Biomedical Research Stream

The Biomedical Research stream supports research which uncovers the biological, pathological, and mechanistic aspects of MS, and provides fundamental knowledge about the development, progression, prevention and treatment of MS disease Studies can involve in vitro, animal, and/or human models.

Topics can include:

• Treatment and Care: Research that aims to advance treatment and care for people affected by MS (e.g., symptom management, diagnosing MS, developing new treatments and understanding their mechanisms)
• Understand and Halt Disease Progression: Research that aims to understand the mechanisms of MS, disease progression, progressive MS, and repair (e.g., myelin biology, neurobiology, neurophysiology, immunology, neuropathology, and imaging).
• Prevent MS: Research that aims to prevent MS (e.g. identifying risk factors and effective interventions for prevention and understanding their mechanisms).

Clinical and Population Health Research Stream

• The Clinical and Population Health Research stream supports clinical research with the goal of improving diagnosis and treatment, and improving the health and quality of life of individuals, and encompasses research on, or for the treatment of, people affected by MS; and supports population health research that aims to understand the complex, biological, social, cultural and environmental interactions that determine the health of individuals and populations.

Topics can include:

• Treatment and Care: Research that aims to advance treatment and care for people affected by MS (e.g. symptom management, diagnosing MS, developing new treatments and understanding their mechanisms, mental health, wellness/self-care, rehabilitation, health services, clinical care practices, models of care, healthcare delivery/policy).
• Enhance Well-being: Research that aims to understand how to enhance the well-being of people affected by MS within communities (e.g. understanding the social determinants of health, health economics/cost benefit analysis on interventions and support structures and systems, community-based programs, health systems research/policy).
• Prevent MS: Research that aims to prevent MS (e.g. identifying risk factors, effective interventions for prevention, health economic/cost benefit analysis on prevention, and defining highest risk populations).

Amount and Term

• Initial term: 1 year
• Maximum number of terms: 3 years (1 new application and 2 renewals)
• Awarded amount per term (for Ph.D. holder): $41,000
• Awarded amount per term (for M.D. holder): $50,500

In order to receive funds for the additional terms, eligible awardees who hold an endMS Personnel Award must submit a progress report that is approved by the MSSC.

Eligibility

• Hold, or be 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. A Fellowship will not be activated for a doctoral candidate until the MS Society has received written notification from a university or professional school that an appropriate doctoral degree has been granted.
• Have completed their doctoral degree in the last three years or less by the time of the competition deadline in order to be eligible.
• Be enrolled in postdoctoral training* at a Canadian institution; or those interested in studying abroad must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada.
• Hold a postdoctoral fellowship at a recognized institution; and be responsible to an appropriate supervisor who is in a field relevant to MS.

*Postdoctoral training must be conducted in a different laboratory and with a different supervisor than where a doctoral degree was obtained.

Important Dates

• Competition Opens: July 31, 2019
• Application Deadline: October 1, 2019 at 16:00 EDT
• Progress Report Deadline: November 5, 2019 at 16:00 EDT
• Anticipated Notice of Decision: March 2020
• Funding Start Date: July 1, 2020

Policies and Procedures

Program Guide
Policies

What’s new this year?

1. Aligned with the MS Society’s strategic plan, the above funding opportunities will support research across four impact areas:

• Treatment and Care: Research that aims to advance treatment and care for people affected by MS (e.g. symptom management, diagnosing MS, developing new treatments and understanding their mechanisms, mental health, wellness/self-care, rehabilitation, health services, clinical care practices, models of care, healthcare delivery/policy).
• Enhance Well-being: Research that aims to understand how to enhance the well-being of people affected by MS within communities (e.g. understanding the social determinants of health, health economics/cost benefit analysis on interventions and support structures and systems, community-based programs, health systems research/policy).

• Understand and Halt Disease Progression: Research that aims to understand the mechanisms of MS, disease progression, progressive MS, and repair (e.g., myelin biology, neurobiology, neurophysiology, immunology, neuropathology, and imaging).
• Prevent MS: Research that aims to prevent MS (e.g. identifying risk factors, effective interventions for prevention, health economic/cost benefit analysis on prevention, and defining highest risk populations).
• 
  

2. The MS Society now has separate uploads for references and figures. The grant applications are required to upload a references sections, however, uploading figures is optional and not mandatory for submission of the grant application.

3. For the endMS Studentships and Postdoctoral Fellowships, the MS Society has developed a new template for the Research Priorities and Impact Goals section. A template for the Research Priorities and Impact Goals section is provided and must be completed and uploaded to submit the application. For more information, please see the endMS Postdoctoral Fellowship program guide.

MSSC Partnership with Fonds de Recherche du Québec - Santé (FRQS)

Partnership Objectives

To support a greater number of 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 FRQS and MSSC.

Mechanisms of Support

The co-funded support for the postdoctoral fellowship is one (1) year in length with an opportunity to be renewed, which is dependent upon the submission and approval of a renewal application by both FRQS and MSSC.

A successfully executed letter of agreement is required to receive this funding.

Value of Awards

*Fellowships will be co-funded (50/50) by FRQS and MSSC.

**Postdoctoral Fellowships offered to those who conduct their training outside of Canada will benefit from a supplement of $10,000 per year.

Program Eligibility

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

• Apply to both FRQS and MSSC regular competitions.
• FRQS candidates must indicate in their application that they wish to be considered for a MSSOC partnership award and MSSC candidates must indicate that they wish to be considered for the FRQS partnership award.
• The FRQS application must be approved for relevance by the MSSC.
• The application must be approved for funding based on the peer review of both FRQS and MSSC research competitions.

Important Dates

• MSSC Competition Opens: July 31, 2019
• MSSC Application Deadline: October 1, 2019 at 16:00 EDT
• FRQS Competition Closes: To be updated
• MSSC Anticipated Notice of Decision: March 2020
• FRQS Anticipated Announcement of Results: To be updated
• Funding Start Date: July 1, 2020

New Brunswick Health Research Foundation (NBHRF)

The MSSC and NBHRF aim to support a greater number of Postdoctoral Fellows by providing awards to outstanding individuals in New Brunswick who wish to commence, pursue or sustain their research program in the field of MS. This support will be delivered through the co-funding of top endMS Postdoctoral Fellow applications submitted to the annual competition of the MSSC. Awards will be co-funded (70/30) by MSSC and NBHRF.

Mechanisms of Support

The co-funded support for studentship awards are one (1) year in length with an opportunity to be renewed, which is dependent upon the submission and approval of a renewal application to the MSSC.

Program Eligibility

In order to be eligible for this partnership funding:

• An applicant must submit an application for the MSSC’s endMS Personnel Awards competition
• The research needs to be conducted at an institution in New Brunswick.

Applications that are to be conducted at institutions located in New Brunswick will be automatically considered for funding for a MSSC-NBHRF partnership award. If successful in the competition, each partner will issue a letter of agreement with the Institution for the amount they contribute to the total award. A successfully executed letter of agreement is required to receive this funding.