Applications Due February 10th, 2023 @ 5pm

The mission of MITO2i is to transform our understanding of the role of mitochondria in
human health and disease. Unveiling how mitochondrial dysfunction is implicated in multiple
diseases will transform medical diagnoses, technologies and drug delivery systems as well as
have the power to influence health policy and clinical interventions. The relationship between
mitochondrial dysfunction and severe mitochondrial disease has long been known. More recent
research has established links to a broad range of neurodegenerative and metabolic disorders.
This is a game-changer. Unveiling how mitochondrial dysfunction is implicated in multiple
diseases will transform medical diagnoses, technologies, and drug delivery systems, leading to
a paradigm shift in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease.

Involving and engaging people affected by mitochondrial and/or other chronic diseases
affected by mitochondrial dysfunction, for example patients and families, is a priority to MITO2i.
This helps to ensure that research we fund is rooted in what matters to patients and families;
gives a platform for them to be heard; improves research quality; and values patients and
families as experts on disease by experience. Therefore, the Innovation Grants also encourage patient engagement and patient interaction from proposal design to research study.

MITO2i is announcing the Brain and Mitochondria Innovation Seed Grant to support
projects looking to investigate the role of mitochondria in brain diseases and disorders. The
purpose of the grant is to address the unmet need to understand the complex relationship
between mitochondrial diseases, mitochondrial dysfunction, and brain diseases. The objective
of the Innovation grants is to generate new knowledge, promoting innovation and
interdisciplinary research. MITO2i will invest in bold interdisciplinary ideas, ranging from basic
(e.g. fundamental biological concepts) to clinical and translational research to cultivate new
concepts that are expected to be of critical importance to mitochondrial and brain disease
research.

MITO2i will fund 2 Innovation Seed projects at $50,000 each for one year to support pilot
projects to identify the relationship between mitochondria dysfunction/disease and brain disease
areas; including but not limited to neurodegenerative diseases, neuropsychiatric diseases,
neurodevelopmental disorders, epilepsy, depression.

This call is open to Researchers, Clinicians and Clinician Scientists at the University of
Toronto and/or the affiliated Toronto hospitals (Unity Health, UHN, Mount Sinai Health Systems
(LTRI), Sunnybrook Hospital (SBRI), Hospital for Sick Children, Holland Bloorview, Baycrest,
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health), with a Departmental Appointment at the Temerty
Faculty of Medicine.

APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY

• All Applicants must register on the MITO2i Website at www.mito2i.ca to become a member.

       Click Login at the right hand corner and enter your details.

• Each application should have at least two Co-PI’s from two distinct disciplines to develop an

       interdisciplinary project that addresses the role of mitochondria in brain disease and/or
       disorders. Projects can include a wide range of data and data modalities including, clinical,
       genomics, biochemical, neuroimaging, artificial intelligence and patient outcomes.

• Applicants should be at the University of Toronto and/or the affiliated Toronto hospitals (Unity

       Health, UHN, Mount Sinai Health Systems (LTRI), Sunnybrook Hospital (SBRI), Hospital for
       Sick Children, Holland Bloorview, Baycrest, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health), with a
       Departmental Appointment at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine.

• It is strongly advised that applicants consider, and plan for, engaging with people affected by

       mitochondrial disease and/or brain diseases affected by mitochondrial dysfunction. This element should be           integral to the design of the proposed research.

• MITO2i investment should be equally matched (cash and/or in-kind) with other funds to demonstrate commitment to the project. This can include other grant funding, institutional contributions, external investments, foundations and others.

• Preference will be given to those applications that bring in contributions from foundations and

       external partners looking to support the research project that can lead to further investment,
       partnership, larger grant funding opportunities, and/or patient engagement/dissemination
       opportunities.

Each application contains five sections:
1) Summary;
2) Proposal;
3) Team;
4) Patient Engagement
5) Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Considerations; and
6) Budget Justification.

To assist you with preparing your patient engagement strategies please view the MITO2i
Patient Engagement for Grants, Fellowships & Scholarships Information Session below:
​ https://youtu.be/E1WUxpSTABY
The session is presented to you by Erin Walker, Patient Engagement Partners at UCL Partners
in London UK and an Executive Advisory Committee Member of MITO2i.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION:
FRIDAY JANUARY 27th, 2023 at 5pm EST
All submissions should be sent to info@mito2i.ca
For further questions, please contact:
Sonya Brijbassi
Associate Director, Strategy & Partnerships
Sonya.brijbassi@mito2i.ca

EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION:
The University of Toronto recognizes that diversity is essential to the creation of a vibrant
intellectual community that allows our researchers to maximize their creativity and their
contributions. Medicine by Design is therefore strongly committed to diversity in research and
especially welcomes applications that engage racialized persons/persons of colour, women,
Indigenous/Aboriginal Peoples of North America, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ+ persons,
and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas.
MITO2i promotes inclusivity and equity for all, regardless of sex, age, race, ethnicity, nationality,
culture, religious affiliation, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic
status. We endeavour to create an environment of inclusivity, diversity, and equality through
initiatives including consideration of presenters, mentorship opportunities, representation on
projects, a delegation of duties, and education to the public. MITO2i is committed to creating
opportunities for underrepresented researchers and trainees, particularly women, and will
continue to build recruitment and mentoring strategies to foster increased diversity among
researchers, policymakers, patients, and trainees. To this end, our members follow a code of
conduct that includes a reminder of the inclusive, collaborative, respectful, and non-
discriminatory environment.