Dental Research Institute (DRI)

1. All non-peer reviewed projects (ie: industry funded or pilot studies) conducted in the Faculty that involve human and/or animal subjects must be submitted to the Faculty Research Committee for evaluation of their scientific merit, prior to seeking out ethical approval. The exception is projects that have been approved by a students' thesis advisory committee (who are now responsible for ascertaining scientific merit, See Note 1).
   
2. Those investigators seeking both approval for scientific merit and funding should read instructions and funding guidelines below before completing their application.


3. Obtain the Faculty’s “Research Project Application” form available either on-line at http://www.utoronto.ca/dentistry/facultyresearch/dri/
   research_committee.html or from the Dental Research Institute Office Rm 523D.


4. Submit one completed hard-copy of the application, with original signatures and accompanying material, to the Dental Research Institute Office Rm 523D.


5. E-mail an electronic version of the completed application form and appended documents to l.raz@dentistry.utoronto.ca

Note: 1) Graduate Student: Approval of Scientific Merit.

As of November 17, 2005 the Research Committee was no longer responsible for providing approval for the Scientific Merit on projects submitted from Graduate students or for projects which constitute a graduate student thesis project. This responsibility was transferred to the Graduate Thesis Committee, and the administration process as well as the preparation for Scientific merit approval letters has been transferred to the Associate Dean of Graduate studies. Please contact Lori Mockler (ext. 4482) for further information.

Note 2) Faculty member: Approval of Scientific Merit.

For review of scientific merit members, the project proposal will be sent to three reviewers, for a return of reviews within two working weeks. Upon receipt of at least two of the reviews by the secretariat of the Research Committee, they will be assessed by the Chair of the Research Committee and another member within one week and returned to the Faculty member for revision or provisional acceptance. Formal acceptance will be decided on at the next Research Committee meeting.

DRI Application Funding Guidelines

1. Projects eligible for funding
   The Dental Research Institute (DRI) provides funding for new pilot studies leading to the direct training of undergraduate or graduate Dental students and/or leading to the preparation of new grant applications to funding agencies external to DRI. In the case of funding being sought for new grants, it must be the PI’s intention to submit such a proposal within one year of the completion of the funded DRI project. Failure to meet the above commitments may limit funding provided to the PI for future DFRG applications.


2. Amount of funding
   DRI funding will be allocated up to a maximum of $3000/investigator actively participating in the project with a maximum funding of $6,000 per project. It is expected that in most cases these funds will be made up as a 50/50 match between DRI and the principal applicant(s).
   
3. Duration of funding
   All grants are for a one-year period.


4. Priority projects
   Funding priority will be given for new projects. Normally support will not be provided for continuation of a project already funded by DRI or other external granting agency.


5. Who may apply?
   Any Faculty member who has a primary academic appointment within the Faculty of Dentistry and who is engaged in active research programs on one of the research themes within DRI is eligible to apply for this funding. Adjunct and Associate positions will not be included in the funding formula and are not eligible to apply but are encouraged to be co-investigators.
   
6. Where must the research be conducted?
   The funded research project must be coordinated from or carried out within the Faculty’s DRI or its affiliate laboratories (see DRI organizational chart for listing of affiliate laboratories: http://www.utoronto.ca/dentistry/facultyresearch/org.html).


7. When will research be carried out?
   The research project must be carried out within one year of receiving the funds. The PI must submit a one page project update, which will also include as an attachment, a list of any documents produced by the applicants or trainee(s) (i.e. Research Committee presentations, abstracts, papers, thesis, etc.), and/or submitted funding applications to external agencies, that were directly related to the DRI funding. The report is to be submitted within 6 months after the project is completed (i.e. 18 months from the date of funding allocation).


8. What happens to unspent funds?
   Any unspent funds remaining in the account after one year will be returned to the research fund pool. If an extension is required on the work for reasons that were beyond the control of the applicant, they must make their request in writing, addressed to the Associate Dean (Research), c/o Secretary (Research Committee), Dental Research Institute, 1 month prior to the termination date of the grant.


9. What about intellectual property rights?
   Any new intellectual property produced from studies generated by these research funds will be dealt with in a manner similar to intellectual property arising from CIHR and NSERC operating grants (i.e. the P.I. will disclose the intellectual property as per the University’s guidelines on such matters http://www.sgs.utoronto.ca/oldlinks/intellectualpropertyguidelines.asp).
   
10. When must I apply?
    There is no deadline date for applications to the Research Committee. The signed application should be submitted to the Faculty Research Office (c/o Secretary, Research Committee). The Associate Dean (Research) will arrange for two or three referees. Following receipt of the reviewer’s comments, the applications and reviewers’ comments will be processed in a similar manner to that described for Scientific Merit Review by the Research Committee. Approval of funds will be based primarily on scientific merit.