Canadian Cancer Society

Competition Timelines:
Full applications due: June 23, 2021
Results announcement: late October, 2021
Anticipated start date: November 1, 2021

Internal Deadlines:
Applicants must submit a penultimate copy of their application for approval using the UPEI Romeo Researcher Portal by June 16, 2021, and ensure that it reaches Research Services by June 18, 2021.  

The Canadian Cancer Society (CCS), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research - Institute of Cancer Research (CIHR-ICR), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research - Institute of Indigenous Peoples’ Health (IIPH), and partners have committed approximately $5M over one year to jointly fund up to 25 Proof-of-Concept Grants focused on interventions in Primary Cancer Prevention. 

 The intent of this Phase 1: CCS/CIHR Action Grants program is to motivate Canadians to take “action” to avoid known modifiable risk factors for cancer and to encourage the research and end-user communities to take “action” towards harnessing new ideas, platforms and technologies from within and outside the cancer field to test out bold, novel interventions with the potential to prevent cancer. 

 The goal is to stimulate the necessary multidisciplinary and multi-sector collaborations needed to test the feasibility of small-scale interventions, applying creative concepts with scalable and/or modifiable potential. The focus is strictly on interventions in primary cancer prevention, i.e. stopping cancer before it starts. Proposals related to secondary/tertiary prevention will not be considered. 

Important dates:

·         Registration due date: June 23, 2021

·         Full application due date: September 10, 2021

·         Anticipated funding start date: January 15, 2022

 More information on this funding opportunity can be found here. 

Please see the eligibility and requirements section prior to creating an application. Please note additional requirements for this competition below.

Please consult the application guide for details on how to submit your application.

Background

Atlantic Canada has the highest incidence of cancer (per 100,000 people) in Canada. The Canadian Cancer Society launched a campaign in 2020 to raise $20 million for prevention, support and research programs in this region.

This grant funding opportunity is supported by the J.D. Irving, Limited — Excellence in Cancer Research Fund. In addition to operating grants, the Fund will also support trainees enrolled in the Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute’s (BHCRI) Cancer Research Training Program (CRTP). More than 250 trainees have taken part in CRTP over the last 20 years and the majority of graduates have gone on to have successful careers in science and medicine in Canada and abroad. Applicants are encouraged to learn more about the CRTP on BHCRI’s website.

This combined investment by the J.D. Irving, Limited — Excellence in Cancer Research Fund will build capacity in cancer research across Atlantic Canada and train the next generation of cancer researchers, creating a continuous pipeline of emerging talent and promoting local discoveries in cancer research that will have far reaching benefits.  

Deadline dates

Full applications due: June 23, 2021
Results announcement: late October, 2021
Anticipated start date: November 1, 2021

Program description

The Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) is issuing this special Atlantic Canada call for operating grant applications focused on cancer research. Applications are encouraged from all areas of cancer research (e.g. biomedical, clinical, health services, and (psycho)social, cultural, environmental and population health research).

Principal Investigators must hold a firm academic position at a Canadian university in one of the Atlantic Provinces: New Brunswick, Newfoundland & Labrador, Nova Scotia, or Prince Edward Island. All research funds administered through this competition must remain within Atlantic Canada.

CCS is committed to equity, diversity and inclusivity and strives to promote inclusive excellence in its research programs. We welcome eligible applicants of diverse backgrounds to apply for our funding opportunities.

Funds available

The full funding envelope for the Atlantic Cancer Research Grant competition is currently $2.1M. Additional donations to the J.D. Irving, Limited — Excellence in Cancer Research Fund may increase the funding envelope.

Applications for up to $100,000 per year for 3 years will be accepted. Therefore, it is anticipated that at least 7 grants will be awarded in this competition. Successful applications must fall within the fundable range for CCS awards (>3.5). These grants are non-renewable.

Funding will be provided to support the direct costs of research, including supplies, eligible salaries, and equipment associated with the proposed work. Equipment requests cannot exceed 15% of the requested budget. Indirect costs are not eligible. Please consult our grant expense policies when creating your budget.

Peer review

Two peer review committees will be assembled to review the full applications: biomedical/clinical and health services/(psycho)social, cultural, environmental and population health research. The peer review committees will be composed of diverse (gender, geography, career stage, race) scientists with expertise relevant to the submitted applications, and patient/survivor/caregiver representatives who will evaluate the relevance of the applications to cancer and those affected by it.

The Application

Please consult the application guide for specific instructions.
 

Review criteria

The review criteria for the full application will include four main assessment categories: Research Strategy, Investigator(s), Environment, and Relevance.

Research strategy

• scientific merit and convincing rationale that considers critical review and analysis of preliminary data and/or published literature, as appropriate
• feasibility of the project, including identification of potential problems and how they will be addressed, including alternative approaches
• sex, gender, and other identity factors (e.g. race, ethnicity) and their intersectionalities considered in the research design, methods, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of findings
• appropriateness of the term and amount of support requested

Investigator(s)

• the qualifications and appropriate expertise of the investigator(s)
• consideration of equity, diversity and inclusion principles in team composition and recruitment processes, and training and development opportunities

Environment

• quality of the research environment in which the work will take place (is there appropriate equipment, mentorship, etc. available to support success?)

Relevance

• potential impact of the project on cancer, and those affected by it

Additional Requirements

In addition to the usual requirements for scientific and financial reporting, funder acknowledgement, Canadian Cancer Society policies on open access and tobacco related funding, applicants are also advised that J.D. Irving, Limited expects that funded researchers will be open to sharing updates on their progress throughout the term of the grant, through written, verbal, and other forms of communication (for example, video presentations).

Multiple applications/multiple sources of funding

It is understood that applications may also be made to other agencies to provide support for grants/programs similar to those submitted to the Canadian Cancer Society. For this competition, duplicate applications submitted to other agencies will be accepted, but budgetary overlap will not be permitted at the funding stage.