Clinical Research Fund Program

The Ignite Grant is for feasibility, pilot or preliminary studies to enhance success when applying for tri-council or other, larger grants. To be eligible for funding, applications should focus on preventing or treating health issues of Albertans. This can be accomplished in two ways: 1) by directly involving human participants in prospective research (such as clinical trials or observational studies); or 2) by utilizing health-related data to inform strategies for prevention or treatment.  

Value of the award: up to $15,000 

The maximum value of Ignite Grants is $15,000, though early career researchers (individuals within 5 years from the date of their first research related appointment) can apply for up to $5,000 of additional funding for services from the Centre for Health Informatics, the Ward of the 21^st Century, the Calgary Centre for Clinical Research and/or the Heritage Medical Research Clinic. 

Application Deadline: applications accepted year round 

Eligibility 

These grants are available to all UCalgary faculty. Early career researchers are eligible for up to $5,000 of additional funding. 

Research is eligible if it is likely to lead to a Tri-Council application within two years of the award and it falls within the clinical research study definition. 

Cancer-related applications are not eligible as there is a separate fund available for these applications administered through Alberta Cancer Clinical Trials. 

The Research Enhancement Program, administered by the Office of the Associate Dean of Research (OADR) receives funds from the Clinical Research Fund Program to enhance the success of CSM faculty in their pursuit of future grants. 

The program includes three funding streams for faculty to access support at various stages of their research projects and grant application development. 

• Stream 1 – New Techniques/Methodologies: this stream provides training for a faculty member or lab/team member to obtain training in new technologies and methodologies. 
• Stream 2 - Grant Editing, Grant Writer, Illustrator, Project Management: this stream supports large, complex grants with unique funding opportunities, short turnaround times and heavy administrative or organizational burdens.  
• Stream 3 – External Honoraria for Scientific Review: this stream supports external scientific reviews of grant applications. 

Duration of the Award: Year round 

Eligibility 

Open to primary faculty members of the Cumming School of Medicine at all career stages. 

The Transdisciplinary Connector Grant Program administered by the Institutes for Transdisciplinary Scholarship (ITS), is designed to promote initiatives that enable UCalgary teams to explore societal questions, challenges and opportunities that demand a transdisciplinary approach. Consolidating grants offer the ability to build on and deepen existing transdisciplinary activities and connections. The CRF’s investment will be used to provide matching funding for successful Consolidating Connector Grant projects that align with the definition of clinical research and apply for the additional funding. 

Application Deadline: Three Intakes Per Year. 

Deadlines for Consolidating Grant applications are Oct. 1, Feb. 1, June 1. 

Eligibility 

Open to UCalgary researchers whose research project falls within the clinical research definition. 

The Clinical Research Fund is investing in grants that ignite clinical research at UCalgary with the goal of enhancing researchers’ success in tri-council funding competitions.  Applications must explain why the requested funds are necessary and how they will enhance success at the Tri-Council.

1. Research is eligible if it is likely to lead to a Tri-Council application within two years of the award and it is a clinical research study defined as: 

Clinical research is conducted on or for the treatment of human subjects and it may involve human participants or health information. This includes clinical trials, epidemiological studies, outcomes research, health services research and population health studies, typically falling under the CIHR rubric of pillars 2, 3 & 4. Molecular studies using patient samples will be eligible only if they directly link to health, clinical and/or epidemiological data, or patient outcome. 

2. Cancer-related applications are not eligible as there is a separate fund available for these applications administered through Alberta Cancer Clinical Trials. 

These grants are available to all UCalgary faculty.

The number of applications is not limited however individuals awarded an Ignite grant are ineligible to apply for 12 months following the date of the award.

Applicants can request up to a maximum of $15,000 cash. Early career researchers (i.e., individuals within 5 years from the date of their first research related appointment at UCalgary) can apply for up to $5,000 total of additional funding for services from the Centre for Health Informatics, the Ward of the 21st Century, the Calgary Centre for Clinical Research and/or the Heritage Medical Research Clinic. This additional funding will be provided as credits (i.e., paid directly by the Clinical Research Fund to the service provider) rather than cash.  

Budgets must be well justified, and requests may be made for amounts smaller than the maximum. Applicants must demonstrate that there is no conceptual or funding overlap with already funded projects. 

All awardees and their co-investigators from UCalgary may be asked to participate as reviewers of future Ignite applications, which will help them improve their grant writing skills. 

1. Accepting an Ignite grant constitutes a commitment to apply for a related Tri-Council grant within two years of receipt. 
2. Successful applicants and their UCalgary co-investigators are expected to participate in the review of future Ignite grant applications, if asked. Failure to participate in reviews may lead to cancellation or suspension of existing awards, or to ineligibility to apply again. 
3. All grant recipients must comply with the reporting and expenditure requirements as stated on the Notice of Award.

Funds must be used within the two-year duration of the grant. Extensions may be granted at the discretion of the CRF committee. Please email crf@ucalgary.ca if you require an extension.

Yes, graduate and post doc students can be co-investigators on an Ignite grant and are encouraged to talk to their supervisor about this grant opportunity.

Yes, non-UCalgary researchers can be co-investigator on an Ignite grant if their role is specified in the application.

Applications for an Ignite grant are accepted year-round.  Acknowledging that the aim of these grants is to allow researchers to complete work that leads to Tri-Council funding, we aim to review applications and make funding decisions in a timely manner.

Only the PI needs to submit a CV.  The CIHR Biosketch is the preferred format.  Alternatively, applicants can submit a CV (up to ten pages) that highlights their relevant track record and expertise.