TEAM DEVELOPMENT AWARD – WINTER 2024
Application guidelines (Revised September 20, 2023)
Deadline: January 15, 2024
1. Objective
This funding opportunity aims to support preliminary activities for developing novel teams and the infrastructure necessary to conduct future multicentre research for the benefit of patients living with skin conditions.
2. Description
The Skin Investigation Network of Canada (SkIN Canada) is offering a funding opportunity to facilitate collaborative research that benefits people living with skin conditions. Funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) – Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis, SkIN Canada has three main goals: a) develop national infrastructure to advance multicentre skin research; b) foster new collaborations between patients, researchers, and clinicians at academic and community sites; and c) grow the skin research community. We recognize the value of open science and patient engagement to achieve these goals, and have ensured that the patient voice is integrated throughout all our activities.
In accordance with the network’s mission, SkIN Canada will be funding a series of awards to catalyze novel multicentre skin research. These grants are intended to support preliminary activities that are typically not fundable as stand-alone projects. For example, operating grants usually require preliminary work and validated infrastructure to demonstrate feasibility and potential for success.
A) Research Areas
Proposals must develop capacity for multicentre clinical or translational research in at least one of the following focus areas:
These SkIN Canada awards cannot be used to fund research. The goal is to support preliminary activities that will develop and validate infrastructure and data resources to strengthen subsequent operating grant applications for multicentre research. Proposals submitted under this call may include, but are not limited to, the following types of activities:
B) Funds Available
C) Questions
Any questions related to the application process can be directed to info@skincanada.org
3. Eligibility
For an application to be eligible:
4. Guidelines
A) Allowable Costs
Applicants should review the Use of Grant Funds section of the Tri-Agency (CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC) Guide on Financial Administration for requirements regarding the appropriate use of grant funds. The following expenses will be considered eligible for funding received through this funding opportunity:
***Note that equipment purchases are not an eligible expense.
B) Conditions of Funding
5. Review Process and Evaluation
A) Review Process
Eligible proposals will be evaluated by applicable SkIN Canada committees and external reviewers, as needed.
B) Evaluation Criteria
1. Potential impact
2. Work plan
3. Applicants
4. Engagement of patient research partners
C) Funding Decision
Applications that receive a rating below 3.5 on a 5-point CIHR scale will not be funded.
Applications relevant to each pool will be funded from the top down in order of ranking.
Decisions will be available in February 2024 with an anticipated funding start date of March 1, 2024.
6. How to Apply
Briefly outline the relevant lived experience of each patient research partner (maximum 1 page each).
Combine the completed application form, project proposal, budget, applicant CVs, and patient partner outlines into a single PDF file and email it to info@skincanada.org by 11:59 pm ET
Lab Info
Name:
Biobank LOEX
Principal investigator:
Ms. Veronique Moulin
Location:
Quebec, Quebec
Contact:
Veronique Moulin
veronique.moulin@fmed.ulaval.ca
Objective/description
The advancement of biomedical research including regenerative medicine, tissue engineering reconstruction of different tissues and organs as well as the understanding of physiological, pathophysiological mechanisms and pharmacotoxicological and cosmetological analyzes.
Collection Details
Skin conditions represented:
Anatomic sites:
Specimen types:
Lab Info
Name:
Piguet Lab
Principal investigator:
Dr. Vincent Piguet
Location:
Toronto, Ontario
Contact:
David Croitoru
David.croitoru@mail.utoronto.ca
Objective/description
We are engaged in translational research of inflammatory dermatoses and perturbation of immune regulation and microbial communities at associated disease sites.
Collection Details
Skin conditions represented:
Anatomic sites:
Specimen types:
Lab Info
Name:
CTTB Biobank and Registry for Atopic dermatitis
Principal investigator:
Dr. Carolyn Jack
Location:
Montreal, Quebec
Contact:
Gaurav Isola
gaurav.isola@mail.mcgill.ca
Objective/description
The Transdisciplinary Centre for Biological Therapies (Centre Transdisciplinaire de Thérapies Biologiques or CTTB) is a multidisciplinary, integrated approach for patients who are receiving therapies directed at the immune system. The CTTB Biobank and Registry for Atopic dermatitis has been created to collect and store blood, skin tissue and other types of biological samples, as well as clinical information, for current and future research purposes.
Objectives:
To identify the impact of various treatments for dermatitis on patient symptoms, quality of life and disease outcome.
To characterize (including potential sequencing) skin lesions and matched normal tissues at the molecular and cellular level (the cells, the DNA, RNA and proteins, as well as their regulatory factors), to help better understand disease biology, prognosis and response to therapy, with a potential to identify new targets for improved treatments.
To characterize cells, proteins and genetic material (RNA and DNA) in the blood or other bodily fluids to identify characteristics that may act to identify specific kinds of skin diseases, or to predict response to therapy or disease outcome.
To characterize biomarkers, including those related to microbiome (bacteria that live on or in humans) to identify potential disease markers, markers of response to therapy or prognostic markers.
Collection Details
Skin conditions represented:
Anatomic sites:
Specimen types:
This is a test