Seed Grant Competition

Intestinal Metabolites Alter Susceptibility to Virus-Induced Type 1 Diabetes

Dr. Marc Horwitz | Professor
Department of Microbiology and Immunology | Life Sciences Institute | University of British Columbia

Dr. Lisa C. Osborne | Associate Professor | Department of Microbiology & Immunology | Life Sciences Institute | University of British Columbia

Development of a polymeric form of methotrexate to treat and prevent T1D

Dr. Jan Peter Dutz | Professor
Department of Dermatology and Skin Science | Faculty of Medicine
University of British Columbia

Dr. Urs Häfeli | Professor |
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia

Harnessing the transcriptional control of protective β-cell degradation mechanisms in T1D: AAV Pilot

Simultaneous profiling of single cell insulin secretion and transcriptomics for stem cell derived β cells

What will the JDRF CoE-UBC Seed Grant fund? 

• JDRF CoE-UBC Seed Grants are intended to (i) attract new researchers, expertise, and ideas to the JDRF CoE-UBC; (ii) encourage new collaborative T1D research in the JDRF CoE-UBC; and (iii) support the generation of preliminary data to validate novel proof-of-concept ideas and facilitate new grant applications. 
• Seed grants may be used to develop new methods and technologies of relevance to T1D research. 
• Formation of new collaborative research teams (e.g., a new wet lab/clinical team or multi-disciplinary research team) is strongly encouraged. 

Who is eligible to apply? 

• Applicants must be UBC faculty investigators but can collaborate with investigators at other institutions.
• PIs who are JDRF CoE-UBC project leads are not eligible to apply for a seed grant as principal applicant, but can apply as collaborators. JDRF CoE-UBC project co-Pis are eligible to apply as principal applicant. Collaborations between JDRF CoE-UBC project co-Pis with JDRF CoE-UBC project leads are encouraged.
• Applications from early career researchers (ECR) are encouraged, with the goal of attracting ECR to join the JDRF CoE-UBC and participate in its activities, further building T1D research capacity at UBC and supporting the next generation of T1D researchers. Senior postdoctoral fellows can be co-applicants.
• Investigators outside of diabetes research are welcome to apply with projects relevant to the overall goal of the JDRF CoE-UBC, with the aim of creating new collaborations and attracting complementary expertise and technologies to the Centre, and enabling scientists from diverse research backgrounds to T1D research.
• Preliminary data are not essential.
• Proposals will be evaluated on the basis of innovation, potential impact, relevance to JDRF CoE-UBC overall goal and project feasibility (within one year).
• To avoid conflict, applications will be reviewed by external reviewers. 

What is the application process? 

Notice of Intent Deadline March 6th 2023
Please email a Notice of Intent to JDRF.CoE@ubc.ca and include:

• Project title and 5 key words. 
• A list of the principal and co-applicants. 
• Suggest one to two reviewers for your application. 
• Email subject in the format of ‘NOI_Seed Grant_ principal applicant last name’. 

Final Proposal Deadline April 3rd, 2023. 
Please submit the final proposal to JDRF.CoE@ubc.ca as one PDF. Email subject in the format of ‘Seed Grant Application 2023_ principal applicant last name’.

• Projects must have a start date of September 1, 2023.
• Awardees will be required to present their projects at JDRF CoE-UBC project or annual meetings, upon initiation and following completion of funding.
• A brief final report will be required describing outcomes of the research and expenditures within 3 months of completion of funding (November 31, 2024). 

What is the application format? 

1. Title page including:

• Project title, lay title and keywords.
• Applicants’ name, institution, career stage, and major research area
• List of collaborators including name, institution, career stage, major research area, and role of collaborator(s) in project. 

2. Scientific Abstract and Lay Abstract (max 250 words each). 

3. Research Proposal (limit to 2 pages, not including references, tables, and figures).

• Background / Rationale in the context of T1D.
• Research Plan, including:
  ▪ Hypothesis 
  ▪ Research Question / Specific Aims 
  ▪ Experimental Approach, including methodology and statistical analysis
• Feasibility in the context of the team’s expertise and 1-year timeline for the project, including potential pitfalls and alternative approaches.  •
• Relevance to the Centre’s goal of translating T1D therapies from discovery to the clinic.
• Impact of new knowledge acquired
• Innovation with respect to ongoing research of the applicant(s) and in the broader scientific community

4. Other Materials:
• References (max 1 page). 
• Tables and figures with succinct but comprehensive legends (max 1 page). 
• Questionnaires and consent forms may be attached as appendices. 

5. A clear, detailed and realistic budget and justification should be included. Eligible costs include research supplies, personnel salaries and technical services. Max $1,000 for travel and $1,000 for knowledge exchange (e.g., publication costs). For more details see Q&A section below. 

6. Please use 2 cm margins and 11 or 12-point Arial font. 

7. CVs of applicant(s) in Canadian Common CV, CIHR Biosketch format. 

8. Applicants must include a completed Research Project Information Form (RPIF) with signatures.