Apply for a Research Grant

1. Program Objective

   The Studentship Program is intended to support research for training students in studies related to multiple sclerosis (MS). The studentships serve to attract and retain young trainees early in their academic and clinical research careers (in fields such as epidemiology, outcomes research, health economics, monitoring of disease activity and treatment, susceptibility to MS-including genetic, gender-related, and other factors, health care delivery/policy, cognitive, psychosocial and rehabilitation research aimed at improving quality of life research studies) and will support training in the field of MS.

2. Mechanisms of Support

   The studentship program should emphasize opportunities for research/clinical training and broadening scientific understanding of MS for the Awardee. There are two streams of research, biomedical (BM) and clinical and population health (CPH).

   *Starting this year only CPH Masters Studentships will be offered; new BM Masters Studentships are no longer available. Only those who hold a Masters BM Studentship are eligible for a one year renewal

   The Studentship Awards are 1 year in length with an opportunity to be renewed for up to 3 years. In order to be considered for a renewal a renewal application must be submitted each year.

   Value of the Awards:

   • Masters Studentship Awards (*Clinical and Population Health only): $18,000/yr
   • PhD Studentship Awards: $20,000/yr
   • PhD Studentship Awards (for those who hold an MD): $48,500/yr

3. Program Eligibility

   In order to apply for this award, applicants must:

   • Those who are working towards a Masters, PhD or related degrees pertaining to research in MS.
   • Enrolled in graduate training at a Canadian institution; or those interested in studying abroad must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada
   • Studentships must be held in a recognized institution; and responsible to an appropriate supervisor who is in a field relevant to MS.

4. Important Dates

   • Competition Opens: July 31, 2012
   • Application Deadline: October 1, 2012 at 11:59p.m. EST
   • Anticipated Notice of Decision: March 1, 2013
   • Funding Start Date: July 1, 2013

1. Program Objective

   The Postdoctoral Fellowship Program is intended to support research for training of Postdoctoral Fellows in studies related to multiple sclerosis (MS). The Fellowships serve to attract and retain young researchers in the field of MS.

2. Mechanisms of Support

   The Postdoctoral program should emphasize opportunities for new research training and broadening scientific competence of the applicant. There are two streams of research, biomedical and clinical and population health.

   Value of Awards:

   • Postdoctoral Fellows (PhD): $39,000
   • Postdoctoral Fellows (for those who hold an MD): $48,500

3. Program Eligibility

   In order to apply for this award, applicants must:

   • to those that hold, or are candidates for a doctoral degree (Ph.D., M.D. or equivalent). M.D. Applicants must hold degrees that are recognized by the Canadian medical regulatory authority. Enrolled in postdoctoraltraining at a Canadian institution; or those interested in studying abroad must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada
   • Postdoctoral fellowships must be held in a recognized institution; and responsible to an appropriate supervisor who is in a field relevant to MS

4. Important Dates

   • Competition Opens: July 31, 2012
   • Application Deadline: October 1, 2012 at 11:59p.m. EST
   • Anticipated Notice of Decision: March 1, 2013
   • Funding Start Date: July 1, 2013

*Please note that this is the final year of the Donald Paty Career Development Awards—only renewal applications (for up to 3 years) will be accepted

1. Program Objective

   The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada (MSSOC) wishes to support and attract researchers in the field of multiple sclerosis (MS). The intent of the Donald Paty Career Development award is to support the salary of an independent researcher whose research is relevant to MS.

2. Mechanisms of Support

   This is the final year of the Dr. Donald Paty Award, only renewal applications will be accepted. The award is not renewed automatically. Support beyond the term originally approved is dependent upon submission and approval of a renewal application.

   Value of Award: The amount provided per year for the award is $50,000 per year over three years (with an overall total of $150,000). The award can only be used towards salary and cannot be used for research operating grant costs or indirect costs.

3. Program Eligibility

   This award is open to those who currently hold a Donald Paty Career Development Award and are eligible for a renewal for up to three years.

   (Applicants are those that hold a doctoral degree (Ph.D., M.D. or equivalent) and who have recently completed their training in research and are in the early stages of independent research relevant to MS. Individuals who have already conducted independent research for more than five years after postdoctoral training are ineligible. Applicants must hold a Canadian university faculty appointment and either holds an operating grant from the MSSOC or another funding agency. If the Applicant does not have an operating grant, they must also concurrently apply for a MSSOC operating grant and be successful in obtaining approval of their research operating grant.)

4. Important Dates
   
   
   • Competition Opens: July 31, 2012
   • Application Deadline: October 1, 2012 at 11:59p.m. EST
   • Anticipated Notice of Decision: March 1, 2013
   • Funding Start Date: April 1, 2013

1. Program Objective

   The Operating Grant Program is intended to support research in multiple sclerosis (MS). The MSSOC welcomes applications that are fundamental as well as applied studies, nonclinical or clinical in nature, including projects in patient management, care and rehabilitation; the two streams of research include biomedical and clinical and population health.

2. Mechanisms of Support

   The Operating Grants are up to 3 years in length with an opportunity to be renewed, which is dependent upon the submission and approval of a renewal application for a new grant.

   Value of Award: The maximum amount that may be requested for this grant is $100,000 per year for up to 3 years.

3. Program Eligibility

   In order to apply for this grant, applicants must:

   • Have an academic or research appointment which allows the individual to pursue the proposed research project to engage in independent research activities
   • Conduct research within a Canadian institution
   • Engage in independent research activities for the entire duration of the funding and is able to supervise trainees and publish research activities

4. Important Dates

   • Competition Opens: July 31, 2012
   • Application Deadline: October 1, 2012 at 11:59p.m. EST
   • Anticipated Notice of Decision: March 1, 2013
   • Funding Start Date: April 1, 2013

1. Partnership Objectives

   To support a greater number of masters, doctoral and postdoctoral students by providing training awards to outstanding individuals in Quebec who wish to commence or pursue their research training in the field of multiple sclerosis. This support will be delivered through the co-funding fellowship awards submitted to the regular competitions of both FRSQ and MSSOC.

2. Mechanisms of Support

   The Studentship Awards and Postdoctoral Fellowship are 1 year in length with an opportunity to be renewed, which is dependent upon the submission and approval of a renewal application by both FRSQ and MSSOC.

   Value of Awards:

   Awards and Fellowships	Total Funding Amount
   Masters Award	$18,000
   Doctoral Award	$20,000
   Doctoral Award (for MD pursuing PhD training)	$48,500
   **Postdoctoral Fellowship	$39,000 (plus $15,000 per year for fellows who conduct their training outside of Quebec)
   **Postdoctoral MD	$48,500 (plus $15,000 per year for fellows who conduct their training outside of Quebec)

   *All awards and fellowships mentioned above will be co-funded (50/50) by FRSQ and MSSOC.

   **Postdoctoral Fellowships offered to those who conduct their training outside of Quebec will benefit from a supplement of $15,000 per year.

3. Program Eligibility

   In order to be eligible for funding through this partnership applicants must:

   • Apply to both FRSQ and MSSOC regular competitions
   • FRSQ candidates must indicate in their application that they wish to be considered for a MSSOC partnership award and MSSOC candidates must indicate that they wish to be considered for the FRSQ partnership award
   • The FRSQ application must be approved for relevance by the MSSOC
   • Candidates must receive a fundable score from the peer review of both FRSQ and MSSOC research competitions.

4. Important Dates

   • MSSOC Competition Opens: July 31, 2012
   • Application Deadline: October 1, 2012 at 11:59p.m. EST
   • FRSQ Competition Opens: July , 2012
   • FRSQ Competition Closes: October 15, 2012
   • Anticipated Notice of Decision: April 2013
   • Funding Start Date: July 1, 2013

This research funding program supports large, innovative, multi-centre collaborative studies that will lead to major advances in the field of multiple sclerosis. This is open to research which will lead to major advances in our understanding of the causes of, and potential treatments, for MS — such as new drug therapies, CCSVI, and myelin repair strategies. The MSSRF is still funding research in genetic susceptibility to MS, pediatric MS, and stem cell therapies.

To be considered for this grant first submit a letter of intent.

The number and details of the applications will not be released in order to respect the confidentiality of applicants. There is a well established convention in the administration of scientific research funding programs that only successful awards are made public. This is a professional courtesy to the investigators who did not get recommended for funding.

• Policies and Procedures
• To apply: https://www.mscanadagrants.ca
• Please stay tuned for our next competition announcement.

Please note that the Pilot Grant Competition has been suspended until further notice.  Please check back for any announcements.