Frequently Asked Questions
When should I start planning my experiments?
Right away! Everything will be fully operational by March 2011. It will be important to start thinking about including CEAL experiments in your upcoming grant proposals and when applying for, or renewing ethics applications. We will facilitate this process in any way that we can. Feel free to copy and paste any content included within this package and use it in your proposals. Do not hesitate to request additional information or materials.
How will ethical approval be obtained?
Ethical approval must be obtained from both Toronto Rehab and your own ethics review board. We will facilitate this process by posting all Toronto Rehab ethics forms on the CEAL website and by filling out any generic portions that are applicable to all experiments conducted using CEAL. You are encouraged to submit these forms well in advance of the projected start date of your experiments
What if my research program is not based out of Toronto?
We will try to provide as much practical information related to extended stays within Toronto. This includes information about inexpensive accommodations, public transit systems, eateries, etc. We will also provide you with an individual workspace including a desk, computer and lockable storage unit so that you can work comfortably and effectively during the length of your project.
Who will operate the equipment?
CEAL will be staffed by a full-time engineer who will be responsible for programming your experiments and operating the motion simulator. When the payloads are parked in the payload hall researchers will be able to conduct their own experiments after they have been fully trained on the safety features and operational instructions.
What will be the financial cost to me?
When planning experiments using CEAL, researchers will be expected to cover a portion of the operating costs. Our goal is to make these costs as affordable as possible! A full breakdown of the estimated costs will be provided to researchers based on their individual research proposals. These costs will include the overhead costs of running the simulator, a portion of the salaries including the CEAL engineer, programmers and research assistants (if you use them rather than bringing your own), the cost of customized equipment, etc. For grant applications you should also include in your estimated costs those related to subject compensation fees, additional software licences (if not already available at Toronto Rehab), travel costs associated with extended stays in Toronto (if necessary), etc.
