Any researcher working in Canada is eligible to apply. The majority of data collection must be conducted within Ontario communities and focus on Ontario residents. For submissions originating outside Ontario, collaboration with Ontario organizations or researchers is preferred.

At the time of application, the principal investigator(s) and co-investigator(s) must demonstrate an appropriate level of research training and experience to carry out the proposed research program.

Researchers are not restricted in the number of applications they can submit for a Research Award competition (either as principal investigator or co-investigator) provided the research projects are sufficiently different in scope and do not overlap. Where practical, researchers are encouraged to combine efforts and submit collaborative research projects.

The centre is committed to demonstrating results to Canadians for the money invested in gambling research. Applicants who have previously received funding from the Centre will be assessed on their past performance of funded research in relation to dissemination and publication of results.

Applicants are not permitted to concurrently submit the same or similar proposals to a separate funding agency.

Private sector applicants are eligible for awards provided that the proposed research is not aligned with the development of commercial products or programs.

OPGRC strongly encourages applicants for research awards to incorporate gender and sex-based analysis (GSBA) in their research projects. GSBA is defined by the Canadian Institutes for Health Research as an approach to research which systematically inquires about biological (sex-based) and socio-cultural (gender-based) differences between males and females, without presuming that any such differences exist. Applicants for OPGRC research awards should address GSBA in their research plan/design unless there are compelling and justifiable reasons not to do so.

An institution is entitled to be compensated for overhead under a Level II, III or IV award. Overhead is calculated in addition to the direct costs of the proposed research project, to a maximum of 20% of the direct costs. The research budget must identify the items that comprise the indirect costs, and where practical, the estimated dollar amounts for these items.

NOTE: Overhead is expected to cover the costs of normal research support, including office space, administrative supports, computers, etc.

The OPGRC holds sponsoring organizations responsible for monitoring and ensuring compliance with the Research Award Agreement, and the quality of the completed research. This includes, but is not limited to, any changes to project timelines, budgets, investigators, tasks and methodology. Representatives of the sponsoring organization must sign the cover page acknowledging both the funded applicant and the Centre's expectations of the sponsoring organization.

The centre is committed to demonstrating results to Canadians for the money invested in gambling research. Applicants who have previously received funding from the Centre will be assessed on their past performance of funded research in relation to dissemination and publication of results.

All applications must be received before 5:00 p.m. on the deadline date, by applying online. You can apply for any open solicitation from the front page of the OPGRC website.

NOTE - SIGNATURE REQUIREMENTS: When submitting an application, send one copy of the signed Cover page or Certifications Page by fax or by scanning and attaching it as a .gif, .tiff, or .jpeg file. Faxed or scanned pages must be received by 5:00 p.m. on the deadline date.

On-line applications will receive confirmation of receipt by the Centre within one business day of the deadline date. If no confirmation notice has been received within this timeframe, please call the Centre.

For instructions and application guidelines associated with specific research awards, refer to the funding information tab, general guidelines and policies, and click on the award of interest that appears in the fly-out menu on the right.

Include a Certification page with your application. The signatures can be included in a scanned document or faxed to the Centre at (519) 763-8521. This page must include:

• Header stating it is an “Application for a Level II Research Grant”
• Title of the proposal
• Name of sponsoring organization
• Status of sponsoring organization (e.g., not-for-profit, hospital, university, etc.
• Investigator names and contact information (institutional affiliation, title, address, telephone and fax numbers, email address)
• Dates of proposed period of support
• Total dollar amount requested
• Dated signatures of:
  • Principle Investigator
  • Project Contact person (if different from above)
  • Individual authorized to sign on behalf of the sponsoring organization

Appendices cannot exceed twice the maximum length of the proposal, i.e., for a 10-page Level II proposal appendices cannot exceed 20 pages. Keep in mind the peer reviewer’s time in determining what to include; include only what is directly relevant to the application.

The decision of the Centre is final, with no provision for appeal. Unsuccessful applicants may resubmit revised or new applications, and may request feedback regarding the reasons for the rejection of an application.

NOTE: The Centre will not accept the same proposal more than twice.

What is Peer Review?

The academic and scientific research communities recognize the peer review process as an accepted scholarly approach for allocating research funding on the basis of excellence.

This process is based on the principle that colleagues are best placed to evaluate the quality and relevance of a research proposal while ensuring that the process of adjudication remains as independent and objective as possible. This process warrants that scientific peers impartially and critically evaluate all applications, and that research funds are used for the very best research.

At the OPGRC, our commitment to excellence dictates that all research plans under consideration for awards are subject to peer review.

Peer Review at the OPGRC

When applicants are invited to submit detailed research plans, each plan is evaluated by at least three peer reviewers who are experts in the research field in question. Reviewers from Canada and around the world are asked to provide written assessments of proposals including numerical scoring and recommendations for funding. Each reviewer devotes approximately two hours of review time per application. A token honorarium is given to those colleagues who invest the substantial time and effort that this role requires.

The Process

Applications and reviews are conducted online. Password protected Web Access is provided to all reviewers to ensure accuracy and confidentiality. Computer generated notifications are sent to each applicant and sponsoring agency following the completion of each phase in the review process.

Once the written assessments have been submitted, the Centre's Research Review Committee meets to rank the proposals according to the results of the review and makes recommendations for funding. Proposals scoring below a 75% cumulative average are not considered for funding. In some instances, the OPGRC Board of Directors may award less than the requested budget allocation for individual proposals in order to fund a larger number of equally ranked, highly rated proposals.

Assessments are based on the highest standards of academic excellence, including the importance of the proposed work to advancing knowledge.

An overview of each award type including guidelines, and evaluation criteria are provided under the Funding tab.

1. Describe the motivating factors and techniques used by problem gamblers who cut back or quit gambling without formal treatment.
2. Develop and evaluate new treatment protocols intended to improve outcomes.
3. Develop and evaluate theory-based programs and resources to prevent the onset of problem gambling among specified target groups, with particular emphasis on electronic forms of gambling.
4. Explore or describe the interaction between the gambler and the context/environment in which gambling occurs, and the combined effect on the onset/progression of problem gambling.
5. Investigate the mechanisms or processes by which the adoption of risk practices and cognitions and/or impaired control occurs and is maintained.
6. Undertake research initiatives that build on existing studies funded by OPGRC by investigating next significant steps in the related agenda, or that seek to replicate studies to potentially strengthen the empirical base for the findings.

Final reports (for all research awards) submitted to the OPGRC must include the following items:

1. Title Page
   • Include project title, principal investigator(s) and co-investigator(s), and affiliation(s).
2. Table of Contents
   • List of Tables
   • List of Figures
   • List of Appendices
   • Acknowledgements
   • Abstract
     • A list 3-5 of key words is to be provided directly under the abstract. Key words should express the precise content of the report as they are used to index the information on the Centre’s website.
   • Introduction
     • Include a literature review, purpose and goals, and research hypotheses.
   • Method
     • Include participants, apparatus, data collection tools, procedure, and data analysis.
   • Results
   • Study Limitations
   • Discussion
     • Include conclusions, implications, and future research.
   • References
     • References and corresponding in-text citations must be in APA format. For more information please see the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 5th Ed. or visit the website at www.apastyle.org.
   • Appendices (if applicable)

Final Reports must be submitted to the OPGRC via email (i.e., as an attached document) to erika@gamblingresearch.org.

• Final Reports submitted to the OPGRC must be in Microsoft Word and formatted as follows:
  • single spaced;
  • black, 12-point Times New Roman font;
  • 2 cm margins (all sides);
  • no headers or footers (footnotes exempted);page numbers in top, right hand corner of each page (excluding title page);
  • no hyperlinks for Table of Contents, List of Tables, List of Figures, List of Appendices, Figures, Tables, in-text citations, or References;
  • spelling and grammar checked.