2026 ADI Pilot Project Grant Competition

OVERVIEW

The Alberta Diabetes Institute (ADI) is pleased to announce the 2026 ADI Pilot Project Grant Competition. Made possible by generous funding from the Muttart Foundation, this competition welcomes exploratory diabetes research proposals that are at the basic, clinical, health care delivery or health outcomes level. The application process requires the submission of a project summary with details given below. Applicants of top-ranked projects may be invited to an in-person review panel who will have the opportunity to ask questions and make their final selection of award recipients. Up to three awards will be given worth $30,000 each.

Competition at a Glance

PURPOSE

For the purpose of these awards, Pilot Research is considered to be highly novel, hypothesis-driven research related to a better understanding of, or treatment for, diabetes. Results of these projects should have the potential to foster new thinking and directions for diabetes research - projects should not be an extension of ongoing research. Pilot Project grants are also intended to produce preliminary data which can be used to generate publications and presentations as well as pursue additional external funding or support. Pilot research may be at any level of research (e.g, in vitro, in vivo, in silico, genetic, clinical, health systems, data mining, epidemiology, etc.) and should be aimed at:

1) Generating preliminary results that establish novel correlations, mechanisms-of-action or cause-effect; fostering new directions for treatment/management of diabetes; or offering new insight at the population health level

and/or

2) Developing new technology such as mouse models, tools, monitors, diagnostics, reagents, etc. or systematic approaches that will help with future research

The project should be:

• Novel - not an extension of existing or previous research
• Hypothesis-driven
• Not associated with other current funding source on this topic

ELIGIBILITY

Principal applicants for the ADI Pilot Project competition must be an ADI member. Members applying can be a principal applicant on one grant and a co-applicant on one other, or they may be a co-applicant on two submissions but they cannot be a principal applicant on more than one grant submission.

BUDGET

• Maximum request is for $30,000. All funding is to be utilized in a 12 – 18 month period
• All justifiable costs may be considered

PROPOSAL FORMAT

Submit a PDF document (2-page limit, 12pt Calibri font) with the following information:

• NAME(S) of applicant and co-applicants (if any)
• TITLE of proposal
• DESCRIPTION of the proposal: objectives/hypotheses and methodology. Explanatory figures, references and preliminary data may be included within the 2-page limit
• DESCRIBE THE POTENTIAL NEXT STEPS following completion of this project (e.g. proof of concept studies, preclinical / clinical research, policy development, etc.) and possible future funding sources
• BUDGET (high-level)

SUBMISSION DEADLINE

Proposal submission deadline: Monday, March 2, 2026, by 11:59 pm MT

REPORTING

Recipients must submit a progress report within 3 months of the end of the 12 month award period. Support from the Alberta Diabetes Foundation and the Muttart Foundation should be acknowledged in related publications and presentations.