CAN STEP FUNDS BE USED TO PROVIDE AN HONORARIA FOR RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS/SUBJECTS TO TAKE PART IN THE RESEARCH (E.G. TO DO INTERVIEWS)?

No - STEP funds are intended to support engagement of Patient Partners as part of the research team NOT as research participants/subjects.

CAN STEP FUNDS BE USED TO PAY FOR TRAVEL EXPENSES FOR THE SCPOR TRAINEE TO TRAVEL TO COLLECT THEIR RESEARCH DATA?

No - the funds cannot be used for the SCPOR trainee to travel to collect their research data. The funds can be used for travel when the SCPOR trainee is travelling to meet with their research team members.

CAN STEP FUNDS BE USED FOR A SCPOR TRAINEE TO CONSULT WITH THEIR RESEARCH COMMUNITY? FOR EXAMPLE: TO VALIDATE THEMES FROM DATA COLLECTION, TO HOLD A FOCUS GROUP OR GROUP DISCUSSION?

YES - if the Patient Partners who are research team members are part of this conversation.

YES - if the SCPOR trainee considers the community to be the ‘patient’ in their patient-oriented research project.

CAN STEP FUNDS BE BACKDATED FOR EXPENSES ALREADY INCURRED PRIOR TO APPLYING FOR FUNDING?

NO - funding cannot be backdated before the dates of the funding contract.

CAN STEP FUNDING BE RECEIVED AFTER THE SCPOR TRAINEESHIP HAS EXPIRED?

NO - STEP funding is only available to SCPOR trainees within the active period of their original SCPOR funding contract. If the STEP funds have not been utilized within this time, they are no longer accessible.

WHAT HAPPENS IF PROJECT EXPENSES ARE INCURRED THAT GO OVER MY ORIGINAL FUNDING BUDGET?

The SCPOR trainee will be responsible for all expenses incurred against a project that exceed the amount stated in your STEP contract.

CAN STEP FUNDS BE USED FOR KNOWLEDGE TRANSLATION ACTIVITIES SUCH AS PUBLISHING FEES FOR SCIENTIFIC JOURNALS WHEN PATIENT PARTNERS ARE CO-AUTHORS?

No - STEP funds cannot be used to pay for journal publishing fees.