One of Ovarian Cancer Canada's highest priorities is to foster the development of strategies for the early detection of ovarian cancer, notably because early detection has the potential to significantly improve outcomes for ovarian cancer patients. This initiative recognizes the need for funding projects,on early detection and prevention and to provide opportunities and encouragement for researchers in these areas. Ovarian Cancer Canada offers this competition, open to all researchers in Canada, for the funding of pilot projects

Five one-year grants are awarded, each to a maximum value of $30,000. It is anticipated that successful pilot projects will enable researchers to generate sufficient preliminary data to support subsequent applications to national granting agencies for full funding of the project. Renewal of applications funded in 2008 will not be considered.

Eligibility (grant is presently closed for 2009)

The general guidelines regarding applicant eligibility for CIHR grant funding programs will be followed. Collaborative, multidisciplinary research will be viewed favorably. Requests may be made for the salaries of research trainees or technical staff, but not principal investigators.

The competition is open to applications to fund projects in several broad categories of research for the acquisition and application of knowledge in the areas of prevention and early detection of ovarian cancer:

1. Basic research investigating ovarian biology relevant to the prevention or early detection of ovarian cancer.
2. Research directed toward an understanding of the causes, development and early progression of ovarian cancer, with a clear strategy on how that knowledge could be applied to the prevention or early detection of ovarian cancer.
3. Research that aims to identify novel factors (e.g. genetic, lifestyle, environmental) that contribute to the initiation or early progression of ovarian cancer, with a clear strategy on how that knowledge could be applied to prevent or detect ovarian cancer.
4. Applied research designed specifically to translate promising research advances from basic research into pre-clinical and clinical investigations relevant to the prevention or early detection of ovarian cancer.

Funding

There will be a total of five grants awarded as a result of this competition. The maximum value of each grant will be $30,000. All grants will have a term of one-year.

Applications

Applications must be complete in all respects to be eligible for peer review. Applications that do not adhere to the specified criteria or are incomplete will be ineligible for consideration.

Each application package must include four elements:

1. A completed application form; (the application window is currently closed. A new form will be available in Dec/Jan.)
2. A three-page research proposal, as described in item 6 in the application form;
3. The budget justification, as described in item 5 in the application form;
4. The curriculum vitae of the Principal Investigator and all Co-applicants, using the CIHR format of the Common CV.

Send one printed original copy (with original signatures) of the completed application package to Ovarian Cancer Canada by courier or registered mail or deliver in person.
Complete application packages must be in the Ovarian Cancer Canada office by the deadline and send an electronic copy of all components of the application package to Abby Heidebrecht., Ovarian Cancer Canada Information Services Coordinator at aheidebrecht@ovariancanada.org. Receipt of electronic submission will be confirmed.

Review Criteria

Applications will be evaluated by a multidisciplinary panel of experts. Proposals will be evaluated using the following review criteria:

• scientific excellence, technical or medical significance and originality of proposed research;
• relevance to the areas of focus of the Request for Applications;
• clarity of the objectives;
• appropriateness and adequacy of the experimental approach and methodology proposed to carry out the research;
• qualifications and research experience of investigator(s);
• availability of resources and facilities necessary to perform the research;
• appropriateness of the proposed budget in relation to the proposed research.

Communications

Grant recipients will be required to acknowledge Ovarian Cancer Canada as the source of their support in publications and presentations of their research findings. Recipients will also be required to provide in lay terms a brief overview of their research which may be used in announcing the awards, in media efforts or in their publications. At the end of the term of the grant, recipients will be required to provide a brief summary of the outcomes of the research funded by the grant.

For further information please contact:
Ovarian Cancer Canada
101-145 Front St. East
Toronto, Ontario M5A 1E3
Elisabeth Ross, Chief Executive Officer
phone 1-877-413-7970 extension 222 or email eross@ovariancanada.org

For information on past grant recipients and to view this years recipients, please view Research Awards.