Call for Proposals 2022

The Canadian Sleep Society and Jazz Pharmaceuticals are proud to present the inaugural “CSS-Jazz Research Awards”.

These awards are intended for trainees/early career clinicians or doctorates (i.e., medical residents or fellows, PhD students in year 2 or higher, and post-doctoral fellows less than 5yrs post-PhD) who are or will be registered in a Canadian medical or research program, to fund a research project on the topic of sleep medicine and/or sleep biology. Projects focusing on central disorders of hypersomnolence (CDH) will be given priority. Projects related to insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea are excluded from this awards program. The awards will be presented at the Canadian Sleep Society National Conference in 2023.

Terms of Reference for the Awards

Applicants are asked to submit a brief proposal (two pages maximum) and a Curriculum Vitae (two pages maximum). The proposal should include the following:

• Outline of project
• Description of the research environment (and any co-investigators other than the applicant’s mentor or supervisor) where the research project will be conducted
• Name of potential mentor or supervisor
• Budget
  • If scope of project is greater than the funds awarded, the applicant must explain how the grant will be used and how they plan on raising the additional funds needed to complete the project. If another member of the team is involved in the project, applicant is to describe their role in the study.
• The Curriculum Vitae must outline any prior research experience, awards, and publications

Submissions must be made through the CSS Awards Platform: CLICK HERE.

Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be assessed by a judging panel of experts on the following criteria:

• Impact of Research Project
  • Rationale
  • Methods/Approach
  • Consideration of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
  • Implications/Usefulness of Research Project
  • Plan for Knowledge Translation and Mobilization
• Feasibility of Research
  • Timeline (Note: Research project must be completed within a maximum of 2 years)
  • Budget
• Quality of Applicant
  • CV including any awards, scholarships, and publications
  • Research environment and mentor/supervisor

Award Fund Stipulations

• Award funds are intended to support original research conducted by the applicant(s) and should not supplement funding for an on-going project.
  • Proposals are not limited by research methodology but must be primary, empirical research.
  • If the submission refers to a multicenter clinical trial, the applicant must specify their specific role in the research study.
  • If the application is for a sub-study of an on-going trial, the applicant must specify their role and explain how the sub-study is distinct from the main trial.
• Funds may be used for research operating costs, applicant salary, scholarship, fellowship, stipend top-up or buy-out time
• If the scope of the project is greater than the funds awarded, the applicant must explain the area in which the grant will be used
• Award funding shall commence between June 2023 – January 2024

Process

An evaluation committee co-chaired by Dr. Célyne Bastien and Dr. Thien Thanh Dang-Vu and consisting of Dr. Najib Ayas, Dr. John Peever, and Dr. Indra Narang, will review applications, and select the three most meritorious as finalists.

These three finalists will present their research project at a Canadian Sleep Society symposium to be held during the CSS Annual Conference in Ottawa on Friday, April 28, 2023, from 5:00 – 6:30 pm ET. During a 15-minute presentation, each of the three finalists will have the opportunity to pitch their research project and answer questions from the judging panel above. Following the presentations, the three finalists will be ranked by the judges, and each awarded a CSS-Jazz Research Award.

Funds Available

• 1^st Prize: $33,000
• 2^nd Prize: $22,000
• 3^rd Prize: $15,000
• Bonus Prize: $5,000 to be awarded by the CSS symposium audience to one of the three finalists for the best presentation.

Deadlines

• Submission Due Date: February 1^st, 2023
• Finalists Announcement: Early March 2023
• Presentation Competition and Awards Ceremony: April 28^th, 2023

Please visit CSS Award Submission Site for more details and to submit your research proposal: CLICK HERE

Additional Important Proposal Submission Information:

• Current (or will be registered) medical residents and fellows in a College of Physicians and Surgeons approved program OR PhD students in year 2 or higher OR post-doctoral fellows within 5 years post-completed of their PhD and affiliated (or will be affiliated) with an accredited Canadian institution are eligible to submit a proposal.
• Award funds are solely intended for research purposes which include research operating costs, applicant salary, scholarship, fellowship, stipend top-up or buy-out time
• The award funds will be administered by the relevant department of the winners’ affiliated universities or equivalent.
• Research funding will commence between June 2023 to January 2024. Research should be completed within two years of funds being awarded. If an awardee must take a leave of absence for any reason, they must alert the awarding body of this change in timeline.
• Research status reports will be requested and should be submitted at the beginning of April 2024 and April 2025.
• Mentor name, affiliation, and qualifications must be provided at the time of proposal submission.
• Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: The CSS and Jazz Pharmaceuticals value the diversity of research teams and the importance of an inclusive and accessible research environment. We encourage applicants from diverse communities to apply.
• Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion statements in research proposals may apply to either the applicant, the research project or both. Applicants are encouraged to self-disclose at their own discretion any identities or minority groups to which they belong, and any lived experience they bring to the research environment. Applicants are also encouraged to discuss how EDI will be considered in the research process. Please refer to the Canadian Institutes of Health Research EDI resources for further guidance (https://cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/52553.html).
• The final stage of the competition process is performance-based: be prepared to defend your proposal during a CSS symposium on April 28^th, 2023, in front of an audience of around 200 delegates, as you encounter challenging questions from the judging panel. The format will draw loosely from the television shows Shark Tank and Dragon’s Den. Contestants must be prepared to answer tough questions with brief and succinct statements. More details will be provided when finalists are selected.
• The Canadian Sleep Society will announce finalists in February 2023. The ranking (first, second, and third place) will be voted by judges during the CSS symposium on April 28^th, 2023, following presentations by the finalists. The winner of the $5,000 presentation bonus will be decided by the audience during the symposium.
• As the audience will vote during the symposium to allocate the $5,000 bonus prize, we encourage finalists to invite their colleagues to attend to cheer them on. Flags from each of the three finalists’ universities will be distributed to each delegate to add to the competitive atmosphere.
• The finalists must submit a photo and brief resume to be published on the program’s website at http://sleepconference.ca.
• Applicants must be available to travel to Ottawa to present their research projects to the judging panel during the symposium on April 28^th, 2022. Travel arrangements and conference registration will be covered for finalists.