Competition Details

The Prize will be determined by the most impactful research project, based on the following principles. The project:

1. is highly innovative in its objectives and proposed approach in an area of Brain and Mental Health research;
2. shows potential to create a significant, transformative impact in one or more of the following ways:
   i. to our foundational knowledge of the brain and/or leads to highly significant clinical advancement;
   ii. contributes to the HBI’s innovation and translational objectives;
   iii. in the areas of scientific insight, public policy and future health care services and/or innovation;
   iv. across the HBI, the local community, Canada and the world.
3. enhances the stated research, educational and career objectives of the Post Doctoral Fellow.

Allowable expenditures include salary support for the Post-doctoral Fellow, other trainees and research staff, appropriate relocation costs for Post-doctoral Fellow, support for direct research costs related to the project, community engagement, or innovation activity related to the research project.

The named Post-doctoral Fellow who is part of the M.I.N.D. Prize Team is guaranteed a minimum $75,000 + benefits annual salary for the first two years of the award, with an increase to $80,000 minimum annual salary in year 3 and onwards.

The named fellow may also apply for and secure additional external awards, subject to approval by the external funding agency. Success in securing an external award will reduce the salary contribution from the M.I.N.D. Prize subject to the above minimum salaries.

The named fellow will be ineligible for any other HBI fellowship awards during the term of the M.I.N.D. Prize award.

The Prize recipients are responsible for periodic reporting on the progress of the project, including a full report upon complete expenditure of funds, or after five years. The HBI may withdraw funding if key milestones are missed.

• Applications received by the Full Application deadline will be subject to administrative review. Only complete applications will proceed to scientific review. Late applicants will not be accepted.
• The International Review Committee established by the HBI, will discuss the applications. They will review the external scientific appraisal and then focus their evaluation determined by the most impactful research project, based on the principles outlined in the application package.
• The highest-ranked applicants may be asked to give Presentations in person to the International Review Committee, HBI leadership, representative of the donor, and additional invited guests. At the HBI’s sole discretion these presentations may be open to the public. Full details will be provided at a later date.
• The decision of the International Review Committee is final and will be announced by the HBI on, or shortly after, the Decision Date.

The Hopewell M.I.N.D. Prize will be awarded to a team (“The M.I.N.D. Prize Team” or “Team”) most commonly consisting of 1) HBI Full Member (Principal Investigator) and 2) a Post-Doctoral Fellow. The team is principally responsible for developing and advancing the proposed innovative and impactful research.

The Team should collectively possess a demonstrably strong, career-level appropriate, track record/level of expertise in the area of study. The important role played by other researchers and research staff is recognized and should be acknowledged in the application; however, the Prize will be made to the Team.

Each application must list an HBI Full Member who is allowed by the University of Calgary to serve as a Principal Investigator.

It is permissible for an HBI full member to initiate an application without listing a Post-doctoral Fellow as a Team member. They can be listed as TBD. The expectation for the M.I.N.D. Prize International Review Committee is that applications will be submitted by an HBI Full Member and Post Doctoral Fellow team. 

HBI Full Member applicants must hold academic appointments at the University of Calgary.

Otherwise qualified individuals who are not currently Full Member of the HBI may submit an Expression of Interest, however, they will have to apply and receive Full Membership in the HBI prior to submission of the full application.

The HBI Full Member is expected to provide oversight on the project and appropriate laboratory resources to the post-doctoral fellow.

For a list of HBI full members please visit our member directory or this spreadsheet of full members organized by area of study is also available. Potential post-doctoral fellows are invited to contact appropriate HBI Full Member about the M.I.N.D. Prize application.

Post-doctoral fellow applicants do not have to be currently affiliated with the HBI. The post-doctoral fellow must be offered and accept a post-doctoral fellowship position in the laboratory of the HBI Full Member before release of any funding. They are to conduct the proposed research at the University of Calgary with oversight by the HBI Full Member.

Post Doctoral Fellows and potential Post Doctoral Fellows currently in Calgary or elsewhere are eligible to apply as part of a M.I.N.D. Prize Team.

All Post Doctoral Fellows and their supervisors must satisfy Canadian immigration requirements and the criterion for appointments set out by the University of Calgary Post-doctoral Office  (https://research.ucalgary.ca/contact/postdoc-office).

For post-doctoral fellows applicants who do not hold authorization to work in Canada and upon request of the HBI Full Member, the HBI will release sufficient funding to enable processing of appropriate work permits per the standard procedure specified by the University of Calgary Post-doctoral Office. The Post Doctoral Fellow and an HBI Full Member are responsible for securing these authorizations.

Prior to release of funding (see exception above), the post-doctoral fellow will be required to arrive in Calgary and become a Postdoctoral Associate. It may be permissible for the post-doctoral fellow who concurrently holds external support to become a Postdoctoral Fellowship Holder. Note: the classifications Postdoctoral Associate and Postdoctoral Fellowship holder are defined by the University of Calgary Post-doctoral Office.

The post-doctoral fellow must have a 100% research focus.

The HBI Director, HBI Deputy Director, members of M.I.N.D. Prize International Review Committee, and any content experts involved in the review process are not eligible to apply to the Prize in the competition year.

• Use letter size paper
• Use ¾-inch margins
• Use 11-point Calibri, or equivalent font and single-space text (at least 6 lines per inch)
• Use the following major headings within the Research Plan: Description of Innovation or Research Program, Impact of Innovation or Research Program, Key Methodologies, and Knowledge Translation/Community Engagement

Join the informational workshop happening Jan 15, 2025. Register here.

Please email hbi@ucalgary.ca if you have additional questions. 

The Hopewell M.I.N.D. Prize will be awarded to a team however we anticipate a variety of scenarios relating to genesis of the proposed idea. The origin and development could range from being post-doctoral fellow initiated, to HBI Full Member initiated. Jointly initiated and developed ideas are also possible.

In the Full Application, a clear statement of the origin and development of the idea including roles of the Post-doctoral Fellow and HBI Full Member (as appropriate) is requested and will be expected to be included in the application by the M.I.N.D. Prize International Review Committee.

The team awarded the 2025 M.I.N.D. Prize will be required to formally attest to a statement to the origin and development of the idea or intellectual property claims, prior to commencement of the award. This process may require discussion of any intellectual property with appropriate experts.

The winning Team is expected to adhere to our Open Science Principles (see https://hbi.ucalgary.ca/research/institute-initiatives/openscience)

HBI is committed to ensuring that innovative, bold and high impact ideas come from diverse backgrounds and experiences. Through the M.I.N.D. Prize, we pledge to

• Encourage those with diverse backgrounds to apply
• Remove, where feasible, unnecessary barriers to applications
• Value all correctly submitted applications equally
• Ensure that the International Jury is representative of our Brain and Mental Health activities
• Embolden and support innovative thinking throughout our Institute

The workshop will take place on Jan 15, 2025. Register here to attend. Please contact hbi@ucalgary.ca if you have any questions regarding the workshop.