Table of Contents
Description
The Operating Grant Program is the foundation of CIHR's programming. CIHR recognizes that the creativity, skill, and insight of individuals and self-assembled teams lie at the heart of the research enterprise. The pursuit of excellence in research, as evaluated through the peer review process, inspires ideas that drive progress and ensures a continuous flow of fresh insights.
Priority Announcements on CIHR Operating Grant competitions offer additional sources of funding for highly rated applications that are relevant to specific CIHR research priority areas or mandates.
Funds Available
CIHR's contribution to the amount available for these strategic initiatives is subject to availability of funds voted annually to CIHR by parliamentary appropriations, and the conditions that may be attached to them.
Funds Available for Research in All Areas:
Funds are available for applications in all areas of research that address any important health problem or issue through the September 2007 (2007-09) competition of the CIHR Operating Grant: 2007-2008 program.
Funds Available for Research in Specific Areas:
In this competition, funds are available to encourage and support applications in specific areas that are aligned with CIHR's research priority areas and mandates. Information on the research areas to be funded as well as the maximum amounts per grant that can be requested is found in the "Objectives" section.
A. CIHR Research Priority Areas:
- Aboriginal Women's Health
- Aging
- Breast Cancer
- Ethics
- History of Medicine
- HIV/AIDS
- Huntington (Prize)
- Infrastructure and Operating Grants (Leaders Opportunity Fund)
- Musculoskeletal Health, Arthritis, Skin and Oral Health
- Obesity (Childhood) - Prevention and Treatment
- Obesity and Healthy Body Weight
- Official Language Minority Communities
- Pandemic Preparedness (Bridge Funding)
- Reproductive and Child Health (Start-Up Grants)
- Spinal Cord Research (Prize)
B. Research Related to CIHR Institute Mandates:
- Institute of Cancer Research (Bridge Funding)
- Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health (Bridge Funding)
- Institute of Gender and Health (Bridge Funding)
- Institute of Genetics (Bridge Funding: Primary and Secondary Suggested CIHR Institute)
- Institute of Infection and Immunity (Bridge Funding)
- Institute of Neuroscience, Mental Health and Addiction (Bridge Funding)
- Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes (Bridge Funding)
C. Priority Announcements announced after the launch: (Updated: 2007-08-17)
- Global Health (CIHR Research Priority Areas)
- Blood Utilization (CIHR Research Priority Areas)
- Transfusion Related Lung Injury (CIHR Research Priority Areas)
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Objectives
The specific objective of the Operating Grant Priority Announcement (Specific Research Areas) is to offer additional sources of funding for highly rated applications that are relevant to specific CIHR research priority areas and mandates.
A. CIHR Research Priority Areas:
1. Aboriginal Women's Health. The CIHR Institute of Aboriginal Peoples' Health (CIHR-IAPH) in partnership with the Ontario Women's Health Council (OWHC), an advisory body to the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, will fund applications that are determined to be relevant1 to the research priority areas described below:
- Research related to the mandate of CIHR-IAPH2 and to cardiovascular disease or mental illness in Ontario Aboriginal women across the lifespan. The research must incorporate traditional Aboriginal approaches to wellness, as well as western approaches to health, regarding cardiovascular disease or mental illness in Ontario Aboriginal women, in one or more of the following areas:
- Identification of approaches to education, health promotion and prevention;
- Identification of methodologies for early identification; or
- Identification of treatment and after care.
More information on the research priorities of CIHR-IAPH can be found in their Five-Year Strategic Plan: 2006 to 2011.
The maximum amount awarded for a single grant is $100,000 per annum for up to two years. CIHR anticipates that approximately two grants will be funded through this competition.
Additional Requirements:
- Specifically, the funding from the Ontario Women's Health Council is for Ontario-based researchers who have expertise in the following areas: Aboriginal health, women's health and cardiovascular disease or mental health.
For questions about this initiative and research objectives contact:
Laura Commanda, Assistant Director, CIHR-IAPH
Telephone: 613-946-6495
Fax: 613-954-1800
Email: lcommanda@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
2. Aging. The CIHR Institute of Aging (CIHR-IA) will fund applications that are determined to be relevant3 to the research priority areas described below:
(Updated: 2007-09-12)
Note: In completing the full application on ResearchNet, when you select either of the above research priority areas you will be required to attach an additional one page document explaining how the priority areas are addressed by your research proposal. If you do not require additional space to explain the relevance of your proposal to the research priorities, please copy the information you have entered in the “relevance description” field onto an additional page and attach it to your application.
The maximum amount awarded for a single grant is $150,000 per annum for up to three years. Within and across IA priority topics, those applications relevant to the Strategic Initiative-Mobility in Aging are encouraged and will be awarded the full funding term approved through peer review.
For questions about this initiative and research objectives contact:
Gwendoline Simard, Associate, Strategic Initiatives, CIHR-IA
Telephone: 613-946-1270
Fax: 613-954-1800
Email: gsimard@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
3. Breast Cancer. CIHR, in partnership with the Canadian Breast Cancer Research Alliance (CBCRA)4 will fund applications that are determined to be relevant to the research priority area described below:
It is the objective of the Alliance to fund a broad spectrum of cancer research in Canada that will have relevance for prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and palliation for people impacted by breast cancer. Such research could encompass, but is not limited to, fundamental laboratory investigations, clinical trials and epidemiological, psychosocial and behavioural studies and health care research. The ultimate goal is the prevention, cure and eradication of breast cancer. More information on the research priorities of the CBCRA can be found on their website.
Additional Requirements:
- Since applications are adjudicated and administered by CIHR, grantees will be required to submit annual financial reports to CIHR. In addition, because these grants are also considered CBCRA grants, grantees will be required to submit, to the CBCRA office, annual progress reports (to the attention of Dr. Pascale Macgregor, Canadian Breast Cancer Research Alliance, 375 University Avenue, 6th floor, Toronto ON M5G 2J5), as well as lists of all publications resulting in whole or in part from their CBCRA/CIHR grant. These publications will be included in the CBCRA Research Portfolio. Grantees will also be invited to present their results at CBCRA's Reasons for Hope conferences.
For questions about this initiative and research objectives contact:
Dr. Pascale Macgregor
Research Program Director
Canadian Breast Cancer Research Alliance
375 University Avenue, 6th floor
Toronto ON M5G 2J5
4. Ethics. The CIHR Ethics Office will fund applications that are determined to be relevant to the research priorities described below:
- Research in ethics related to health, health research and/or health policy.
This funding opportunity is intended to support excellent applications for 1) research projects in ethics on any relevant research questions within the domains of biomedical sciences, clinical sciences, health services and policy, and population and public health; and 2) conceptual and/or empirical research addressing ethical challenges relevant to CIHR's mandate.
Ethics issues associated with health, health research or health policy must be the central focus of the proposed study, and may relate to ethics models, frameworks, concepts, principles or values, and/or the application of these. Scientific, social and legal issues, if addressed, should support the elucidation of the ethical issues.
Fundable projects may be "stand-alone" or may be modules within larger studies.
The maximum amount awarded for a single grant is $50,000 per annum for up to three years. CIHR anticipates that approximately one to three grants will be funded through this competition.
Additional Requirements:
For questions about this initiative and research objectives contact:
Burleigh Trevor-Deutsch, Director, Ethics Office, CIHR
Telephone: 613-954-1801
Fax: 613-946-0885
Email: btrevor-deutsch@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
5. History of Medicine. The Associated Medical Services (AMS) will contribute up to an additional $250,000 in total per annum towards grants awarded in the history of medicine, as described below:
- History of medicine, health, health care or disease (broadly defined).
The goals of this collaboration include: to streamline administration of research funding in the history of medicine and health for both organizations; to develop capacity to conduct research in the history of medicine; and to broaden the understanding of how historical evidence can address contemporary health issues (e.g. epidemics like SARS, health care system reforms.)
More information on the research priorities of the Associated Medical Services can be found on their website.
The maximum amount awarded for a single grant is $25,000 per annum for up to five years. CIHR anticipates that approximately five additional grants will be funded through this competition.
For questions about this initiative and research objectives contact:
Kathryn Andrews-Clay, Acting Director, Partnerships, CIHR
Telephone: 613-941-0816
Fax: 613-954-1800
Email: kandrews-clay@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
6. HIV/AIDS. The CIHR Institute of Infection and Immunity - HIV/AIDS Research Initiative will fund applications that are determined to be relevant5 to the research priority areas described below:
- Health systems, services and policy
- Resilience, vulnerability and determinants of health
- Prevention technologies and interventions
- Drug development, toxicities and resistance
- Pathogenesis
- Issues of co-infection
More information on the research priorities of the HIV/AIDS Research Initiative can be found on the Institute of Infection and Immunity website. Research in the priority areas described above that focuses on at risk populations including people living with HIV/AIDS, men who have sex with men, injection drug users, Aboriginal Peoples, prison inmates, youth at risk, women at risk and people from countries where HIV is endemic, is encouraged.
The maximum amount awarded for a single grant is $200,000 per annum for up to three years. CIHR anticipates that approximately seven grants will be funded through this competition.
Additional Requirements:
- Applications to the HIV/AIDS Research Initiative are sought in two distinct funding streams - Biomedical/Clinical Research and Health Services/Population Health Research. Although projects which display a multidisciplinary approach across all four research pillars are strongly encouraged and accepted, applicants must clearly indicate the most relevant funding stream in the relevance field of their ResearchNet application.
For questions about this initiative and research objectives contact:
Jennifer Ralph, Program Officer, HIV/AIDS Research Initiative
Telephone: 613-941-4464
Fax: 613-954-1800
Email: jralph@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
7. Huntington (Prize). CIHR in partnership with the Huntington Society of Canada (HSC) and the CIHR Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction (CIHR-INMHA) will fund applications that are determined to be relevant to the research priority areas described below.
- Basic biomedical research on Huntington's Disease
More information on the research priorities of the Huntington Society of Canada and CIHR-INMHA can be found on their websites.
The maximum amount awarded for a single grant is for $15,000 per annum for up to one year. CIHR anticipates that one grant will be funded through this competition.
Funding from HSC will be in the form of a top up to an operating grant from the September 2007 CIHR Open Operating Grant competition. The recipient, identified as the top-ranked basic biomedical researcher in the area of Huntington's Disease, will receive $15,000 in the first year of the grant.
Additional Information:
- See the section "Review Process and Evaluation Criteria-Relevance Review" for information about the relevance review process specific to Prizes in CIHR Research Priority Areas.
- Applications to the regular Operating Grant competitions will be entered automatically into priority announcement prize competitions. Consideration for funding through priority announcement prizes is in addition to consideration for other types of priority announcement funding.
For questions about this initiative and research objectives contact:
Barbara Beckett, Assistant Director, CIHR-INMHA
Telephone: 613-948-4877
Fax: 613-954-1800
Email: bbeckett@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
8. Infrastructure and Operating Grants (Leaders Opportunity Fund). CIHR, in partnership with the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI),6 will fund applications that are determined to be relevant7 to the research priority area described below:
The objectives of this initiative are: to lessen both applicant and reviewer workload by reducing the number of applications needed to secure both operating and infrastructure support; to create a unique, user-friendly funding tool for researchers and institutions; and to ensure an accurate and fair review of both operating and infrastructure support requests. It is expected that this initiative will allow universities and researchers the opportunity to create streamlined, competitive packages for the funding of infrastructure needs and operational research support.
Additional Requirements:
- Operating grant requests will be governed by the policies and guidelines for CIHR's Operating Grant Program, as described within the text of this priority announcement.
- Infrastructure requests will be governed by CFI's application deadlines, eligibility, notification dates and grant start dates please refer to the CFI's program guide.
- Applications receiving a rating of less than 3.5 will not be considered for funding.
For questions related to specific CFI competitions and programs, including CFI funding guidelines and how to apply contact:
Mark Lagacé, Manager, Leaders Opportunity Fund
Canada Foundation for Innovation
Telephone: 613-996-3107
Fax: 613-943-0923
Email: mark.lagace@innovation.ca
9. Musculoskeletal Health, Arthritis, Skin and Oral Health. The CIHR Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis (CIHR-IMHA) will fund applications that are determined to be relevant8 to the research priority areas described below:
- Research priorities of CIHR-IMHA.
More information on the strategic research priorities of the CIHR-IMHA can be found on their website.
The maximum amount awarded for a single grant is up to $100,000 per annum for one year. CIHR-IMHA anticipates that approximately four grants will be funded through this competition.
Additional Requirements:
- At least half of the grants will be allocated to new investigators.9 Any additional funding will be allocated to the next top ranked new investigator first, then the next top ranked established investigator.
- Researchers are eligible to receive only one grant through IMHA's priority announcement program.
- Applicants must indicate IMHA as the primary institute.
- Researchers who hold a CIHR operating grant as a Principal Investigator at the time of submission to this program are not eligible for a priority announcement.
For questions about this initiative and research objectives contact:
Medina Sarkar
Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Tel: 613-957-8678
Fax.: 613-954-1800
Email: msarkar@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
10. Obesity (Childhood) - Prevention and Treatment. The CIHR Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes (CIHR-INMD) and Canada's Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (Rx&D) Health Research Foundation will fund applications that are determined to be relevant to the research priority areas described below:
- Prevention of childhood obesity.
- Treatment of childhood obesity.
More information on the research priorities and the relevance review criteria for this priority announcement can be found on the CIHR-INMD website.
The maximum amount awarded for a single grant is $120,000 per annum for up to three years.
Additional Requirements:
- The funded research team(s) will identify a spokesperson to interact with the media to communicate research activities and findings to the general public.
- All communications material and publications must acknowledge CIHR and where applicable Rx&D Health Research Foundation
- Willingness to participate in the announcement of the grant(s) to the media with the partner(s) present at the research site(s).
For questions about this initiative and research objectives contact:
Paul Bélanger, Assistant Director - Ottawa, CIHR-INMD
Telephone: 613-941-6465
Fax: 613-954-1800
Email: pbelanger@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
11. Obesity and Healthy Body Weight. The CIHR Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes (CIHR-INMD) will fund applications that are determined to be relevant10 to the prevention and treatment of obesity as described in the Strategic Initiative Excellence, Innovation and Advancement in the Study of Obesity and Healthy Body Weight, as described below:
- Prevention and treatment of obesity.
Applicants submitting proposals under the strategic initiative can come from any discipline or area of expertise, and can propose research in any number of areas. Applicants must justify how their application contributes to increasing knowledge to prevent or to treat of obesity.
The maximum amount awarded for a single grant is $120,000 per annum for up to three years.
For questions about this initiative and research objectives contact:
Paul Bélanger, Assistant Director - Ottawa, CIHR-INMD
Telephone: 613-941-6465
Fax: 613-954-1800
Email: pbelanger@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
12. Official Language Minority Communities. The CIHR Research Initiative on Official Language Minority Communities (OLMC) will fund applications that are determined to be relevant to the research priority areas described below:
- Determinants of health11
- Health service governance, management and delivery12
- Language, culture and health13
The maximum amount awarded for a single grant is $100,000 per annum for up to three years.
For questions about this initiative and research objectives contact:
Johanne Lapointe, Project Manager, Research Initiatives, CIHR
Telephone: 613-954-2474
Fax: 613-954-1800
Email: jlapointe@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
13. Pandemic Preparedness (Bridge Funding). The CIHR Institute of Infection and Immunity (CIHR-III) will offer one year bridge funding for applications that are determined to be relevant to the Pandemic Preparedness Strategic Research Initiative as described below:
- Pandemic preparedness and the current pandemic influenza threat.
The maximum amount awarded for a single grant is $100,000 per annum for up to one year.
For questions about this initiative and research objectives contact:
Carol Richardson, Manager, Programs and Evaluation, CIHR-III
Telephone: 519-661-3228
Fax: 519-661-4226
Email: carol.richardson@schulich.uwo.ca
14. Reproductive and Child Health (Start-Up Grants for New Investigators). The CIHR Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health (CIHR-IHDCYH) will fund applications that are determined to be relevant to the research priority areas, as indicated below:
The objective of this priority announcement is to further strengthen research that relates to the Strategic Research Priorities of the CIHR-IHDCYH by increasing research capacity. It is expected that this targeted investment will lead to increased success rates for new Principal Investigators in future CIHR regular open competitions.
The maximum amount awarded for a single grant is $100,000 per annum for up to one year. CIHR-IHDCYH anticipates that approximately two grants will be funded through this competition.
Additional Requirement:
- Grants are offered only to investigators with less than six years of experience as independent investigators since their first academic appointment (i.e. after September 2001, including experience outside Canada) and who have never held a CIHR grant as a Principal Investigator (including the SickKids Foundation (SKF)/IHDCYH New Investigators Grants Program).
For questions about the objectives and relevant research areas:
Anne-Cécile Desfaits, PhD, Assistant Director, CIHR-IHDCYH
Telephone: 514-412-4414
Fax: 514-412-4253
Email: adesfaits@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
15. Spinal Cord Research (Prize). The CIHR Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction (CIHR-INMHA), in partnership with the Barbara Turnbull Foundation for Spinal Cord Research (BTF) and NeuroScience Canada (NSC) will fund applications that are determined to be relevant to the research priority areas described below:
- Spinal cord injury protection, repair and functional recovery.
More information on the research priorities of CIHR-INMHA, the Barbara Turnbull Foundation for Spinal Cord Research and NeuroScience Canada can be found on their websites.
The award will be in the form of a top up to an operating grant and will be known as the Barbara Turnbull Award for Spinal Cord Research. The recipient of the award will be selected as the top ranked spinal cord researcher as identified through the combined results of CIHR's September 2007and March 2008 investigator-initiated open operating grant competitions.
Additional Information:
- See the "Review Process and Evaluation Criteria-Relevance Review" section for information about the relevance review process specific to Prizes in CIHR Research Priority Areas.
- Applications to the regular Operating Grant competitions will be entered automatically into priority announcement prize competitions. Consideration for funding through priority announcement prizes is in addition to consideration for other types of priority announcement funding.
For questions about this initiative and research objectives contact:
Barbara Beckett, Assistant Director, CIHR-INMHA
Telephone: 613-948-4877
Fax: 613-954-1800
Email: bbeckett@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
B. Research Related to CIHR Institute Mandates:
The following CIHR Institutes are offering priority announcements for research related to their mandates. The maximum amount awarded for a single grant is $100,000 per annum for up to one year.
16. CIHR Institute of Cancer Research (CIHR-ICR) (Bridge Funding).
For questions about this initiative and the mandate of CIHR-ICR contact:
Benoît Lussier, Assistant Director, CIHR-ICR
Telephone: 514-398-4964
Fax: 514-398-8845
Email: benoit.lussier@mcgill.ca
17. CIHR Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health (CIHR-ICRH) (Bridge Funding).
For questions about this initiative and the mandate of CIHR-ICRH contact:
Ilana Kogan Gombos, Assistant Director, CIHR-ICRH
Telephone: 613-954-0544
Fax: 613-954-1800
Email: igombos@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
18. CIHR Institute of Gender and Health (CIHR-IGH) (Bridge Funding).
For questions about this initiative and the mandate of CIHR-IGH contact:
Louise Robert Associate Scientific Director, CIHR-IGH
Telephone: 613- 954-0616
Fax: 613- 954-1800
Email: lrobert@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
19. CIHR Institute of Genetics (CIHR-IG) (Bridge Funding: Primary and Secondary Suggested CIHR Institute).
For questions about this initiative and the mandate of CIHR-IG contact:
Stephanie Robertson, Assistant Director, CIHR-IG
Telephone: 613- 954-0533
Fax: 613- 954-1800
Email: srobertson@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
20. CIHR Institute of Infection and Immunity (CIHR-III) (Bridge Funding).
For questions about this initiative and the mandate of CIHR-III contact:
Bruce Moor, Assistant Director, CIHR-III
Telephone: 519-661-3228
Fax: 519-661-4226
Email: bmoor@uwo.ca
21. CIHR Institute of Neuroscience, Mental Health and Addiction (CIHR-INMHA) (Bridge Funding).
For questions about this initiative and the mandate of CIHR-INMHA contact:
Richard Brière, Assistant Director, CIHR-INMHA
Telephone: 514-761-6131, ext. 3930
Fax: 514-888-4060
Email: richard.briere@douglas.mcgill.ca
22. CIHR Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes (CIHR-INMD) (Bridge Funding).
For questions about this initiative and the mandate of CIHR-INMD contact:
Paul Bélanger, Assistant Director - Ottawa, CIHR-INMD
Telephone: 613-941-6465
Fax: 613-954-1800
Email: pbelanger@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
C. Priority Announcements announced after the launch:
CIHR Research Priority Areas (Updated: 2007-08-17)
23. Global Health. CIHR, one of four partners in the Global Health Research Initiative (GHRI), will fund applications that are in keeping with the GHRI programming principles14 and are determined to be relevant to the research priority area described below:
The specific objective of this priority announcement is to improve Canada's ability to investigate and intervene on those underlying forces that challenge global health, by enhancing, in a sustainable manner, the capacity of national and international researchers and research-users to collaboratively develop and apply global health knowledge for evidence-based public health practice.
Projects will be funded for a maximum period of three years.
More information about the Global Health Research Initiative can be found on its Website.
For questions about this initiative and research objectives contact:
Kim Gaudreau
Associate, Strategic Initiatives, CIHR-IPPH
Telephone: 613-957-6128
Fax: 613-954-1800
Email: kgaudreau@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
CIHR Research Priority Areas (Updated: 2007-08-17)
24. Blood Utilization. The CIHR Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health (CIHR-ICRH), in partnership with Canadian Blood Services (CBS), will fund applications that are determined to be relevant to the research priority area described below:
- Blood utilization and conservation
Blood products and their derivatives include cellular blood components (red blood cells and platelets), plasma products, therapeutic proteins fractionated from plasma, and replacement products for any of these including both recombinant proteins and synthetic materials. Conservation refers to strategies to reduce the use of donor-derived blood products.
More information on the research priorities of Canadian Blood Services can be found on their website.
The maximum period of support will be for up to three years. The funding provided through this priority announcement is non-renewable. Funding for a further period may be possible through an application to a regular CIHR Operating Grant competition sufficiently far in advance of the termination date of the grant to ensure continuity.
For questions about this initiative and research objectives contact:
Christine Lavictoire, Project Manager, CIHR-ICRH
Telephone: 613-941-4342
Fax: 613-954-1800
Email: clavictoire@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
CIHR Research Priority Areas (Updated: 2007-08-17)
25. Transfusion Related Lung Injury. The CIHR Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health (CIHR-ICRH), in partnership with Canadian Blood Services (CBS), will fund applications that are determined to be relevant to the research priority area described below:
- Transfusion related acute lung injury (TRALI).
Research projects may focus on any relevant research question within biomedical, clinical, or health policy research. Examples of relevant questions include defining the scope of TRALI, mechanisms of induction of TRALI in both animals models and patient populations, identification of pathogenic antibodies, identification of best testing methods, studies to inform donor deferral policy making, identification of factors (including genetic factors) that increase a recipient's susceptibility to TRALI, and epidemiology studies to establish the incidence of TRALI.
More information on the research priorities of Canadian Blood Services can be found on their Website.
The maximum period of support will be for up to three years. The funding provided through this priority announcement is non-renewable. Funding for a further period may be possible through an application to a regular CIHR Operating Grants competition sufficiently far in advance of the termination date of the grant to ensure continuity.
For questions about this initiative and research objectives contact:
Christine Lavictoire, Project Manager, CIHR-ICRH
Telephone: 613-941-4342
Fax: 613-954-1800
Email: clavictoire@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
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Eligibility
Eligibility criteria for all CIHR research funding programs apply. The business office of the institution of an eligible Nominated Principal Applicant generally administers CIHR funds. Please refer to the Eligibility Requirements for CIHR Grants and Awards regarding the eligibility requirements for individuals and institutions.
Eligibility requirements specific to the Operating Grant Program include the following:
-
Only applicants who meet the definition of Principal Applicant, as described in the CIHR Grants and Awards Guide, may submit an application to the Operating Grant Program.
-
There is no limit to the number of applications an applicant can submit as a Principal Applicant, whether he/she is the Nominated Principal Applicant or a Co-Principal Applicant, to each Operating Grant competition.
- Applicants to the Operating Grant Program may request that their application be considered for:
- Up to three Priority Announcements per application, in each Operating Grant competition;
- Any number of additional Priority Announcements for research related to a CIHR Institute's mandate, Linked Programs, for example, the Regional Partnerships Program, the Neuromuscular Research Program (Spring competitions only), and the CIHR-Arthritis Society Partnership Program.
- Randomized controlled trials are not funded through this program. For applications including randomized controlled trials, researchers must apply through the Randomized Controlled Trials Program and not through the Operating Grant Program.
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Guidelines
Applications funded through the Operating Grant Program are subject to funding policies outlined in the CIHR Grants and Awards Guide. Guidelines governing CIHR's grant programs are outlined in Section 3: General Guidelines for Grant Programs. Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate the use of Gender and Sex-Based Analysis in applications.
Allowable Costs
Applicants should review the Use of Grant Funds section of the Tri-Agency (CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC) Financial Administration Guide for a complete listing and description of allowable costs and activities.
The full application must provide a detailed justification of all costs.
Conditions of Funding
All conditions specified in CIHR General Grants and Awards Policies shall apply to applications funded through the Operating Grant Program. Conditions cover areas such as Applicant and Institutional Responsibilities, Ethics, Official Languages Policy, Access to Information and Privacy Acts, and Acknowledgement of CIHR's Support. Successful applicants will be informed of any special financial conditions prior to the release of funds or when they receive CIHR's Authorization for Funding (AFF) document.
Access to Information Act and Privacy Act, and the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA)
All personal information collected by CIHR about applicants is used to review applications, to recruit reviewers, to administer and monitor grants and awards, to compile statistics, and to promote and support health research in Canada. Consistent with these purposes, applicants should also expect that information collected by CIHR may be shared as described in Use and Disclosure of Personal Information Provided to CIHR for Peer Review.
CIHR as a federal entity is subject to the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act, therefore the requirements of these two statutes will apply to all information located in CIHR's premises including, without limitation, cost-sharing agreements related to this Funding opportunity and all matters pertaining thereto.
While respecting the application of the Privacy Act to federal entities, all signing parties involved in a collaborative agreement will also be bound by the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA). All personal information (as identified by the PIPEDA) collected, used or disclosed in the course of any commercial activity under collaborative agreements related to the Funding opportunity will be collected, used and disclosed in compliance with the PIPEDA.
Communication Requirements
Grant recipients are required to acknowledge CIHR, its institutes and partners in any communication or publication related to the project. See CIHR General Grants and Awards Policies, Public Communication and Acknowledgement of CIHR's Support for details on CIHR's communication requirements. The contributing institutes / partners will be identified on the Authorization for Funding and decision letter.
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Performance Measurement
CIHR is committed to demonstrating results to Canadians for the money invested in health research. Therefore, processes for monitoring progress and appropriate use of funds, as well as for performance measurement and program evaluation are in place. As a result, funding recipients must:
- adhere to CIHR's reporting requirements and provide required information in a timely fashion. A Progress Report for Long-Term Grant Holders (5 or more years) will be required in year 3 of grants of duration of 5 years or more. Grantees are required to submit the Progress Report for Long-Term Grant Holders (5 or more years) describing the progress made and the publications issued since the start of the grant. CIHR will cancel the last 12 months of the grant if the progress is unacceptable and will cancel the final two years of the grant if it does not receive a report. The "Progress Report for Long-Term Grant Holders (5 or more years)" can be found under List of Forms and Guidelines for Completion;
- contribute to the monitoring, review and evaluation of CIHR's programs, policies and processes by participating in evaluation studies, surveys, workshops, audits and providing data or reports as required for the purpose of collecting information to assess progress and results;
- encourage their associates, trainees and administration to participate in the monitoring, review and evaluation of CIHR's programs, policies and processes as required.
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Review Process and Evaluation
Relevance Review
A. CIHR Research Priority Areas:
CIHR and partner organizations will provide funding for applications that are relevant to (in alignment with) the objectives and research priority areas described under "CIHR Research Priority Areas" within the "Objectives" section.
Relevance of the applications to the research priorities will be determined in the following manner.
Prior to peer review, CIHR and the partner organizations will review applications to determine the relevance, or alignment, of the research proposed to the research priority area(s) described above.
To conduct relevance review, these representatives will have access to a completed relevance form in addition to anonymized project titles and summaries, provided that applicants have consented to the sharing of information in consideration for other funding opportunities as well as to the sharing of information to observers in completing their ResearchNet application.
Upon completion of peer review, the CIHR and the partner organizations will receive the ratings, rankings and peer review committee recommendations on funding level and grant or award term for those applications that 1) are found to be relevant to the specific objectives of the research initiative and the research priority areas described under "CIHR Research Priority Areas"; and 2) are rated within the CIHR fundable range but are not funded through the regular CIHR competition to which they were submitted. These applications will be funded from the top down in order of ranking as far as budgets will allow. Applications that receive a ranking below 3.5 will not be funded.
Peer review committees will not be informed of applications submitted for funding through this announcement.
Prizes in CIHR Research Priority Areas:
Upon completion of peer review, representatives of CIHR and/or partner organizations will receive an anonymized ranking list, funding level and peer review committee recommendations on grant term for all applications 1) that are funded in the regular CIHR Operating Grant competition(s); and 2) that are identified as relevant through a keyword search. This information will be used to conduct relevance review when required and to determine the recipient(s) of the prize(s). These applications will be selected from the top down in order of ranking as far as budgets will allow. Applications that receive a rating below the regular CIHR Operating Grant competition cut-off will not be considered for prizes.
Peer review committees will not be informed of applications submitted for funding through this announcement.
B. Research Related to CIHR Institute Mandates:
Upon completion of peer review, representatives of each CIHR Institute will receive a randomized list of applications for which the Institute was selected as primary (and where indicated, secondary) Institute under "Suggested Institutes" on the "Project Descriptors" page of the ResearchNet application. The randomized list will include anonymized titles, project summaries and peer review committee recommendations on funding levels. These applications will be funded from the top down in order of ranking as far as budgets will allow. Applications that receive a rating below 3.5 will not be funded. Applications receiving a rating of less than 3.7 will not be considered for funding by the Institute of Genetics.
Peer review committees will not be informed of applications submitted for funding through this announcement.
Peer Review
A CIHR peer review committee will evaluate the full applications. Committee members are selected following CIHR's Policy on Confidentiality, Conflict of Interest and Privacy Issues in Peer and Relevance Review (CCIP). For information on CIHR's peer review process in general, see the Peer Review section of CIHR's website.
Evaluation Criteria
Peer review will be conducted in accordance with The CIHR Peer Review Process - Policies and Responsibilities of Grants Committee Members, including the standard evaluation criteria described under "Factors in the Assessment" (section 6.2).
Applications to the CIHR Operating Grant Program are reviewed by one of approximately 50 peer review committees specifically constituted to support the CIHR Operating Grant Program. Each committee consists of about 10-16 members, including a Chairperson and Scientific Officer. For a list of these committees and their respective mandates, refer to Peer Review Committees and Mandates on the CIHR website.
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How to Apply
Applications are submitted through the September 2007 (2007-09) competition of the CIHR Operating Grant: 2007-2008 program. The application instructions are outlined in the "How to Apply" section of the CIHR Operating Grant: 2007-2008 program.
Please note that all applicants to the CIHR Operating Grant Program are now required to submit their Registrations and Full Applications electronically using ResearchNet.
Additional Instructions
A. CIHR Research Priority Areas:
Priority announcements for research in specific CIHR priority areas are listed in the "Objectives" section of this funding opportunity, under "CIHR Research Priority Areas."
To apply for funding through these priority announcements, select the priority announcement title and relevant research area(s) addressed by your Operating Grant research proposal in the "Identify Priority Announcements and Relevant Research Area" section of your ResearchNet application.
You may request that your application be considered for up to three priority announcement research areas per application, in each Operating Grant competition.
B. Research Related to CIHR Institute Mandates:
Priority announcements for research related to CIHR Institute mandates (including bridge funding priority announcements) are listed in the "Objectives" section of this funding opportunity, under "Research Related to CIHR Institute Mandates."
When you select a CIHR Institute as a primary (and where indicated, secondary) Institute under "Suggested Institutes" on the "Project Descriptors" page of your ResearchNet application, the Institute will automatically consider your application for funding through the priority announcement process whenever it offers a priority announcement for research related to its mandate. Consideration for funding through CIHR Institute mandate priority announcements is in addition to consideration for priority announcement funding in specific research priority areas.
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Contact Information
For questions on CIHR funding guidelines, how to apply, and the peer review process contact:
CIHR Info Desk Service
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Telephone: 613-954-1968
Toll-free: 1-888-603-4178
Email: info@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
Specific information about the Operating Grant Program peer review committees can also be obtained by contacting the individuals listed on the CIHR Committees and Programs Contacts page of the CIHR Website.
If you are experiencing technical difficulties with your ResearchNet account or the e-Submission process contact:
CIHR ResearchNet Support
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Telephone: 613-941-9080
Email: support@researchnet-recherchenet.ca
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Additional Information
- Aboriginal Women's Health. The following criteria will be used in conducting the relevance review:
- Alignment of the proposed research with research priority areas for this funding opportunity: cardiovascular disease and/or mental illness in Aboriginal women in Ontario.
- Proposals must identify the incorporation of traditional Aboriginal approaches to wellness and western approaches to health, in one, or more of the following areas: identification of approaches to education, health promotion, prevention, treatment and after care; identification of methodologies for early identification of cardiovascular disease and/or mental illness.
- Proposals must demonstrate knowledge translation with Aboriginal community/communities, and decision-makers working one or more of the following areas: health promotion, chronic disease prevention and management, mental health services.
- Proposed research must demonstrate the involvement of Ontario Aboriginal community-based organizations at all stages of the research process. Research projects funded through this opportunity must also provide financial support to Ontario Aboriginal community-based organization(s).
- Aboriginal Women's Health. The mandate of the CIHR Institute of Aboriginal Peoples' Health is to support health research that addresses the special health needs of Aboriginal peoples in Canada, and aims to improve the health of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples through the assertion of Aboriginal understandings of health and by fostering innovative community-based and scientifically excellent research.
- Aging. CIHR-IA will evaluate for relevance using the following criteria which must be addressed in separate paragraphs within the relevance field of your ResearchNet application. You may upload one additional page to the relevance field of your ResearchNet application if necessary.
- Criterion #1: Extent to which the proposal addresses one or more of the five IA relevant research areas;
- Criterion #2: Extent to which the research and research design address issues of aging and/or the aged are essential elements of the research objectives, hypotheses and analyses (e.g., dynamics of aging, age-relevant models and/or aged subjects; uniqueness of aging or aged population).
- Criterion #3 (optional): Extent to which the proposal addresses eligible areas of inquiry under the Strategic Initiative Announcement -Mobility in Aging.
- Breast Cancer. The Canadian Institutes of Health Research, together with the National Cancer Institute of Canada (NCIC), Health Canada, the Canadian Cancer Society, the Avon Flame Foundation (formerly the Breast Cancer International Centre), the Canadian Breast Cancer Network and the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation are funding partners in the Canadian Breast Cancer Research Alliance (CBCRA).
- HIV/AIDS. The following criteria will be used in conducting the relevance review: The primary research focus must be HIV/AIDS; the research must focus on one or more of the identified relevant research areas.
- Infrastructure and Operating Grants (Leaders Opportunity Fund). The Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) is an independent corporation created by the Government of Canada to fund research infrastructure. The CFI's mandate is to strengthen the capacity of Canadian universities, colleges, research hospitals, and non-profit research institutions to carry out world-class research and technology development that benefits Canadians.
- Infrastructure and Operating Grants (Leaders Opportunity Fund). The following criteria will be used in conducting the review of the CFI infrastructure request:
- Quality of the research and need for the infrastructure
- Contribution to strengthening the capacity for innovation
- Potential benefits to Canada
Upon completion of peer review, the CFI will receive the ratings, rankings and peer review committee recommendations for those applications that are rated within the CIHR fundable range. The CFI Board of Directors will make funding decisions for the infrastructure component, based on CIHR's peer review committee recommendations. Applications that receive a ranking below 3.5 will not be funded.
- Musculoskeletal Health, Arthritis, Skin and Oral Health. The extent to which the relevance form addresses at least one of CIHR-IMHA's three research priorities listed above. A Yes/No score is given.
- Musculoskeletal Health, Arthritis, Skin and Oral Health. A new investigator is defined as a researcher who has completed all formal training, but with 5 years or less experience as an independent investigator. One does NOT need a new investigator salary award to be classified as a new investigator.
- Obesity and Healthy Body Weight. The following criteria will be used in conducting the relevance review:
- Increase understanding of, prevention and treatment of obesity or maintenance of healthy body weight.
- Does the proposed investigation pertain directly to obesity/healthy body weights and is it relevant to a broader population or greater burden of disease, disability or health risk?
- Official Language Minority Communities. Determinants of Health: This research area seeks to identify the bio-psycho-social determinants of health and the health needs of official language minority populations, document the access these populations have to health services and determine how accessibility affects their health.
Population health research looks at all determinants of health: the social and physical environment in which populations live, resources available to them, health services, lifestyle, cultural practices and biological determinants. This view incorporates two major factors that may explain health inequalities: the personal factor, which explores the characteristics of individuals, and the contextual factor, which looks at living environments (resources and infrastructures) and the collective functioning (sociocultural and historical characteristics of the community, degree of integration, mobility, norms and values).
- Official Language Minority Communities. Health service governance, management and delivery: The issue of health institution governance by official language minorities is still not clearly documented. The community argument is only at the early stages, and research on this subject is therefore delayed. As such, it is important to reinforce knowledge to gain a better understanding of minority community governance regarding health in Canada. It is also important to identify the political and administrative issues raised by jurisprudence and institutional duality and better grasp the new health-related observations. Issues relating to greater participation by official language minority communities in governance bodies and decision-making guide this branch of research. The concerns of official language minorities surrounding health service delivery in both official languages and the management of this service suggest that governance of health care institutions is undergoing far-reaching changes that must be better documented.
- Official Language Minority Communities. Language, culture and health: The connections between language, culture and health have to do with the effects of the minority linguistic and cultural experience on identity development and health. For example, this has an impact on access to health promotion and prevention services and to primary and specialized health care. This also comes into play with communication between people receiving health care and health workers. It is also important to understand the processes of linguistic assimilation and acculturation, which may affect the self-esteem and identity development of people in minority communities.
The connections between "language, culture and health" particularly affect certain "client groups": early childhood, youth, seniors, women, new Canadians and people with mental health or psychosocial problems. Speech, verbal and non-verbal communication, the meaning of "symbols" and general comprehension are closely linked to culture and language. When it comes to health problems, it is particularly crucial for people to be able to use their own language to explain their symptoms, state of mind, difficulties and pains to a professional who understands their language. It is important to understand the situation of members of official language minority communities, how they view the limited access to services they encounter and the impact this situation has on their health. With an active immigration policy, the specific situation of new francophones from Africa, Asia and the West Indies is among the shifting issues of access to French-language services. The importance of language and culture becomes even clearer for seniors with memory problems or depressive people under great psychological distress. Only research into these issues will improve our knowledge so that we can document the connections between language, culture and health.
- Global Health. The Global Health Research Initiative (GHRI) has responded to low and middle income country (LMIC) priorities and the research community by committing to a set of principles that govern all joint GHRI research programming and also respect their organizations' mandates. They are to:
- Support more egalitarian Canada-LMIC teams;
- Support interdisciplinary approaches to health problems that are a priority to LMICs;
- Engage multiple stakeholders (universities and affiliated organizations, civil society organizations, governments, community members);
- Promote and strengthen knowledge exchange and transfer mechanisms, including links to policy-makers and other research users;
- Support sustainable research environments;
- Support effective training and mentoring;
- Provide ongoing technical support and networking;
- Promote research excellence through peer review.
- Global Health. Canada's health status is increasingly affected, like that of many countries, by ecological, technological, economic, political and socio-cultural forces acting at a global level. Understanding these "upstream" forces, and their health impacts, in this country and others (especially poorer nations) - is essential to ensuring the future health of Canadians. It is also ethically imperative to work on global issues, if we are to act as responsible global citizens. Part of CIHR's mandate is to promote research that addresses the global health problems associated with the poorest of the poor. The CIHR also supports global health research through its work with its partners the CIDA, IDRC and Health Canada under the Global Health Research Initiative.
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