Collaborative Research Seed Grants
Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry
2015 Competition
Terms of Reference
Purpose: The Collaborative Research Seed Grants (CRSG) program will provide seed funding for the
formation and development of new interdisciplinary collaborative research teams. The intent is to:
(1) promote new collaborations that build on different scientific and scholarly backgrounds; (2)
facilitate breakthroughs in solving research questions in a collaborative manner; and (3) position
Schulich researchers to successfully apply to Tri-Council or other external funding agencies.
CRSG will support:
 basic and clinical researchers forming new collaborations; or
 faculty members from different disciplines/departments working together in a new area of
research or approaching a problem in an innovative way.
The program is designed to help increase Schulich’s competitiveness in research involving innovative
approaches and to build our portfolio of translational research projects. Only proposals which clearly
describe a new project and new collaboration between faculty members will be considered for
funding.
Eligibility: CRSG is open to all faculty in the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry. The Principal
Investigator (PI) and co-investigator(s) must have their primary appointment in Schulich. In general,
the PI/co-investigator(s) should not have previously held a grant together or published together in the
area of science being proposed.
While researchers from outside of Schulich may be collaborators on projects, they may not be PIs or
co-investigators. Funding will not be available for collaborators from outside of Schulich.
Projects will only be eligible for funding once. Renewal applications will not be accepted. Applications
for funds to augment or supplement currently funded projects will not be accepted. Proposals for
clinical trials are not eligible for this competition. Project success should not be contingent on
obtaining additional funds from other sources (in addition to CRSG).
Previous CRSG awardees will not be eligible to apply as PI for a new project until the funding period for
their previous CRSG award has been ended, and the work on the project has been completed.
Funding: Approximately $250,000 is available for the 2015 competition. There is no obligation to
dispense funds if applications do not meet the standards set by the terms of reference for the award.
While there is no specified maximum amount for proposal budgets, we expect to fund 6-8 awards
through this competition. For reference, awards from the 2014 competition ranged from
approximately $30,000-$50,000.
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Grants are intended to help seed a sustainable collaborative research program. Therefore, proposals
must describe a definitive plan for sustaining the research effort after the CRSG funding ends.
Successful applicants will be expected to meet with the Vice Dean, Research and Innovation, and
Schulich Research Officers to discuss their plans for seeking external funding to sustain the
collaborative effort.
Location of Project: The research activity is expected to be performed at Schulich or an affiliated site.
If another location is proposed, a justification must be provided.
Management of Funds: Funds will be administered through a research account established through
Research Western.
A ROLA form to establish a research account at Western will be initiated for successful applicants
following the adjudication of the competition. A ROLA is not required at the time of the application. If
research involves human subjects, animals, or biohazards, appropriate approvals must be in place
before funds can be accessed.
Award Duration: Projects are expected to begin March 1, 2016, and be completed by February 28,
2018. Funds must be utilized within 24 months from the date of award. Any unexpended funds at the
end of the award period must be returned to Schulich.
Reports: Awardees will be asked to meet with the Schulich Research Office to provide a brief interim
progress report.
A final report signed by the PI and co-PI(s) must be submitted to the Schulich Research Office within 60
days after the project period end date. Please use Research Western’s template for this report.
It is expected that any presentations or published materials generated as a direct result of this funded
research will acknowledge this award.
Application Process: Submit the application with required signatures in a single PDF file to
research@schulich.uwo.ca by 4:00 p.m. EST on Tuesday, December 1, 2015.
Applications submitted with multiple PDF attachments will not be accepted. Separate attachments
will not be accepted.
Adjudication: Proposals will be reviewed by a committee convened by the Vice Dean, Research and
Innovation.
Questions: Any questions should be directed to Mady Hymowitz in the Schulich Research Office,
mady.hymowitz@schulich.uwo.ca or x86252.
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Collaborative Research Seed Grants
Criteria for Review of Applications
Multidisciplinarity (20 pts)
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Does the research project entail a new multidisciplinary
collaboration?
Does the proposed project have an innovative multidisciplinary
thrust, and appropriately involve faculty researchers from multiple
disciplines?
Does the investigative team bring complementary and integrated
expertise to the project?
Are the investigators appropriately trained and well suited to carry
out the work?
Problem Description,
Need Justified, & Impact
(15 pts)
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Does the study address an important need or gap in the field?
If the study aims are achieved, will it generate new knowledge or add
to existing knowledge in an innovative manner?
Innovativeness (10 pts)
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Are the theories, approaches, etc. novel to one field or novel in the
broader sense?
Project Design (20 pts)

Are the conceptual framework, design, methods and analyses
adequately developed, well integrated, well-reasoned and
appropriate to the aims of the project?
Can the project realistically meet its proposed timeline?
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Prospect for Success /
Environment (10 pts)
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Budget (5 pts)
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Funding Prospects (20 pts) 
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Does the scientific environment in which the work will be done
contribute to the probability of success?
Do the proposed studies benefit from unique features of the
academic environment, subject populations or other regional
resources?
Is the budget reasonable?
Are additional resources available, if needed, to complete or
enhance the study?
Will it lead to attracting external funding?
Is there a definitive plan for attracting new research dollars from
extramural sources to continue the work?
Do the applicants adequately justify why it is appropriate to apply for
this intramural seed funding rather than apply to the target external
agency now?
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COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH SEED GRANTS (CRSG)
Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry
Application form for 2015 Competition
Application Checklist: Please ensure that your complete application includes the following:
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Complete application form, including necessary signatures
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Project description (maximum 4 pages, not including references)
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Appendices (if necessary, maximum of 3 pages for references, figures and tables)
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Budget justification, including quotes for requested equipment costing more than $2,000.
[NOTE: this award is not intended to support acquisition of major equipment]
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Mini CVs for PI and co-Investigator(s) (CIHR Biosketch or similar brief CV)
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Letters of support from collaborators
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If a resident is listed as a co-Investigator, attach a letter from the appropriate program director
confirming that the resident will have sufficient protected time for the project.
If this project will require any certification approvals from one or more of the following offices, please
check the appropriate box below. If this is not applicable to your project, please leave unchecked.
☐
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Human Subjects
Animal Use Subcommittee
Biohazards
Confirmation of protocol approval will be required if the application is funded.
Note: Reviewers will have appropriate knowledge, but will not be experts in your field. Write in
language understandable to those in other disciplines, define terms where necessary, and proofread
carefully.
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COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH SEED GRANTS (CRSG)
Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry
Application form for 2015 Competition
DEADLINE: 4:00 P.M., Tuesday, December 1, 2015
1. PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Name:
Department:
Email:
2.1 CO-INVESTIGATOR(S)
List all co-Investigators. Add additional lines if necessary.
Name:
Department:
Email:
2.2 COLLABORATOR(S)
List collaborators. Add additional lines if necessary.
Name:
Department:
Name:
Department:
Name:
Department:
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3. PROJECT INFORMATION
Project Title:
Total Amount Requested: $
Keywords (max 5):
4. LAY SUMMARY (200 WORDS MAXIMUM) :
5 COLLABORATION (1/2 PAGE MAXIMUM) :
Describe how this project qualifies as a “new collaboration”
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6. PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Describe the project in detail and in terms capable of being understood by an academic from
another discipline.

Maximum length of 4 pages, 12 point Times Roman, minimum 2 cm margins.
Include the following headings:

Project Goals(s), Specific Aims, Hypothesis and Applicability – description of the project
that includes the purpose, specific aims, hypothesis and applicability to an interdisciplinary
approach.
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Background – discuss how the project builds on previous work by members of the team.

Research Team – describe the experience of the team members and what each team
member brings to the collaboration.
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Project Design and Methods – describe the activities to be undertaken by the team during
the project. Include plans, methods, and timelines.

Up to 3 pages of Appendices may be included for figures, tables, and charts, and key
references
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7. FUTURE PLANS (1 PAGE MAXIMUM)
Describe plans for future collaborations by the team, including external funding opportunities that will be
pursued. Include agency, program, expected timelines, and rationale. This may include federal, provincial, nonprofit, international, and/or industry support.
8. PLANS FOR KNOWLEDGE TRANSLATION (1/2 PAGE MAXIMUM)
For reference, see CIHR’s definition of Knowledge Translation at http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/39033.html#Definition
Examples of knowledge translation may include (but are not limited to):
- Communications with lay audiences
- Team-building for larger translational projects
- Dissemination of results
- Student outreach
- Contributions to policy and/or practice
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9. BUDGET
Complete the table below, and attach up to one page for budget justification. Additional lines may be
added to the table, as necessary. Provide details for any other sources of support for the proposed
project.
Item
CRSG $
Other
Sources $
Total $
Salaries / Benefits
(provide detail of personnel in budget justification)
Equipment
Supplies
Services
Travel
Other
(provide detail in budget justification)
Total Budget
Ineligible Costs:
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Support for new graduate students
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Support for new postdoctoral fellows/associates.
Notes:

Funding for personnel costs will typically be limited to Schulich personnel or Lawson/LHSC/SJHC
personnel as appropriate. Exceptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
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Funding for costs incurred by co-Investigators or collaborators from outside of Schulich will
generally not be covered. Exceptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
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Support for conference travel to present results of this study is limited to $1,500.
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Requests for equipment costing more than $2,000 must be accompanied by quotes.
[NOTE: this award is not intended to support acquisition of major equipment]
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10. SIGNATURES
Insert lines for additional co-Investigator signatures, if necessary.
Signature of Principal Investigator: _____________________________________ Date:
Signature of co-Investigator:
_____________________________________ Date:
Signature of Department Chair:
_____________________________________ Date:
11. ATTACHMENTS
1. Brief CV for applicant and co-applicant(s). (e.g. CIHR Biosketch or similar brief CV.) The CV should
highlight information relevant to the support of this application including current grants and recent
publications.
2. Letters of support from collaborators.
3. Quotes for equipment, if relevant.
4. If a resident is listed as a co-Investigator, attach a letter from the appropriate program director
confirming that the resident will have sufficient protected time for the project.
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