Background and Scope
McGill Global Health Programs (GHP) and the McGill Interdisciplinary Initiative in Infection and Immunity (MI4) are pleased to co-sponsor two new Seed Fund Grants (SFG) with support from the Steinberg Fund for Interdisciplinary Global Health Research and other sources via MI4. This opportunity aims to foster novel, interdisciplinary global health research projects focusing on infectious diseases. Areas of potential research interest include but are not limited to:
- Climate change, environmental health, and infectious diseases
- Infectious diseases and mental health
- Interactions or syndemics between communicable and non-communicable diseases
- Addressing inequities related to infectious diseases
- Infectious diseases within indigenous communities
- Infectious diseases in conflict zones
- Novel diagnostics for infectious diseases
- Emerging infectious diseases and pandemic preparedness
- Antimicrobial resistance and its implications for infectious disease management
- Socio-economic factors influencing the spread and impact of infectious diseases
- One Health approaches to infectious disease surveillance and control
- Behavioral interventions to mitigate the spread of infectious diseases
Preference will be given to research projects that focus on the needs and challenges of vulnerable communities such as indigenous groups, immigrant or refugee populations, and communities situated in low- or middle-income countries.
The GHP-MI4 Steinberg SFG aims to catalyze innovative and impactful research at McGill and its affiliated hospitals by providing two seed grants per year to enable the launch of new and interdisciplinary research projects, making them competitive for sustained external funding.
Key Dates:
- Launch of GHP-MI4 Steinberg SFG: Monday, April 15, 2024
- SFG application deadline: Sunday, June 16, 2024, 11:59 PM EDT
- Evaluation period: June 17, 2024 to August 29, 2024
- SFG announcement to applicants: Friday, August 30, 2024
Team Composition
The GHP-MI4 Steinberg SFG requires two Principal Investigators (a nominated Principal Investigator and a Co-Principal Investigator) from at least two different departments or centres at McGill University or its affiliated institutions. The nominated Principal Investigator and at least one Co-Principal Investigator must have a primary appointment at McGill University or at the RI-MUHC. A maximum of three Principal Investigators can be included.
Additional collaborators (as many as needed to accomplish the work) are allowed and may be on-campus, off-campus, senior faculty/clinical staff/post docs/international collaborators, etc.
Subcontracts to investigators outside McGill University and its affiliated institutions are permitted, subject to approval of GHP and MI4.
Eligibility
A researcher may participate in only one GHP-MI4 Steinberg SFG proposal as a Principal Investigator or Co-Principal Investigator.
Researchers currently holding an active seed grant from the Steinberg Fund for Interdisciplinary Global Health Research (PI or Co-PI) are not eligible to apply for this grant, unless the previous project is complete. Steinberg Fund seed grants are considered complete when meeting the following criteria: 1) all funds spent; 2) application(s) submitted for extramural grant(s); and 3) final report submitted to and approved by GHP.
Non-Eligible Projects
The following are examples of projects that are not eligible under this grant opportunity:
- Laboratory or bench research projects are not eligible if they are fundamental in nature. However, they are eligible if there is a clear translational focus. Investigators must clearly identify translational focus.
- Research that is already supported by other sources.
- Gap funding to bridge support between external grants or contracts.
- Projects that do not address central theme of climate change and infectious diseases / pandemics.
Available Funds and Grant Term
Two awards are available, each up to a maximum of $25,000 in value. One award will be granted to a Principal Investigator whose primary affiliation is at the RI-MUHC, and one award will be granted to a Principal Investigator who primary affiliation is at McGill. All funds will be disbursed in one payment at the start of the project. The grant term must be between 12-24 months. Grants are non-renewable and unspent funds must be returned to the source from which the funds originated (either MUHC-RI or McGill) at the end of this period.
Submission Deadline and Procedure
The deadline for submissions is Sunday, June 16, 2024 at 11:59 PM EDT. Late submissions will not be considered.
All applications must be submitted by email in PDF format to ghp-progmanager.med [at] mcgill.ca, copying grantsmcgilli4.med [at] mcgill.ca. Please include “2024 GHP-MI4 Steinberg SFG” in the email subject line.
Additional Information
If additional information is required to complete a GHP-MI4 Steinberg SFG submission, please contact ghp-progmanager.med [at] mcgill.ca.
Application Instructions
Follow these steps in order to submit a proposal for the GHP-MI4 Steinberg SFG:
- Download and complete all sections of the GHP-MI4 Steinberg SFG Application Form
- Prepare all proposal content as per ‘Proposal Checklist’ on Page 3 of Application Form
- Submit proposal as one PDF containing completed Application Form + all proposal content
Additional guidance:
- Title the PDF file using the following template, using the last name of the nominated Principal Investigator: “2024-GHP-MI4-Steinberg-Lastname.pdf”
- If any proposal section exceeds the maximum page limit as per the instructions in the Application Form, the proposal will not be reviewed.
Eligible Costs
- See eligible cost guidelines included in “Budget and Project Timeline” section of Application Form (Page 3).
- All budgeted items must be in compliance and compatible with the policies and guidelines of the nominated PI’s institution, as well as the Tri-Agency Financial Administration Guide (TAFAG).
- Final decisions regarding budget eligibility will be made by GHP and MI4 leadership.
- There is no acceptable overhead component to the GHP-MI4 Steinberg SFG. All the awarded funds are to be directed towards eligible costs.
Review
Assessment Criteria
SFG submissions will be evaluated according the following equal-weighted assessment criteria:
- Originality and innovation of the proposed research
- Well-defined research outputs and metrics
- Interdisciplinary nature of the research
- Clearly identified translational focus of the research
- Focus on the needs and challenges of vulnerable communities
- Feasibility of the proposed research
- Expertise of the co-PIs and entire Project Team
- The plan to apply for external funding using the data and experience gained
Review Process
Submissions will be reviewed as follows:
- Step 1 Administrative review: GHP will conduct a due diligence review of submissions to validate the required elements in the submission package. Submissions that do not comply will be eliminated from further review and applicants will be notified of missing elements or deficiencies. There is no appeal following this review.
- Step 2 Scientific Review Committee: A Scientific Review Committee equally represented by GHP and MI4 will evaluate and rank the submissions according to the Assessment Criteria (Section 6.1) and will make a decision regarding the awarded application.
- Conflict of Interest (COI): GHP and MI4 will adopt a COI policy to ensure that anyone participating in the review process does not have a COI. Any person declaring a COI, or a potential COI, will be required to recuse themselves from the review process. COIs will be defined using the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) definition.
Approval and Grant Agreement
GHP will contact applicant co-PIs with the funding decision comprising one of the following formats:
- Approved “as is”.
- Approved with recommendations to be incorporated into the project activities.
- Not approved
A Grant Agreement and Fund Release Agreement Form will be sent to the nominated Principal Investigator outlining the terms and conditions of the award. All Co-Principal Investigators will be asked to sign and return the award agreement as a proof that they accept the award and its terms. Documentation of submission of ethics approval will be required for the release of funds.
Reporting Requirements
The nominated Principal Investigator will be required to submit a final narrative and financial report within 30 days of the end of the project implementation period, using a template to be provided by GHP.
