Funding Opportunities
The Stem Cell Network research program is open to all Canadian investigators eligible to receive grant funding from CIHR, NSERC, or SSHRC. In order to receive SCN funds, successful applicants will execute a Standard NCE Network Agreement, through which they will become members of the Stem Cell Network.
The SCN research program comprises the following categories:
Global Research
Competition now open (deadline October 13, 2010)
Global Research projects have the potential for major global impact - to be "a beacon for Canada" in the global stem cell community - and have identified tangible deliverables readily translatable to human health. Projects are aligned with at least one of SCN's existing areas of strategic interest in Cellular Therapeutics, Pharmacological Applications or Technology Development and build on internationally recognized Canadian expertise and strengths in the stem cell field. These projects are expected to be the foundation for new major Canadian and/or international initiatives in the stem cell field.
Public Policy & ELSI Research
Competition now open (deadline January 13, 2011)
Core projects focused on Public Policy and Ethical, Legal and Social Issues related to the field of stem cell research are large multidisciplinary initiatives that pursue integrated goal-directed programs to address major research outcomes.
Impact Research
Competition now open (quarterly deadlines)
Impact projects are one year initiatives that pursue focused research questions with high potential for translational impact in the areas of clinical translation, commercialization or public policy.
Selection of Impact Grants is based on the recommendations of the SCN Research Management Committee which evaluates the proposals against the following criteria: relevance to SCN’s four strategic programs, relevance to the Impact research program, research excellence, likelihood of completion within the one year time frame. SCN investment is up to $75,000 per project for one year for Clinical Translation and Commercialization grants and $50,000 per project for one year for Public Policy grants. Impact Grants are reviewed every three months; deadlines for application are indicated in the application guidelines. SCN anticipates funding 10-20 impact grants over the next four years.
Strategic Research
Competition now open
Strategic Research is initiated by the Research Management Committee to proactively manage the research programs and respond to emerging challenges. Currently, SCN has one strategic call open for research in Type I Diabetes in partnership with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation JDRF).
Core Research
Competition closed
Core projects are large multidisciplinary initiatives that pursue integrated goal-directed programs to address major research outcomes. These projects are actively managed and have high requirements for partnership, engagement of external stakeholders, and ensuring the participation of social scientists. They form the basis of the Network's research program.
Selection of Core projects is based on the recommendations of an external review panel which evaluates proposals against the following seven criteria: relevance to SCN's four strategic programs, research excellence, partnerships, training component, project management plan, knowledge exchange & technology transfer strategy and networking.
Following the end of the currently-funded Core Research projects in September 2011, the Core Research program will be limited to addressing the Public Policy & ELSI research strategic program while other strategic programs will be addressed by the new Global Research program.