Genome Canada is pleased to announce the launch of its 2010 Large-Scale Applied Research Project Competition.


REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS: 2010 Large-Scale Applied Research Project Competition

Pre-Applications for the 2010 Large-Scale Applied Research Project Competition

Overview

Genome Canada is seeking proposals for large-scale research projects which focus on the application of genomics[1] research such that there is a high potential for benefits for Canada (with an emphasis on economic benefits) to be realized or initiated before the end of the project. Proposals targeting the areas of forestry and/or the environment are particularly encouraged to apply. Proposals impacting one or more of Genome Canada's other strategic sectors (agriculture, fisheries and human health) are also eligible to apply through a multi-sector component of the competition. All applicants must identify and address key ethical, economic, environmental, legal and/or social aspects relevant to the genomics research (GE3LS) being proposed as part of the overall research plan. GE3LS proposals are also eligible to be submitted as large-scale projects.

Proposals must be of a scale and scope that they cannot readily be funded at internationally competitive levels through other mechanisms. In order to maximize the effectiveness of Genome Canada to advance genomics research in Canada the sharing of resources and expertise between regional Genome Centres is encouraged. Large-scale projects from one regional Genome Centre may require the Science and Technology Innovation Centres (formerly S&T Platforms) available in other regional Genome Centres. Similarly, researchers from across Canada, and from other countries, may collaborate on large-scale projects in order to share technology, knowledge, expertise or resources. Genome Canada strongly encourages and supports such arrangements, where appropriate.

To ensure that the objectives of Genome Canada are met, all applications must address the evaluation criteria established for the competition, i.e., scientific, financial, management and benefits for Canada. Only those proposals demonstrating the highest degree of overall excellence will be funded.

Funds Available

  • There is a maximum of $60 million available from the Government of Canada through Genome Canada for this competition
  • Genome Canada requires that at least 50% of the requested funding for eligible costs be obtained through co-funding from other sources.
  • A minimum of $30 million is available for projects targeting the areas of forestry and the environment – designated the Targeted Competition.
  • Up to $30 million is available for projects targeting Genome Canada's other strategic sectors (agriculture, fisheries and human health) – designated the Multi-Sector Competition.
  • Genome Canada will invest a maximum of $5 million in an individual project (i.e., with the maximum investment from Genome Canada, plus the required co-funding, a total investment of more than $10 million per project is possible).
  • Successful individual projects will be awarded funding for a term of up to three years.

The competition will be a combined targeted and multi-sector competition. Applicants need only submit one application to the combined competition. If the application is determined to be not relevant to the targeted areas the application will automatically be considered for eligibility in the multi-sector competition.

Ethical, environmental, economic, legal and social aspects of genomics research (GE3LS)

All applicants must consider the key GE3LS aspects arising from their proposed research and develop a plan to address these aspects as an integrated component of the research plan. As stated above, GE3LS proposals are also eligible to be submitted as large-scale projects in either the targeted or multi-sector competition.

Benefits for Canada

Note that in this competition Genome Canada will place much greater emphasis on the potential ability of the proposed research to lead to benefits for Canada (with an emphasis on economic benefits). Benefits for Canada has been made one of the major review criteria in addition to Scientific, Management and Financial.

All applications must describe, with supporting evidence, the potential benefits for Canada which will be realized or initiated before the end of the project. Potential economic benefits could include one or more of the following: a) job creation and economic growth in Canada, b) development of a product or service, or, c) creation of intellectual property (e.g., filing a patent) leading to potential licenses and/or new start-ups. Other benefits could include: d) an impact on society, quality of life, better health, or the environment, e) knowledge generation and translation, or, f) the creation of new policies and best practices. Applicants must include a plan which explains how they will transfer, disseminate, use, and/or apply the potential deliverables from the research to realize the benefits. Individuals with the appropriate expertise to develop and implement the plan to realize the economic and/or social benefits of the research should be included on the project team as well as the Science Advisory Board. These individuals might include, for example, end-users of the research, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, economists, market analysts, technology transfer experts, legal advisors, public health administrators, policy experts and sociologists. See the Guidelines for Funding Large-Scale Genomics Research Projects for more details on this and other review criteria.

Descriptions of Targeted Research Areas

The forestry and environment sectors are of great importance to the economy of Canada. Genomic tools can be used to preserve, protect and enhance environmental quality as well as natural resources such as Canadian forests. While applications could address just one of these sectors there are many interrelationships between the two and it is anticipated that research proposals could address opportunities and/or problems that impact both sectors. Moreover, the complexity of the research questions to be addressed is expected to require a coordinated approach between diverse stakeholders.

Furthermore, in the context of these targeted areas, Genome Canada welcomes applications whose outcomes have a high potential to further the objectives of Government of Canada initiatives such as meeting emissions targets as part of the Copenhagen Accord, Canada's role in the Convention on Biodiversity and the Clean Energy Dialogue.

Forestry:

Canada is a major forest nation and as such forests provide Canadians with one of their largest renewable resources. Forests are also essential for carbon sequestration, production of bioenergy, tourism and maintenance of ecosystem health and productivity. Genome Canada welcomes applications employing genomics approaches in areas that include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • selecting commercially desirable trees e.g., for improved pest resistance, growth, desirable wood characteristics, and resilience to climate change and other stresses;
  • developing genomics enabled detection mechanisms and diagnostics for forest pests, diseases, invasive species and microorganisms;
  • understanding host-pathogen genetic interactions to improve sustainability and productivity;
  • developing tools to manage forests and wood production in a way that is more sustainable;
  • developing options for the use of forest biomass as feedstock towards production of new fuels, chemicals and substitutes for other petroleum-derived products; and,
  • optimizing the role of forests in carbon sequestration.

The proposed projects should lead to the development of innovative approaches to help transform and strengthen Canada's forest industry, while also serving to protect and enhance the environment.

Environment:

The development, understanding and application of genomic tools and technologies are fundamental to addressing many environmental issues. Environmental genomics will provide invaluable tools to understand, preserve, protect and enhance the environment and natural resources and can pinpoint potentially novel interactions between environmental stressors and expression of genes in various organisms.

Genome Canada seeks applications that employ genomics approaches to understand the underlying biological processes involved in areas that include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • environmental remediation, restoration and habitat rehabilitation;
  • the development of new sources of energy and cleaner production technologies;
  • monitoring and gaining a greater understanding of biodiversity;
  • pollution and contaminant abatement, prevention and detection;
  • wildlife management and conservation;
  • environmental adaptation to climate change;
  • synthetic biology and understanding the future of designing biology for the environment; and,
  • water stewardship.

NOTE: Studies focussing on human health as impacted by the environment are not eligible for support in this Targeted Research Area but will be considered in the multi-sector competition.

Multi-Sector Competition

Proposals addressing one of Genome Canada's other strategic sectors (agriculture, fisheries and human health), or impacting two or more of these sectors, are welcome in the multi-sector competition.

Competition Time Lines

Requests for support of projects must be submitted to Genome Canada through a Genome Centre. The competition timelines outlined below include both Genome Canada and Genome Centre deadlines. Please contact your regional Genome Centre for further information on their process.

May 17, 2010
Launch of Request for Applications (RFAs) and release of competition Guidelines and Evaluation Criteria

June 15, 2010
Registration due date – Genome Centres

June 17, 2010
Registration due date – Genome Canada

June 22, 2010
Applicants notified of eligibility of Registration

July 15, 2010
Pre-Application due date – Genome Centres

August 9, 2010
Pre-Application due date – Genome Canada

September 14, 2010
Applicants notified of results of Pre-application

November 1, 2010
Deadline for full applications to Genome Centres

December 1, 2010
Deadline for full applications to Genome Canada

Late January 2011
Review committee meets (including meetings with applicants)

Mid-February 2011
Decision by Genome Canada Board of Directors

Late February 2011
Notification of Award (NOA)

Application Process

Applicants are required to apply for funding through their regional Genome Centre. The application process is comprised of three steps: Registration, Pre-Application and Full Application.

1. Registration

A brief Registration form will be used to provide early guidance to Genome Canada on elements such as who is applying, what they are planning to do, research areas, approximate budgets, relevance to targeted areas and suggested reviewers. This will allow for screening for eligibility and facilitate the early selection of reviewers for the peer review process. Only applicants who submit a registration that is deemed eligible will be allowed to submit a Pre-Application. Information from Registrations deemed eligible (i.e., name of project leader(s), lead institution, title of project, research areas and keywords) will be posted on the Genome Canada Website to facilitate the identification of areas of potential synergy between applications from across the country so that applicants could consider engaging with other researchers on a common project. This will also make possible the exchange of required information between project teams and applicants to the Science and Technology Innovation Centre Competition.

2. Pre-Application

For the Pre-Application, applicants will be asked to submit a short description of the proposed research including an integrated GE3LS research plan, in addition to a potential benefits for Canada section. High level management and financial (including budget and proposed co-funding) sections will also be required. Individuals with the appropriate expertise will evaluate the Pre-Application, focusing on the quality of the research plan and the potential for benefits for Canada but also taking into consideration the management and financial plans. Only the most competitive Pre-Applications will be invited to submit full applications. The applications will again be checked for eligibility and, if required, relevance to targeted areas. Information from approved pre-applications (i.e., name of project leader, lead institution, title of project, research areas and keywords) will be posted on the Genome Canada Website to further facilitate the exchange of required information between project teams and applicants to the Science and Technology Innovation Centre Competition.

3. Full-application

Those applicants successful at the pre-application stage will be asked to submit a full application. Full applications must address the evaluation criteria established for the competition, i.e., scientific, benefits for Canada, management and financial. A final check for eligibility and, if required, relevance to targeted areas will be carried out. A multidisciplinary committee of experts, with expertise in assessing the scientific, management, financial and benefits to Canada criteria will be established to review applications. The review committee will meet with and interview representatives from each project through a face-to-face meeting. Only those proposals demonstrating the highest degree of overall excellence will be funded. Further details of Genome Canada's application processes and selection criteria can be found in the Guidelines for Funding Large-Scale Genomics Research Projects.

Co-Funding

Genome Canada requires that at least 50% of the requested funding for eligible costs be obtained through co-funding from other sources. Co-funding for this competition must be applied for on or after March 4, 2010 and must be for eligible costs specifically requested in the Genome Canada budget in order to be considered as an eligible co-funding source. On a case-by-case basis, funding applied for before the specified date may be considered eligible co-funding if these funds are specifically re-directed towards the Genome Canada project. See the Guidelines for Funding Large-Scale Genomics Research Projects for more details.

Contacts

Barbara Francis
Genome Canada
(613) 751-4460 ext 134
bfrancis@genomecanada.ca

Shelley King
Genome Atlantic
(902) 421-5646
sking@genomeatlantic.ca

Catalina Lopez-Correa
Genome Québec
(514) 398-0668
clopez@genomequebec.com

Klaus Fiebig
Ontario Genomics Institute
(416) 673-6583
kfiebig@OntarioGenomics.ca

Reno Pontarollo
Genome Prairie
(306) 668-3576
(204) 975-7740
rpontarollo@genomeprairie.ca

Gijs Van Rooijen
Genome Alberta
(403) 503-5230
vanrooijen@genomealberta.ca

Gabe Kalmar
Genome British Columbia
(604) 637-4374
gkalmar@genomebc.ca

[1] The term genomics is defined here as the comprehensive study, using high throughput technologies, of the genetic information of a cell or organism, including the function of specific genes, their interactions with each other and the activation and suppression of genes by proteins. For purposes of describing Genome Canada's mandate it also includes related disciplines such as proteomics, metabolomics, transcriptomics, metagenomics and bioinformatics.