Pfizer-FRSQ Innovation Fund

Annie Villeneuve, M.Sc.
(514) 873-2114
Ext. 365

Conditions

-Pre-competitive research projects with a strong potential for technology transfer and commercialisation over the short or medium term, or projects giving rise to transfer activities within a five-year time-frame

Intellectual property linked to the project must be free of any previous commitments.

The application must:

-Address original hypotheses and present a research plan with a solid scientific basis

-Describe the vision of the research-commercialisation continuum

-Propose a plan of action and a structured development plan including specific timelines and deliverables

Priority topics

-Infectious diseases (including AIDS)

-Cancer

-Cardiovascular and Metabolic diseases

-Mental health and neurodegenerative diseases

-Inflammation

-Pain

-Management of chronic diseases

Irrespective of topic, priority will be given to questions bearing upon specific clinical problems.

Pfizer-FRSQ Innovation Fund

Conditions

-The application must be made by a principal investigator and co-investigators.

-All of the investigators must adequately demonstrate that they are, or will be, actively collaborating in the proposed research project and must specify amount of dedicated time.

-The principal investigator must demonstrate that sufficient research time will be devoted to the project to ensure its success.

Target applicants

The principal investigator and co-investigators must:

-Have a current Quebec University affiliation

-Be Canadian citizens or permanent residents (as defined in 1.1 of Common Rules and Regulations) and be domiciled in Quebec when the grant comes into effect

Collaborators may come from outside Quebec but they may not receive funds from Quebec.

Multiple applications

An investigator may submit only one application under this program either as a principal investigator or co-investigator.

Basic training in research ethics

Basic training in research ethics is compulsory for all FRSQ investigators or co-investigators when their research program or project involves human subjects.

The term "research project involving human subjects" applies when the research project involves:

-living human subjects

-cadavers, human remains, tissues, biological fluids, gametes, embryos or fetuses, cells or genetic materials

-personal information on file. Personal information is defined as information that enables a person to be identified.

This basic training includes the successful completion of Levels 1 and 3 of the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux On-line Tutorial in Research Ethics.

Investigators and co-investigators must complete this basic training within a year of receipt of a positive response concerning the FRSQ grant.

Pfizer-FRSQ Innovation Fund

Electronic documents

Please make sure to transmit your e-documents to the FRSQ.

Applicants

-Canadian Common CV (full CV) of the principal investigator and each of the co-investigators

-Letter of intent form

Only investigators whose letters of intent are selected will be invited to submit a full application.

The FRSQ will notify applicants by e-mail if their letter of intent has been selected.

Pfizer-FRSQ Innovation Fund

Electronic documents

Please make sure to transmit your e-documents to the FRSQ.

Applicants

-Canadian Common CV (full CV) of the principal investigator and co-investigators

-Application form

Paper documents

The post office stamp or fax transmission date is proof of the document filing date.

Mailing address

FRSQ
500 Sherbrooke St. West
Suite 800
Montreal (Québec)
H3A 3C6

Applicants

-Copy of all summaries of research projects currently funded, or currently submitted and under review, by agencies with peer-review panels (for the principal investigator and all co-investigators)

-Copies of all notices of scholarships and grants received over the course of the past four years (principal investigator and co-investigators), other than scholarships and grants received from the FRSQ.

-Copy of the Permanent Resident Card, if applicable, to be received:

Pfizer-FRSQ Innovation Fund

Choice of research location

-A Quebec University or an Institution administered by the Ministère de la Santé et des Services Sociaux du Québec (MSSS).

Change of research location

The FRSQ assumes that the applicant will conduct his/her project throughout the entire grant period at the same institution or university that initially endorsed the application.

An applicant wishing to change the research location must apply in writing to the FRSQ for authorization to do so. The request must detail the reasons for the change and describe all possible consequences for the research project.

University or institutional authorities must provide the FRSQ with written confirmation that they have been made aware of, and approve, the proposed change of research location.

The director of the new research centre or university department must provide the FRSQ with written confirmation that they agree to host the applicant’s project for the remainder of the grant period.

Pfizer-FRSQ Innovation Fund

Term

3 years, not renewable

Effective starting date

Between April 1 and August 31, 2009

Pfizer-FRSQ Innovation Fund

Amount

A maximum of $500,000 per year

Condition of payment

Annual payment of the grant will be conditional on an oral presentation and submission of periodic progress reports.

Pfizer-FRSQ Innovation Fund

Eligible

-Salaries of research assistants

-Remuneration of resource persons essential to the project

-Master's and doctoral training awards and Postdoctoral training awards

-Purchase and leasing of equipment required and adequately justified in the application

-Research material and all other expenses required to conduct the research project and adequately justified in the application

-Costs related to the development of a formal business plan to a maximum of $10 000

-Participation in scientific conferences for an amount not exceeding 3% per year of the grant

Not eligible

-Remuneration of principal investigators and co-investigators

-All indirect expenditures related to the layout or reorganization, leasing and maintenance of facilities, indirect costs paid by the host institution

Pfizer-FRSQ Innovation Fund

Process

Letters of intent

An advisory board comprised of at least five scientists, including the FRSQ President or a delegated representative, two Pfizer Canada employees and two members appointed by the FRSQ will evaluate and select the letters of intent. The board will be chaired by the FRSQ President or a delegated representative.

The applicants whose letters have been selected will be invited to submit a full application.

Full Applications

Applications will be evaluated by a review panel of 10 scientists from outside Québec selected by the FRSQ, including two members from the private sector and two scientists employed by Pfizer to act as observers. As observers, the Pfizer employees do not have voting rights.

Criteria

-Scientific quality and innovative aspects of the project

-Potential for technology transfer and commercialisation

Pfizer-FRSQ Innovation Fund

In accepting the grant, the applicant agrees to observe the Common Rules and Regulations, as well as the terms and conditions stipulated in this Program Description.

The grant will be revoked if the applicant fails to observe these rules.

The applicant must notify the FRSQ of his/her acceptance of the grant within 30 days of receiving the offer.

Failure to give notice of acceptance will be regarded as refusal of the grant.

Pfizer-FRSQ Innovation Fund

The host institution agrees to provide the functional laboratories or research facilities and the basic equipment necessary for conducting the research project.

Pfizer-FRSQ Innovation Fund

Pfizer Canada