Please click the link to access additional information about the program 2023 RESEARCH COMPETITION GUIDELINES
THE GAME CHANGER FUND
BACKGROUND:
Via the “We Cross Cancer” Capital Campaign (Alberta Cancer Foundation 2022-2023; wecrosscancer.ca, donors across Alberta contributed $5 million to invest in cancer research in Edmonton. Extensive consultation and engagement with Edmonton’s cancer research community and other stakeholders was undertaken in summer and fall 2022 to inform how the funds should be invested. This was a collaborative effort between the Alberta Cancer Foundation (ACF), Cancer Research & Analytics at Cancer Care Alberta (CR&A/CCA: Alberta Health Services) and the Cancer Research Institute of Northern Alberta (CRINA: University of Alberta).
We received clear feedback that the funds should be used strategically and creatively to support innovative cancer research – filling gaps, complementing existing funding sources, and supporting collaborations designed to transcend traditional boundaries in addressing cancer research questions of relevance to people facing cancer.
Building on what we heard, the Game Changer Fund was created.
FUNDING COMPETITION GOAL:
To support up to four cancer research teams based in Edmonton, Alberta to work on new and innovative ways to identify, describe, and tackle important cancer research questions. This funding opportunity is designed to enable each research team, led by a Principal Applicant, to capitalize on existing areas of research strength, with the goal of boosting cancer research impact, productivity and capacity using creative approaches or fresh perspectives on existing ideas that may not be feasible using other sources of research funding.
EXPECTATIONS:
Research teams based in Edmonton, Alberta are invited to submit proposals describing the team, and the aims, objectives and desired outcomes of the proposed research that aligns with the goal of the competition.
Each research team may apply for up to $1.25Million in total for up to four years. All funds must remain in Edmonton.
Cancer research team proposals will be reviewed and evaluated on scientific merit and feasibility, as well as descriptions of how expectations aligned with the goal of the funding competition will be met.
Specifically, applicants will be expected to describe clearly:
• how the funding will help support new and transformative or creative approaches for collaborative and interdisciplinary cancer research designed to boost the pace and impact of knowledge generation in Edmonton, Alberta;
• how the proposed work builds on existing strengths, expertise or resources in the cancer research environment in Edmonton, Alberta;
• the extent to which the proposed cancer research team proposal addresses questions, themes or directions that are of relevance to people facing cancer or the healthcare system that supports cancer care;
• the desired outcomes of the cancer research team proposal, and how the outcomes will contribute substantially to the goal of boosting cancer research impact, productivity and capacity in Edmonton, Alberta.
• inclusion of people from diverse disciplines, backgrounds and experience, and how they will be engaged in a meaningful way to achieve the aims and objectives of the cancer research team proposal;
• how the funding request leverages existing resources or sources of support, and how it will be used to help attract support from other sources in the longer term;
• how the funding will help fill gaps and create new opportunities for collaboration and capacity building that are not feasible using other funding sources;
WHAT THE FUNDING COULD BE USED FOR:
In keeping with the goal and expectations of the funding competition, applicants are expected to make a convincing case for innovative and creative proposals that will boost cancer research impact, productivity and capacity in Edmonton, Alberta.
For example, funding could be used to create or augment a sustainable research platform that complements an existing area of strength, or to establish and test a shared tumour model system, or to harness the collective brain power of clinicians and scientists with diverse expertise and experience to identify new cancer research questions and generate pilot data, or to do something else that goes beyond what could be achieved using more traditional single project-based funding mechanisms.
Equipment and supplies, trainee stipends or other supports, hiring of temporary staff or temporary salary offsets for existing staff, contributions to start-up packages for new faculty members, engagement activities designed to promote new collaborations, compensation for patient & family engagement, contributions to technician time, and other eligible costs linked directly to achieving the aim, objectives and desired outcomes of each cancer research team proposal are all in scope for this funding competition.
Researchers may be a team member on a maximum of two research team proposals. An investigator may be a Principal Applicant on only one proposal, and may also be a team member on one other proposal. Applications will be screened at the Notification of Intent (NOI) stage to ensure that this condition is met.
WHAT THE FUNDING CANNOT BE USED FOR:
• Research team funding is intended to boost cancer research in Edmonton, Alberta. Principal Applicants not based in Edmonton, Alberta are ineligible. Proposals where the application does not make a convincing case for boosting cancer research in Edmonton will also be deemed ineligible.
• Research team funding is not intended to support discrete investigator-initiated research projects, unless those projects are designed to generate pilot data and are linked directly with a research platform or research theme established with the support of cancer research team funding.
• Research team funding cannot be used to support clinical trials or activities related specifically to commercialization of research discoveries.
• Research team funding is time-limited (up to four years) and therefore cannot be used to hire permanent staff or contribute directly to salaries/benefits of faculty. Hiring of temporary staff or temporary salary offsets for existing staff are allowed within the timeframe of the funding.
• Research team funding cannot be used to support facility renovations or structural alterations. If renovations or alterations are required for installation of equipment to be purchased, then a letter from Facilities & Operations (or equivalent group) must be provided with the full application. The letter should indicate that Facilities & Operations (or equivalent group) is aware of the application. It should also include the source of renovation costs and approval to proceed.
• Research team funding cannot be used to support ongoing maintenance or licensing of equipment or other services purchased under the auspices of the research team funding. If ongoing maintenance or licensing is required following completion of the research team funding, applicants should provide a letter describing how they will find funds to ensure that the equipment or other services will be maintained beyond the term of the research team funding, and what will happen if no further funding is obtained.
• Research team funding cannot be used for legal costs associated with generating or reviewing agreements, applications pertaining to intellectual property, patents or commercial product development.
• Research team funding cannot be used to support travel, registration fees, accommodation or other costs related to present research not directly related to work described in the application.
Alberta Cancer Foundation Game Changer Fund
Please click the link to access additional information about the program 2023 RESEARCH COMPETITION GUIDELINES
THE GAME CHANGER FUND
BACKGROUND:
Via the “We Cross Cancer” Capital Campaign (Alberta Cancer Foundation 2022-2023; wecrosscancer.ca, donors across Alberta contributed $5 million to invest in cancer research in Edmonton. Extensive consultation and engagement with Edmonton’s cancer research community and other stakeholders was undertaken in summer and fall 2022 to inform how the funds should be invested. This was a collaborative effort between the Alberta Cancer Foundation (ACF), Cancer Research & Analytics at Cancer Care Alberta (CR&A/CCA: Alberta Health Services) and the Cancer Research Institute of Northern Alberta (CRINA: University of Alberta).
We received clear feedback that the funds should be used strategically and creatively to support innovative cancer research – filling gaps, complementing existing funding sources, and supporting collaborations designed to transcend traditional boundaries in addressing cancer research questions of relevance to people facing cancer.
Building on what we heard, the Game Changer Fund was created.
FUNDING COMPETITION GOAL:
To support up to four cancer research teams based in Edmonton, Alberta to work on new and innovative ways to identify, describe, and tackle important cancer research questions. This funding opportunity is designed to enable each research team, led by a Principal Applicant, to capitalize on existing areas of research strength, with the goal of boosting cancer research impact, productivity and capacity using creative approaches or fresh perspectives on existing ideas that may not be feasible using other sources of research funding.
EXPECTATIONS:
Research teams based in Edmonton, Alberta are invited to submit proposals describing the team, and the aims, objectives and desired outcomes of the proposed research that aligns with the goal of the competition.
Each research team may apply for up to $1.25Million in total for up to four years. All funds must remain in Edmonton.
Cancer research team proposals will be reviewed and evaluated on scientific merit and feasibility, as well as descriptions of how expectations aligned with the goal of the funding competition will be met.
Specifically, applicants will be expected to describe clearly:
• how the funding will help support new and transformative or creative approaches for collaborative and interdisciplinary cancer research designed to boost the pace and impact of knowledge generation in Edmonton, Alberta;
• how the proposed work builds on existing strengths, expertise or resources in the cancer research environment in Edmonton, Alberta;
• the extent to which the proposed cancer research team proposal addresses questions, themes or directions that are of relevance to people facing cancer or the healthcare system that supports cancer care;
• the desired outcomes of the cancer research team proposal, and how the outcomes will contribute substantially to the goal of boosting cancer research impact, productivity and capacity in Edmonton, Alberta.
• inclusion of people from diverse disciplines, backgrounds and experience, and how they will be engaged in a meaningful way to achieve the aims and objectives of the cancer research team proposal;
• how the funding request leverages existing resources or sources of support, and how it will be used to help attract support from other sources in the longer term;
• how the funding will help fill gaps and create new opportunities for collaboration and capacity building that are not feasible using other funding sources;
WHAT THE FUNDING COULD BE USED FOR:
In keeping with the goal and expectations of the funding competition, applicants are expected to make a convincing case for innovative and creative proposals that will boost cancer research impact, productivity and capacity in Edmonton, Alberta.
For example, funding could be used to create or augment a sustainable research platform that complements an existing area of strength, or to establish and test a shared tumour model system, or to harness the collective brain power of clinicians and scientists with diverse expertise and experience to identify new cancer research questions and generate pilot data, or to do something else that goes beyond what could be achieved using more traditional single project-based funding mechanisms.
Equipment and supplies, trainee stipends or other supports, hiring of temporary staff or temporary salary offsets for existing staff, contributions to start-up packages for new faculty members, engagement activities designed to promote new collaborations, compensation for patient & family engagement, contributions to technician time, and other eligible costs linked directly to achieving the aim, objectives and desired outcomes of each cancer research team proposal are all in scope for this funding competition.
Researchers may be a team member on a maximum of two research team proposals. An investigator may be a Principal Applicant on only one proposal, and may also be a team member on one other proposal. Applications will be screened at the Notification of Intent (NOI) stage to ensure that this condition is met.
WHAT THE FUNDING CANNOT BE USED FOR:
• Research team funding is intended to boost cancer research in Edmonton, Alberta. Principal Applicants not based in Edmonton, Alberta are ineligible. Proposals where the application does not make a convincing case for boosting cancer research in Edmonton will also be deemed ineligible.
• Research team funding is not intended to support discrete investigator-initiated research projects, unless those projects are designed to generate pilot data and are linked directly with a research platform or research theme established with the support of cancer research team funding.
• Research team funding cannot be used to support clinical trials or activities related specifically to commercialization of research discoveries.
• Research team funding is time-limited (up to four years) and therefore cannot be used to hire permanent staff or contribute directly to salaries/benefits of faculty. Hiring of temporary staff or temporary salary offsets for existing staff are allowed within the timeframe of the funding.
• Research team funding cannot be used to support facility renovations or structural alterations. If renovations or alterations are required for installation of equipment to be purchased, then a letter from Facilities & Operations (or equivalent group) must be provided with the full application. The letter should indicate that Facilities & Operations (or equivalent group) is aware of the application. It should also include the source of renovation costs and approval to proceed.
• Research team funding cannot be used to support ongoing maintenance or licensing of equipment or other services purchased under the auspices of the research team funding. If ongoing maintenance or licensing is required following completion of the research team funding, applicants should provide a letter describing how they will find funds to ensure that the equipment or other services will be maintained beyond the term of the research team funding, and what will happen if no further funding is obtained.
• Research team funding cannot be used for legal costs associated with generating or reviewing agreements, applications pertaining to intellectual property, patents or commercial product development.
• Research team funding cannot be used to support travel, registration fees, accommodation or other costs related to present research not directly related to work described in the application.