This program provides funding of up to $20,000 per applicant for pilot projects which are one to two years in length.  This program is intended to support novel and innovative research initiatives in the following general areas:

1. Diabetes care delivery
2. Evaluation of diabetes education programs
3. Practical issues in diabetes management

This program is designed to encourage new academic research activities that would not usually be supported by traditional granting processes.  Specifically, we invite applications from frontline diabetes health care professionals working in University of Toronto affiliated institutions or working with University of Toronto faculty. 

It is intended that this program will generate information directly applicable to management of individuals with diabetes.

Preference will be given to projects that, when completed, should form the basis for submission of a grant to a provincial or national grants competition. NOTE:  Individuals who intend on subsequently applying to a provincial or national granting agency may receive funding from the BBDC Pilot Grant program first as a way of collecting preliminary data.

It is expected that the results obtained will form the basis for a publication to be submitted to a peer-reviewed scientific journal.

This funding is not to be used as bridging or emergency funding, nor is it intended to support ongoing studies.

Preference will be given to applicants who do not have access to other sources of funding.

The principal applicant must be a health care professional whose primary appointment/employment (more than 50% of total salary) is with a University of Toronto-affiliated institution or with the University of Toronto. Staff at both fully and community affiliated University of Toronto institutions are eligible to apply. (See Appendix 1 for complete list of eligible institutions.)

Eligible applicants include: physicians, nurses, dietitians, social workers, pharmacists and others on the front line of diabetes care. 

The principal applicant must be a registered member* of the Banting & Best Diabetes Centre. (*Those who are new to the field of diabetes research, education or care and are not members of the BBDC can request free membership by contacting the Centre prior to submitting an application.  For more information about BBDC Membership please view the Membership section of this website.

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR APPLICANTS AT COMMUNITY-AFFILIATED INSTITUTIONS:  Staff at community affiliated institutions are eligible to apply.  However, a University of Toronto Faculty member must be involved in the proposed project and must be listed as a co-applicant.  The faculty member will be responsible for supervising the staff to ensure that proper research guidelines and procedures are adhered to.

THOSE NOT ELIGIBLE TO APPLY AS PRINCIPAL APPLICANT:  Clinical or research fellows, medical residents, graduate students, research associates, research technicians, clinical trial coordinators, and staff at community-affiliated institutions who do not include a University of Toronto faculty member as a co-applicant.

Examples of projects that could be considered for funding:

• Assessment of the effectiveness and feasibility of implementing specific management strategies in the general diabetes population (e.g. intensive diabetes management; lipid screening; etc.)
• Evaluation of novel educational, psychosocial, and dietary approaches to diabetes management.
• Evaluation of diabetes care delivery – understanding current levels of adherence to guidelines; testing new models to improve care
• Identifying social or clinical determinants of health outcomes in patients with diabetes, including barriers to accessing care
• Database or information systems development (project would require specific objectives and must include an evaluative component -- e.g. evaluate possible use as a patient management tool)
• Economic and health policy development with respect to diabetes
• Evaluation of current training programs for health professionals with respect to the adequacy of content on diabetes management
• Studies for diabetes prevention

Examples of projects NOT eligible for funding:

• Basic science research  
• Clinical/drug trials 
• Continuing education of health professionals (e.g. course fees, registration fees, etc.) 
• Operating costs of management or treatment programs
• Development of new hospital programs which do not include an evaluative component to determine the program’s effectiveness. 
• Equipment, books, journals, etc. 
• Bridge or continuation funding for ongoing research studies.
• Pilot Grant funds may not be used for travel or for the salary of the principal or co-applicants.

Applicants who are uncertain if their project would be considered eligible for funding are encouraged to contact the Banting & Best Diabetes Centre prior to submitting a letter of intent.

Up to $20,000 will be awarded to successful applicants.

Projects can be 1 to 2 years in length.  Funding period normally commencing on July 1, 2012 (but no later than September 1, 2012).

Applicants are required to inform the BBDC of any related support currently held or requested from other funding sources, and to what extent, if any, such support overlaps with the submitted grant request.  Should the application for the same project be successful with the BBDC as well as an external granting agency, the applicant must accept funding from the external agency.

If the proposal involves human subjects in any way, funds will not be released to successful applicants until all the approvals for ethical considerations have been obtained by the institution’s Research Ethics Review Board and forwarded to the BBDC.

Funds will be made available to successful applicants after July 1, 2012.  The project must commence and funds must be transferred to award recipients no later than September 1, 2012.  Failure to initiate project and transfer funds by that time will result in funding withdrawal.

Where appropriate, the Banting & Best Diabetes Centre’s support must be acknowledged in all publications and presentations that arise from this funding.  Failure to acknowledge the BBDC’s support in relevant publications and presentations will result in future ineligibility for BBDC funding programs.

LETTER OF INTENT AND ESTIMATED BUDGET:

In order to determine if proposals meet the eligibility guidelines of this funding program, interested individuals must first submit a letter of intent and brief estimated budget to the BBDC.  The following items must be submitted by the principal applicant by September 27, 2011:

1. A cover page listing the names of the principal applicant, all co-applicants, and institution(s). Include the principal applicant's mailing address, phone number, and e-mail address. Applicants from community affiliated institutions must include the name and faculty appointment of the University of Toronto faculty member who will be supervising the project.
2. A letter of intent outlining the intended program of activity (1 page maximum).
3. An estimated budget briefly itemizing how money will be spent (1/2 page maximum). Note: Pilot Grant funds may not be used for travel or for the salary of the principal or co-applicants.

All 3 items above should be submitted together to the Centre by e-mail to: diabetes.bbdc@utoronto.ca .

The deadline for receipt of cover page, letter of intent, and budget is 5 p.m., September 27, 2011. Letters that arrive after the deadline will not be considered.

FULL APPLICATION:

All letters of intent will be reviewed by the end of October and all applicants will be notified by that time.  However, only those applicants meeting the eligibility guidelines outlined will be asked to submit a full application.  The application must include an explanation as to how the project constitutes a novel and innovative diabetes research initiative and is not just an extension of ongoing or previous research efforts.  The deadline for receipt of full applications is 5 p.m., January 17, 2012.  Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.

All applicants who submit a full application will be notified of the final funding decisions in March 2012.

Successful applicants are required to provide the BBDC with a financial statement and detailed written report within three (3) months of the end of the funding period. The report must include the following:

1. A description of the project and results to date.
2. Whether or not any publications were generated as a result of this funding.
3. If so, was the BBDC's support acknowledged in the publications?
4. A copy of all manuscripts published and submitted must be attached to the written report.
5. Did the BBDC's support lead to any new grants/funding for this project?
6. If so, from which agencies/sources was funding received?
7. A detailed financial statement must be forwarded to the BBDC directly from the institution's finance department itemizing all expenses and showing the final balance.

Failure to provide either the written report or financial statement will result in future ineligibility for BBDC funding programs.