Research & Development Seed Grants Program

The Research and Development Seed Grants program is designed to promote the use and accessibility of the technologies offered in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry Core Research Facilities. Funded projects have other benefits such as the development of new methods or techniques that would extend the standard operating procedures and capabilities of the core facilities and/or support the acquisition of preliminary data needed for external funding proposals. 

 

Current competitions

Cell Imaging Research & Development Seed Grants

Overview:
The Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry Cell Imaging Core (CIC) has recently acquired the Helios 5 CX Focused Ion Beam Scanning Electron Microscope (FIB SEM). To encourage use and accessibility, the CIC will award seed grants to support pilot projects that utilize FIB SEM.

A maximum of $5,000 can be requested to support FIB SEM project execution in the CIC. For this competition, a total of $30,000 is available and $10,000 of this will be awarded to projects that focus on cancer research. Funds will not be dispersed to the awardee but will be an in-kind contribution to the project (i.e. the research group will not pay user fees associated with project execution in the core).

Eligibility:

  • All research-intensive Academic Faculty members (A1.1 or C1.1) with a primary appointment at the University of Alberta are eligible to apply. This competition is not restricted to those appointed in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry. To be considered research-intensive, the faculty member must have ≥40% time protected for research at the time of application.
  • Faculty members can only submit one application (as Project leader) to this competition.
  • Eligible costs include sample preparation conducted by core facility staff and imaging user fees. Access to core analysis computers and software is free for UofA internal users. Other project costs including staff salaries, lab supplies or reagents, software licenses, sample procurement or preparation outside of the core, or other tasks not conducted by core staff are not eligible.

Submission Process:

  • Applicants will submit a draft of their completed application form via email to the Cell Imaging Core Coordinator and Manager, Cell Imaging Facility by Friday, November 8, 2024 at 4 p.m.
  • Applicants will meet with the Cell Imaging Core Coordinator and/or Manager, Cell Imaging Facility to discuss their project’s feasibility and confirm imaging time required.
  • Finalized applications must have the endorsement signature of the Cell Imaging Core Coordinator or the Manager, Cell Imaging Facility.
  • Final signed applications must be submitted via email to the Manager, Core Research Facilities (colleen.sunderland@ualberta.ca) by Friday, November 29, 2024 at 4 p.m.

Submission Contacts:

Dr. Hilmar Strickfaden, Cell Imaging Coordinator
Email: hilmar@ualberta.ca
Phone: 780-710-9070 

Dr. Xuejun Sun, Manager, Cell Imaging Facility
Email: xjsun@ualberta.ca
Phone: 780-432-8898

Colleen Sunderland, Manager, Core Research Facilities
Email: colleen.sunderland@ualberta.ca
Phone: 780-492-0715

Adjudication
Submissions will be reviewed by a subcommittee comprised of the three members from the Cell Imaging Core Academic User Committee and chaired by the Academic Lead, Cell Imaging Core. Submissions will be reviewed and ranked for project feasibility, scientific need, and potential for future funding. Results will be communicated to all applicants in December 2024. Approved projects must be completed and invoiced within one year of the award date.

Questions? Please contact Colleen Sunderland (colleen.sunderland@ualberta.ca).