Background
The purpose of the Pilot Studies Competition funding opportunity is to build research capacity related to VTE and to enable CanVECTOR scientists to collect pilot data that will inform the conduct of larger multicentre clinical trials and increase the ability to attract external peer-reviewed funding.
The competition is held annually and administered by the network's Clinical Trials & Shared Platforms.
Funding Details
A total of $100,000, dependent upon partnership funding, is available to fund one or more pilot studies. Funding for individual projects may be awarded over one or two years.
It is expected that the applicants will seek peer-reviewed funding for the full trial within 3 years of receiving CanVECTOR funds.
Eligibility
Applicants
- The project team for the pilot study will include an investigator triad (senior investigator, an early or mid-career investigator, and a thrombosis fellow or trainee). It is also expected that a methods expert will be included on the team. At least one of the investigators in the triad must be a CanVECTOR member.
- Any investigator in the triad can be the lead investigator for the application.
- Inclusion of investigators from less-established research sites is encouraged.
- CanVECTOR is committed to conducting research that is meaningful to patients and their families and to including trained patient partners on project teams. Applications should include a patient engagement strategy and/or patient partner. To request assistance, please send a request to info@canvector.ca
Projects
- The project is expected to collect pilot data at two or more sites to inform a randomized controlled trial (RCT) that will be conducted at multiple CanVECTOR sites. Though it is often considered preferable, it is not an absolute requirement for the pilot study to have an RCT design; for example, it can be a cohort study that’s collecting pilot data that is needed to design a full RCT.
- The pilot study must involve prospective recruitment of participants 2022 Call for Proposals CanVECTOR Pilot Study Funding Opportunity November 2022
- The objectives of the pilot study must be different than the full-scale RCT; the main objectives of the pilot must relate to feasibility. They should address issues of uncertainty that need to be explored to design the full-scale RCT, and may include the process, resources, management, and scientific aspects of the future trial.
- The pilot project must be completed within two years.
- The research focus is to be related to prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of venous thromboembolism or its sequelae.
- Applicants are encouraged to refer to the following online resources (open access) that outline methodology and best practices for pilot studies:
