The Research in Motion (RIM) program aims to foster interdisciplinary research and to support new approaches to research along the D2R Initiative鈥檚 discovery-to-implementation chain. The program supports projects that involve collaboration between researchers with expertise across at least two D2R Foundational Axes and welcomes applications from teams of researchers from varied disciplines which may not have a history of collaboration as well as investigators who might not have previously considered working together. For example, teams may be composed of investigators with expertise in AI and other data sciences, and RNA therapeutics, or clinical/trial research and social sciences, or RNA biology and Indigenous health, etc. The RIM program will encourage researchers to form novel interdisciplinary groupings, and support projects that have both translational impact and the potential for economic activity. Successful applications may provide opportunities for leveraging or act as a gateway to additional funding from various sources, including government agencies and industrial partners.

This program supports projects that demonstrate:

• D2R Alignment and Novel Disciplinary Groupings: Teams should comprise researchers from multiple disciplines relevant to the D2R Initiative鈥檚 mandate, spanning at least two of the D2R Foundational Axes. We strongly encourage collaboration among researchers and disciplines that historically have not collaborated.
• Innovation Beyond Traditional Boundaries: Projects should address scientific gaps or provide proof-of-concept for initiatives exploring new directions in ongoing research. Proposals should pursue unique or unconventional interdisciplinary research avenues potentially too exploratory for traditional funding agencies.
• Novelty and Non-Duplication: Proposals should focus on developing new ideas and approaches, rather than duplicating or merely expanding upon existing funded work.
• Impact and Potential for Further Funding: Projects should demonstrate potential for both translational and economic impact, especially in the development of genome-guided RNA-based therapeutics. Projects should also be well-positioned to attract additional support, including funding from governmental agencies, industrial, and other partners.