Azrieli Accelerator and Owerko Centre Catalyst Grants in Neurodevelopmental Research

Applications are open until March 7, 2025

Value: up to $50,000 each

Duration: 2 years

Deadline: March 7, 2025, 5:00 p.m. (MT)

The Azrieli Accelerator, in partnership with the Owerko Centre, invites applications for Catalyst Grants to support research related to neurodevelopment and neurodevelopmental conditions. Research questions can focus on any developmental period – from pre-natal to childhood to older adulthood. Ten grants, up to $50,000 each, will be awarded. Six grants will be awarded by the Azrieli Accelerator and four grants will be awarded by the Owerko Centre. 

Download Call For Proposals Download Application Guide

Ready to apply?

There are two key steps to your application:

  1. Prepare a written proposal following the instructions in the application guide. 
  2. Submit your proposal online at the link below. This process requires you to complete identifying information to help determine which funding stream(s) your application is eligible for.
Apply now

Eligible applicants:

Align with research priorities

Projects should align with at least one of the Azrieli Accelerator’s three Keystone Program areas: Brain Circuitry; Microbiome Influences; or Supports, Services & Systems.

Explore neurodevelopment

The research proposed must be related to neurodevelopment or neurodevelopmental conditions.

Explore any developmental period

Research may focus on any developmental period across the lifespan, up to and including older adulthood.

Proposal Criteria

The terms of the application are outlined separately, but reviewers will be looking for alignment with these criteria:

Catalyst funding: The project should enable a researcher (or a research team) to initiate and catalyze research projects that will increase their competitiveness for larger scale external funding opportunities. Applicants will be asked to articulate the Expected Outcomes of the proposal, which should include details on future work that this funding will enable and plans for applications to other funders (local, provincial, national or international). Plans for knowledge mobilization and/or community engagement should also be articulated. 

Alignment with the funder mandates: Applicants will be asked to identify how their proposal aligns with the funding criteria of the Azrieli Accelerator and/or the Owerko Centre. In some cases, proposals might be aligned with both and will thus be submitted for review to both funders. Applicants are welcome to reach out to azrieli.accelerator@ucalgary.ca with any questions about eligibility or alignment.

Eligibility to apply: Funds must be held by a Nominated Principal Applicant (NPA), who must be a UCalgary faculty member. Please note that the grants funded by the Owerko Centre require the NPA to be a member of ACHRI. Please note that a researcher can only be listed as an NPA on one Catalyst Grant application in this request for proposals. Researchers that actively hold catalyst grants from Azrieli Accelerator or Owerko Centre are not eligible to apply to that funder’s stream as an NPA, but may be listed as a co-applicant or collaborator on another proposal in this competition. 

Adjudication

All applications will be reviewed for eligibility and assigned to the appropriate funding stream(s). The Owerko Centre and Azrieli Accelerator will separately conduct application reviews based on their own criteria and mandates. 

Proposals will be judged based on the following criteria:

  • Scientific merit and impact (50%)
  • Feasibility and expertise (25%)
  • Long-term objectives (25%)

Questions? Email the Azrieli Accelerator