In a climate-changing world, Canada’s high dependence on imported fresh fruits and vegetables makes it vulnerable to food systems disruption. We are able to grow many fruits and vegetables in Canada; however, in large part because of our long winters and high costs of production, we import the majority of our fresh produce from other countries. This over-reliance on imports, coupled with growing public awareness of the need for sustainable and environmentally friendly growing practices, means there is a timely opportunity to improve Canada’s ability to grow fresh fruits and vegetables out of season.

The Homegrown Innovation Challenge will identify teams and support the development of tools and technologies that enable Canadian farmers and producers to sustainably and competitively grow berries out of season. By solving the interconnected challenges that currently prevent out-of-season production of berries at scale, the Homegrown Innovation Challenge will catalyze a range of solutions relevant to a broad array of fruit and vegetable crops in Canada and around the world.

The Challenge was launched in February 20222, and is funded and delivered by the Weston Family Foundation.

Key points

• The program will award $33M in total over six years, and an innovation team making it to the end of the Challenge can receive grants totaling up to $8M.
• Applications for the Spark Phase ($50K to help bring together a team and develop a full proposal for the Shepherd Phase) are due May 3^rd 2022. Applications for entry into the Shepherd Phase ($1M to build out a small proof of concept) are due Dec 20^th 2022. Applying to the Spark Phase is not a prerequisite to apply for the Shepherd Phase.
• We encourage multi-stakeholder teams to apply; the lead organization must be a CRA-qualified donee (QD), though non-QDs (including international and for-profit entities) can participate as part of a team. We are happy to support team-building through a number of channels.
• We are hosting an informational webinar on April 13^th, 2022 at 1 pm ET.
• For more information please check our English and French websites (http://homegrownchallenge.ca/ and https://deficultiverlinnovation.ca/) or contact HGC staff (challenge@westonfoundation.ca or defi@westonfoundation.ca).

he FY22 Defense Appropriations Act is providing funding for the BCRP to support innovative, high-impact research with clinical relevance that will accelerate progress to end breast cancer for Service Members, Veterans, and the general public.  The managing agent for the anticipated program announcements/funding opportunities is the CDMRP at the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC).

The BCRP is providing the information in this pre-announcement to allow investigators time to plan and develop ideas for submission to the anticipated FY22 funding opportunities.  This pre-announcement should not be construed as an obligation by the government.  The FY22 BCRP funding opportunity announcements for the following award mechanisms will be posted on the Grants.gov website.  Pre-application and application deadlines will be available when the announcements are released. 

Applications submitted to the FY22 BCRP must address one or more of the following overarching challenges:

• Prevent breast cancer (primary prevention)
• Identify determinants of breast cancer initiation, risk, or susceptibility
• Distinguish deadly from non-deadly breast cancers
• Conquer the problems of overdiagnosis and overtreatment
• Identify what drives breast cancer growth; determine how to stop it
• Identify why some breast cancers become metastatic
• Determine why/how breast cancer cells lie dormant for years and then re-emerge; determine how to prevent lethal recurrence
• Revolutionize treatment regimens by replacing them with ones that are more effective, less toxic, and impact survival
• Eliminate the mortality associated with metastatic breast cancer

Funding Opportunities - FY22 Breast Cancer Research Program, Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP), US DoD (army.mil)

Breakthrough Award Levels 1 and 2 – Letter of Intent due May 2, 2022

• ·     Investigators at all academic levels (or equivalent)
• ·     Applications from postdoctoral fellows are encouraged under Funding Levels 1 and 2.
• ·     Each investigator may be named as a Principal Investigator (PI) or Initiating PI on only one application per funding level for the Breakthrough Award Levels 1 and 2.
• ·     There are no limitations on the number of applications for which an investigator may be named as a Partnering PI. However, investigators are discouraged from being named as a Partnering PI on multiple FY22 Breakthrough Award Levels 1 and 2 applications unless they are clearly unique, meaningful collaborations addressing distinct research questions.
  • ·     Supports promising research that has high potential to lead to or make breakthroughs in breast cancer.
  • ·     Research should have the potential for a major impact and accelerate progress toward ending breast cancer.
  • ·     Potential impact of the research may be near-term or long-term, but it must move beyond a minor advancement and have the potential to lead to a new approach that is fundamentally better than interventions already approved or in clinical development.
  • ·     Partnering PI Option allows two PIs, termed Initiating and Partnering PIs, to partner on a single application.

○     Each PI is expected to bring distinct contributions to the application.

○     The application should clearly demonstrate that both PIs have equal intellectual input into the design of the project and will devote similar and appropriate levels of effort to the conduct of the project.

○     Applications where one PI is providing samples, animal models, or investigational agents while the other PI is conducting most or all of the experiments and analyses do not meet the intent of the Partnering PI Option.

○     Different funding levels, based on the scope of research, are available for the Breakthrough Award. Each level has a defined research scope. It is the responsibility of the PI to select the level that aligns with the scope of the proposed research. The funding level should be selected based on the research scope of the proposed research and not the amount of the budget.

The following are general descriptions, although not all-inclusive, of the scope of research projects that would be appropriate to propose under each funding level:

• ·     Funding Level 1: Innovative, high-risk/ high-reward research that is in the earliest stages of idea development or is an untested theory that addresses an important problem. To foster research that yields new avenues of investigation, preliminary data are not required. Proof of concept is the anticipated outcome.
• ·     Funding Level 2: Research that is already supported by substantial preliminary or published data and strongly validates clinical translation in a well-defined context within the breast cancer landscape.
• ·     Funding Level 2 – Population Science and Prevention Studies: Research that is already supported by substantial preliminary or published data and strongly validates clinical translation in a well-defined context within the breast cancer landscape. With compelling justification, population science and prevention studies may request higher levels of funding and an additional year in the period of performance. Such studies may require additional resources due to the participation of human subjects and/or use of human biospecimens.

Funding Levels 1 and 2

• ·     Submission of a Letter of Intent is required prior to full application submission.
• ·     Clinical trials are not allowed.

Funding Level 1:

• ·     The maximum allowable funding for the entire period of performance is $450,000 for direct costs.
• ·     Indirect costs may be proposed in accordance with the institution’s negotiated rate agreement.
  • ·     The maximum period of performance is 3 years.

Funding Level 1 with Partnering PI Option:

• ·     The maximum allowable funding for the entire period of performance is $750,000 for direct costs.
• ·     Indirect costs may be proposed in accordance with the institution’s negotiated rate agreement.
  • ·     The maximum period of performance is 3 years.

Funding Level 2:

• ·     The maximum allowable funding for the entire period of performance is $1 million (M) for direct costs.
• ·     Indirect costs may be proposed in accordance with the institution’s negotiated rate agreement.
• ·     The maximum period of performance is 3 years.

Funding Level 2 – Population Science and Prevention Studies:

• ·     The maximum allowable funding for the entire period of performance is $1.5M for direct costs.
• ·     Indirect costs may be proposed in accordance with the institution’s negotiated rate agreement.
  • ·     The maximum period of performance is 4 years.

Funding Level 2 with Partnering PI Option:

• ·     The maximum allowable funding for the entire period of performance is $1.5M for direct costs.
• ·     Indirect costs may be proposed in accordance with the institution’s negotiated rate agreement.
• ·     The maximum period of performance is 3 years.

Funding Level 2 – Population Science and Prevention Studies with Partnering PI Option:

• ·     The maximum allowable funding for the entire period of performance is $2M for direct costs.
• ·     Indirect costs may be proposed in accordance with the institution’s negotiated rate agreement.
  • ·     The maximum period of performance is 4 years.

Era of Hope Scholar Award – Letter of Intent due May 3, 2022

Independent, non-mentored investigators within 6 years of their last training position as of the application submission deadline (excluding time spent on family medical leave). 

Postdoctoral fellows, clinical fellows (including residents and interns), and other researchers currently in training positions are not eligible.

An investigator may be names as the PI on only one FY22 Era of Hope Scholar Award application.

• ·      Supports individuals early in their careers who have demonstrated significant potential to effect meaningful change in breast cancer.
  • ·      Individuals should be exceptionally talented scientists who have shown that they are the “best and brightest” in their field(s) through extraordinary creativity, vision, innovation, and productivity.
  • ·      PIs must demonstrate experience in forming effective partnerships and collaborations and exhibit strong potential for future leadership in breast cancer research.
  • ·      Applications should articulate a vision that challenges current dogma and demonstrates an ability to look beyond tradition and convention.
    • ·     Experience in breast cancer research is not required; however, the application must focus on breast cancer, and the PI must maintain a 50% dedication of their full-time effort during the award period to breast cancer research.
    • ·     Applications must include two or more breast cancer advocates on the research team.
    • ·     Submission of a Letter of Intent is required prior to full application submission.
    • ·     Clinical trials are allowed.
    • ·     The maximum allowable funding for the entire period of performance is $3M for direct costs.
    • ·     Indirect costs may be proposed in accordance with the institution’s negotiated rate agreement.
    • The maximum period of performance is 4 years.

A pre-application is required and must be submitted through the electronic Biomedical Research Application Portal (eBRAP) at https://eBRAP.org prior to the pre-application deadline.  All applications must conform to the final funding opportunity announcements available for downloading from the Grants.gov website.  The application package containing the required forms for each award mechanism will also be found on Grants.gov.  A listing of all CDMRP and other USAMRDC extramural funding opportunities can be obtained on the Grants.gov website by performing a basic search using CFDA Number 12.420. 

For email notification when announcements are released, subscribe to program-specific news and updates under “Email Subscriptions” on the eBRAP homepage at https://eBRAP.org.  For more information about the BCRP or other CDMRP-administered programs, please visit the CDMRP website (https://cdmrp.army.mil).

Point of Contact:

CDMRP Help Desk
301-682-5507
help@eBrap.org

For more information, please contact Jill Sherman, International Research Facilitator, at intl.research@lakeheadu.ca.

The FY22 Defense Appropriations Act is providing funding for the BCRP to support innovative, high-impact research with clinical relevance that will accelerate progress to end breast cancer for Service Members, Veterans, and the general public.  The managing agent for the anticipated program announcements/funding opportunities is the CDMRP at the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC).

The BCRP is providing the information in this pre-announcement to allow investigators time to plan and develop ideas for submission to the anticipated FY22 funding opportunities.  This pre-announcement should not be construed as an obligation by the government.  The FY22 BCRP funding opportunity announcements for the following award mechanisms will be posted on the Grants.gov website.  Pre-application and application deadlines will be available when the announcements are released. 

Applications submitted to the FY22 BCRP must address one or more of the following overarching challenges:

• Prevent breast cancer (primary prevention)
• Identify determinants of breast cancer initiation, risk, or susceptibility
• Distinguish deadly from non-deadly breast cancers
• Conquer the problems of overdiagnosis and overtreatment
• Identify what drives breast cancer growth; determine how to stop it
• Identify why some breast cancers become metastatic
• Determine why/how breast cancer cells lie dormant for years and then re-emerge; determine how to prevent lethal recurrence
• Revolutionize treatment regimens by replacing them with ones that are more effective, less toxic, and impact survival
• Eliminate the mortality associated with metastatic breast cancer

Funding Opportunities - FY22 Breast Cancer Research Program, Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP), US DoD (army.mil)

Breakthrough Award Level 3 – Preproposal due April 28, 2022

• ·     Independent investigators at all academic levels (or equivalent).
• ·     There are no limits on the number of pre-applications for which an investigator may be named as a PI, Initiating PI, or Partnering PI for the Breakthrough Award Level 3.
• ·     Investigators are discouraged from being named on multiple pre- applications unless they are clearly addressing distinct

research questions

• ·     Supports promising research that has high potential to lead to or make breakthroughs in breast cancer.
  • ·     Research should have the potential for a major impact and accelerate progress toward ending breast cancer.
  • ·     Potential impact of the research may be near-term or long-term, but it must move beyond a minor advancement and have the potential to lead to a new approach that is fundamentally better than interventions already approved or in clinical development.
  • ·     Applications are expected to identify the breast cancer patients or at-risk individuals who would ultimately benefit from the proposed research.
  • ·     Partnering PI Option allows two PIs, termed Initiating and Partnering PIs, to partner on a single application.

○     Each PI is expected to bring distinct contributions to the application.

○     The application should clearly demonstrate that both PIs have equal intellectual input into the design of the project and will devote similar and appropriate levels of effort to the conduct of the project.

○     Applications where one PI is providing samples, animal models, or investigational agents while the other PI is conducting most or all of the experiments and analyses do not meet the intent of the Partnering PI Option.

Different funding levels, based on the scope of research are available for the Breakthrough Award. Each level has a defined research scope. It is the responsibility of the PI to select the level that aligns with the scope of the proposed research. The funding level should be selected based on the research scope and not on the amount of the budget.

The following is a general description, although not all-inclusive, of the scope of research projects that would be appropriate to propose under this funding level:

• ·      Funding Level 3: Advanced translational studies with a high degree of project readiness. Where relevant, proof of availability of and access to necessary data, human samples, cohort(s), and/or critical reagents must be provided. If the proposed research would ultimately require U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) involvement, applications must demonstrate availability of and access to clinical reagents (e.g., therapeutic molecules) and patient population(s). Applications must state a realistic timeline for near-term clinical investigation. Small-scale clinical trials (e.g., first in human; phase 1/1b) may be appropriate.

Additional Elements

• ·      Pre-application submission is required; application submission is by invitation only.
• ·      Applications must include two or more breast cancer advocates on the research team.
• ·      Clinical trials are allowed.

Funding Level 3:

• ·     The maximum allowable funding for the entire period of performance is $4M for direct costs.
• ·     Indirect costs may be proposed in accordance with the institution’s negotiated rate agreement.
  • ·     The maximum period of performance is 4 years.

Funding Level 3 with Partnering PI Option:

• ·     The maximum allowable funding for the entire period of performance is $5M for direct costs.
• ·     Indirect costs may be proposed in accordance with the institution’s negotiated rate agreement.
• ·     The maximum period of performance is 4 years.

Breakthrough Award Level 4 – Preproposal due April 28, 2022

• ·      Independent investigators at all academic levels (or equivalent).
• ·      There are no limits on the number of pre-applications for which an investigator may be named as a PI, Initiating PI, or Partnering PI for the Breakthrough Award Level 4.

Investigators are discouraged from being named on multiple pre- applications unless they are clearly addressing distinct research questions.

• ·     Supports promising research that has high potential to lead to or make breakthroughs in breast cancer.
  • ·     Research should have the potential for a major impact and accelerate progress toward ending breast cancer.
  • ·     Potential impact of the research may be near-term or long-term, but it must move beyond a minor advancement and have the potential to lead to a new approach that is fundamentally better than interventions already approved or in clinical development.
  • ·      Applications are expected to identify the breast cancer patients or at-risk individuals who would ultimately benefit from the proposed research.
  • ·     Partnering PI Option allows two PIs, termed Initiating and Partnering PIs, to partner on a single application.

○     Each PI is expected to bring distinct contributions to the application.

○     The application should clearly demonstrate that both PIs have equal intellectual input into the design of the project and will devote similar and appropriate levels of effort to the conduct of the project.

○     Applications where one PI is providing samples, animal models, or investigational agents while the other PI is conducting most or all of the experiments and analyses do not meet the intent of the Partnering PI Option.

○     Different funding levels, based on the scope of research are available for the Breakthrough Award. Each level has a defined research scope. It is the responsibility of the PI to select the level that aligns with the scope of the proposed research. The funding level should be selected based on the research scope and not on the amount of the budget.

The following is a general description, although not all-inclusive, of the scope of research projects that would be appropriate to propose under this funding level:

Funding Level 4: Large-scale projects that will transform and revolutionize the clinical management and/or prevention of breast cancer. Human clinical trials are required. PIs are expected to have experience in successfully leading large- scale projects and demonstrated ability (through personal experience or via a commitment from a collaborating clinical investigator) to implement a clinical project successfully. Where relevant, applications must demonstrate availability of and access to necessary data, human samples, cohort(s), and/or critical reagents. For proposed research that will require FDA involvement, project readiness requirements at the time of application submission include: proof of availability of and access to clinical reagents (e.g., therapeutics) that meet regulatory compliance guidelines; proof of availability of and access to appropriate subject population(s); validated projections for patient recruitment; and submission of an Investigational New Drug or Investigational Device Exemption application to the FDA, if applicable.

Additional Elements

• ·      Pre-application submission is required; application submission is by invitation only.
• ·      Applications must include two or more breast cancer advocates on the research team.

Clinical trials are required.

Funding Level 4 and Funding Level 4 with Partnering PI Option:

• ·     The maximum allowable funding for the entire period of performance is $10M for direct costs.
• ·     Indirect costs may be proposed in accordance with the institution’s negotiated rate agreement.
• ·     The maximum period of performance is 4 years.

Innovator Award – Preproposal due April 28, 2022

• ·      Associate Professor (or equivalent) or above
• ·      Previous BCRP Innovator Award recipients are ineligible.

An investigator may be named as PI on only one Innovator Award pre- application.

• ·      Supports visionary individuals who have demonstrated exceptional creativity, innovative work, and paradigm-shifting leadership in any field including, but not limited to, breast cancer.
• ·      Provides these individuals with the opportunity and freedom to pursue novel, visionary, high-risk ideas that could accelerate progress toward ending breast cancer.
• ·      Experience in breast cancer research is not required; however, the application must focus on breast cancer, and the PI must maintain a 50% dedication of their full-time effort during the award period to breast cancer research.
• ·      Applications must include two or more breast cancer advocates on the research team.
• ·      Pre-application submission is required; application submission is by invitation only.
• ·      Clinical Trials are allowed.
• ·     The maximum allowable funding for the entire period of performance is $7M for direct costs.
• ·     Indirect costs may be proposed in accordance with the institution’s negotiated rate agreement.
• ·      The maximum period of performance is 4 years.

Transformative Breast Cancer Consortium Award – Preproposal due April 28, 2022

• ·      Independent investigators at all academic levels (or equivalent)
• ·      The Consortium Director is required to commit and maintain at least 25% level of time and effort during the award period.
• ·      An investigator may be named as Consortium Director on only one pre- application.
• ·      There are no limits on the number of pre-applications for which an investigator may be named as a Project Team PI.
  • ·      Supports collaborations and ideas that will transform or improve the lives of individuals with, and/or at risk for, breast cancer and will significantly accelerate progress toward ending breast cancer.
  • ·      Requires a synergistic, highly integrated, multidisciplinary, and multi-institutional research team of leading scientists, clinicians, and consumer advocates who will be assembled into a consortium to address a major problem in a way that could not be accomplished by a single investigator or group.
  • ·      The consortium should have at least four, but no more than five, project teams, each investigating different projects under a central hypothesis. Each team’s work must be integrated within the consortium so that every component is working toward the consortium’s central hypothesis.
    • ·      The proposed consortium’s overall work is expected to be innovative.  In addition, the Transformative Breast Cancer Consortium Award will include funds for “seed projects” to pursue brand new, high-risk/high-reward concepts that arise from the work, during the award period.
  • ·      This award is not intended to replace, supplement, duplicate, or compete with other collaborative research efforts, such as the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPOREs), and it should not represent a collection of related Program Project grants or subprojects.
    • ·      Research funded under this award mechanism should result in answers that will fundamentally and significantly transform and disrupt the present breast cancer landscape.

Applications must include the following:

• ·      Research that includes truly innovative and brand-new paradigm-shifting work in breast cancer that will address vital issues in a unique way. The issues may be one (or more) of the FY22 BCRP Overarching Challenges or, with justification, may be a different issue that meets the intent of the award mechanism and addresses the mission of ending breast cancer. If the application identifies a different fundamental issue, it must be coupled with at least one of the FY22 BCRP Overarching Challenges.
• ·      Research that includes different disciplines that come together to address ending breast cancer with an ecologic approach. The consortium’s proposed research must look at all aspects of the disease and bring together these different perspectives into one overarching plan for a deep, definitive dive into the FY22 BCRP Overarching Challenge(s) or other fundamental issue identified in the application. The plan also should include issues related to the hypothesis that have not been previously addressed or answered.
  • ·      A plan that describes in detail the integration across the consortium in all aspects, including administration, logistics, and substance. Applications must describe the substantive integration across and among teams that are necessary for the work. The required communication plan and administrative management plan will not suffice to show integration, nor will identifying individual team members who will cross teams. A detailed explanation of the substantive research processes that will be integrated is required.
  • ·      Although not all inclusive, applications that propose the following as the primary effort(s) or central hypothesis of the consortium will not meet the intent of this award mechanism:
  • ·      NCI Program Project or SPORE grants or applications
    • ·      Conducting drug screens or testing a “cocktail” of therapeutics
    • ·      Targeting a single gene or protein
    • ·      Developing a new derivative or formulation of an old drug
    • ·      Conducting genomic landscape mapping analyses
    • ·      Seeking to improve existing technologies (e.g., mammography or magnetic resonance imaging screening)

Additional Elements

• ·      Pre-application submission is required; application submission is by invitation only.
• ·      The award mechanism is structured with a Consortium Director and at least three, but not more than four, Project Team PIs.
• ·      Applications must include at least one breast cancer consumer advocate per project team.
• ·      Clinical trials (up to and including phase 1 or equivalent) are allowed but not required, and the primary thrust of the application should not be a clinical trial.
• ·     The maximum allowable funding for the entire period of performance is $25M for direct costs.
• ·     Indirect costs may be proposed in accordance with the institution’s negotiated rate agreement.
• ·     The maximum period of performance is 4 years.

A pre-application is required and must be submitted through the electronic Biomedical Research Application Portal (eBRAP) at https://eBRAP.org prior to the pre-application deadline.  All applications must conform to the final funding opportunity announcements available for downloading from the Grants.gov website.  The application package containing the required forms for each award mechanism will also be found on Grants.gov.  A listing of all CDMRP and other USAMRDC extramural funding opportunities can be obtained on the Grants.gov website by performing a basic search using CFDA Number 12.420. 

For email notification when announcements are released, subscribe to program-specific news and updates under “Email Subscriptions” on the eBRAP homepage at https://eBRAP.org.  For more information about the BCRP or other CDMRP-administered programs, please visit the CDMRP website (https://cdmrp.army.mil).

Point of Contact:

CDMRP Help Desk
301-682-5507
help@eBrap.org

 For more information, please contact Jill Sherman, International Research Facilitator, at intl.research@lakeheadu.ca.

The FY22 Defense Appropriations Act is anticipated to provide funding for the ALSRP to support development of effective treatments for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).  The managing agent for the anticipated program announcements/funding opportunities is the CDMRP at the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC).

The FY22 ALSRP funding opportunity announcements for the following award mechanisms are posted on the Grants.gov website. 

Funding Opportunities-FY22 ALSRP, Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) (army.mil)

Pilot Clinical Trial Award – Preproposal due April 29, 2022

Independent investigators at or above the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent)

• ·     Supports exploratory clinical trials of novel therapeutics to demonstrate feasibility and inform the design of more advanced trials in ALS.
• ·     Must support a clinical trial and may not be used for preclinical research studies.
• ·     Preliminary data are required.
• ·     Applications investigating a therapeutic must include plans to generate biomarker data.  Biomarkers may measure target engagement, pharmacodynamic effects, and/or be predictive/cohort-selective.

Clinical Care Tier: 

• ·     Applications not investigating a novel therapeutic, but proposing a clinical trial to optimize established ALS clinical care may submit under the Clinical Care Tier.
• ·     Types of efforts that will be supported include:

○       Optimization of respiratory care strategies

○       Improvements to approved devices and assistive technologies

○       Specific symptom management strategies

• ·      Pre-application submission is required; full application submission is by invitation only.
• ·      Maximum funding of $2,000,000 for direct costs (plus indirect costs)
• ·     Maximum funding of $1,000,000 for direct costs (plus indirect costs) if applying for the Clinical Care Tier
• ·     Maximum period of performance is 3 years.

Therapeutic Development Award – Preproposal due April 29, 2022

Independent investigators at all academic levels (or equivalent)

• ·     Supports secondary preclinical validation and Investigational New Drug (IND)-enabling studies of therapeutics for ALS.
• ·     Preliminary data are required, including strong rationale and efficacy data for the chosen therapeutic in at least one ALS-relevant model system.
• ·     Biomarker development and/or characterization (if not already validated), in parallel to the main therapeutic effort, is a critical component of the Therapeutic Development Award.
  • ·       Pre-application submission is required; full application submission is by invitation only.
  • ·        Maximum allowable funding for the entire period of performance is $1,000,000 for direct costs
  • ·        Indirect costs may be proposed in accordance with the institutions negotiated rate agreement.
  • ·        The maximum period of performance is 3 years

Clinical Biomarker Development Award – Preproposal due April 29, 2022

Independent investigators at all academic levels (or equivalent) 

• ·     Supports maximization of clinical ALS resources and biorepositories to better define subtypes, predict therapeutic response, or assess prognosis.
• ·     Emphasis is on the development of clinical biomarkers to enrich clinical trials in ALS. Biomarkers may measure target engagement, pharmacodynamic effects, and/or be predictive/cohort-selective.
• ·     Data and resource sharing (biosamples/data sets/analyses) are important and scored criteria.
• ·     Types of efforts that will be supported include:

○    Using patient-based resources to link biosamples to rigorous molecular data

○     Collecting and analyzing biospecimens as a companion to an anticipated/ongoing clinical trial

○    Correlating clinical trial-related data (e.g., biosample analyses, imaging, or epidemiological data) with clinical outcomes/ responses to therapies

Pre-application submission is required; full application submission is by invitation only.

• ·     The maximum allowable funding for the entire period of performance is  $500,000 for direct costs
• ·     Indirect costs may be proposed in accordance with the institution’s negotiated rate agreement
• ·     Maximum period of performance is 2 years

Therapeutic Idea Award – Preproposal due April 29, 2022

Independent investigators at all academic levels (or equivalent) 

• ·     Supports hypothesis-driven preclinical therapeutic development.
• ·     Projects focusing primarily on investigating ALS pathophysiology, without consideration of therapeutic development, are outside the scope of this award mechanism.
• ·     Preliminary data are not required.
• ·     Early Career Investigators are encouraged to apply.
• ·     Biomarker Option:  Applications that include development of biomarkers in parallel to the main therapeutic effort and that meet criteria outlined in the Funding Opportunity Announcement will qualify for a higher level of funding.
• ·     Pre-application submission is required; full application submission is by invitation only.
• ·     The maximum allowable funding for the entire period of performance is $500,000 for direct costs
• ·     Indirect costs may be proposed in accordance with the institution’s negotiated rate agreement.
• ·     Biomarker Option: The maximum allowable funding for the entire period of performance is $600,000 for direct costs
• ·     Maximum period of performance is 2 years

A pre-application is required and must be submitted through the electronic Biomedical Research Application Portal (eBRAP) at https://eBRAP.org prior to the pre-application deadline.  All applications must conform to the final funding opportunity announcements available for downloading from the Grants.gov website.  The application package containing the required forms for each award mechanism will also be found on Grants.gov.  A listing of all CDMRP and other USAMRDC extramural funding opportunities can be obtained on the Grants.gov website by performing a basic search using CFDA Number 12.420.

For email notification when announcements are released, subscribe to program-specific news and updates under “Email Subscriptions” on the eBRAP homepage at https://eBRAP.org.  For more information about the ALSRP or other CDMRP-administered programs, please visit the CDMRP website (https://cdmrp.army.mil).

Point of Contact:

CDMRP Help Desk
301-682-5507
help@eBrap.org

For more information, please contact Jill Sherman, International Research Facilitator, at intl.research@lakeheadu.ca.

The FY22 Defense Appropriations Act is anticipated to provide funding for the LCRP to support innovative, high-impact lung cancer research.  As directed by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, the Defense Health Agency J9, Research and Development Directorate, manages the Defense Health Program’s (DHP) Research, Development, Test and Evaluation appropriation.  The managing agent for the anticipated program announcements/funding opportunities is the CDMRP at the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC).

The FY22 LCRP funding opportunity announcements for the following award mechanisms are posted on the Grants.gov website. 

Applications submitted to the FY22 LCRP must address one or more of the following Areas of Emphasis:

• Identify innovative strategies for the prevention of the occurrence of lung cancer.
• Identify innovative strategies for the screening and early detection of lung cancer.
• Understand the molecular mechanisms of initiation and progression to lung cancer.
• Understand contributors to lung cancer development other than tobacco.
• Identify innovative strategies for the treatment of lung cancer.
• Identify innovative strategies for the prevention of recurrence of or metastases from lung cancer.
• Develop or optimize biomarkers to assist with therapeutic decision-making
• Understand mechanisms of resistance to treatment (primary and secondary)
• Identify innovative strategies for comprehensive lung cancer care (clinical management/surveillance/symptom management/palliative care).
• Understand factors and/or develop implementation strategies to address health disparities in lung cancer.

Relevance to Military Health:  The LCRP seeks to support research that is relevant to the healthcare needs of military Service Members, Veterans, and their families.  Relevance to military health will be considered in determining relevance to the mission of the DHP and FY22 LCRP during programmatic review.  Investigators are strongly encouraged to consider the following characteristics as examples of how a project may demonstrate relevance to military health:

• Use of military of Veteran populations, biospecimens, data/databases, or programs in the proposed research.
• Collaboration with Department of Defense or Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) investigators.
• Description of how the knowledge, information, products, or technologies gained from the proposed research could be implemented in a dual-use capacity to address a military need that also benefits the civilian population.
• Explanation of how the project addresses an aspect of lung cancer that has a direct relevance to military Service Members, Veterans, or other military health system beneficiaries, including environmental exposures other than tobacco.

Funding Opportunities-FY22 LCRP, Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) (army.mil)

Clinical Translational Research Partnership Award – Letter of Intent due July 13, 2022

Investigators at or above the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent)

Clinician must be an M.D., M/D//Ph.D., or equivalent with clinical duties and/or responsibilities

• ·        Supports translational studies that include an interventional clinical trial.
• ·        This mechanism is intended to fund partnerships between clinicians and laboratory scientists that accelerate ideas in lung cancer into clinical applications.

○       One partner is strongly encouraged to be from either a military treatment facility or a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs medical center.

• ·        Non-traditional partnerships are encouraged.
  • ·        Preliminary lung cancer relevant data are required.
  • ·        Relevance to military health is strongly encouraged.
  • ·        Patient research advocate involvement is encouraged.
    • ·        Maximum combined funding of $1,200,000 for direct costs (plus indirect costs).
    • ·        Maximum period of performance should not exceed 3 years.

A pre-application is required and must be submitted through the electronic Biomedical Research Application Portal (eBRAP) at https://eBRAP.org prior to the pre-application deadline.  All applications must conform to the final funding opportunity announcements available for downloading from the Grants.gov website.  The application package containing the required forms for each award mechanism will also be found on Grants.gov.  A listing of all CDMRP and other USAMRDC extramural funding opportunities can be obtained on the Grants.gov website by performing a basic search using CFDA Number 12.420. 

For email notification when announcements are released, subscribe to program-specific news and updates under “Email Subscriptions” on the eBRAP homepage at https://eBRAP.org.  For more information about the LCRP or other CDMRP-administered programs, please visit the CDMRP website (https://cdmrp.army.mil).

Point of Contact:

CDMRP Help Desk
301-682-5507
help@eBrap.org

Please contact Jill Sherman, International Research Facilitator, at intl.research@lakeheadu.ca for more information.

The FY22 Defense Appropriations Act is anticipated to provide funding for the LCRP to support innovative, high-impact lung cancer research.  As directed by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, the Defense Health Agency J9, Research and Development Directorate, manages the Defense Health Program’s (DHP) Research, Development, Test and Evaluation appropriation.  The managing agent for the anticipated program announcements/funding opportunities is the CDMRP at the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC).

The FY22 LCRP funding opportunity announcements for the following award mechanisms are posted on the Grants.gov website. 

Applications submitted to the FY22 LCRP must address one or more of the following Areas of Emphasis:

• Identify innovative strategies for the prevention of the occurrence of lung cancer.
• Identify innovative strategies for the screening and early detection of lung cancer.
• Understand the molecular mechanisms of initiation and progression to lung cancer.
• Understand contributors to lung cancer development other than tobacco.
• Identify innovative strategies for the treatment of lung cancer.
• Identify innovative strategies for the prevention of recurrence of or metastases from lung cancer.
• Develop or optimize biomarkers to assist with therapeutic decision-making
• Understand mechanisms of resistance to treatment (primary and secondary)
• Identify innovative strategies for comprehensive lung cancer care (clinical management/surveillance/symptom management/palliative care).
• Understand factors and/or develop implementation strategies to address health disparities in lung cancer.

Relevance to Military Health:  The LCRP seeks to support research that is relevant to the healthcare needs of military Service Members, Veterans, and their families.  Relevance to military health will be considered in determining relevance to the mission of the DHP and FY22 LCRP during programmatic review.  Investigators are strongly encouraged to consider the following characteristics as examples of how a project may demonstrate relevance to military health:

• Use of military of Veteran populations, biospecimens, data/databases, or programs in the proposed research.
• Collaboration with Department of Defense or Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) investigators.
• Description of how the knowledge, information, products, or technologies gained from the proposed research could be implemented in a dual-use capacity to address a military need that also benefits the civilian population.
• Explanation of how the project addresses an aspect of lung cancer that has a direct relevance to military Service Members, Veterans, or other military health system beneficiaries, including environmental exposures other than tobacco.

Funding Opportunities-FY22 LCRP, Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) (army.mil)

Concept Award – Letter of Intent due May 3, 2022

All investigators at or above the level of postdoctoral fellow (or equivalent). Supports highly innovative, non-incremental, high risk/potentially high-reward lung cancer research.

• ·        Supports highly innovative, untested, potentially groundbreaking concepts in lung cancer.
• ·        Emphasis on innovative concept or untested theory.
• ·        Research involving human subjects or specimens must be either exempt under Title 32, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 219, Section 104(d) (32 CFR 219.104[d]) or eligible for expedited review (21 CFR 56.110). • Clinical trials are not allowed.
• ·        Preliminary data are discouraged(not consistent with intent of award mechanism).
• ·        Relevance to military health is strongly encouraged.

New Options for FY22

• ·        Care Delivery and Health Disparity category must address one or both of the Care Delivery and/or Health Disparity Areas of Emphasis.
• ·        Cancer Research Continuum category must address at least one or more of the eight cancer continuum focused Areas of Emphasis
• ·        Maximum funding of $100,000 in direct costs (plus indirect costs).
• ·        Period of performance should not exceed 1 year.

Career Development Award – Letter of Intent due May 3, 2022

• ·        Principal Investigator (PI)
• ·        Independent investigators at the level of Assistant Professor, Instructor, or equivalent; must be within 5 years of first faculty appointment (or equivalent).
• ·        Must not have received a Career Development Award previously from any program within the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs.
• ·        Must not have received more than $300,000 in total direct costs for previous or concurrent lung cancer research as a PI of one or more federally or privately funded, non-mentored, peer[1]reviewed grants.
• ·        Mentor
• ·        At or above the level of Associate Professor (or equivalent).
• ·        Must have a strong publication and funding record in lung cancer research.
• ·        Supports early-career, independent researchers to conduct research under mentorship of an experienced lung cancer researcher.
• ·        Emphasis on research with high potential impact.
• ·        Clinical trials are not allowed.
• ·        Career development plan is required with appropriate mentor guidance.
• ·        Preliminary data are not required.
• ·        Relevance to military health is strongly encouraged
  • ·        Maximum funding of $250,000 in direct costs (plus indirect costs).
  • ·        Period of performance should not exceed 2 years.

Idea Development Award – Preproposal due May 4, 2022

Established Investigators: Independent investigators at or above the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent)

New Investigators:

Investigators that meet the following criteria by application submission deadline date:

• ·      Have not previously received an LCRP Idea Development Award or Early Investigator Synergistic Idea Award
• ·      Are within 10 years of first faculty appointment (or equivalent)
  • ·        Supports new ideas in the early stages of development representing innovative, high-risk/high-gain research.
  • ·        Emphasis on innovation and impact.
  • ·        New Investigator category supports applicants early in their faculty appointments or in the process of developing independent research careers.
  • ·        Clinical trials are not allowed.
  • ·        Preliminary data are required, but may be from outside of lung cancer.
  • ·        Relevance to military health is strongly encouraged.
    • ·        Maximum funding of $350,000 in direct costs (plus indirect costs).
    • ·        Period of performance should not exceed 2 years.

Investigator-Initiated Translational Research Award – Preproposal due May 4, 2022

Independent investigators at or above the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent)

• ·        Supports translational research that will develop promising ideas in lung cancer into clinical applications.  Translational research may be defined as an integration of basic science and clinical observations.
• ·        Intended to fund a broad range of translational studies including, but not limited to, the following:

○       Studies advancing/translating in vitro and/or animal studies to applications with human samples/cohorts

○       Late-stage preclinical work leading to/preparing for a clinical trial, e.g., Investigational New Drug application submission

○       Correlative studies that are associated with an ongoing or completed clinical trial and projects that develop endpoints for clinical trials

• ·      Clinical trials are not allowed
• ·        Preliminary lung cancer relevant data are required.
• ·        Relevance to military health is strongly encouraged.
  • ·        Maximum funding of $600,000 in direct costs (plus indirect costs).
  • ·        Period of performance should not exceed 3 years.
     

A pre-application is required and must be submitted through the electronic Biomedical Research Application Portal (eBRAP) at https://eBRAP.org prior to the pre-application deadline.  All applications must conform to the final funding opportunity announcements available for downloading from the Grants.gov website.  The application package containing the required forms for each award mechanism will also be found on Grants.gov.  A listing of all CDMRP and other USAMRDC extramural funding opportunities can be obtained on the Grants.gov website by performing a basic search using CFDA Number 12.420. 

For email notification when announcements are released, subscribe to program-specific news and updates under “Email Subscriptions” on the eBRAP homepage at https://eBRAP.org.  For more information about the LCRP or other CDMRP-administered programs, please visit the CDMRP website (https://cdmrp.army.mil).

Point of Contact:

CDMRP Help Desk
301-682-5507
help@eBrap.org

Please contact Jill Sherman, International Research Facilitator, at intl.research@lakeheadu.ca for more information.

Clinical Trial Award – Preproposal due May 6, 2022

Assistant Professor level or above (or equivalent)

• Preproposal submission is required; application submission is by invitation only.

• Supports the rapid implementation of clinical trials of novel interventions with the potential to have a significant impact on patient care in the topic area(s) of interest.

• Proposed projects may range from small proof-of-concept trials through large-scale, definitive trials.

• Two options will be offered: o Planning Phase with Clinical Trial Option: Provides support to prepare and submit an Investigational New Drug/ Investigational Device Exemption (IND/ IDE) application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and requires FDA/regulatory approval or exemption to proceed before the clinical trial may be funded. o Clinical Trial Only Option: Provides support for the clinical trial. IND or IDE applications to the FDA, if needed, must be approved by the FDA and included in the application submission.

Clinical Trial:

• A funding limit is not defined; requested funding must be appropriate for the scope of work proposed.

• The maximum period of performance for the clinical trial is 4 years. Planning Phase with Clinical Trial Option:

• The maximum allowable funding for the Planning Phase period of performance is $500,000 for direct costs.

• Indirect costs may be proposed in accordance with the institution’s negotiated rate agreement.

• The maximum period of performance for the clinical trial is 4 years.

Discovery Award – Letter of Intent due April 22, 2022

Postdoctoral fellow or clinical fellow (or equivalent and above)

Supports the exploration of a highly innovative new concept or untested theory.

• Not intended to support the logical progression of an already established line of questioning.

• Clinical trials will not be funded.

Focused Program Award – Preproposal due May 6, 2022

Full Professor level or above (or equivalent)

• Preproposal submission is required; application submission is by invitation only.

• Supports a synergistic, multidisciplinary research program of at least four distinct but complementary projects addressing an overarching goal/question.

• Projects should work together to answer critical questions, resolve differing hypotheses, and translate laboratory findings to clinical applications.

• Projects may range from exploratory/ hypothesis-developing studies through small[1]scale clinical trials that together will address the overarching goal/question.

• Research team of highly qualified, multidisciplinary project leaders should be led by an investigator with demonstrated success in directing large, focused projects

• ·        The maximum allowable funding for the entire period of performance is $7.2 million for direct costs.
• ·        Indirect costs may be proposed in accordance with the institution’s negotiated rate agreement.
• ·        The maximum period of performance is 4 years.

Investigator-Initiated Research Award – Letter of Intent due April 29, 2022

Assistant Professor level or above (or equivalent)

Supports research that will make an original and important contribution to the field of research or patient care in the Topic Area(s) of interest.

• Partnering Principal Investigator Option available.

• Clinical trials will not be funded.

The maximum allowable funding for the entire period of performance is $1.6 million for direct costs for single investigators and $2.0 million for partnering investigators.

• Indirect costs may be proposed in accordance with the institution’s negotiated rate agreement.

• The maximum period of performance is 4 years.

Technology/Therapeutic Development Award – Letter of Intent due April 29, 2022

Assistant Professor level or above (or equivalent)

• Supports the translation of promising preclinical findings into clinical applications for prevention, detection, diagnosis, treatment, and/or quality of life.

• Supports product-oriented projects (e.g., device, drug, clinical guidelines). The product(s) to be developed may be a tangible item such as a pharmacologic agent (drugs or biologics) or device, or a knowledge-based product.

• Two funding levels are available depending on the maturity of the product. The following are general descriptions, although not all[1]inclusive, of the scope of research projects that would be appropriate to propose under each funding level:

o Funding Level 1: Supports research that is supported by significant preliminary data but has not advanced to the level of clinical translation.

o Funding Level 2: Supports research that is in the final states of preclinical development with potential for near-term clinical development. Applications must provide relevant data that support the rationale for the proposed study. Funding Level 2 recipients must submit or obtain an IND/IDE application to the FDA, or must transition the product to clinical practice, within the period of performance.

• Clinical trials will not be funded.

Funding Level 1:

• The maximum allowable funding for the entire period of performance is $2 million for direct costs.

• Indirect costs may be proposed in accordance with the institution’s negotiated rate agreement.

• The maximum period of performance is 4 years. Funding Level 2:

• The maximum allowable funding for the entire period of performance is $4 million for direct costs.

• Indirect costs may be proposed in accordance with the institution’s negotiated rate agreement.

• The maximum period of performance is 4 years.

A pre-application is required and must be submitted through the electronic Biomedical Research Application Portal (eBRAP) at https://eBRAP.org prior to the pre-application deadline.  All applications must conform to the final funding opportunity announcements available for downloading from the Grants.gov website.  The application package containing the required forms for each award mechanism will also be found on Grants.gov.  A listing of all CDMRP and other USAMRDC extramural funding opportunities can be obtained on the Grants.gov website by performing a basic search using CFDA Number 12.420. 

For email notification when announcements are released, subscribe to program-specific news and updates under “Email Subscriptions” on the eBRAP homepage at https://eBRAP.org.  For more information about the PCARP or other CDMRP-administered programs, please visit the CDMRP website (https://cdmrp.army.mil).

Point of Contact:

CDMRP Help Desk
301-682-5507
help@eBrap.org

Please contact Jill Sherman, International Research Facilitator at intl.research@lakeheadu.ca  for additional information.

Brain Canada is pleased to be partnering with Cancer Research Society to launch the Brain Canada – Cancer Research Society Translational Research Grants program. This funding opportunity will support basic researchers and clinicians as they work together to translate research into novel approaches for the study, diagnosis, and/or treatment of pediatric and adult brain cancer.

Two grants of up to $1,000,000 each will be awarded through this new funding opportunity. Successful teams must include the collaborative work of an early-career investigator and a senior investigator in either the basic and/or clinical research fields. 

Evidence clearly shows that increasing equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in research environments enhances excellence, innovation and creativity. Brain Canada and Cancer Research Society are committed to excellence through equity, and we encourage applicants of diverse backgrounds to apply to our funding opportunities.

Click here to view the Request for Applications.

Deadline to register: March 23, 2022 at 16:00 ET

Deadline for receipt of Full Applications: May 6, 2022 at 16:00 ET

Alliance International Quantum grants will provide support for researchers in Canada to establish and grow international research collaborations that will strengthen research excellence in Canada and abroad, and further develop Canadian research strengths and leadership in quantum science and technology. Using NSERC’s newly launched Alliance International Catalyst grants, Alliance International Catalyst Quantum grants will provide up to $25,000 for one year to support Canadian academic researchers in initiating and developing research collaborations with international researchers from the academic sector in the areas of quantum science and quantum technologies. It is expected that approximately 100 Catalyst Quantum grants will be awarded in fiscal year 2022–23. These grants will serve as the foundation for larger partnerships in later years.

Proposals must focus on any of the following areas of quantum technologies:

• quantum algorithms/encryption
• quantum communications
• quantum computing
• quantum materials
• quantum sensing

Collaborations that synergistically couple any of these quantum technology thrusts to other research topics in the natural sciences and engineering would be accepted.

Please contact Jill Sherman, International Research Facilitator for more information at:  intl.research@lakeheadu.ca