Strategic Opportunities Fund - Round Four

Previously referred to as the ‘Science’ Opportunities Fund, the program is now known as the Strategic Opportunities Fund (SOF).  SOF was initially launched on April 11, 2008 as a $2M pilot program. SOF is now an on-going program with up to four intakes planned over approximately two years, and fills a much needed funding gap with an additional investment of $8M, half of which is provided by Genome BC.

The program is expected to support modest endeavors typically in the range of $25,000-$200,000. Genome BC will provide no more than $200,000 with one-time funding which will catalyze or seed significant new programs and initiatives of key strategic importance to the BC life sciences community.

This program aims to support BC researchers by:
•    Increasing access for BC researchers to emerging technologies that are based in genomics being developed nationally or internationally, in order to maintain their competitiveness;
•    Fostering partnerships with national and international stakeholders in genomics or related social science or humanities disciplines; and,
•    Facilitating new and innovative means of interactions with industry or other end-users of genomics or related social science or humanities disciplines.

5 research projects were awarded funding through this fourth round. These projects include:

• Development of a high-throughput platform to rapidly translate genomic discoveries into therapeutic cancer vaccines
• Detecting and characterizing chimeric transcripts in mouse tissues
• Vaccinomics for animal disease 
• Antisense PET imaging of mRNA expression 
• Using Science, Technology and Society Studies Research to Move Genomics Discoveries from Bench to Bedside: Identification of Data Integration and Sociotechnical Issues Arising in Personalized Medicine & Translational Bioinformatics

 Program application information

Strategic Opportunities Fund – Round Four – Key Dates
•    Release of Guidelines
      October 20, 2010
•    SOF Applications due to Genome BC
      March 23, 2011 (updated Jan. 14, 2011)
•    Combined International Peer Review / Due Diligence Process
      March to April 2011
•    Notification of Decision
      June 2011
•    Anticipated Launch of Approved Projects
      Prior to November 30, 2011

Note: Co-funding must be applied for within 18 months of submission of the application in order to be eligible.  

Genome BC now has an online system to apply for funding through the SOF 4 competition.

All users must first apply for a user ID and password as directed. Your new account will be activated within 12-24 hours. Once you have received confirmation, you can proceed to complete the full application. Click here to access this online system.

Please contact support@genomebc.ca if you have any difficulties obtaining a new account or utilizing the new system.

Required Documents:
•    Program Guidelines (PDF Format)
•    Application Form (DOC format)
•    Budget (XLS format)