ERA-HDHL Call for Transnational Research Proposals: “Nutrition and the Epigenome”
Well-being, Health and Biomedical Discovery
Deadlines
Academic Unit: Inquire with Unit
Memorial Deadline: Monday 9th, April 2018
External Deadline: Thursday 12th, April 2018
Description
The aim of this call is to support transnational, collaborative research projects that gain a better understanding of the diet-epigenome relationships and their effect on human health. This will allow the development and scientific substantiation of intervention strategies for treating nutrition-related diseases and sustaining good health throughout the life course.
Research Areas
Proposals should focus on diet and epigenome, and cover one of the following areas:
- Establishing cause-and-effect relationships between diet and epigenome and metabolic health including molecular and cellular mechanisms, its reversibility and long-term effects where feasible;
- Identifying risk factors and early stage epigenetic changes involved in the development of metabolic diseases;
- Epigenetic effects across the lifespan and inter (and potentially trans) generational epigenetic effects;
- Investigation of modifiable factors (diet, the combined effect of diet and physical activity, microbiota, etc.) that could be involved in epigenetic regulation at critical stages of life;
- The effect of diet and nutritional status on the intra-uterine environment and its subsequent effect on the fetal epigenome and later health of the child.
In addition, the follow conditions apply:
- Proposals must be multidisciplinary, uniting epigenetic researchers, nutrition scientists and scientists from other relevant disciplines.
- Proposals should cover multiple approaches, such as:
- Mechanistic / experimental research, focusing on the interplay between dietary factors and epigenetic changes and their functional / physiological consequences and influence on health outcomes;
- Translational research to establish causalities and proof of concept, in order to support the development of effective health-improvement strategies.
- Proposals should focus on human studies; however animal and in vitro studies can be incorporated upon justification in case of assessments that cannot be performed in humans.
- Each research consortium should have the critical mass to achieve ambitious and innovative scientific goals. Proposals should clearly demonstrate added value from working together and unique contributions of each partner.
- Research consortia are encouraged to collaborate with the private sector, including industrial partners/collaborators, where suitable.
- Participation of an early career scientist is encouraged.
- Proposals must take into account the possible impact of age, sex and gender and ethnic differences, where appropriate.
- Proposals must include a data management strategy)
For more information, please consult the Joint Programme Initiative Healthy Diet for a Healthy Life (JPI HDHL) website.
Funds Available
CIHR and partner(s) financial contributions for this initiative are subject to availability of funds. Should CIHR or partner(s) funding levels not be available or are decreased due to unforeseen circumstances, CIHR and partner(s) reserve the right to reduce, defer or suspend financial contributions to grants received as a result of this funding opportunity.
The research groups of successful collaborative projects will be funded directly by the respective funding organizations. Funding will be administered according to the terms and conditions of the responsible funding organizations, taking into account all other applicable regulations and legal frameworks.
- The total CIHR amount available for the Canadian component of successful projects is $900,000 CAD, enough to fund approximately two grants. The maximum amount per Canadian component of the grant is $150,000/year for up to three years.
- Successful applications may receive an across-the-board cut to the budget, if necessary, to maximize the number of funded applications.
- More details are available at Joint Programme Initiative Healthy Diet for a Healthy Life (JPI HDHL) website.
Please visit CIHR’s website for additional details.