Hope for Tomorrow Research Competition
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Campus Alberta Neuroscience (CAN), in partnership with the Alzheimer Society of Alberta and Northwest Territories (AS AB/NT), is pleased to announce the launch of the second annual Hope for Tomorrow Research Competition, focused on research that has the potential to make a significant impact on the quality of life of patients, families, and caregivers through exploration into the causes, prevention, treatment, and cure of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
Overview
What is currently known about the causes, prevention, treatment, and cure for dementia is limited. Research into Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias is critical to advance our understanding of any of these facets that have the potential to significantly improve the lives of the more than 52,000 Albertans living with dementia. Without the critical knowledge development that research provides, dementia will continue to disrupt the lives of many more Albertans – estimated at more than 200,000 by 2050.
Research that pushes the boundaries of what is currently understood as having a positive impact on improving and maintaining quality of life for those affected by these diseases is encouraged – researchers should think “outside of the box” and bring disciplines together in unexpected ways to form bold, innovative perspectives.
Key Dates
Q & A Session 1 | September 24, 2024 (link to register) |
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Q & A Session 2 | October 15, 2024 (link to register) |
Notice of Intent submission deadline |
October 24, 2024 at 12pm (noon) MT |
Q & A Session 3 | November 5, 2024 (link to register) |
Full Application submission deadline | December 20, 2024 at 12pm (noon) MT |
Application review period | Winter/Spring 2025 |
Award notifications | Spring/Summer 2025 |
Competition Summary
Innovative and novel Quality of Life research that has the potential to make a significant impact for patients, families, and caregivers is this year’s Area of Focus. Quality of life embodies the overall physical and mental health and wellbeing of a person in relation to the cultural, environmental, and social context in which they live. In order to maintain quality of life as we age, we must find ways to foster healthy brain aging and reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. Further, the maintenance and improvement of quality of life for those already diagnosed is often a key goal in the treatment process. Everyone can experience improved quality of life when Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia are prevented, effectively treated, and better understood.
This research competition aims to accelerate and focus the knowledge gained from innovative scientific findings, in the short or long term, into outcomes that will result in the reduced burden or enhanced quality of life for patients, families, and caregivers in Alberta and elsewhere.
Notice of Intent Deadline: | November 29, 2023 at noon MT |
Full Application Deadline: | February 21, 2024 at noon, MT |
Award Notifications: |
Spring/Summer 2024 (tentative) |
AS AB/NT, in partnership with CAN, will provide awards up to CAD $250,000 total funding for a period of up to three (3) years. Requests may not exceed CAD $250,000 and must be matched at a minimum of 1:1 ratio through funding from one or more funding partners secured by applicants. Matching funding must be cash. A signed letter guaranteeing the matched funds or other proof of secured matching funds is required by the Full Application deadline (February 21, 2024).
- Eligible funding partners for matching funding include individual donors, charitable organizations, provincial and federal government agencies, industry, research institutions, hospitals and health care organizations and any other entities, including foreign organizations and entities.
- A funding partner may support any number of applications and multiple funding partners may support a single application.
- Full Applications will not be accepted unless accompanied by a letter of commitment of matched funds from the funding partner(s).
As part of the application, a Budget Summary must be provided to outline propose use of funding. The requested funds must be used to cover the costs of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia research related to Quality of Life at an Alberta institute. Funds must be used effectively and economically, and the expenses must be essential for the research for which the funds were awarded. Funding cannot be levered against contributions provided in the past and/or for support of research activities that have already started or been completed.
For more information, please see the Competition Guidelines.
The Principal Applicant is responsible for the direction of the research project and the coordination of research activities. The Principal Applicant must:
- Be an independent researcher in the fields of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias
- Be affiliated with a degree-granting research institution in Alberta
- Have their substantive academic position be in Alberta for the duration of the requested funding
- Be a member of CAN (join here)
- Be able to comply with the Terms and Conditions of the award as per the Competition Guidelines
- Not be in a Conflict of Interest with regard to this funding opportunity
- Not have active funding from the Alzheimer’s Society (some exceptions apply)
Research Projects must be related to Quality of Life research as defined in the Area of Focus section of the Competition Guidelines and must be conducted within Alberta.
For the full eligibility requirements, please see the Competition Guidelines.
Applicants intending to submit a Full Application to this funding competition are required to submit a NOI electronically through the Online Notice of Intent Submission.
The purpose of the NOI is to provide necessary information in planning for peer review. As such, NOIs will not undergo formal review and comments are not provided at the NOI stage. NOIs will be used to ensure that all Applicants are eligible for this competition as per these guidelines. As such, CAN and AS AB/NT reserve the right to contact any Applicant to suggest revisions or retraction of the intent to apply for funding.
Notices of Intent must be received before December 13, 2023 at noon MT. A complete list of questions to be addressed by the NOI is provided in Appendix A of the Competition Guidelines.
Full Applications must be submitted electronically through the Online Application Submission. The Principal Applicant who submitted the NOI must be the same individual who submits the Full Application.
It is imperative that the Full Application is proofread before submission; changes to the Full Application after the deadline are not allowed. Only a single copy of a Full Application will be accepted.
Full Applications must be received in completion before February 21, 2023 at noon MT. A list of questions to be addressed by the Full Application is provided in Appendix B of the Competition Guidelines. A Budget Summary Template, to be filled out and submitted as part of the Full Application, is provided here.
A link to the Full Application Online Submission will be provided upon completion of the NOI.
Frequently Asked Questions
About AS AB/NT
The Alzheimer Society of Alberta and Northwest Territories is working to change the face of dementia and improve the quality of life for those with the disease. Serving Alberta and the Northwest Territories, the Society offers a network of educational and support services for people diagnosed with dementia and their care partners, builds partnerships with health professionals and the community and advances research into effective treatments and finding a cure for this devastating disease. To learn more about Alzheimer’s, dementia, and the work done by AS AB/NT, please visit alzheimer.ab.ca.
About CAN
Campus Alberta Neuroscience, established in 2012 with support from the Government of Alberta, is a province-wide neuroscience network connecting the Universities of Alberta, Calgary and Lethbridge to increase the impact of neuroscience and mental health research, education and translation, developing the province as an epicenter for neuroscience excellence. Through collaborative partnerships with researchers, government and health system stakeholders, industry and community organizations, CAN supports and accelerates innovative brain and mental health advances that improve brain health, patient care and quality of life in Alberta and beyond. For more information, please visit albertaneuro.ca.