CQDM (Quebec Consortium for Drug Discovery)
CALL FOR PROPOSALS 2008-2009Ìý
PRELIMINARY APPLICATIONS (LETTERS OF INTENT)Ìý
DEADLINE: NOVEMBER 27, 2008
The main goal of the CQDM's (Quebec Consortium for Drug
Discovery) funding program is to promote the development of
innovative technologies that will facilitate the drug discovery
process.Ìý
This program does not intend to fund research on new drugs for
specific therapeutic segments. Instead, it is meant to finance the
development of new technologies and processes that will have the
power to enable the discovery process across several therapeutic
fields.
Ìý
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
Research must be performed in the province of Quebec. Although
not mandatory, involvement of multiple teams including academic and
private (biotech/CRO) sector groups will be seen as a strength.
Pre-existing intellectual property necessary for carrying out the
proposed project must be free of all encumbrances.Ìý
Intellectual property generated under this funding program will
belong to the inventors and their affiliated entities. A first
right of refusal for a non-exclusive end user license will be
granted to the CQDM's industrial sponsors for internal purposes
only.
Ìý
DURATION AND AMOUNT OF THE GRANT
Duration: maximum 3 years. Amount: $500,000 - $1,000,000/year.
Eligible expenses:Ìý
salary of research personnel necessary for the project (students,
postdoctoral fellows, technical/professional assistants),
Ìýmaterial and laboratory supplies necessary for the
realization of the project, travelling expenses (field work,
collaborations, conferences), intellectual property costs (patent
application, maintenance fees).Ìý
Non eligible expenses:Ìý
Equipment or facilities (purchase or rental, operation and
maintenance costs), salary of principal investigator and
co-investigators.Ìý
Annual disbursements: subject to milestoneÌý
achievement and satisfactory follow-ups.
Ìý
TIMETABLE
Call for proposals - launchingÌý
October 1st, 2008Ìý
Deadline for letters of intent submissionÌý
November 27th, 2008Ìý
Announcement of the selected letters of intentÌý
December 23rd, 2008Ìý
Deadline to submit full proposalsÌý
February 27th, 2009Ìý
ReviewÌý
March 2009Ìý
Final selection announcementÌý
April 2009Ìý
Funding release & beginning of the projectsÌý
June 2009
SUBMISSION PROCEDURES
THE LETTERS OF INTENT MUST BE RECEIVED BY NOVEMBER 27TH, 2008 AT
5:00 PM.Ìý
A total of 15 printed copies of the application form must be sent
by mail or courier to the address indicated below:
CQDMÌý
2, Place du CommerceÌý
Nun's Island (Quebec)Ìý
H3E 1A1
The application form (available on internet - ) required
for the letter of intent must include the following
sections:Ìý
candidate identification, title and summary of the project (maximum
1 page), hypotheses and rationale of the project (maximum 1
page),Ìý
description of the project (maximum 2 pages), expected results,
deliverables, milestones and schedule (maximum 1 page),Ìý
applications and impact on the drug discovery process (maximum 1
page), background intellectual property and commercial links with
the project (maximum ½ page), preliminary budget (maximum ½
page),Ìý
track records of the candidates (maximum 1 page),Ìý
signature of the principal investigator.
REVIEW AND DECISION PROCESS
CQDM's funding will be awarded following a competitive process in two stages.
1) Preliminary application (Letter of intent):Ìý
Applicants must submit a letter of intent describing the project
before November 27th, 2008. The selection of the letters of intent
will be overseen by the CQDM's Strategic Orientation Committee.
Only applicants whose letter of intent will be selected will be
invited to submit a full project proposal.
2) Full proposal:Ìý
Whenever possible, a support from a member of the pharma sponsors
of the CDQM will be provided to the applicants for the preparation
of the full project proposal. Evaluation of the proposals will
involve an international peer review led by "the Fonds de la
recherche en santé du Québec" (FRSQ). The committee will make
recommendations to the CQDM's board of directors which will make
the final selection of the research project to be funded.
SELECTION CRITERIA
- Scientific excellence.
- Creativity and innovation.
- Clear deliverables, milestones and schedule.
- Feasibility of the project (deliverables, timetable, human and financial resources).
- Capacity to generate applicable deliverables after a maximum of 3 years.
- Potential of applications in the drug discovery
process:Ìý
direct impact on drug discovery and the capacity to address important unmet needs. - Track record of the participants.
- Multidisciplinary and multi-organizational Ìý aspects of
the propositions.Ìý
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Diane Gosselin Vice president, Research and Business Development
CQDMÌý
(514) 766-6661, ext. 2191Ìý
dgosselin [at] cqdm.org