Core Platform Sustainability (2024)

1. About the Program

State-of-the-art Core Platforms play a key role in supporting research and development, and seamless technology uptake and transfer. They provide academic researchers and industry collaborators with the latest technologies and resources on a fee-for-service basis, while also enriching the quality of research and accelerate the pace of discovery. Given that D2R fields of research are technology-driven and rapidly evolving, new core facilities in areas such as genomics, RNA chemistry, data science, biomanufacturing, and clinical research may be established during the D2R term. Additionally, novel platforms in research ethics, policy, regulatory compliance, Indigenous health, and other areas of social sciences may be developed, promoting knowledge mobilization and translation to society. These platforms also offer a competitive edge in recruiting early career researchers (ECRs). This program offers operational support to select existing or newly formed McGill Core Platforms, for technical personnel, data managers, extended warranties, and equipment repair and services.

2. Objectives

The Core Platform Sustainability Program aims to:

  • Strengthen research capacity in D2R fields of research with state-of-the-art technology and expertise, enabling world-class research and development.
  • Optimize their operations to improve the accessibility and responsiveness of services for D2R researchers.
  • Expand their scientific and technical capabilities, providing vital support to the broad research community in D2R areas.
  • Adopt and foster best practices in governance and management, including long-term strategic and operational planning, such as cost recovery (user fees) and long-term financial sustainability.
  • Promote industry collaboration and, as relevant, foster multi-disciplinary collaborations
  • Serve as a training ground for the next generation of researchers, equipping them with the skills and experience needed to excel in cutting-edge scientific fields.

Key Information

Key Dates
  • Application Deadline: September 30 at 5 PM Eastern time. Late or incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
  • Award Announcement: November 2024
Application

The application consists of an online form with up to seven (7) documents to upload. The templates linked below must be used.

Review the online form and gather all necessary information and documents beforehand. The form needs to be completed in one session as it does not support saving and resuming

Eligibility

Status

  • The Core Platform must be recognized by the lead Faculty as described in McGill’s Policy on Research Entities and related Procedure for Core Facilities to be considered eligible for D2R funding.
  • Core Platforms with provisional status(i.e., pending approval) may receive funding for one year with continued funding contingent on obtaining full status within the first year of D2R funding.

Alignment with D2R

  • The Core Platform’s services and activities must align with D2R’s Foundational Axes and Priority Disease Areas.

Applicant

  • The Principal Applicant, and any Co-Applicants, must be a faculty member at McGill University who is eligible to hold Tri-Agency research funding. Normally, the Scientific Director of the Core Platform is the Principal Applicant.

Limitations

  • The application limitation within a funding cycle set for some of the D2R’s Funding Programs does not apply to the Core Platform program.
Funding and Duration

Funding per Award: up to $250,000 annually for up to three years for a maximum of $750,000

3. Funding Envelope and Duration for this Competition

  • Funding per Award: up to $250,000 annually for up to three years for a maximum of $750,000
  • 4-6 Core Platforms are expected to be funded

4. Key Dates

  • Application Deadline: September 30 at 5 PM Eastern time. Late or incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
  • Award Announcement: November 2024

5. Expenses

Eligible expenses:

  • Salary and benefits for technical personnel operating the instrumentation and for personnel who provides support (e.g., training, service) to users of the Core Platform
  • Materials and supplies consumed in providing the services
  • Costs related to professional development and training for personnel to ensure that they have appropriate skills and expertise for their work, e.g., technical training, health and safety, or accreditation related.
  • Costs related to organizing information sessions and workshops for users.
  • Upgrades, repairs and service contracts for instruments
  • Software licenses for instrumentation at the Core Platform
  • Purchase of small equipment up to a maximum of $25,000 for the replacement of aging instruments and broken parts. This is intended for maintaining existing capabilities.
  • Laptops, phones, and other material for personnel
  • All expenses must comply with the CFREF Administration Guide.

Ineligible expenses include, but are not limited to:

  • Research infrastructure operating costs already supported by CFI
  • New capital research equipment adding new functionalities to the Core platform
  • Salary support for research trainees at all levels (including Postdoctoral researchers)
  • Salary support for PIs
  • Salary support for administrative personnel for PIs
  • Costs for the renovation, moving or rental of research facilities

6. Eligibility

Status

  • The Core Platform must be recognized by the lead Faculty as described in McGill’s Policy on Research Entities and related Procedure for Core Facilities to be considered eligible for D2R funding.
  • Core Platforms with provisional status(i.e., pending approval) may receive funding for one year with continued funding contingent on obtaining full status within the first year of D2R funding.

Alignment with D2R

  • The Core Platform’s services and activities must align with D2R’s Foundational Axes and Priority Disease Areas.

Applicant

  • The Principal Applicant, and any Co-Applicants, must be a faculty member at McGill University who is eligible to hold Tri-Agency research funding. Normally, the Scientific Director of the Core Platform is the Principal Applicant.

Limitations

  • The application limitation within a funding cycle set for some of the D2R’s Funding Programs does not apply to the Core Platform program.

7. Application

The application consists of an online form with up to seven (7) documents to upload. The templates linked below must be used.

Review the online form and gather all necessary information and documents beforehand. The form needs to be completed in one session as it does not support saving and resuming.

7.1 Documents to Upload

Include the Core Platform name in file name of each uploaded documents.

  1. Proposal* (Template)
  2. Budget and User Tables* (Template)
  3. Biosketch* (Template) for the Principal Applicant and all Co-Applicants
  4. Key Staff biographies. In a maximum of two pages, summarize the qualifications for all the key personnel who run and maintain the facility.
  5. Milestones and Timeline* (Template)
  6. If available, the most recent annual report that was submitted to the lead Faculty
  7. Suggestions for External Reviewers* (Template)

*required

7.2 Proposal

Page Limits:

a) English applications: maximum 9 pages, inclusive of references
b)French applications: maximum 10 pages, inclusive of references

Any additional pages will be removed prior to review.

Use the template provided to address the following.

A. Background and Rationale

  • Mission, Objectives, and Goals: Brief background and rationale of your Core Platform, including when and how it was established.
  • Services Provided: Overview of services, technologies, instruments, or tools provided to the community.
  • Uniqueness: What sets your Core Platform apart from others?
  • Alignment with D2R: Describe how the Core Platform aligns with D2R’s mission and objectives and responds to the needs of D2R-related research areas. Include timelines, milestones, and deliverables.
  • Impact: Discuss the Core Platform’s potential short-term and long-term impact on the D2R research community, particularly at McGill.
  • Support for Researchers: How will your Core Platform support researchers in advancing D2R’s mission and objectives?
  • Support for Trainees: What services and training opportunities are available to students (at all levels), postdoctoral fellows, and any other trainees?

B. Operations, Governance, Management, and Human Resources

  • Operations: Describe the Core Platform’s operations, including Standard Operating Procedures.
  • Governance and Management: Outline the governance and management structure. Include an organizational chart if applicable.
  • Human Resources: Describe the team, listing all core personnel. (Note that one of the attachments is two-page biography for key personnel.) Include strategies for training and professional development.
  • Resource Management: Outline the resource management plan, including equipment use and maintenance.

C. User Base, Engagement, Communications, Training of HQPs

  • User Base: Describe the need for your Core Platform for the McGill D2R community and beyond.
  • Engagement and Communications: Detail strategies for user engagement, training, and promoting services.
  • Feedback and Outputs: Describe how you will obtain and respond to user feedback and track user publications, grants, and other outputs.
  • Overview of Users: Provide a summary description or any additional relevant context to the detailed information that is in the “Users” tab of the Budget and Tables Excel workbook. In particular, describe the work or outputs of high-frequency users.

D. Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

  • EDI Principles: Describe your approach to embedding EDI principles in your Core Platform’s practices and strategies.
  • Assessment Measures: Outline measures to assess the effectiveness of these strategies.
  • Advancing McGill’s EDI Commitment: Explain how the Core Platform advances McGill’s commitment to EDI.
  • Support Required: Outline the support needed to implement these practices.

E. Financial Management and Need for D2R Funding

  • Cost Recovery Strategy: Describe your cost recovery strategy.
  • Operating Expenses and Non-D2R Funding: Provide an overview of total cash operating expenses and non-D2R funding (confirmed and anticipated) for the next three fiscal years.
  • Budget Justification: Provide any additional details for those budget items or expense categories which may require additional justification, from the requested D2R funding.
  • Need for D2R Funding: Demonstrate the need for the requested D2R funding.
  • Sustainability Plan Beyond D2R Funding: Describe the sustainability plan beyond D2R funding (starting in year 4). If you expect no or minimal user fees, describe other revenue-generating strategies.

F.References

  • Provide DOIs when available for works cited.
  • Provide references only for documents cited in the proposal.

8. Evaluation Process, Criteria and Decision

The review and evaluation process involve three steps:

Administrative Review: An administrative review will be conducted for each application to verify completion and eligibility of the Core Platform and the Applicant(s).

Merit Evaluation: All eligible applications will be evaluated by experts in managing core platforms who are free of conflicts of interest. It is based on the five criteria found in Appendix 1 (100 points total).

Strategic Alignment: This review will be completed by the D2R Strategic Alignment Review Committee (SARC) based on three aspects:

  • Mission and objectives alignment between the Core Platform and D2R.
  • Contribution to D2R’s mission and overarching objectives and the impact to the D2R community.
  • Need for D2R support as described in the budget justification.

9. Announcement of Results

Applicants will be informed of the results by email in November 2024.

Successful Applicants will receive a Notice of Award (NoA), which details the terms, conditions, and reporting obligations.

Successful Applicants (i.e., the Scientific Director of the Core Platform) must complete the D2R Award Acceptance Form and McGill University’s Research Funding Checklist (RFC) within two weeks of receiving the NoA.

10. Contact Information

Email: D2R.Funding [at] mcgill.ca (subject: Core%20Platform%20Sustainability%20program)

Appendix 1: Evaluation Grid for External Reviewers

Evaluation Grid for External Reviewers

CriteriaPoints

1. Background and Rationale for Proposed Core Platform (25 points)

  • Clarity and feasibility of proposed services, including timelines, milestones, and deliverables.
  • Potential to support researchers in advancing D2R’s mission and objectives.
  • Evidence of responding to identified needs in D2R-related research areas.
  • Justification that the proposal supports a Core Platform rather than a research program.
  • Uniqueness and usefulness of the service provided to its intended user base.
  • Short-term and long-term impact on the D2R community.
25

2. Operations, Governance, Management, and Human Resources (20 points)

  • Adoption of best practices in operations and governance, suitable for the size and complexity of the platform.
  • Qualifications and appropriateness of leadership and staff to manage and deliver objectives.
  • Professional development plan for Core Platform personnel.
  • Effective resource management plan, including equipment use and maintenance.
20

3. User Base, Engagement, Communications, and Training (20 points)

  • Demonstrated need from the D2R research community (e.g., academic institutions, industry).
  • Size and diversity of current and anticipated users, including a detailed list for existing platforms.
  • Regular user engagement and training activities (e.g., courses, seminars, workshops).
  • Plan for tracking user outputs, such as publications and grants.
  • Comprehensive communication plan with user feedback mechanisms.
  • Regularly updated and informative website.
  • Regular communications (e.g., newsletters, event announcements) to potential users.
20

    4. Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) (10 points)

    • Integration and promotion of EDI principles in Core Platform management, including staffing and user access.
    • Transparency in the process for accessing services (e.g., user fees and booking access) available on the Core Platform website.
    10

    5. Financial Management and Need for D2R Funding (25 points)

    • Demonstrated need for funding to develop and optimally operate the Core Platform.
    • Clear cost recovery strategy and budget planning for the next three years.
    • Appropriateness of budgeted expenses for proposed activities.
    • Relevance and feasibility of the sustainability plan, including other funding sources and user fee structure.
    • Overall appropriateness of the budget relative to services provided and the number of users served.
    • Completed budget template, following guidelines.
    25
    Core Platform Sustainability (2024)

    FAQs

    How do you answer sustainability questions? ›

    This may seem like a simple question, but to answer it would require an agreement of what sustainability means to your organization. To set a sustainability program in place, define what components it is comprised of and be ready to defend how it supports your organization's overall mission.

    How to answer what does sustainability mean to you? ›

    Sustainability, in its essence, refers to the ability to maintain and support a process or practice over the long term. In the context of environmental science, it involves actions and strategies that meet society's present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own.

    What are the 3 core goals of sustainability? ›

    The 3 pillars of sustainability: environmental, social and economic.

    What are the 3 C's of sustainability? ›

    By embracing the 3 C's — Conservation, Community, and Circular Economy — we can collectively move towards a more sustainable and resilient future. Let's weave these principles into the fabric of our lifestyles and foster a world where environmental and social responsibility go hand in hand.

    What is sustainability answers? ›

    Sustainability is ability to maintain or support a process over time. Sustainability is often broken into three core concepts: economic, environmental, and social.

    How to answer sustainability questions on grant application? ›

    It's about more than bringing money in; it's your strategic vision for funding your program and how you plan to implement that vision. Providing answers on 1) current resources, 2) current support, and 3) impact and outcomes leads to solid and convincing sustainability.

    What is sustainability in 3 words? ›

    Sustainability is the balance between the environment, equity, and economy.

    What is a simple example of sustainability? ›

    Climate action: Acting now to stop global warming. Life below water: Avoiding the use of plastic bags to keep the oceans clean. Life on land: Planting trees to help protect the environment. Responsible consumption and production: Recycling items such as paper, plastic, glass and aluminum.

    What is sustainability in your own words? ›

    Sustainability is the ability to exist and develop without depleting natural resources for the future. The United Nations defined sustainable development in the Brundtland Report as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

    What are the 3 P's of sustainability? ›

    The 3Ps of sustainability are a well-known and accepted business concept. The Ps refer to People, Planet, and Profit, also often referred to as the triple bottom line. Sustainability has the role of protecting and maximising the benefit of the 3Ps. Green programs take care of people.

    How to write a sustainability statement? ›

    As you write your sustainability mission statement, highlight goals for the future and areas of transition. For example, if you're working toward becoming plastic-free, but you're not there yet, be open about your current stance and your plans to become plastic-free in the future. Keep it simple.

    What are the 3 E's of sustainability? ›

    While many community dynamics are at work, three are particularly important to building healthy and prosperous communities over the long term: economy, ecology, and equity—the three E's.

    What are 3 principles of sustainability? ›

    The 3 principles of sustainability are environmental sustainability, social sustainability, and economic sustainability. These principles guide us in creating a balanced and sustainable future for our planet and its inhabitants.

    What are the 3 main areas of sustainability? ›

    Sustainable development is based on three fundamental pillars: social, economic and environmental. The Brundtland report, which sustainable development is gets its name from – delineated the development of human resources in form of extreme poverty reduction, global gender equity, and wealth redistribution.

    What are the 3 primary goals of sustainability? ›

    Goal 1: No Poverty: End poverty in all its forms everywhere. Goal 2: Zero Hunger: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture. Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

    What is a simple way to explain sustainability? ›

    Sustainability is our society's ability to exist and develop without depleting all of the natural resources needed to live in the future. Sustainable development supports this long-term goal with the implementation of systems, frameworks, and support from global, national, and local entities.

    How do you demonstrate sustainability at work? ›

    7 Key Strategies For Promoting Sustainability In The Workplace
    1. Encourage remote and hybrid work.
    2. Go paperless.
    3. Conserve energy.
    4. Conserve water.
    5. Encourage sustainable transportation.
    6. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
    7. Become involved in the community.
    8. Light it up with humour.

    What would be an example of sustainability? ›

    The average energy-efficient bulb uses less than $1.50 of electricity per year and will last at least a decade. This is an extremely simple example of real-life sustainability, yet it's one of the most effective.

    Which is the best explanation of sustainability? ›

    "Sustainability means meeting our own needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

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