HSC Research Program
*HSC will not be funding NEW PATHWAYS research grants in 2017.
A new program introduced in December 2007. The Huntington Society of Canada (HSC) is interested in fostering innovative lines of inquiry that will eventually lead to the next generation of targets for the treatment of Huntington disease (HD).
This global competition is run once per year and is open to all researchers.
NEW PATHWAYS RESEARCH PROGRAM
TERMS OF REFERENCE
2016 COMPETITION
Timeline
- February 8, 2016 – Letter of Intent, (electronic and hard copies) due by 3pm ET
- February 16, 2016 – Request for full proposal communicated to successful applicants
- April 14, 2016 – Full proposal (electronic and hard copies) due by 3pm ET
- June 25, 2016 – Announcement of decisions
- July 1, 2016 – Funding may commence
Background
Each NEW PATHWAYS award will provide funding up to CAD$150,000. Projects are expected to run for up to one year.
1) Goal
The Huntington Society of Canada (HSC) is interested in fostering innovative lines of enquiry that will eventually lead to the next generation of targets for the treatment of Huntington disease (HD). The Society is now calling internationally for research proposals which specifically address any of the objectives listed below:
- Explore early mechanisms of disease in Huntington disease through unbiased analysis of genetically defined tissues or cells with a goal of uncovering or sharing the discovery of new pathways or processes affected in HD;
- Elucidate the normal biological functions of the huntingtin protein, with experiments involving either endogenous normal huntingtin or huntingtin protein in a full-length context;
- Further the understanding of the impact on HD of increasing numbers of alleles or repeats and the CAG DNA expansion process;
- Further the analysis of modifier genes to determine the impact on various aspects of HD.
2) Eligibility
Individuals holding a full-time faculty appointment in an appropriate discipline at a university, research institute, or hospital are eligible to apply for funding through the NEW PATHWAYS Research Program.
3) Criteria
Applications for funding through the NEW PATHWAYS Research Program are subject to review by the Society’s Research Council, which may elect to enlist external reviewers with particular expertise in the appropriate area.
The criteria for evaluating applications are:
The direct and immediate relevance of the work proposed to Huntington disease; the scientific excellence of the research proposal; fostering of innovative lines of enquiry that will eventually lead to the next generation of targets for the treatment of HD; the specific rationale and budget rationale for support (i.e. how will support enable the laboratory to pursue research not funded from other sources, and contribute to the emergence of special areas of expertise).
4) Term and Amount
Funding recommendations for awards through the NEW PATHWAYS Research Program will be made by the HSC Research Council, subject to the availability of funds.
Each NEW PATHWAYS award will provide funding of up to CAD$150,000 for one year.
5) Terms and Conditions
i) Institutional Approvals: Institutional approvals for research involving humans, animals, and/or biohazardous materials must be submitted to the Huntington Society prior to the release of funding.
ii) Expenditure of Funds: Funds awarded through a NEW PATHWAYS grant must be expended in accordance with the approved budget, within the following categories:
Personnel (i.e., technicians);
Supplies (i.e., expendables, services, animals);
Equipment (not to exceed $5,000);
Travel (i.e. to present research findings or to attend a major conference or symposium; not to exceed $3,000).
Funds may not be allocated to salary support for graduate or post-graduate students, institutional overheads, or construction. The Huntington Society of Canada does not fund indirect costs, overhead or institutional support costs.
iii) Payment of Grants: The payment schedule will be confirmed along with notification of the award, to the financial officer of the principal investigator’s institution.
iv) Deficits: The Huntington Society of Canada is not responsible for any expenditure incurred by a grantee over the approved budget.
v) Unexpended Funds: Any unexpended funds must be returned to the Huntington Society of Canada on completion of the period of the grant, unless the Society approves, in advance, an extension to the term of the grant.
vi) Financial Reporting: All grantees must provide a financial statement within 3 months of the completion of the period of the grant.
vii) Research Reporting: As a general principle, grantees must openly share their findings with the scientific community on a timely basis for the purpose of accelerating the process to find treatments for Huntington disease. In other words, all grantees must ensure that the findings of their research are available to the widest possible audience at the earliest possible opportunity.
Grant recipients will facilitate access to their research by presenting their results to peer-reviewed journals, whose articles are also accessible through the publisher’s website or an online repository, and to public databases appropriate to the nature of the data. It is the responsibility of the grant recipient to notify the Society prior to publication.
All grantees must provide copies of publications reporting on research supported in whole or in part by the Huntington Society. In addition, all grantees must provide a brief summary, in lay language, of the results of their work, midpoint of the project and again within 3 months upon completion of the grant.
viii) Patents and Intellectual Property: The Huntington Society of Canada reserves the right to participate in any royalty stream from patentable discoveries arising from research funded in whole or in part by the Society.
ix) Acknowledgement of Support: The Huntington Society of Canada should be acknowledged in all publications, presentations, and other public information relating to research supported in whole or in part by the Society.
How to Apply
There are two stages to the application process.
1. Letter of Intent
- a) The applicant must submit one hard copy original and an electronic version of a Letter of Intent, which will be reviewed by a peer review panel. Letters of Intent must be received no later than 3pm (ET) on February 8, 2016.
- b) The Letter of Intent is comprised of:
- i) Parts A1, A3 and B of the 2016 NEW PATHWAYS Application
- ii) LOI Form
- iii) Attachments: an abbreviated CV (max 2 pages) for the applicant and any co-applicants which includes information on grants held, relevant publications from the last five years and a brief biography of any references cited in the Letter of Intent.
2. Full Application (if requested)
- a) Full applications, original hard copy plus electronic version, due no later than 3pm ET on April 14, 2016.
- b) The application form is available here and must comply with the requirement to include an appropriate structured lay summary of the proposed work.
- c) Comprehensive CV of the PI should be completed using the Canadian Common CV as a guide, details of which can be found at: http://www/cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/45641.html
Questions may be directed to:
Bev Heim-Myers
CEO, Huntington Society of Canada
bheimmyers@huntingtonsociety.ca
Send Letters of Intent and applications to:
HUNTINGTON SOCIETY OF CANADA
ATT: Shirley Barnes
151 Frederick Street, Suite 400
Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
N2H 2M2
Tel: 519 749 7063
Fax: 519 749 8965
sbarnes@huntingtonsociety.ca