*EXTENDED*
Letter of Intent Due Date:  June 21, 2024
Full Application Due Date:  October 4, 2024
Results Announcement: November 2024
Anticipated Start Date: January 2025

The Accelerating Grants program provides funding for interventional, observational, and translational clinical research studies focused on gynecologic cancers, and in particular those that advance lab-based discoveries by researchers in BC into the clinic. The intent of these grants is to support research related to patients. This could include an intervention of some form; it could rely upon observation of a specific cohort; or it could involve analysis of patient tissues or biosamples with potential relevance to their care.

Accelerating grants have been created to cultivate and support collaborative clinical research with investigators across disciplines and health authorities/institutions on a provincial level. Applications with “in-kind” contributions from collaborating researchers who are in the basic or translational sciences for the conduct of correlative research are encouraged. Applications which incorporate psychosocial, and/or quality of life measures and/or patient-reported outcomes, and  addresses equity, diversity, and inclusion into the clinical study will be preferentially considered.

The total amount available for the current competition is $250,000 with a suggested total application budget between $50,000-100,000 per grant. The grant term is up to 2 years. Grants will not be renewable at the end of their term. It is anticipated that approximately 2-3 grants will be awarded in this competition.

There will be a two-stage application and review process. Applicants will be required to submit a letter of intent (LOI) and selected applicants will be invited to submit a full application. A multidisciplinary peer review committee including patient partners will review the LOIs and full applications.

There will be a two-stage application and review process. Applicants will be required to submit a letter of intent (LOI) and selected applicants will be invited to submit a full application. A multidisciplinary peer review committee including patient partners will review the LOIs and full applications.

Any member of the BC Gynecologic Cancer Tumour Group (Medical oncology, Radiation oncology, Surgery, Pathology, Research, Allied health, etc) may apply, however, at least one of the co-investigators on the application must be a VCHRI-affiliated investigator. Affiliation can easily be achieved by any member with an appointed position. For more information, contact  vlac@bccrc.ca.

The following types of studies will not be eligible for funding through the Accelerating Grants program:

• Laboratory-based studies without patient-identified samples
• Retrospective cohort reviews
• Studies without a specific hypothesis or outcome

Successful applicants will provide an update to the GCI-CTG executive after 12 months of receiving the funding and at the end of the project. Funding recipients are asked to acknowledge the support provided by the North Family Foundation through the VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation, administered through OVCARE, in any communication or publication related to the project. Any funds left unspent after 2 years from the start of the grant are to be returned to OVCARE.

The LOI submission will require the following:

1. Title of project

2. An impact statement (max 250 words) which addresses the potential of the project. The statement should explicitly describe how the project will accelerate advancement in scientific knowledge to address a critical barrier in improving patient outcomes

3. A scientific abstract (max 1 page) which includes the following: the specific research question to be addressed, background and scientific rationale, design and methodology, relevance of the proposed research to this program

4. Anticipated total requested budget amount

5. Name of the PI, co-PI and investigator(s)

No signature package is required at the LOI stage. Applicants will receive an email on June 24, 2024 confirming receipt of their LOI.

The full application submission will require the following:

1. Title of Project

2. List of Participating Investigators: Provide an overview of all investigators including their roles and responsibilities in the proposed study. Max 1 page.

3. Lay Summary: A public (non-scientific) summary which can be easily understood by individuals without biomedical research expertise. Max 250 words.

4. Impact Statement: The statement should explicitly describe how the project will accelerate advancement in scientific knowledge to address a critical barrier in improving patient outcomes. Max 250 wordsA detailed scientific proposal clearly stating the research question, aims of the clinical study including any previous work done in the area, trial and experimental design including study sites, methods, analysis and timeline. The proposal will contain no more than 4 pages of single-spaced text including data figures/tables/charts plus 3 pages of supporting non-data schematics/flow diagrams are allowed. Additional one-page limit for reference bibliography. Use Times New Roman 12-point font. Spacing no more than six lines of type within a vertical inch. Page size no larger than 8.5 inches x 11.0 inches. Margins at least 0.5 inch in all directions.

5. Scientific Proposal: Describe the proposed research project in a maximum of 4 pages including data figures/tables/charts. Use Times New Roman 12-point font, single line spacing, and normal/standard character spacing. Page size no larger than 8.5 inches x 11.0 inches. Margins at least 0.5 inches in all directions. There are no restrictions on the organization of the proposal or headings used, however the following elements should be included:

• Research question
• Aims of the clinical study, including any previous work done in the area
• Trial and experimental design, including study sites
• Methods and analysis

6. Supplementary Materials (Optional): Up to 3 pages of supplemental, non-data schematics/flow diagrams, surveys, or questionnaires. Additional pages may not be used to include extra data or extend the length of the proposal beyond the 4-page limit.

7. References:  References may be submitted in any format. No page limit. 

8. Budget Justification: A budget justification related to the direct cost of supplies and salary expenses associated with study. Indirect costs such as rent of office premises and other related overhead, capital expenses including computer and office equipment, and salary support for principal investigator or co-investigators are ineligible expenses. The budget requested should not overlap with any existing funding support. Max 1 page.

9.  Letter(s) of “in-kind” contributions  (if applicable). Applications with “in-kind” support from collaborating researchers must include a letter outlining the support provided.

10. Curriculum Vitae: CVs of principal investigators and co-investigators; any format.

11. Publications : Up to 2 publications from the past five years relevant to this proposal.