Spinal Cord Injury Research Grants
No competition is expected in 2012 for this program, a special initiative funded by Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Health to address priorities defined in consultation with the Rick Hansen Institute (RHI). The first competition was in 2011 and, based on available resources, the next one is expected to be in 2013. Please watch this section of our website for updates and competition timelines.
Purpose
The Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Research Grant program is intended to support translational research in either the clinical/health services or biomedical stream that focuses on improving health outcomes for spinal cord injury patients and moving research findings into policy or practice.
Scope
In the clinical and health services research stream, SHRF welcomes proposals addressing a wide range of SCI outcomes from acute care to rehabilitation to quality of life. Priority will be given to patient-oriented research leading to improved outcomes. Research proposals are encouraged from a variety of disciplines, including the social and behavioural sciences.
In the biomedical research stream, SHRF welcomes proposals related to developing, refining and testing devices, drugs, or therapies to improve SCI outcomes. Priority will be given to translational (bench to bedside) and proof of principle research. Researchers using animal models will need to justify the model’s relevance to achieving human clinical trials.
Research supported must align with at least one of the following four RHI objectives: reduce incidence and severity of paralysis; improve health care outcomes; reduce long-term cost; and improve quality of life for those living with SCI.
Important Dates
Letter of Intent Deadline: No competition expected in 2012
Full Application Deadline: No competition expected in 2012
Funding Decisions by: No competition expected in 2012.
Funding Start Date: No competition expected in 2012.
Funding
The funding envelope is $1 million over five years. SHRF will hold competitions over a period of several years to align with the flow of government funds ($200,000/year) for this initiative. The first competition is in 2011 and subsequent competitions will be set according to available funds and will be announced well in advance of deadlines. Currently, SHRF expects competitions to occur in 2011, 2013 and 2015.
Grant amounts and terms are as follows:
- Clinical or health services research grants: Up to $100,000/year for two years
- Biomedical grants: Up to $50,000/year for two years
SHRF will aim to support one clinical grant and two biomedical grants in each competition.
Allowable Expenses
Allowable expenses are those necessary to carry out the research and not provided through other means. They may include:
- salary for research co-ordinator, if appropriate;
- research staff, including technicians, clinical staff, and assistants;
- limited release-time for team members to increase their research focus, if necessary;
- materials and supplies;
- required services and technical contracts;
- reimbursement of clinical care costs;
- essential major equipment (including operating and maintenance);
- travel to support the research, including patient participation;
- team meetings and communication; and
- costs of linkage and outreach to disseminate research findings.
Eligibility
Eligibility must be demonstrated at the LOI stage. To be eligible, applicants must:
- hold a faculty appointment at a Saskatchewan university, with the expectation and opportunity to undertake research, the right to hold research grants at the university, and a responsibility to supervise graduate students or residents;
- not simultaneously be a graduate student, research fellowship holder or holder of any other training award, or an employee of a for-profit business;
- be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or actively pursuing such status; and
- be able to commit an appropriate portion of his/her time to the research project; SHRF may seek verification of this commitment.
The principal applicant may apply with co-investigators who have the expertise to strengthen and contribute substantially to the proposed research. Co-investigators must:
- describe their contribution to and role in the project;
- provide required information about their qualifications and experience; and
- sign the application form to indicate their awareness of and commitment to the project.
Review
Applications are evaluated in a competitive, peer-review process that considers the following criteria:
- strength of the researcher(s). i.e., appropriate qualifications and expertise to undertake proposed activities;
- likelihood that necessary facilities, equipment, researcher time, support personnel, and other necessary resources and infrastructure will be available to support the team’s work (including evidence of support from universities, community, health regions, and others key partners);
- quality, thoroughness, and feasibility of the research plan, including ethical and safety considerations;
- fit of research plan with the program’s intended purpose, including alignment with RHI objectives;
- potential impact to SCI community;
- strength of plans for knowledge translation; and
- reasonableness of budget for the proposed goals and activities.
RELATED LINKS
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What are SHRF’s processes and policies, including peer review, approvals and extensions?
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What are some tips for submitting a strong application?
FORMS
Although SHRF does its best to ensure the most accurate and up-to-date information is available throughout our website, in the event that you experience difficulty obtaining a form from contact Tanya at tskorobohach@shrf.ca
Spinal Cord Injury Research Grant Call for Proposals - June 27, 2011
Spinal Cord Injury Research Grant Annual Report Form 2012 (Word)
Spinal Cord Injury Research Grant Annual Report Form 2012 (PDF)
