In February 2018, the Faculty of Medicine launched a new Translational Research Grant (TRG) Program. The goal of the TRG program is to promote translational research and collaboration between basic science and clinical researchers throughout the Faculty. Given our tremendous strengths in clinical and basic research, this program will promote the strategic integration of research teams from clinical and basic science departments. This program is designed to provide seed funding to test new, innovative ideas and facilitate future grant support.

The TRG process invites applications from 2 (or more) researchers, each as co-principal investigators. One researcher must be a basic scientist holding an appointment in a basic science department or research institute, and the other a clinical researcher, holding a primary appointment in a clinical department. Both researchers must hold their primary appointments in the Faculty of Medicine.

Each application can request up to $50,000 to be used over 2 years. TRG funds are derived from two sources: (1) basic science department or research institute (up to $25,000) + (2) clinical department or division (up to $25,000). Researchers interested in applying to the TRG Program must confirm that matching funds are available from their host institute, clinical or basic science department before beginning the application process. TRG funding is awarded on a competitive basis following a rigorous peer-review process based on excellence of the proposal, innovative nature of the proposal, previous accomplishments of the applicants, feasibility, potential impact on health and/or patient care, and availability of partner matching funds.

2023 Translational Research Grant Program

The Faculty of Medicine Research Office is pleased to launch our 2023 Translational Research Grant (TRG) program. 

The TRG Program will be managed and chaired by the Vice Dean, Research and the Director of PhD Research, Dept. of Medicine. Application details can be found in the program Terms of Reference. Applications will be evaluated by an expert committee. Researchers interested in applying to the TRG Program should confirm that matching funds are available from their host institute, clinical or basic science department before beginning the application process.

Applicants are invited to submit their applications through our online Application Form: https://www.surveymonkey.ca/r/NDHCNTW

The application deadline is July 21, 2023. 

If you have any questions or require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact the Research Office at [email protected].

Objectives

• The Path to Patenting & Pre-commercialization (3P) grant will support early-stage health/biomedical research and innovation at uOttawa Faculty of Medicine through proof-of concept and beyond, providing opportunities to patenting and commercialization. The funding is intended for 1) key experiments needed for intellectual property (IP) protection and potential commercialization, 2) assessment of potential market access and 3) development of a commercialization plan (if ready).

• Provide support in the preparation of an early-stage business case/commercialization pathway.

Eligibility:

• Applicants must be active Faculty members with a primary academic appointment in the Faculty of Medicine.

• Projects must meet criteria for TRL (Technology Readiness Level)

Guidelines:

• Applications must be submitted electronically in a single PDF file to Mohamad Sobh at [email protected]. 

Deadline round: 5pm on May 9th, 2022

The application for funding must include a 3-page proposal containing the following:

• Project title

• Project summary: provide a non-technical description of the proposed product/discovery, the issues it will address and its significance or expected benefits for potential market access.
• Specific needs, missing areas, studies to be supported with this funding.
• Description of the project team members with their role and responsibilities
• Identification of key collaborators relevant to the project
• Summary of work already completed to date
• Potential outcomes/benefits likely to be met through this additional funding.
• Identification of competing technologies/approaches elsewhere (publications, patents).
• Budget justification 

Funding is restricted to eligible operational expenses (including, but not limited to reagents, consumables, salaries and stipends, facility service fees), minor infrastructure expenses, cost for pre-market assessment and cost for the development of a commercialization plan as they directly relate to the proposed initiative.

The application must also include:

• Current updated CV of applicant and relevant co-applicant(s)

• Relevant letter(s) of support from departmental chair/institution
• One-page list of references

 All documents must be formatted in accordance with generally accepted standards at the granting councils, as follows: text must be single-spaced, with no more than six lines per inch. Text must be in black color and 12 point or larger.

Procedures and review process:

• You can contact the Research Office of the Faculty of Medicine, Mohamad Sobh at [email protected] to verify eligibility.

• All applications will be reviewed by the 3P Review Committee which will be composed of non-applicant Professors at the University of Ottawa and affiliated research institutes, with representation from ISS, and industry. The committee will be chaired by the Faculty of Medicine Vice-Dean, Research.
• Criteria for funding will include excellence of the proposal, commercialization potential, overall feasibility of the objective(s), milestones accomplished, and potential impact of the initiative.
• Three projects will be selected for funding. The maximum grant amount to be awarded to each project is $15K, with a potential 1:1 match if the research is done within uOttawa affiliated research institutes. In addition, the funding can be leveraged via a Mitacs application with support from the Research Office in partnership with an external partner (industrial or non-profit) to fund a student or Postdoc and thus maximize the award amount (up to $60K).

University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine Chairs of Excellence for Strategic Research Priorities

Terms of Reference

General Principles:

Aim of program:To support outstanding Ph.D. scientists demonstrating excellence in basic and/or translational research with strong potential to advance knowledge in an area of strategic research priority for the Faculty of Medicine:

• Brain and Mind Research

• Infection, Immunity and Inflammation
• Cardiovascular and Vascular Health
• Epidemiology, Public Health, and Practice Changing Research
• Medical Education

Funding Available: The Faculty Research Chair program will be ongoing, subject to availability of funds.  Currently, the Faculty is seeking applications for up to five Chairs, each at a value of $25,000 per year, up to a maximum of 5 years. A maximum of one Chair will be awarded per priority area detailed above. 

Funding source: Funding for four chairs is available through the Camille Villeneuve Chair for Advanced Medical Research Fund. Funding for additional chairs will be available through the ‘FoM Chairs of Excellence for Strategic Research Priorities Fund’ from various sources, including donations, contributions from partner institutions and revenue-seeking activities.

Administration of the Fund: Financial Services, Faculty of Medicine uOttawa

Guidelines/Process:

1. The candidate must be a Regular Full-Time (tenure or tenure-track) Faculty member with a primary appointment to a Basic Science Department at the Faculty of Medicine (Dept. Innovation in Medical Education; Cellular and Molecular Medicine; Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology; or the School of Epidemiology and Public Health; or the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences).

2. The candidate must show a track record of outstanding accomplishments in basic and/or translational research and have the appropriate protected time, infrastructure, and support to conduct the proposed research in a timely fashion.
3. The candidate must not currently hold another research Chair award, including those from the University Research Chair (URC), Faculty of Medicine Clinical Research Chair, Canada Research Chair (CRC) programs, or endowed/sponsored Chairs.
4. Funds will be awarded on a competitive basis. The maximum amount awarded per Chair will be $25,000/year for up to five (5) years. The Chair is renewable once, through a renewal application and subject to the continued research excellence of the applicant. Renewal applications will follow the same review process as new applications.
5. The total budget of $25,000/yr. Up to $10,000/yr may be requested as salary supplement to the applicant. Remaining funds must be used to support the direct costs of research (e.g., research assistants/associates, graduate students, consumable supplies, and user fees).

Procedures:

• The applicant must complete the application form and provide all relevant appendices. The application must be submitted as one PDF document, sent to the Faculty of Medicine Research Office at [email protected] by June 15, 2022.

• The applications will be reviewed by the Faculty of Medicine Basic Science Chairs Committee and if approved for funding, will be forwarded to the Dean and Executive Leadership Committee for final approval.
• If approved by the Dean, a new cost centre will be set up at the Faculty of Medicine through the Faculty of Medicine Finance Office.
• An annual financial report will be requested by the Faculty of Medicine.
• At the end of the grant period, any unspent funds will revert back to the Faculty of Medicine while any over-expenditure will be the responsibility of the researcher.

Review Process:

1. All applications will be reviewed internally by the Basic Science Chairs Committee which is chaired by the Vice-Dean, Research & Innovation. The recommendations of this committee will be presented to the Executive Leadership Team and the Dean for final approval.

2. Criteria for funding will include:

a) Quality of the Proposed Research Program (original, innovative, high impact)

b) Relevance to Strategic Priorities (fit, importance, timing)

c) Excellence of the Nominee (based on career stage, research contributions, leadership, recognition, taking into consideration relevant leaves)

d) Feasibility and Likelihood of Sustainability (expertise, experience, resources)

e) Quality of the Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (recruitment, training, inclusion plans)

Currently, the Faculty of Medicine is not accepting applications for this program. Please continue to visit this website for updates on future rounds of the program.

In April 2010, the Faculty of Medicine (FoM) launched a new clinical research program named the University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine Clinical Research Chairs Program. This program was received with great enthusiasm and has been very successful in providing support to some of our best clinician-scientists across the Faculty with an ultimate goal of improving health and/or patient care.

The Clinical Research Chairs Program highlights a wide range of departments and medical specializations. Chair recipients are a representation of the Faculty’s Strategic Plan, Leading Innovation for a Healthier World, as well as our commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), a top priority for the Faculty of Medicine. The Clinical Research Chairs Program has allowed the University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine to foster some of our top-performing clinician-scientists across the Faculty.

Clinical Research Chairs funding is awarded on a competitive basis following a rigorous peer-review process. Chairs are funded on a ratio basis with the uOttawa Faculty of Medicine contributing 30%, and the respective clinical department 70%, of the total for each Chair. Applicants must provide confirmation of matching support from Departmental Chairs in order to apply.

This Program funds various levels of Chairs, separated into two streams: Clinical Research Chairs and Junior Clinical Research Chairs.

*Clinical Research Chairs:

• Distinguished Clinical Research Chair: Full Professor demonstrating sustained outstanding research performance; $200,000/year, maximum 5 year term.

• Tier 1 Clinical Research Chair: Associate or Full Professor demonstrating sustained excellence in research; $200,000/year, 5 year term, renewable once.
• Tier 2 Clinical Research Chair: Assistant or Associate Professor showing strong potential to develop as a future leader in their research field; $100,000/year, 5 year term, renewable once.

*Junior Clinical Research Chairs:

• Junior Clinical Research Chair: Assistant Professor within their first 5 years of Faculty appointment, $80,000/year, 3 year term, renewable once.

Currently, the Faculty of Medicine is not accepting applications for this program. Please continue to visit this website for updates on future rounds of the program.