SCN - Accelerating Clinical Translation Award


Descriptions

Opportunity ID:

OPP0000006083

Opportunity type:

Grant

Sponsor:

Stem Cell Network

Award amount and duration:

up to $700,000 for 22 months

Currency:

CAD

Eligibility

Type:
Faculty

Partnerships with foundations, institutions, health charities or industry are an important and mandatory component of the project proposals. 

Applicants MUST submit an LOI to be considered for the full application stage of the research competition. LOIs will be used to identify peer review requirements, gauge the level of interest in SCNs programs, and ensure projects fall within SCN¿s regenerative medicine mandate. 

Summary

SCN is pleased to invite proposals under the Accelerating Clinical Translation Award Program. The program will support multi-disciplinary research-to-clinic bridging projects focused on stem cell/regenerative medicine technologies or therapies (including cell and/or gene therapies) that are conducting late pre-clinical and early clinical translation activities. Projects are expected to undertake clinical trials activity within five years. This program will also support translational research activities (including Ethical Legal and Social Implications (ELSI) or Health Economics (HE) questions) that will enable trial activity. Projects principally focused on basic research are not eligible for funding.

Direct Partnering Support and Leveraged Support (in-kind and/or cash) will increase the application¿s ranking. Applications will also be ranked more highly if they involve collaborations with other Canadian-based investigators and bring together multidisciplinary expertise. Applications that integrate equity, diversity and inclusion into team composition, training and research methods may rank higher.

Projects must have moved beyond basic research with significant testing and validation in relevant conditions and focus on advancing technologies toward clinical translation through late preclinical and early clinical translation activities. Projects must primarily be at Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) 4¿6, with limited advanced TRL 3 activities permitted where justified.

 

Overhead

0


Deadlines

Pre-application deadlines

RSO internal deadline

Type:
LOI
Date:
September 16, 2026 - 12:00 PM

Pre-application program deadline

Type:
LOI
Date:
September 21, 2026 - 9:00 PM

Application deadlines

RSO final internal review deadline

Date:
November 18, 2026 - 12:00 PM

Program application deadline

Date:
November 24, 2026 - 3:00 PM

Approvals

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.


Additional Information

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


Contact Details


Keywords

Stem Cell