Biomedical Discovery Research Grant (Operating Grant)

The Biomedical Discovery Research grant 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 Discovery Research Grant (Operating Grant)

The Clinical and Population Health (CPH) Discovery Research grant 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).

Term and Amount

Term: The MSSC will support Discovery Research (Operating) grants for terms of one (1) to three (3) years.

Amount: The amount that may be requested for operating research grants is approximately $ 100,000 per year. Support beyond the term originally approved is dependent upon submission and approval of a new grant application which is subject to review. The amount that may be requested for Discovery Research (operating) grants is approximately $100,000 per year. Support beyond the term is dependent upon submission and approval of a new grant application which is subject to review.

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 31, 2019
• Application Deadline: October 1, 2019 at 16:00 EDT
• Anticipated Notice of Decision: March 2020
• Funding Start Date: April 1, 2020

Policies and Procedures

Program Guide
Policies

What's new this year?

1. The Operating Grants have been renamed to Discovery Research Grants.

2. 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)

3. For support beyond the initial term of an Discovery Research Grants (Operating Grants) will require submission of a new grant application that will be subject to review and in direct competition with other new grant applications. For more information, please see the Discovery Research Grant (Operating Grant) program guide.

4. 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.

5. For the Discovery Research Grants (Operating Grants) and Pilot grants, the MS Society has developed a new template for the Impact and Relevance to MS section. The template must be completed and uploaded for the Impact and Relevance to MS section. For more information, please see the Discovery Research Grant (Operating Grant).