the petroleum research fund is an endowed fund, managed by the american chemical society that supports fundamental research directly related to petroleum or fossil fuels at nonprofit institutions (generally colleges and universities) in the united states and other countries.

acs petroleum research fund (acs prf) grants are intended as seed money, to enable an investigator to initiate a new research direction. the investigator should not have published or received financial support from another funding agency for the proposed research. also, proposals that the acs prf committee feels are a logical extension of an investigator’s previous research may be denied as “not a new direction.”

the northern research supplements (nrs) program has been established to augment and promote canadian university-based northern research and training. the main purpose of the northern research supplements program is to recognize the added costs unique to conducting research in the canadian north.

the postdoctoral fellowships (pdf) program provides support to a core of the most promising researchers at a pivotal time in their careers. the fellowships are also intended to secure a supply of highly qualified canadians with leading-edge scientific and research skills for canadian industry, government and academic institutions.

call description: ontario pork is pleased to offers an open call for letters of intent for swine research projects that focus on the ontario swine industry. ontario pork recently completed a review of their research priorities and shifted focus from a priorities list to the overarching research objective:“test potential improvements to swine industry practices”.

all research projects that align with this overarching objective will be considered, including, but not limited to, swine health, swine welfare, swine nutrition, swine husbandry, swine reproduction, barn design and management, employee health and safety, meat quality and safety, marketing and consumer trends and environmental and economic sustainability. highest priority is given to projects that demonstrate scientific merit as well as strong identification of the benefit of project results to ontario pork producers and indication of input or support of a project from swine industry members outside of academia.

call description: currently funding is available from the egg farmers of ontario for research that meets the priorities outlined by the egg farmers of ontario.
additional criteria

• $20k per year individual project cap
• 5-year maximum time line per project with a formal review after 3 years. this review will be designed to ensure
the project is on track and meeting both milestone and budget targets.
in some cases where warranted, it will provide an opportunity to incorporate any revision to the project design.
• research projects should be targeting outcomes that benefit ontario egg farmers.
• disclosure of all funding partners supporting total project costs is required

the rti grants program provides the primary avenue for university researchers in the natural sciences and engineering to obtain up to $150,000 in support for research tools and instruments with a net cost between $7,001 and $250,000. net cost is defined as the purchase cost of the equipment after any discount from the vendor and before taxes, customs and importation fees, transportation and shipping charges, and assembly and installation costs. the vendor discount must be free of conditions, restrictions or limitations (e.g., cannot be offered in exchange for services from users benefiting the vendor company). the research community is also encouraged to explore other avenues for funding research tools and instruments, including nserc’s other programs that allow the purchase of equipment as eligible expenses.

to be eligible to the competition, applications must address both objectives and respond to one (1) of the eleven (11) specific research areas.

the specific objectives of this funding opportunity are:

1. accelerate the availability and use of high-quality and real-time evidence and/or solutions to support canada’s ongoing response to the pandemic in order to better prevent, detect, treat and manage covid-19; and
2. generate evidence related to one or more marginalized population(s), including for instance: black and other communities marginalized by race; first nations, inuit, métis and urban indigenous peoples; communities historically excluded from research; those experiencing health inequity; persons with disabilities and individuals across diverse health status (e.g. high risk populations, individuals with comorbid conditions); those experiencing gendered impacts of the pandemic;  and those in life stages that have been underrepresented in research (e.g. pregnant people, children, older adults). across all populations, researchers are encouraged to consider a lifecycle approach (from preconception to older adulthood).

note: it is expected that, where appropriate, projects will enhance local, national and/or international collaborative efforts, including in low- and middle-income countries, to mitigate the rapid spread of covid-19 and related negative consequences.

research areas (11) (note that the research areas are divided into three themes)

structural inequities in the covid-19 response and ethics

• #1 structural inequalities
  develop, implement and/or evaluate community-driven solutions to structural inequalities, including systemic racism, that continue to hamper the response and recovery from covid-19 for indigenous peoples as well as black and other communities marginalized by race.

• #2 differential impacts of covid-19 on historically excluded or underserved populations
  understand and/or address the effects of the covid-19 pandemic on indigenous peoples, racialized minorities, lgbtqia2s, persons with disabilities, incarcerated individuals, children and older adults, including physical health, mental health, and access to health care services.

• #3 urban populations
  understand and/or address the impacts of covid-19 on the health and well-being of urban populations, including those who have been historically excluded and underserved (e.g. homeless populations and indigenous peoples).

• #4 healthcare resource allocation
  research on ethical criteria for scarce healthcare resource allocation (e.g., icus, ventilators, ppes, vaccine) in a public health emergency to inform the development of national triage protocols. research to understand and/or address equity in access to proven covid-19 interventions and health services internationally and the ethical implications of vaccine nationalism for lmics.

• #5 hiv and sars-cov-2
  understand the underlying biological interactions between hiv and sars-cov-2 co-infection as it relates to (1) the impacts of living with hiv on sars-cov-2 infection, including effect of hiv and/or antiretroviral treatment on mutation, evolution and fitness of sars cov-2, covid-19 disease severity, development of post-covid-19 conditions, and covid-19 vaccine safety, efficacy, and long-term durability of the immune response to sars-cov-2, and/or (2) the impacts of sars-cov-2 infection on people living with hiv as it relates to treatment response, disease progression and development of co-morbidities; and/or understand how public health and infection control measures in response to covid-19 have impacted the underlying social and behavioral factors affecting the risk of infection with hiv and other stbbi, and access to prevention, testing and treatment services for hiv and stbbi, including in remote locations or indigenous communities. [supported by the cihr hiv/aids research initiative]

ongoing impact of covid-19 in health systems and services

• #6 health care systems and services
  understand and address the impact of covid-19 on health care systems and services including developing and implementing evidence-based interventions (policy, practice and/or models of care) to minimize harms, address backlogs, and effectively address unmet needs during and after the pandemic, including those experienced by historically excluded or underserved populations.

• # 7 support services and rehabilitation strategies for historically excluded or underserved populations
  research on models of support services and clinical care / management and rehabilitation strategies, including for historically excluded or underserved populations (e.g. first nations, inuit, métis or urban indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, immigrants and refugees, or other groups who have been disproportionately affected by covid-19) experiencing post covid-19 condition in the canadian context.

societal reopening in the context of covid-19

• #8 immune responses
  understand and improve immune responses to vaccines (immunobridging, annual boosters, boosters against variants, heterologous prime-boost); long term immune responses of sars-cov-2 infection and vaccination and duration of protection; and rate of vaccinated people developing severe diseases (1-2 doses) due to variants infection or difference in immune response.

• #9 social and behavioural science approaches
  develop, implement and/or evaluate social and behavioural science approaches to inform interventions that will be needed to help people adjust to a non-pandemic situation. targeted interventions will be needed for all age groups and all demographics: older adults, adults, and children, as well as socio-economic, geographic and cultural backgrounds (e.g. northern contexts, rural or on-reserve vs urban, lower ses neighbourhoods).

• #10 core public health and control measures
  are the core public health and control measures (e.g. ventilation, movement restrictions) adequate/appropriate? implementation science to inform scale up/adaptation of effective approaches to prevent future infections and outbreaks in high risk settings (childcare settings, schools, workplaces, jails, acute and long-term care settings, among migrant workers, homeless shelters, first nations reserves). these include regular screening strategies, science communication, and/or roll out of mitigation plans in the case of isolated new cases.

• #11 vaccine distribution models
  identify and evaluate the best methods for vaccine distribution to both "hard to reach" and those at risk of accelerating community spread, particularly among children, taking a holistic approach that considers barriers and facilitators at the individual, family, community, provincial and structural levels.

to be eligible to the competition, applications must address both objectives and respond to one (1) of the eleven (11) specific research areas.

the specific objectives of this funding opportunity are:

1. accelerate the availability and use of high-quality and real-time evidence and/or solutions to support canada’s ongoing response to the pandemic in order to better prevent, detect, treat and manage covid-19; and
2. generate evidence related to one or more marginalized population(s), including for instance: black and other communities marginalized by race; first nations, inuit, métis and urban indigenous peoples; communities historically excluded from research; those experiencing health inequity; persons with disabilities and individuals across diverse health status (e.g. high risk populations, individuals with comorbid conditions); those experiencing gendered impacts of the pandemic;  and those in life stages that have been underrepresented in research (e.g. pregnant people, children, older adults). across all populations, researchers are encouraged to consider a lifecycle approach (from preconception to older adulthood).

note: it is expected that, where appropriate, projects will enhance local, national and/or international collaborative efforts, including in low- and middle-income countries, to mitigate the rapid spread of covid-19 and related negative consequences.

research areas (11) (note that the research areas are divided into three themes)

structural inequities in the covid-19 response and ethics

• #1 structural inequalities
  develop, implement and/or evaluate community-driven solutions to structural inequalities, including systemic racism, that continue to hamper the response and recovery from covid-19 for indigenous peoples as well as black and other communities marginalized by race.

• #2 differential impacts of covid-19 on historically excluded or underserved populations
  understand and/or address the effects of the covid-19 pandemic on indigenous peoples, racialized minorities, lgbtqia2s, persons with disabilities, incarcerated individuals, children and older adults, including physical health, mental health, and access to health care services.

• #3 urban populations
  understand and/or address the impacts of covid-19 on the health and well-being of urban populations, including those who have been historically excluded and underserved (e.g. homeless populations and indigenous peoples).

• #4 healthcare resource allocation
  research on ethical criteria for scarce healthcare resource allocation (e.g., icus, ventilators, ppes, vaccine) in a public health emergency to inform the development of national triage protocols. research to understand and/or address equity in access to proven covid-19 interventions and health services internationally and the ethical implications of vaccine nationalism for lmics.

• #5 hiv and sars-cov-2
  understand the underlying biological interactions between hiv and sars-cov-2 co-infection as it relates to (1) the impacts of living with hiv on sars-cov-2 infection, including effect of hiv and/or antiretroviral treatment on mutation, evolution and fitness of sars cov-2, covid-19 disease severity, development of post-covid-19 conditions, and covid-19 vaccine safety, efficacy, and long-term durability of the immune response to sars-cov-2, and/or (2) the impacts of sars-cov-2 infection on people living with hiv as it relates to treatment response, disease progression and development of co-morbidities; and/or understand how public health and infection control measures in response to covid-19 have impacted the underlying social and behavioral factors affecting the risk of infection with hiv and other stbbi, and access to prevention, testing and treatment services for hiv and stbbi, including in remote locations or indigenous communities. [supported by the cihr hiv/aids research initiative]

ongoing impact of covid-19 in health systems and services

• #6 health care systems and services
  understand and address the impact of covid-19 on health care systems and services including developing and implementing evidence-based interventions (policy, practice and/or models of care) to minimize harms, address backlogs, and effectively address unmet needs during and after the pandemic, including those experienced by historically excluded or underserved populations.

• # 7 support services and rehabilitation strategies for historically excluded or underserved populations
  research on models of support services and clinical care / management and rehabilitation strategies, including for historically excluded or underserved populations (e.g. first nations, inuit, métis or urban indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, immigrants and refugees, or other groups who have been disproportionately affected by covid-19) experiencing post covid-19 condition in the canadian context.

societal reopening in the context of covid-19

• #8 immune responses
  understand and improve immune responses to vaccines (immunobridging, annual boosters, boosters against variants, heterologous prime-boost); long term immune responses of sars-cov-2 infection and vaccination and duration of protection; and rate of vaccinated people developing severe diseases (1-2 doses) due to variants infection or difference in immune response.

• #9 social and behavioural science approaches
  develop, implement and/or evaluate social and behavioural science approaches to inform interventions that will be needed to help people adjust to a non-pandemic situation. targeted interventions will be needed for all age groups and all demographics: older adults, adults, and children, as well as socio-economic, geographic and cultural backgrounds (e.g. northern contexts, rural or on-reserve vs urban, lower ses neighbourhoods).

• #10 core public health and control measures
  are the core public health and control measures (e.g. ventilation, movement restrictions) adequate/appropriate? implementation science to inform scale up/adaptation of effective approaches to prevent future infections and outbreaks in high risk settings (childcare settings, schools, workplaces, jails, acute and long-term care settings, among migrant workers, homeless shelters, first nations reserves). these include regular screening strategies, science communication, and/or roll out of mitigation plans in the case of isolated new cases.

• #11 vaccine distribution models
  identify and evaluate the best methods for vaccine distribution to both "hard to reach" and those at risk of accelerating community spread, particularly among children, taking a holistic approach that considers barriers and facilitators at the individual, family, community, provincial and structural levels.

the goal of the exploration stream is to inspire high-risk, high-reward and interdisciplinary research.

exploration grants support research that pushes boundaries into exciting new areas. researchers are encouraged to think “outside of the box,” undertake research that would defy current paradigms, and bring disciplines together in unexpected ways and from bold, innovative perspectives. with the exploration stream, there is recognition that innovation often carries risk; proposals for high-risk research projects that have the potential to deliver game-changing impacts are strongly encouraged.

exploration stream grants support projects that:

• bring disciplines together beyond traditional disciplinary or common interdisciplinary approaches;
• propose to explore something new, which might fail; and
• have the potential for significant impact.

exploration grants support research with a range of impacts, some of which might be social, cultural, economic, health-related or technological. this list is not exhaustive; other types of impacts are also recognized. diversity of perspectives is important, and the fund encourages research proposals led from any discipline, from those in the social sciences and humanities, to health, the natural sciences and engineering.

to better promote ground-breaking and interdisciplinary research, the new frontiers in research fund (nfrf) has a mandate to explore innovative merit review processes, and the flexibility for competition parameters and processes to evolve from one competition to the next.

please find attached the powerpoint slides that were presented during the nf's webinars on the notice of intent (noi) stage for the 2021 exploration competition. you may also view the recording of the webinars:

english recording: https://youtu.be/dqu2xkiphty           july 13^th               

french recording: https://youtu.be/mgdjyt_x3p4            july 13^th  

presentation slides

• english
• french