Guidelines for OPERATING GRANT
I. General Description
The Foundation Fighting Blindness - Canada (FFB-C) annually awards grants supporting research into retinal function and its disorders. The objective of The Foundation Fighting Blindness - Canada is to support research into the origin, detection, prevention, treatment and cure of retinitis pigmentosa, macular degeneration and related blinding retinal diseases. First priority will be given to projects in which these objectives are approached directly, using any appropriate methodology (cell biology, molecular biology, genetics, etc.). Basic research not directly related to RP, macular degeneration or related retinal disorder will be supported only if the applicant provides clear and reasonable justification for its relevance.
II. Categories of Grants Available
A. Operating Grants: Awarded to support research projects directed toward a defined objective, conducted by an investigator working alone or in collaboration with others. Due to the numbers of applications received in each competition, only well-written hypothesis-driven proposals are likely to be competitive for funding. Applicants are strongly encouraged to provide appreciable preliminary data both to illustrate the feasibility of the proposed experiments, and their ability to undertake these. Operating grants may be used to employ assistants or trainees, to purchase materials, supplies and items of equipment costing less than $10,000.00, to buy and maintain animals and to support travel costs.
Operating grants are not intended to support health care delivery, space renovations or the purchase of laboratory furniture.
B. Equipment Grants: Applications of over $10,000.00 may be considered in accordance with current FFB-C guidelines.
III. Application Procedure
A. Initial submission of a Letter of Intent (LOI) for this competition is required. The LOI deadline is October 1st, 2010.
B. Letter of Intent applicants will be notified about the success of their application by October 31, 2010. Successful applicants are invited to make a full operating grant proposal
C. The deadline for the receipt of full operating grant proposals is January 15th, 2011.
IV. Regulations
A. Unless otherwise stipulated at the time an award is made, equipment purchased under a grant belongs to the institution at which the grant is originally held; it may be moved only with the approval of that institution.
B. A grantee must use the money for the purpose specified in the application. The funds must be used during the period of the grant; otherwise, they are to be returned. Permission must be obtained from the FFB-C to make any changes in the use of these funds, or to extend the use of funds beyond the defined funding period.
C. Not more than two months after termination or at the time of renewal of each grant, the grantee must submit a brief report or summary of the work done. Progress reports must be provided on request.
D. Acknowledgement of FFB-C support must be given in scientific papers published as a result of research assisted by FFB-C grants.
E. An applicant who expects significant contributions from collaborators (other than co-applicants) must attach a signed statement from each collaborator to the grant application.
V. Notification
Applicants, the Dean of the appropriate faculty and the university or institution are sent official notification of the FFB-C's decisions.
VI. Comments on Applications
When necessary applications are reviewed by external referees selected by the FFB-C's Scientific Advisory Board, as well as by the Scientific Advisory Board itself. Applicants will be sent verbatim copies of comments made by external referees and by reviewers on the Scientific Advisory Board together with the notification of the FFB-C decision on their application.