TLDR:

• Colleges eligible
• No maximum funding amount: 100% of Direct costs, 40% of indirect costs
• No matching
• Reviewed by MCU
• Open until April 24

If you are a researcher from one of Ontario’s publicly-assisted colleges or universities, research hospitals or research institutes, you can apply for funding to conduct research to fight COVID-19 and support the province’s response effort.

How it works

The Ontario COVID-19 Rapid Research Fund provides research institutions with funding to contribute to global efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.

Applicants are invited to submit proposals that:

• contribute to the global response to the COVID-19 outbreak to mitigate the rapid spread and its potential negative consequences
• provide evidence to inform the clinical and public health response (including, but not limited to, research in medical, social and policy countermeasures), or inform decision-making and planning at the provincial, national and international levels
• are highly feasible with immediately achievable and important results
• are supported by the vice president of research, CEO or scientific director at the applicant’s institution

Who is eligible

Eligible institutions include:

• universities and colleges
• research hospitals
• non-profit research institutes

Funding amount

The Ontario COVID-19 Rapid Research Fund will pay the requested eligible:

• direct operating costs, including:
  • up to 100% for salaries and benefits
  • up to 10% for facilities and equipment
  • up to 10% for management and administration
• up to 40% of indirect (overhead) costs

The program’s contribution includes both direct and indirect cost support.

There is no maximum funding amount that you can request per grant. We will consider all funding requests on a case-by-case basis.

This program does not have a match component. However, where applicable, you should outline in your application whether the proposed project is co-funded by any other funding agency.

How to apply

Step 1: Notify your institution

Tell your institution’s research office that you plan to apply.

Step 2: Submit an application through the Ontario Together portal

To submit your application:

• go to the ideas section of the Ontario Together portal
• use the words: “MCU Research Proposal:” at the start of the project title
• make sure to include the name of your institution in the application

Step 3: MCU staff will review your application

If your application is eligible:

• we will provide you with the program guidelines and the application form for your proposal
• you must submit your proposal within seven days of receiving the notification email

We will only contact eligible applicants.

Step 4: Prepare your proposal

Make sure you follow the program guidelines and application instructions when you prepare the documents for your proposal package.

Step 5: Send your proposal package to your research office

Your research office will submit the complete proposal package to MCU.

Important dates

We will accept submissions through the Ontario Together portal until April 24, 2020.

We will review applications as quickly as possible based on the evaluation process outlined below so that this important research can begin.

Evaluation process

There are two stages of adjudication review:

Peer review

The first stage of review is by a peer review committee made up of scientific and medical experts. The committee will review all applications and will make a recommendation to the Ontario Research Fund Advisory Board based on the following criteria:

• quality of the project
• ability of the research team to carry out the proposed research
• immediacy and importance of the proposed research impact

Funding decisions

The Ontario Research Fund Advisory Board reviews the peer review committee’s recommendations and makes recommendations to the Minister of Colleges and Universities.

The Minister of Colleges and Universities makes the final funding decisions at their sole discretion. The COVID-19 Rapid Research Fund is a discretionary, non-entitlement program. Decisions are final and there is no appeal process.

Contact us

For more information, please contact ORF.Excellence@ontario.ca