Operating Grants
The Operating Grant Program is intended to support various research operations in all aspects of multiple sclerosis (MS) and defray the normal operating costs of carrying out a specific research proposal. The MS Society welcomes applications that are fundamental as well as applied studies, nonclinical or clinical in nature, including projects in patient management, care and rehabilitation.
Based on the nature of the research, the candidate can apply for one of the following awards:
- Operating grant: Biomedical research
- Operating grant: Clinical and Population Health research
Biomedical Research Operating Grant
Amount and Term
The amount that may be requested for operating grants is approximately $100,000 per year for up to three (3) years with an opportunity to be renewed, which is dependent upon the submission and approval of a renewal application for a new grant.
Eligibility
- 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
Important Dates
- Competition Opens: July 28, 2017
- Application Deadline: October 2, 2017 at 16:00 EDT
- Anticipated Notice of Decision: March 2018
- Funding Start Date: April 1, 2018
Policies and Procedures
Guide to Writing a Lay Summary
Frequently Asked Questions
1.DOES MY APPLICATION HAVE TO BE SUBMITTED BY OCTOBER 2?
Yes, all applications must be submitted by October 2 nd at 16:00 EDT. The online system will not accept applications after October 2 nd. All required documents must be completed and submitted prior to the deadline, straggling documents will not be accepted. In addition, any documents that surpass the assigned page limits or fail to adhere to the formatting guidelines will be excluded from the application.
2.ARE BENEFITS SUCH AS VACATION PAY INCLUDED IN OPERATING GRANTS?
Operating grant recipients are not considered employees of the MSSC but rather of the institution where the research is conducted.The grant is to be administered in accordance with the prevailing policies of the sponsoring institution, including vacations, sick leaves, holidays, etc.
3.DOES THE PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR NEED TO HOLD A FACULTY APPOINTMENT TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR AN OPERATING GRANT?
Yes, the principal investigator must be an independent researcher and hold a faculty appointment at a recognized Canadian academic institution in order to apply. The same eligibility requirements apply to co-principal investigators.
4.DOES A CO-APPLICANT NEED TO HOLD A FACULTY APPOINTMENT FOR AN OPERATING GRANT?
No, the co-applicant does not need to hold a faculty appointment. However, co-applicants must be at the postdoctoral level or higher (research associate, faculty member).
5.HOW MANY PRINCIPAL AND CO-PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS CAN BE ON ONE OPERATING GRANT APPLICATION?
There can be only oneprincipal investigator per operating grant application. There is no limit to the number of co-principal investigators on an application. The PI who is listed as the primary applicant is responsible for overseeing the proposed research project. A co-principal investigator is an individual who shares responsibility for the direction of the proposed research project with the PI.
6.WHAT PERSONNEL CAN NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET FOR AN OPERATING GRANT?
The MSSC does not allow the following salaries to be paid through the operating grant: (1) Postdoctoral Fellows; (2) Doctoral Students; and (3) Master’s Students. These students are encouraged to apply for funding through the MSSC’s Personnel Awards program.
7.DO OPERATING GRANTS HAVE A MAXIMUM BUDGET/TIME PERIOD THAT CAN BE APPLIED FOR?
The approximate amount of funding that may be requested for an operating grant is 100,000 CAD per year for up to 3 years. Grants are not renewed automatically. Support beyond the term originally approved is dependent upon submission and approval of a renewal application that is subject to review.
8.ARE TRAVEL EXPENSES ALLOWED WITHIN MY OPERATING GRANT BUDGET?
Expenses for domestic or foreign travel to attend conferences and present results of the MSSC-funded research project may be charged to a grant only when included in the application and within the amount specifically approved in the grant ($2,500 or less).
9.WHAT FORMAT FOR THE CV IS REQUIRED?
The MSSC requires the use of the Canadian Common CV for all Operating Grant applications. The template can be found at https://ccv-cvc.ca. Please select "MSSC" as the agency.
10. DO YOU REQUIRE SIGNATURES FROM THE DEPARTMENT HEADS OF ALL CO-APPLICANTS OR ONLY OF THE PRINCIPLE INVESTIGATOR?
The signatures of the Department Head and Dean of the Faculty or Institution of the Principal Investigator are required. Please consult the Application Guide for more information on the required signatures for the Operating Grant application.
11. ARE ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES SUFFICIENT FOR THE SIGNATURE PAGE OF THE APPLICATION?
Electronic signatures on a scanned copy of the signature page are sufficient for the application. Please refer to the Application Guidelines for further details.
12. I SUBMITTED AN OPERATING GRANT APPLICATION LAST YEAR BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL IN RECEIVING FUNDING. CAN I RESUBMIT MY GRANT APPLICATION THIS YEAR?
Resubmitting an application is permitted under MSSC competition rules and will be assessed according to the Review Criteria for a new application.Resubmission applications must include a "Response to previous review" and should demonstrate substantive modification to the proposal addressing the reviewers’ comments. A grant application can only be submitted three times (one submission and two resubmissions).
13. HOW MANY GRANTS CAN I HOLD WITH THE MSSC?
A PI can hold a maximum of two operating grants and one pilot grant from the MSSC at one time.
14. HOW MANY APPLICATIONS CAN I SUBMIT IN THE OPERATING GRANT COMPETITION?
The PI may concurrently submit a maximum of one new pilot grant application and two operating grant applications (one new operating grant and one renewal operating grant) per competition.
If the FAQ Guide did not answer your question, please direct inquiries and questions to msresearchgrants@mssociety.ca
Clinical and Population Health Research Operating Grant
Amount and Term
The amount that may be requested for operating grants is approximately $100,000 per year for up to three (3) years with an opportunity to be renewed, which is dependent upon the submission and approval of a renewal application for a new grant.
Eligibility
- 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
Important Dates
- Competition Opens: July 28, 2017
- Application Deadline: October 2, 2017 at 16:00 EDT
- Anticipated Notice of Decision: March 2018
- Funding Start Date: April 1, 2018
Policies and Procedures
Guide to Writing a Lay Summary
Frequently Asked Questions
1.DOES MY APPLICATION HAVE TO BE SUBMITTED BY OCTOBER 2?
Yes, all applications must be submitted by October 2 nd at 16:00 EDT. The online system will not accept applications after October 2 nd. All required documents must be completed and submitted prior to the deadline, straggling documents will not be accepted. In addition, any documents that surpass the assigned page limits or fail to adhere to the formatting guidelines will be excluded from the application.
2.ARE BENEFITS SUCH AS VACATION PAY INCLUDED IN OPERATING GRANTS?
Operating grant recipients are not considered employees of the MSSC but rather of the institution where the research is conducted.The grant is to be administered in accordance with the prevailing policies of the sponsoring institution, including vacations, sick leaves, holidays, etc.
3.DOES THE PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR NEED TO HOLD A FACULTY APPOINTMENT TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR AN OPERATING GRANT?
Yes, the principal investigator must be an independent researcher and hold a faculty appointment at a recognized Canadian academic institution in order to apply. The same eligibility requirements apply to co-principal investigators.
4.DOES A CO-APPLICANT NEED TO HOLD A FACULTY APPOINTMENT FOR AN OPERATING GRANT?
No, the co-applicant does not need to hold a faculty appointment. However, co-applicants must be at the postdoctoral level or higher (research associate, faculty member).
5.HOW MANY PRINCIPAL AND CO-PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS CAN BE ON ONE OPERATING GRANT APPLICATION?
There can be only oneprincipal investigator per operating grant application. There is no limit to the number of co-principal investigators on an application. The PI who is listed as the primary applicant is responsible for overseeing the proposed research project. A co-principal investigator is an individual who shares responsibility for the direction of the proposed research project with the PI.
6.WHAT PERSONNEL CAN NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET FOR AN OPERATING GRANT?
The MSSC does not allow the following salaries to be paid through the operating grant: (1) Postdoctoral Fellows; (2) Doctoral Students; and (3) Master’s Students. These students are encouraged to apply for funding through the MSSC’s Personnel Awards program.
7.DO OPERATING GRANTS HAVE A MAXIMUM BUDGET/TIME PERIOD THAT CAN BE APPLIED FOR?
The approximate amount of funding that may be requested for an operating grant is 100,000 CAD per year for up to 3 years. Grants are not renewed automatically. Support beyond the term originally approved is dependent upon submission and approval of a renewal application that is subject to review.
8.ARE TRAVEL EXPENSES ALLOWED WITHIN MY OPERATING GRANT BUDGET?
Expenses for domestic or foreign travel to attend conferences and present results of the MSSC-funded research project may be charged to a grant only when included in the application and within the amount specifically approved in the grant ($2,500 or less).
9.WHAT FORMAT FOR THE CV IS REQUIRED?
The MSSC requires the use of the Canadian Common CV for all Operating Grant applications. The template can be found at https://ccv-cvc.ca. Please select "MSSC" as the agency.
10. DO YOU REQUIRE SIGNATURES FROM THE DEPARTMENT HEADS OF ALL CO-APPLICANTS OR ONLY OF THE PRINCIPLE INVESTIGATOR?
The signatures of the Department Head and Dean of the Faculty or Institution of the Principal Investigator are required. Please consult the Application Guide for more information on the required signatures for the Operating Grant application.
11. ARE ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES SUFFICIENT FOR THE SIGNATURE PAGE OF THE APPLICATION?
Electronic signatures on a scanned copy of the signature page are sufficient for the application. Please refer to the Application Guidelines for further details.
12. I SUBMITTED AN OPERATING GRANT APPLICATION LAST YEAR BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL IN RECEIVING FUNDING. CAN I RESUBMIT MY GRANT APPLICATION THIS YEAR?
Resubmitting an application is permitted under MSSC competition rules and will be assessed according to the Review Criteria for a new application.Resubmission applications must include a "Response to previous review" and should demonstrate substantive modification to the proposal addressing the reviewers’ comments. A grant application can only be submitted three times (one submission and two resubmissions).
13. HOW MANY GRANTS CAN I HOLD WITH THE MSSC?
A PI can hold a maximum of two operating grants and one pilot grant from the MSSC at one time.
14. HOW MANY APPLICATIONS CAN I SUBMIT IN THE OPERATING GRANT COMPETITION?
The PI may concurrently submit a maximum of one new pilot grant application and two operating grant applications (one new operating grant and one renewal operating grant) per competition.
If the FAQ Guide did not answer your question, please direct inquiries and questions to msresearchgrants@mssociety.ca