Owerko Centre Small Equipment Grant
To fuel discovery and collaboration, the Owerko Centre is pleased to support members purchasing new or replacement equipment that is vital to advancing their research.
Eligibility
- The applicant must be a faculty member at UCalgary and a full member of the Owerko Centre and ACHRI. Learn more about becoming a member of the Owerko Centre.
- Investigators may only submit one application as Principal Investigator per deadline. An investigator can be a co-investigator on more than one application.
- The equipment must be housed at the University of Calgary.
- Equipment that was purchased on an emergency basis within 6 months of the deadline is eligible. Note: pre-purchase of equipment does not provide additional merit to the grant application.
- These funds may not be used to cover operating costs or any other costs associated with the equipment.
Application Process
Deadline: January 12, 2026, 11:59 p.m.
Applications must be submitted in PDF format as a single document to Owerko.Centre@ucalgary.ca.
Conditions
Recipients must acknowledge the support of the Owerko Centre in all scientific communications and press releases related to their award.
Use of Funds
Examples of eligible costs include:
- New equipment purchase, upgrades to equipment, maintenance/replacement of aged equipment
- Shipping/delivery and/or customs/brokerage charges related to equipment purchase
- Training for equipment
- Software
Examples of ineligible costs include:
- Salary and benefits
- Service contracts
- Insurance
- Operating costs
- Consumables
- Office furniture, computers and peripherals
- Construction/renovation
- Equipment located outside of the Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute organization
Evaluation
Applications will be reviewed by the Owerko Centre Executive Committee members without direct conflict of interest to the grant process. The committee reserves the right to consult with external reviewers if needed. Partial awards may be offered in some cases.
The evaluation criteria will include:
Merit of the program to be supported and the potential impact
Enhances the research capabilities and profile of the investigator(s)
Supports research that is currently peer-review funded
Enhances investigator’s ability to attract peer-reviewed funding
Addresses a strategic priority of the Owerko Centre
Addresses a health outcome problem OR addresses a major block to research productivity
Has a plan for describing outputs and effectiveness
Need
Facilitates research that is not possible with the present infrastructure
Need to upgrade or replace obsolete or failed equipment
Similar equipment is not available in the vicinity
Compatibility and Synergy
Equipment realistically enhances the research endeavors of the co-applicants and other investigators
Synergy with other equipment and/or research programs
Realistic plans to cover the operating and maintenance costs of the equipment
Funding Process
- Purchase and payment for awarded items must be completed within 3 months of the award notice. If this timeline is not possible due to the vendor and/or the equipment you are ordering, please advise the Owerko Centre (owerko.centre@ucalgary.ca) as soon as possible. If awarded, the Owerko Centre will provide an accounting string to the successful PI to allow the purchase of the equipment.
- If awarded, only the equipment and associated costs in the application are eligible for reimbursement. Any changes in the equipment applied for require approval for eligible Owerko Centre support.
Previous recipients of the Owerko Centre Small Equipment Grant
| Name | Award Amount | Equipment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. Ning Cheng | $8,500 | Cameras, computer and software related to the Noldus EthoVision XT animal tracking system | 2025 |
| Dr. Richard Dyck | $50,000 | Wide-field macroscope components | 2025 |
| Dr. Ashley Harris | $50,000 | MRI-compatible audio intercom system with the OptoACTIVE III system | 2025 |
| Dr. Jane Shearer | $40,000 | Power-O2k startup mitochondrial respirometer | 2025 |
| Dr. Guang Yang | $41,750 | Cell electroporator system | 2025 |