CURA call for proposals
The Values Added Community University Research Alliance (CURA) has released a call for proposals. Values Added, funded by the Social Science and Humanities Research Council, is a partnership between the Community Services Council of Newfoundland and Labrador and researchers from Memorial University of Newfoundland. The CURA brings together academics from various disciplines and community researchers to explore themes related to the province’s Strategic Social Plan (SSP). The SSP, a deliberate policy instrument, offers a unique opportunity to explore themes related to citizen engagement, cultural shifts and linkages between economic and social development. The research has a particular focus on the implications of the SSP’s principles for horizontal policy formulation, collaborative governance and the role of the voluntary, community-based sector in policy development and service delivery. The CURA is soliciting proposals to foster and mobilize knowledge around issues such as social capital formation, best practices for multi-sector relationships and innovative approaches to the social economy. Successful proponents will help create an expanded program of research and the CURA’s networks. To see the RFP visit www.cura.envision.ca. Deadline for letters of intent is June 28, 2004. Full proposals will be due Sept. 8, 2004. Inquiries should be directed to Penelope Rowe, CURA director at 753-9860.

Vice-president’s grants committee
The term for the representative on the vice-president’s grants committee from each of humanities, social sciences, and professional schools is expiring. Expressions of interest and nominations for replacements are invited by June 30, 2004. The vice-president’s grants committee adjudicates applications for internal travel and research funds under the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) general grant and for the vice-president’s research grant.

CIHR Proof-of-Principal grants
CIHR has announced the re-launch of its Proof-of-Principal Initiative. For Proof of Principle Phase I (POP-I) grants, CIHR will fund proof of principle research projects of up to 12 months duration designed to advance discoveries/inventions towards commercializable technologies, with a view to attract new investment and create new science-based businesses. Proof-of-Principal Phase II (POP-II) grants will fund proof of principle research at the co-investment stage undertaking follow-on proof of principle activities in partnership with a non-academic investor. This new funding opportunity is aimed at providing a platform to better enable the academic institution/researcher to move the discovery/invention further down the innovation pipeline. The first competition has a May 17 deadline date for e-mailing a letter of intent to CIHR, with a full proposal courier stamped deadline of July 5, 2004. The second competition has an Oct. 1 LOI deadline with a Nov. 1, 2004, full proposal submission date. CIHR will fund up to $150,000 per application for successful Phase I applications; and for Phase II will provide up to $250,000 per application, where an investigator must match CIHR funds at a 2:1 ratio. Full information is available on CIHR’s Web site at www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/cgi-bin/print-imprimer.pl. For additional information, contact the Office of Research.

Post-federal 2004 budget CIHR announcement
As a result of the $39 million increase to CIHR’s annual base budget announced in the recent 2004 federal budget, CIHR’s governing council has approved a number of changes. Notably, the five per cent claw back on grants and awards that was planned for April 1, in the event of no budget increase, is cancelled ($20 million). The across-the-board cuts to operating grants awarded in the September 2003 open competition are reduced from an average of 15 to 10 per cent ($2.3 million); (the cut reductions will be implemented by the end of June 2004). The budget for the March 1 open competition for operating grants will be increased by $1.5 million. Effective April 1, 2004, the stipends for individual training awards (studentships and fellowships) are increased by approximately five per cent ($2.5 million) for new and existing awardees. The overall budget for the Strategic Training Initiative in Health Research is increased by $1 million to allow for a corresponding increase in the financial support for trainees available through training program grants. Research allowances are also being increased. These stipend and research allowance increases will be implemented by the end of June, 2004 (retroactive to April 1, 2004). For example, MD/PHD Studentships stipends will increase from $20,000 to $21,000 with a research allowance increase from $500 to $1,000 research allowance. Grant holders whose grants are affected by the announcement will be receiving letters from CIHR indicating the decision change. Existing CIHR grant holders/professors should note that although they are required to pay their trainees at the new minimum stipend levels, effective April 1, 2004 – Graduate Student Stipend $17,850, Post-Doctoral Fellow $36,750 or $44,000; Summer Student $1,313/month up to 4 months – they will not be receiving additional funds from CIHR to offset the increased minimum stipend decisions. Further information on the post-federal 2004 budget CIHR announcement is available at www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/news/
22247.shtml.

Call for applications
The Canada-U.S. Fulbright Program offers faculty, students, and independent scholars in Canada and the United States a unique opportunity to explore contemporary issues relevant to Canada and the United States and the relationship between the two countries through the pursuit of graduate study, research, or lecturing in their host country. While the competition is “field open,” projects are especially encouraged in the areas of comparative public policy; international trade; North American integration; ecology and the environment; border issues; communications; culture; indigenous studies; law; security; urban planning; Canada-U.S. relations; Canadian studies; and American studies. For detailed information on the opportunities available through the Canada-U.S. Fulbright Program, visit www.fulbright.ca. The deadline for application by Canadian students and faculty is Nov. 15.

Imminent Deadlines
July 1
American Institute for Cancer Research — investigator initiated grants; postdoctoral award; matching grants.

International Union Against Cancer — Yamagiwa-Yoshida memorial UICC international cancer study grants.

Natural Sciences & Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) — E.W.R. Steacie Memorial Fellowships.

July 3
Canadian Blood Services — postodoctoral fellowship.

July 15
CIHR/Health Canada — medical marijuana research program (registration - operating grants).

Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) (US) — research grants program (submission of application — Fall review).

July 30
Rhodes University — Hugh Kelly Fellowship; post-doctoral fellowships.

July 31
DAAD — German Academic Exchange Service — special DAAD-Leibniz-Scholarships program for doctoral candidates and post-docs.