ACT

Call for Proposals

New Networks

Deadline for applications is noon (12:00 pm) EST January 29, 2024

ACT-AEC Canada is holding an open competition to fund the development of new or existing trial networks in areas of need. Trial networks bring together relevant stakeholders (e.g., researchers, patient partners) and are focused on disease states, patient populations, or interventions. A total of $900,000 is available to fund 6 new networks (i.e., $150,000 for each successful network application) in the following streams:

Stream One – Mental Health – a new network focused on mental health RCTs.
Stream Two – Other Areas of Need – new trial networks in any demonstrated area of need.

Click here for full details and to access the RFA 4 Portal

Evaluate Canadian Biotechnologies with Randomized Controlled Trials (CLOSED)

CANet Review Deadline: Monday, June 19, 2023

A total of $2.0 million is available for this RFA. The maximum requested budget for any application is $400,000. Although the funding available may not be sufficient for a full-scale study, phase 2 and pilot or Vanguard trials to assess, for example, safety, recruitment potential, and feasibility are welcome.

Attention

CANet will only be allowed to support 3 submissions in this competition.If you intend to apply, you must send your full application to CANet by Monday, June 19, 2023 (11:59 PM Pacific Time) to Kevin O’Neil at [email protected].

Those selected to proceed to the full application will be provided with a letter of support from CANet before ACT’s deadline of July 7, 2023.

Click here to download the application information.

Advances in the Conduct of Randomized Controlled Trials (CLOSED)

CANet Review Deadline: Friday, May 19, 2023

This ACT “Call For Proposals: Advances in the Conduct of Randomized Controlled Trials” consists of 2 separate streams.

A total of $1.9 million is available for this RFA. The maximum requested budget for any application in Stream 1 is $200,000, and the maximum requested budget for any application in Stream 2 is $100,000.

Stream 1: Encourage Randomized Trials That Use Non-traditional and Efficient Designs and Approaches

For Stream 1, ACT is requesting for proposals to fund pilot trials and the vanguard phase of larger trials that use alternate designs and approaches. Any RCT proposed in this stream should be designed to generate robust results with a minimal risk of bias.

Stream 2: Generate High-quality Evidence on Methods to Improve the Conduct of Trials

For Stream 2, ACT is requesting for proposals that test interventions to improve the conduct of trials. If proposing a SWAT nested within a parent RCT, details confirming the parent trial is active, funded, and registered must be provided.

Attention

CANet will only be allowed to support 3 submissions in this competition.If you intend to apply, you must send your full application to CANet by Friday, May 19, 2023 (11:59 PM Pacific Time) to Kevin O’Neil at [email protected].

Those selected to proceed to the full application will be provided with a letter of support from CANet before ACT’s deadline of June 8, 2023.

Click here to download the application information.

ACT WEBINAR: Studies Within a Trial (SWATs)

To support this RFA and in partnership with CAN-TRAIN, ACT will hold a webinar on Studies Within a Trial on April 20^th at 7am PST | 8am MST | 10am EST | 11am AST. The webinar will be led by Dr. Adwoa Parker, who leads the Trial Forge Studies Within A Trial (SWATs) Centre at The University of York (UK).

Click here to download the webinar announcement.

A direct link to register for this webinar can also be found here.

Supporting the Completion of High-Impact Randomized Controlled Trials (CLOSED)

ACT has recently announced the first Call for Proposals: Supporting the Completion of High-Impact Randomized Controlled Trials.

A total of $2 million dollars is available for this competition. The maximum funding per application is $200,000.

CANet will only be allowed to support 3 submissions in this competition.

If you intend to apply, you must send your full application to CANet by Friday, March 24, 2023 (11:59 PM Pacific Time) to Kevin O’Neil at [email protected].

Those selected to proceed to the full application will be provided with a letter of support from CANet before ACT’s deadline of April 3, 2023.

Click here to download the application information.

Connecting ACT Networks and Canadian Biotech Companies

The First Annual ACT Meeting brought together various Canadian biotechnology companies interested in working with the ACT partnered Networks.

‘As the next ACT Request for Applications (RFA) involves biotechnology partnerships (Spring 2023), please refer to the list of biotechnology companies and their contact information:

ACT — Biotechnology Companies

If you have any questions, please contact Kevin O’Neil at [email protected].

Accelerating Clinical Trials (ACT) Consortium

The ACT Canada Consortium consists of hundreds of investigators, stakeholders, and highly qualified research personnel from 11 trial units and 28 research networks across Canada. The central guiding principle of the ACT Consortium is that its activities will accelerate, optimize, and facilitate the conduct, implementation, and results translation from high-quality, high-impact randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to improve health in Canada and around the world.

CANet is one of the many networks that is supported by ACT which allows CANet Network Investigators to apply for research monies and in-kind support for clinical trials.

ACT is providing research personnel to our Network to improve our infrastructure support and further our Network activities. Examples of in-kind support include insurance for clinical trials, assistance with identification and activation of research centres internationally, amongst others.

Consortium Highlights

ACT brings together hundreds of researchers from 28 networks, 11 trial units, patient-partners, the biotechnology industry, government, and experts in research ethics review processes, contracts, insurance, regulatory processes, patient engagement, clinical trials training, communications, knowledge mobilization – from Nova Scotia to British Columbia and Nunavut.
ACT will maximize research impact and knowledge mobilization – following best practices in patient-oriented research and integrated knowledge translation, leveraging national and international contacts.
ACT will advance equitable access to trials for all Canadians – no matter where they live, inclusive of gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status – following the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion in clinical trials such that the knowledge gained is applicable to all those affected.
ACT will build clinical trial capacity – providing trial units with the knowledge, skills, and experience to conduct large-scale trials. We will streamline administrative processes (for example, ethics reviews, contracts, and protocols) to accelerate timelines and reduce costs.

To learn more about ACT, visit www.act-aec.ca.