Plunge for the Cure Impact Grants

The Plunge for the Cure Foundation is a registered Canadian charity that was established to raise funds for drug and treatment development targeting ovarian cancer. The Plunge for the Cure culminates in an annual plunge event on the last Sunday in May. This year through GCI’s Impact Grant competition, funds raised by the Plunge for the Cure Foundation will support two translational research projects focused on improving ovarian cancer treatment. To maximize the impact of research findings on individuals currently battling ovarian cancer, translational projects utilizing clinical samples and associated with already funded clinical trials will be highly prioritized. 

The current competition will fund two (2) projects in ovarian cancer with an application budget of up to $125,000 each, over a funding period of 1 or 2 years, and is not renewable. 

A peer review committee will evaluate proposals based on the quality of the proposal, potential for impact in improving ovarian cancer treatment, feasibility, and leverage (i.e. co-funding or funding already received for the clinical trial). 

Please note that only translational projects on ovarian cancer will be considered – basic science or exploratory studies as well as projects focusing on other types of cancer  will not  be considered. 

This competition is open to all OVCARE, BC Gynecologic Cancer Tumour Group (Medical oncology, Radiation oncology, Surgery, Pathology, Research, Allied health, etc), and Gynecologic Cancer Initiative members. The principle applicant or 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 Vivian Lac at  vlac@bccrc.ca . 

Successful applicants will provide an update 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 Plunge for the Cure Foundation and the VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation 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. 

Please submit through the GCI/OVCARE electronic portal. Applications for this competition will be required to include: 

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:  An impact statement which clearly outlines the potential of the project to improve treatment for ovarian cancer patients. Max 250 words. 

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 study
• Description of preliminary data (if applicable)
• Experimental design including details on clinical samples 
• 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 

NEW THIS YEAR: All applications for this competition will require a signature package to be submitted through the appropriate institutional body prior to the application deadline. Please review the  FAQ section for signature package submission guidelines.

For questions about this funding opportunity or the application process, contact Vivian Lac ( vlac@bccrc.ca). Applicants will receive an email confirming receipt of their application on May 14, 2024 .