Endowment Competitions

Office of the Associate Dean


The Leroy H. le Riche Endowment for Research and Education in Substance Abuse competition is open to members of the University of Calgary, Cumming School of Medicine, who are developing careers in basic or clinical science relating to substance abuse.

The award may be used to attend scientific meetings, purchase equipment or research materials, to set up a course or for other research related activities.

Eligibility: This competition is opened to all faculty members and trainees of the Cumming School of Medicine who are developing careers in basic or clinical science relating to substance abuse.

Allowable Expenses:

  • Support of an educational opportunity (lectureship, seminar, workshop, etc…): Meals/catering; Room booking fees; Honorarium for guest speaker can include travel and accommodation
  • Support of research related activities: Equipment or research materials; Scientific meetings with a focus on substance abuse; Conference registration fees can include travel and accommodation (airplane fares, taxis, bus, shuttle, hotel room costs including internet access), Meals
  • Other research related activities

Awards available up to $15,000 /one year

Deadline for application submission to the Office of the Associate Dean Research: October 16th, 2024

Submit your applications at: medendow@ucalgary.ca 

Questions?  To the Office of the Associate Dean Research, Angela Krawetz at: medendow@ucalgary.ca

The Cumming School of Medicine welcomes applications for The Meredith Campbell Helgeson Research Award in Colon Cancer and Surgical Oncology Endowment. The competition is open to to researchers with a primary appointment within the Cumming School of Medicine.

Funds are in support of research in the areas of either colon cancer or surgical oncology.

Applicants can request up to $11,100

Deadline for application submission to the Office of the Associate Dean Research: October 28, 2024

Submit your application / questions to Patty Beug-Jang at: medendow@ucalgary.ca  

Guidelines

Application

The purpose of the Lions Sight Centre Fund is to promote eye research at the Cumming School of Medicine. Funds will be used for medical research activities related to eye disease and its treatment, including methods of detection and prevention.

Applicant eligibility: Cumming School of Medicine faculty members with academic staff appointment (GFT).

Deadline: October 31st, 2024

Amount: up to $ 20,000/ year for two years

Submit your application / questions to Angela Krawetz at: medendow@ucalgary.ca  

The Rozsa Endowment for Auditory Research award is intended to support the research of a faculty member in the field of auditory research.

Applicant eligibility: The competition is open to all faculty members with primary appointment at Cumming School of Medicine at University of Calgary

Deadline: November 5th, 2024

Amount: up to $ 22,700/ year for one year

Submit your application / questions to Patty Beug-Jang at: medendow@ucalgary.ca  

This endowment was set up to honour the late Henry S. Koopmans.  It provides funds for innovative research into the mechanisms of food intakeenergy balance or integrative GI physiology.  Funds are awarded on the basis of a brief innovative research proposal.

Applicant eligibility: The allocation made available from the Fund will be awarded annually to a junior faculty member with a preference for the Gastrointestinal Research Group of the Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, but awards can be made to any junior faculty member with a full-time appointment in the Cumming School of Medicine or a cross-appointment in the Cumming School of Medicine (preference will be given to highly ranked applications of those with a primary appointment).

Please note the Early Career Researcher (ECR / junior investigator) is a “researcher within five years of the date of their first independent research-related appointment”: https://cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/53113.html

For additional clarifications regarding CIHR Early Career Researcher please see Guidelines.

Amount available: one award up to $18,900 for one year

Deadline for application submission to the Office of the Associate Dean Research: November 13, 2024

Submit your application at: medendow@ucalgary.ca 

Questions?  Inquiries can be made to Dr. Carla Coffin at cscoffin@ucalgary.ca or to medendow@ucalgary.ca

Background: Dr. Phil Blustein was a Calgary gastroenterologist for 39 years, specializing in diseases of the digestive system. He was an Associate Professor at the Cumming School of Medicine. Throughout his career as a physician, Dr. Blustein became increasingly aware of the importance of the mind-body connection which was incorporated into his practice of medicine. He collaborated on a research study that demonstrated the value of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction in the Irritable Bowel Syndrome. He wrote a book called “Mindfulness Medication: A Physician’s Prescription for Stress Relief.” He created a website http://thebreathproject.org/for stress management for his patients. He presently helps to organize a Calgary group WELLNESS THROUGH MINDFULNESS that offers free information on mindfulness and related topics. The website is: wtm.thebreathproject.org

Purpose: To encourage research related to applying mind-body connections as it relates to causality, course of the problem and treatments for patients with gastrointestinal disorders primarily, but research in this area related to any medical disorder will also be considered. For detailed guidelines, please see application form, link below.

All submissions should have a collaboration with the Cumming School of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

Applicant Eligibility - the award is open to:
Current undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at the University of Calgary from any faculty
New investigators (as defined by CIHR: an early career researcher (ECR) is a researcher within five years of the date of their first independent research-related appointment) within a Department or Division at the Cumming School of Medicine, such as but not limited to, the Department of Medicine or Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Medical allied professionals, such as but not limited to, nurses, psychologists, social workers with a University of Calgary affiliation. Provided that you can be a Project Holder at UCalgary as per Research Services guidelines at: fr-guidelines-for-research-funding-20210621.pdf (ucalgary.ca)

EXTENDED Deadline: October 2nd, 2024

Amount: up to $ 5,100/ year for one year

Eligible Use of Funds:
Research related expenses – which can include materials, sample collection, personnel (such as Research Associate).


Examples of eligible research studies/projects:
• How does stress impact the causality, course and treatment outcomes of gastrointestinal disorders
• Does modifying stress alter the nature of gastrointestinal disorders
• The use of psychiatric drugs and their impact on gastrointestinal disorders
• Exploring the use of psychedelic drugs in gastrointestinal disorders
• Are non-pharmacologic stress improving techniques such as mindfulness, meditation, yoga, Pilates, QiGong, hypnosis, CBT etc, helpful
• Developing a resource for patients to access stress-relieving techniques and evaluate their effectiveness
• How stress impacts gut microflora and its influence on gastrointestinal disorders
• How gut microflora can cause stress


The following type of projects are eligible:
• Individual research projects
• Joint applications from two or more investigators or research groups that foster collaboration will be considered
• Start-up research projects that have potential to grow to larger

Submit your application / questions to Patty Beug-Jang at: medendow@ucalgary.ca  

The Cumming School of Medicine welcomes applications for The Peter Lougheed Research Award. The competition is open to junior investigators at or coming to the Cumming School of Medicine.
Junior Investigator (researcher early career) is defined by Tri-Council (CIHR) as a researcher within five years of the date of their first independent research-related appointment" (see link for exceptions)
Funds will benefit excellence in health research in Alberta, by providing salary and research support to exceptional young researchers thereby encouraging them to continue their career in the province.

Applicants can request up to $ 64,750

Deadline for application submission to the Office of the Associate Dean Research: September 4th, 2024

To access the application form please click on the Application button below and enter your UCID username and password

Submit your applications / questions to Patty Beug-Jang at: medendow@ucalgary.ca

Guidelines and FAQs

The Cumming School of Medicine (CSM) welcomes applications for The Dr. Keith MacCannell Rising Researcher Scholar Award Competition. The funds will encourage research within the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology for early career fellows, clinician-researchers and basic-science researchers, particularly those that combine curiosity and innovative thinking in their approaches.

Eligible Use of Funds:

  • For Basic Science research projects – allowable expenses could include support for personnel, materials, sample collection
  • For Clinical research projects – allowable expenses could include support for an analyst, research coordinator, statistician
  • Additional expenses related to research, as approved by the Head, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology

Eligible applicants:
The award is open to members of the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology who are:

  • Fellows that are newly entering the program or advanced fellows. These applicants are required to append to their application, a letter of support and acknowledgement of submission from their supervisor.
  • Junior faculty members – defined as three years since hiring date. Eligible leaves (e.g. maternity, parental) will extend junior faculty status (i.e. will not be counted towards the maximum).

Eligible types of projects:

  • Individual research projects
  • Joint applications from two or more investigators or research groups that foster collaboration will be considered
  • Start-up research projects that have potential to grow to larger projects
  • Smaller projects that can add value to existing projects

Amount:   1 award available at $11,300

Deadline for application submission to the Office of the Associate Dean Research: July 29th, 2024

Submit your application / questions to Patty Beug-Jang at: medendow@ucalgary.ca

The Cumming School of Medicine welcomes applications for The 2023 Friends of Matt Newell Endowment Competition. The award is open to all undergraduate and graduate medical students associated with primary appointments in the CSM. The award is intended to support the training of medical students on the causes and consequences of alcoholism, including fetal alcohol syndrome, the impact of alcoholism on the patient and on his/her family, friends and workplace. This endowment can also support the education of medical students on the causes, consequences, and treatment of other addictions.

Applicants can request up to $21,000

Deadline for application submission to the Office of the Associate Dean Research: Monday, October 9th, 2023 (as this is a statutory holiday in AB, the deadline will be the following work day, October 10th)

Questions to Angela Krawetz, Office of the Associate Dean Research at: medendow@ucalgary.ca

The Cumming School of Medicine (CSM) welcomes applications for the Carole May Yates Memorial Endowment for Cancer Research Competition. The fund will support and facilitate cancer research, with preference given to research related to: basic or clinical research related to the detection, prevention or treatment of pre-menopausal breast cancer, basic or clinical research in the area of tumor immunology, equipment to be used for cancer research, a visiting professorship or lectureship program in the areas of medical or surgical oncology. This competition is opened to all faculty members with primary appointments in the Cumming School of Medicine.

Amount: up to $19,700

Deadline: July 15, 2024

Questions to Office of the Associate Dean Research, attn Patty Beug-Jang: medendow@ucalgary.ca

The award is intended to support the research of a young faculty member at the University of Calgary whose work offers promise to significantly advance our understanding of the determinants of population health and methods to promote behavior modification directed at disease prevention. Preference will be given to interdisciplinary initiatives involving other faculties or educational institutions.

Applicants are encouraged to incorporate relevant Tri-Council Sex and Gender considerations in their proposal.

Amount available: $32,000 for one year

Deadline for applications submission: July 15, 2024

Applicant eligibility: The competition is open to all faculty members at the University of Calgary who have been appointed for no more than six years to a faculty position (including appointments at other institutions, worldwide) at the time of application deadline.

Allowable expenditures include the following: 

  • Salary support –support for graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, trainees
  • Research – support for research projects related to Community Health. This includes consumables, travel and other relevant costs

Award criteria - the following criteria will be considered during the selection process:

  • Degree of innovation of the proposed work
  • Quality of the proposal (objectives and methodology)
  • Overall academic achievement of the applicant
  • Impact the award would have on the progress of the project
  • Collaboration with other UofC faculties/ institutions

Frequently Asked Questions at: 2024 Petro-Canada Young Innovator award

Submit your questions, Application + Appendices (CV, References, Tables, Letters of support as one PDF max 10MGb) at: medendow@ucalgary.ca,  for the attention of Patty Beug-Jang,
Office of the Associate Dean Research.