Wabanaki-Labrador Indigenous Health Research Network  

Breast Cancer Research Fund 

 

Application deadline January 31st, 2025, by 11:50PM Atlantic 

NEW: Please indicate your intent to apply by emailing wln@dal.ca, indicating that you are applying to the WLN Breast Cancer Support Fund, the lead applicant’s name and the host institution. We will follow up with submission details.

Description 

In partnership with the Dalhousie Medical Research Development Office (MRDO), the Wabanaki-Labrador Indigenous Health Research Network (WLN) is announcing a special funding call with a focus on breast cancer research in Indigenous communities in the Atlantic Region. This funding opportunity is designed to foster and develop knowledge, capacity, and programs that help to address health priorities set by Indigenous communities in Atlantic Canada around breast cancer research.    

 

The WLN Breast Cancer Research Fund will support a project geared toward targeted research, capacity-building and co-learning activities in the Wabanaki-Labrador region. The intention of this Research Fund is to encourage and support Indigenous Communities, Collectives and Organizations (ICCOs) to direct, lead, and independently oversee research from design to dissemination. This funding call is an opportunity for research teams to examine a priority issue (or issues) that holds relevance to ICCOs; to enable ICCOs to generate preliminary observations, data or knowledge that is necessary to pursue longer-term research funding; and to create collaboration between ICCOs in the Wabanaki-Labrador region.   

 

Objectives of the Breast Cancer Research Fund: 

  • Supporting Indigenous communities in addressing their health research priorities around the topic of breast cancer.  

  • Generating research that supports and promotes improvements to individual and community health and wellbeing related to the awareness and prevention of breast cancer. 

  • Advancing self-determination in research and research oversight.  

  • Supporting research governance and data sovereignty. 

  • Supporting research training within Indigenous communities. 

  • Integrating roles for Elders/Traditional Knowledge Keepers and Youth to work together. 

  • Integrating sex and gender components into research program. 

 

Funds Available for this Opportunity: 

 The maximum amount that can be requested is $125,000 per year over two (2) years for a total of $250,000. The WLN can support one (1) breast cancer research project at this time.  

Eligibility 

  1. WLN Membership: To be eligible to apply for funding all members for your research team must register to become a member with the WLN. By joining the WLN you agree to receive our e-digest, email communications, and invitations to participate in WLN activities. Please register here.  

  2. Eligibility to hold WLN Funds: Funds for WLN calls can be held by a Not-for-Profit Indigenous community, collaborative or organization (ICCO), so long as it has an explicit health research or Knowledge Translation mandate.  

  3. Funded groups will need to demonstrate the ability to administer funds (example: financial reporting). We will work with all funded groups to offer support where needed.  

  4. The ICCO must be located in the Wabanaki-Labrador region, which is defined as including New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Nova Scotia.  

  5. CIHR policy indicates that the team lead is not permitted to use the project funds for their own salary unless they apply for a work time release.   

  6. The application must include roles for youth and Elders or Traditional Knowledge Keepers (as your community defines it).   

 

Before you apply 

  1. Attend one (1) information webinar. The WLN will offer two (2) information webinars (Updated: Friday December 06th, 2024 from 12-1pm and January 10, 2025 from 12-1pm) that will describe the funding opportunity in detail and answer any questions you may have. Please email wln@dal.ca to sign up!  

  2. Book an Expression of Interest meeting. This is an opportunity to discuss your plans for the funding. This meeting is to start a relationship, so that the WLN team understands your research plans and can assist with identifying ways to support your application.  

 

What to Include in the Application (list of required application components):   

  1. Application form

  2. Project narrative: A 10-page description of your proposed project. Please see guiding questions and instructions.  

  3. Budget template and justification:  A budget template is provided for your use. This allows you to itemize and justify eligible expenses. The total funds requested must not exceed $125,000 per year over the 2-year funding period. The budget may include additional expenses that will be covered by other sources. WLN will not support any expenses incurred outside the agreed funding period. Please  carefully read details on eligible and ineligible expenses, which can be found on the main funding page here.  

  4. Timeline:  Provide an outline of your proposed timeline with key research milestones over the two-year period. A template is provided for guidance.   

  5. Strategic Priorities:Applicants need to include a description of their organization’s strategic priorities. This document must include a description of how the organization meets the eligibility requirement of being an ICCO with a research or knowledge translation mandate; justification about why the organization is well suited for this funding. 

  6. Release Time Letter, if needed. Note: Tri-agency policy indicates that the principal applicant is not permitted to use the project funds for their own salary.  

  7. Appendix A (Applicant profile, resumé, or CV template): Please complete the Applicant Profile (maximum 5 pages) OR submit a resumé or CV (5-pages maximum) for each team member listed on the application. Please ensure that the information demonstrates skills, experience and expertise that is directly related to the proposed project.  

  8. Appendix B (Letters of support): Letters of support demonstrate partnerships that are needed or in place to undertake the proposed activities. Please provide relevant letters of support from partners to demonstrate the role of the partners in relation to the activities proposed. The letters should also include any contributions that your potential partners and/or collaborators will make to the research (actual or in kind).     

  9. References cited: This section will include a list of references for all literature and sources you have cited in your proposal. This list should appear in a separate word document. There is no limit to the number of references that can be used. *If there are any articles or literature you need and are not able to access, reach out and the WLN may be able to help you. An example of a reference list and how references can be cited is included here. 

The WLN core team will be available to offer support and answer questions as you prepare your application.

Please contact us anytime at wln@dal.ca