The Discovery Research Grant program is intended to support research operations that will help generate new scientific knowledge and improve the health and quality of life of people affected by MS. The Discovery Research Grant supports investigator-initiated research proposals and there are no topic restrictions imposed, other than the required demonstration of relevance to MS. Proposals should address research questions in one or more of the impact goal areas identified in the MSSC strategic plan:

• Advance Treatment and Care: Research that aims to advance treatment and care for people affected by MS (e.g. symptom management; diagnosis; developing new treatments and understanding their mechanisms, understanding and evaluating interventions to address mental health, wellness/self-care, and rehabilitation in people living with MS; innovations in the provision of health services, clinical care practices and models of care; and advances in healthcare delivery/policy).
• Enhance Well-being: Research that aims to understand how to enhance the well-being of people affected by MS within communities (e.g. understanding the social determinants of health; assessing the health economics/cost benefit analysis on MS interventions and support structures and systems; evaluation of community-based programs; and advances in health systems research/policy).
• Understand and Halt Disease Progression: Research that aims to understand the etiology and mechanisms of MS, disease progression, progressive MS, and repair (e.g., myelin biology, neurobiology, neurophysiology, immunology, neuropathology, and imaging).
• Prevent MS: Research that aims to prevent MS (e.g. identifying risk factors for disease, effective interventions for prevention, health economic/cost benefit analysis on prevention, and defining highest risk populations).

Based on the nature of the research, applicants can apply to one of the following two streams:

• Biomedical Research Stream The Biomedical Research stream supports research which uncovers the biological, pathological, and mechanistic aspects of MS, and provides fundamental knowledge about the development, progression, prevention and treatment of MS disease. Studies can involve in vitro, animal, and/or human models.
• Clinical and Population Health Research Stream The Clinical and Population Health Research stream supports clinical research with the goal of improving diagnosis, treatment, or the health and quality of life of individuals with MS; health services research; encompasses research on, or for the treatment of, people affected by MS; supports population health research that aims to understand the complex, biological, social, cultural and environmental interactions that determine the health of individuals and populations.

Grant Recipients may request funds for the following categories of expenditure: Salaries for personnel, patient costs, permanent equipment, consumable supplies, and travel. Discovery Research Grants may provide support for trainees (i.e. doctoral and master’s students and postdoctoral fellows) commensurate with the time they will spend on the research directly supporting the Grant. For additional information regarding eligible expenditures, see https://mssociety.ca/library/document/nAvKCjs1XPcMBRLGYoUTZJwte5lEm73d/original.pdf#page=4.

• Others (see text field entitled "Additional Eligibility Criteria" for clarification)