Eldercare Foundation Research Awards
Enhance and advance care for the elderly by funding Research Awards
The Ruth A. Gardner Research Award supports graduate students who are undertaking a clinical or applied research project designed to enhance and advance care for individuals with chronic conditions who are aging.
This award is administered in partnership with UVic Institute on Aging and Lifelong Health (IALH). Applicants must be a graduate student registered in an educational program offered by UVic. Applicants must also be affiliates of IALH.
History
Ruth A. Gardner was a Victoria psychologist and social worker who devoted her life to helping others. An only child born and raised in Saskatchewan, she learned shorthand at the age of three and became an accomplished pianist during her teen years. She was ahead of the curve on several matters. For example, she practiced recycling decades prior to it becoming a societal norm and she rescued dogs in the 1950s and 60s, long before it became popular to do so. Her devotion to helping animals knew no bounds.
A long-standing member of Amnesty International, she was kind and caring to people of all stripes. She gave her support to several young people, assisting them in achieving their educational goals.
As a result of a bequest to Eldercare Foundation by the late Ruth A. Gardner, an endowment fund was created to provide students with clinical or applied research experience within the field of gerontology, with an emphasis on individuals with chronic conditions. Ruth’s donation to the Eldercare is a measure of her devotion to always helping others.
Purpose and Support
The Ruth A. Gardner Research Award supports graduate students who are undertaking a clinical or applied research project designed to enhance and advance care for individuals with a chronic condition (e.g., Multiple Sclerosis, Early Onset Dementia, Parkinson’s Disease) who are aging.
Financial support for research projects is provided by the Ruth A. Gardner Research Award Fund. Funds are held by and administered through the Eldercare Foundation. Research support is provided by the Institute on Aging and Lifelong Health (IALH) at the University of Victoria (UVic).
The Funke-Furber Gerontological Research Award supports applied research designed to enhance and advance care for the elderly.
This Award is administered in partnership with UVic Institute on Aging and Lifelong Health (IALH). Applicants must be health care professionals, graduate students or undergraduate students registered in a UVic educational program. Applicants must also be affiliates of IALH.
History
The Funke-Furber Gerontological Research Award was established in 2010 by Jeanette Funke-Furber and Robert Furber, long-time supporters of Eldercare Foundation and strong believers in the importance of research and continuing education for health care professionals.
Jeanette became involved in gerontology when it was a relatively new field in the1980s through work at the Juan de Fuca Hospitals and as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Victoria’s School of Nursing. She became a member of Eldercare Foundation in 1999 and has not looked back. Over the years she has served on Eldercare’s Board of Directors several times, and on several committees, including the Awards Committee. In 2020, Jeanette retired from health care and joined husband Robert in managing their technology company, Intec Automation Inc.
Robert and Jeanette believe that gerontological research needs to be carried out to generate new knowledge and provide the best care for seniors. This conviction prompted their decision to create the Funke-Furber Gerontological Research Award to support health care professionals undertaking research in gerontology to enhance and advance seniors’ care. Read a Q&A with Jeanette Funke-Furber here.
Purpose and Support
The Funke-Furber Gerontological Research Award supports applied research designed to enhance and advance care for the elderly.
Financial support for applied research projects is provided by the Funke-Furber Gerontological Research Award. Funds are held by and administered through the Eldercare Foundation. Research support is provided by the Institute on Aging and Lifelong Health (IALH) at the University of Victoria (UVic)
Additional Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants must be registered in an educational program offered by UVic. The educational program may exist within a wide range of departments including, but not limited to: Education, Engineering (Assistive Technologies), Health Information Science, Medical Sciences, Nursing, Psychology, Social Work or Sociology.
- Applicants must be willing to use the funding to conduct a research project consistent with the purpose of the Award.
- Applicants must identify a UVic faculty member who will be responsible for sponsoring/ supervising their research and must include a letter of support from their supervisor. Applicants cannot identify themselves as the sponsoring/supervising faculty member.
- Applicants must be formally affiliated with the Institute on Aging and Lifelong Health at the University of Victoria by the end of the application submission period. Applicants may apply to become an IALH affiliate within the application submission period.
Expectations
- Applicants must provide a short description (up to 5 pages) of the research to be conducted with the funding. The description must be approved by the applicant’s sponsor/supervisor.
- If the proposed research involves the study of human participants, applicants must apply for ethics approval from the University of Victoria once they have received notification of award (if they have not already done so). Funding will not be released until ethics approval has been obtained.
- Successful applicants must provide written progress reports midway through the project and annually (if applicable). A final project report must also be submitted.
- Successful applicants will, at a minimum, be expected to provide written summaries of the research to both the Eldercare Foundation and the Institute on Aging and Lifelong Health for inclusion in their newsletters.
- Successful applicants may also be asked to present their research at one or more public events supported by the Eldercare Foundation (e.g. in a public presentation at the Yakimovich Wellness Centre).
- Any published work must recognize the financial support of Eldercare Foundation (including the name of the specific Award) as well as the research support of the Institute on Aging and Lifelong Health at the University of Victoria.
Available Funding
1. Eldercare provides $10,000 per Research Award.
2. Successful applicants may apply more than once for funding, but the above noted criteria and expectations will still apply.
3. Funding may be used for:
(a) Stipends
(b) Participant honorariums
(c) Research related equipment and supplies
(d) Costs associated with knowledge dissemination activities (e.g. publications)
(e) Registration, travel and associated costs related to presenting at conferences
NOTE: Eldercare award funds cannot be used to provide institutional support and no indirect costs or overhead will be provided.
Application Process
1. Applications for either of Eldercare Foundation’s Research Awards should be submitted between January 1 and February 28, 2025.
2. To complete the application process below, you will need:
(a) A short (up to 5 page) document which describes the research to be conducted with the funding (approved by the applicant’s supervisor)
(b) A description of the study team and any partnerships
(c) A study budget
(d) A knowledge dissemination plan
(e) A letter of support from the applicant’s supervisor
(f) A copy of the applicant’s CV
Access the Eldercare Foundation Research Award Tip Sheet for additional advice in filling out your application.
Questions? Contact us at contact@gvef.org.
