepers, government, policy makers, not-for-profit organizations, and industry) to create and mobilize knowledge that improves the health and wellness of women living with heart-brain health conditions, as well as their families and caregivers.

The network is expected to build on pre-existing areas of research where there is a proven track record among the network members of demonstrated leadership and research excellence in rehabilitation and recovery as it relates to women’s heart-brain health. This funding opportunity aims to support research that expands upon, utilizes, or explores new directions related to women's heart-brain health, rather than duplicating the two existing Research Networks of Excellence (RNoE) in Women’s Heart and/or Brain Health grants funded in 2024 in which activities focus on Risk Factors and Diagnosis & Treatment, respectively.

This competition will fund one (1) network, providing $1,000,000 per year for a maximum of five (5) years.

See the RNoE in Women's Heart and/or Brain Health program page for the guidelines, registration form, and FAQs.

Submission Process

This is a two-stage competition.

Registration

An approved RMS record is required for the Registration stage so that Research Services can allocate appropriate resources to support this competition.

1. Prepare a copy of the online registration form to provide to Research Services (RSO). Do not submit the form until you have received approval from the RSO. The final internal deadline for submission of your registration form to the RSO is January 12, 2026 at 12:00 p.m.
   • The RSO must receive the completed materials, including the form questions and required attachments, by this deadline.
2. Complete the Pre-Award/Letter of Intent record in the Research Management System (RMS) and “Submit for academic approvals” (Under Save & Progress) in good time to allow for approvals from your Department Head and/or ADR prior to the RSO deadline. Consult your department and faculty for more information on their approval processes and timelines. Ensure you receive all required approvals before January 12, 2026 at 12:00 p.m.
   • Your registration form will not be considered submitted and will not be reviewed until the RMS academic approvals have been received.
3. Once the RSO has reviewed the application and final institutional approval has been granted via RMS, the Principal Investigator can submit the registration form to the sponsor (via SurveyMonkey).

Development of Full Application

Details of support from Research Services are forthcoming. Additional internal deadlines will apply and are TBD.

Full Application

Following Heart & Stroke's review of the submitted registration form, applicants who are deemed eligible will receive a personalized, confidential link to a secure online ShareFile folder into which the NPA will upload the application and all attachments.

1. Complete the application according to the sponsor's instructions. The final internal deadline for submission of your application to Research Services (RSO) is April 2, 2026 at 12:00 p.m.
   • The RSO must receive the completed grant application package by this deadline. A completed grant application includes the final version of the grant application, including all forms, letters of support, CVs, and other materials as required by the funding sponsor (please note that a draft copy is acceptable for co-applicants on externally-led applications).
2. Complete the Pre-Award/Application record in the Research Management System (RMS) and “Submit for academic approvals” (Under Save & Progress) in good time to allow for approvals from your Department Head and/or ADR prior to the RSO deadline. Consult your department and faculty for more information on their approval processes and timelines. Ensure you receive all required approvals before April 2, 2026 at 12:00 p.m.
   • Your application will not be considered submitted and will not be reviewed until the RMS academic approvals have been received.
3. Once the RSO has reviewed the application and final institutional approval has been granted via RMS, the Principal Investigator submits the application to the sponsor (via ShareFile).

Note: The full application includes a signature page that requires signatures from your Department Head and the RSO (not your Dean). The RSO will provide the capping institutional signature upon completion of our administrative review.

Overhead

Not applicable. Indirect costs of research are an ineligible expense.

Pre-application deadlines

RSO internal deadline

Pre-application program deadline

Application deadlines

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