Important Dates

Notices

Table of Contents

• Description
• Objectives
• Eligibility
• Guidelines
• Performance Measurement
• Review Process and Evaluation
• How to Apply
• Contact Information
• Additional Information

Description

Fellowships provide support for highly qualified candidates at the post-PhD or post-health professional degree stages to add to their experience by engaging in health research either in Canada or abroad.

Priority Announcements on Fellowship 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 this initiative 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 October 2007 (2007-10) competition of the CIHR Fellowship: 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

1. Aging
2. Aging - Longitudinal Studies
3. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
4. Clinical Research
5. Dystonia (Small Health Organization Partnership Program)
6. Fanconi Anemia (Small Health Organization Partnership Program)
7. Fragile X (Small Health Organization Partnership Program)
8. Genetics (Ethics, Law and Society)
9. Global Health
10. Health Services and Policy Research
11. HIV/AIDS
12. Huntington Disease
13. Hypertension
14. Incontinence (Small Health Organization Partnership Program)
15. Knowledge Translation
16. Mood Disorders (Mona Bronfman Sheckman Award)
17. Physical Disabilities (Small Health Organization Partnership Program)
18. Public Health
19. Transfusion Science
20. Women's Health

B. Prizes in CIHR Research Priority Areas

21. Bisby Fellowship (Prize)
22. Cancer (Prize)
23. Schizophrenia (Prize)

Objectives

The specific objective of the Fellowship 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. Aging. The CIHR Institute of Aging (CIHR-IA) will fund applications that are determined to be relevant¹ to the research priority areas described below:

• Research on Aging Priority Topics;
• Mobility in Aging Initiative. Additional funding is available for highly ranked applications relevant to the Mobility in Aging Initiative.

The maximum amount awarded for a single grant is $60,000 per annum for up to five years. CIHR-IA anticipates that four awards will be funded through this competition.

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.

The CIHR-IA will also award to the highest ranked applicant a travel allowance supplement valued at a maximum of $2,500 through the CIHR-IA Recognition Prize in Research on Aging. 

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

2. Aging - Longitudinal Studies. CIHR, through the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) will fund applications that are determined to be relevant to the research priority areas described below:

• Development, design, planning, data collection and/or analysis health measurement studies with emphasis on the CLSA and similar longitudinal studies.

More information on the objectives and relevant research areas of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging Fellowships can be found on the Institute of Aging Website. (Updated: 2007-10-02)

The maximum amount awarded for a single award is $60,000 per annum for up to two years. CIHR anticipates that approximately two awards will be funded through this competition.

Additional Requirements:

• Candidates are encouraged to consider a supervisor who is a researcher linked to the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging, such as the CLSA Principal Investigators, CSLA Theme Leaders and other Key Co-investigators of CLSA, and/or to other national/international longitudinal studies of aging.
• One copy of all published research articles based on this Fellowship must be forwarded to the CIHR Institute of Aging.
• Given that awardees will be contributing to the knowledge base of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging, they may be called upon by CLSA Principle Investigators or the CIHR Institute of Aging to participate in promotional activities, such as symposia, workshops and newsletters.

For questions about this initiative and research objectives contact:

Linda Mealing, Assistant Director, CIHR-Institute of Aging
Telephone: 613-952-4537
Fax: 613-954-1800
Email: LMealing@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

3. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. The Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Society of Canada - ALS Canada in partnership with 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:

• Proteomics related to ALS;
• Genomics related to ALS;
• Motor neuron disease related to ALS.

More information on the research priorities of the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Society of Canada on their Website.

The maximum amount awarded for a single award is $55,000 per annum for up to three years. CIHR anticipates that approximately three awards will be funded through this competition.

Additional Requirements:

• Trainees must propose a research training program in Canada to be eligible for this award;
• Only one trainee per lab will be eligible to receive 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

4. Clinical Research. The CIHR Clinical Research Initiative will fund applications that are determined to be relevant to the research priority areas described below:

• Clinical Research²

This priority announcement is directed to qualified health care professionals³ who are also prepared to conduct clinical research (i.e. who function as career scientists with additional blocks of time also committed for clinical practice and education). In addition, it is strongly recommended that the candidate's supervisor or co-supervisor profile meet the "clinical research mentor⁴" requirement.

More information on the research priorities of the CIHR Clinical Research Initiative can be found on their Website.

The maximum amount awarded for a single award is $60,000 per annum for up to five years. CIHR anticipates that approximately five awards will be funded through this competition.

Additional Requirements:

• The relevance form must address training environment and clinical research mentor profile.

For questions about this initiative and research objectives contact:

Julie Senécal, Team Lead, Clinical Research Initiative, CIHR
Telephone: 613-941-0057
Fax: 613-954-1800
Email: jsenecal@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

5. Dystonia. CIHR through the Small Health Organization Partnership Program (SHOPP), in partnership with the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation of Canada (DMRFC), will fund applications that are determined to be relevant to the research priority areas described below:

• Clinical characterization of dystonias;
• Genetic and pathophysiologic studies striving to reveal their causes;
• Development of novel treatment and rehabilitation options.

More information on the research priorities of the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation of Canada can be found on their Website.

The maximum amount awarded for a single award is $55,000 per annum for up to three years. CIHR anticipates that one award will be funded through this competition.

Additional Requirements:

• Award must be held in Canada.
• DMRFC will not pay for parental leave but agrees to extend the term of the award by the duration of the leave.
• Reporting to DMRFC is required to ensure funding is utilized appropriately. Funding to be suspended by DMRFC if requirements are not met by research fellow.

For questions about this initiative and research objectives contact:

Rosa Venuta, Senior Advisor, Partnerships, CIHR
Telephone: 613-941-1006
Fax: 613-954-1800
Email: rvenuta@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

6. Fanconi anemia. CIHR, through the Small Health Organization Partnership Program (SHOPP), in partnership with Fanconi Canada, will fund applications that are determined to be relevant to the research priority areas described below:

• Fanconi anemia;
• Bone marrow failure.

More information on the research priorities of Fanconi Canada can be found on their Website.

The maximum amount awarded for a single award is $55,000 per annum for up to five years. CIHR anticipates that one award will be funded through this competition.

Additional Information:

• Award must be held in Canada.
• Fanconi Canada will not pay for parental leave but agrees to extend the term of the award by the duration of the leave.

For questions about this initiative and research objectives contact:

Rosa Venuta, Acting Senior Advisor, Partnerships, CIHR
Telephone: 613-941-1006
Fax: 613-954-1800
Email: rvenuta@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

7. Fragile X. CIHR through the Small Health Organization Partnership Program (SHOPP), in partnership with the Fragile X Research Foundation of Canada (FXRFC), will fund applications that are determined to be relevant to the research priority areas described below:

• Fragile X gene therapy, protein replacement therapy, psychopharmacology, nootropic agents, MAPIB, mGluR theory, synaptic plasticity.

More information on the research priorities of Fragile X Research Foundation of Canada (FXRFC) can be found on their Website.

The maximum amount awarded for a single award is $55,000 per annum for up to five years. CIHR anticipates that approximately 4 awards will be funded through this competition.

Additional Information:

• Award must be held in Canada.
• Fragile X will not pay for parental leave but agrees to extend the term of the award by the duration of the leave.

For questions about this initiative and research objectives contact:

Rosa Venuta, Senior Advisor, Partnerships, CIHR
Telephone: 613-941-1006
Fax: 613-954-1800
Email: rvenuta@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

8. Genetics (Ethics, Law and Society). The CIHR Institute of Genetics (CIHR-IG) will fund applications that are determined to be relevant to the research priority area described below: 

• Genetics and Ethical, Legal and Social Issues. 

The IG wishes to fund applications that address ethical, legal, social issues relevant to the design, conduct and dissemination of genomic and genetic research; development and application of technologies, and their integration into society.

Suggested research areas include:                 

• Defining "populations" in genomics and genetics research;
• Genetics, populations and public health;
• Access to clinical applications (e.g., patenting, access to clinical trials, "right" to health care);
• Concepts of risk, communication, appreciation and evaluation;
• Public understanding of science;
• Defining "normalcy," "health," and "disease" in the genomics era;
• Rights and responsibilities in relation to genomics and genetics.

More information on the Research Priority Themes of CIHR-IG can be found in their strategic plan.

The maximum amount awarded for a single award is $60,000 per annum for up to five years. The IG anticipates that at least one award will be funded through this competition.
 
For questions about this initiative and research objectives contact:
 
Stephanie Robertson, Assistant Director, CIHR-IG 
Telephone: 613- 954-0533 
Fax: 613- 954-1800 
Email: srobertson@cihr-irsc.gc.ca 

9. 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 principles⁵ and are determined to be relevant to the research priority areas described below:

• Global Health Research⁶

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.

More information about the Global Health Research Initiative can be found on its Website.

The maximum amount awarded for a single award is $60,000 per annum for up to five years.

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

10. Health Services and Policy Research. The CIHR Institute of Health Services and Policy Research (CIHR-IHSPR) will fund applications that are determined to be relevant to the research priority areas described below:

• Ontario Drug Policy: In partnership with CIHR-IHSPR, four awards are to be offered by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care ⁷;
• Public Involvement / Citizen Engagement;
• Chronic Disease Prevention and Management;
• Listening for Direction III Theme Areas. (Updated: 2007-07-27)

More information on the research priorities of CIHR-IHSPR can be found on their Website.

The maximum amount awarded for a single award is $60,000 per annum for up to three years. CIHR anticipates that approximately eight awards will be funded through this competition.

Additional Requirement:

• The proposed research location of candidates of an Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care award must be in Ontario.

For questions about this initiative and research objectives contact:

Michèle O'Rourke
Associate, Strategic Initiatives (IHSPR)
Telephone: 613-952-4539
Fax: 613-954-1800
Email: morourke@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

11. HIV/AIDS. The CIHR Institute of Infection and Immunity HIV/AIDS Research Initiative will fund applications that are determined to be relevant to the research priority areas described below (the primary research focus must be HIV/AIDS):

• 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 award is $60,000 per annum for up to five years. CIHR anticipates that approximately four awards 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 form.

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

12. Huntington Disease. The Huntington Society of Canada (HSC) in partnership with 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 in the area of Huntington's Disease. (Updated: 2007-07-27)

More information on the research priorities of the Huntington Society of Canada can be found on their Website.

The maximum amount awarded for a single award is for $60,000 per annum for up to three years. CIHR anticipates that up to two awards will be funded through this competition. (Updated: 2007-07-27)

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

13. Hypertension. The CIHR Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health (CIHR-ICRH), in partnership with the Canadian Hypertension Society (CHS), will fund applications that are determined to be relevant to the research priority area described below: 

• All aspects of hypertension research (e.g. biomedical, clinical, health services and social, cultural, environmental; and population and public health).

More information on the research priorities of Canadian Hypertension Society can be found on their Website.

The maximum amount awarded for a single award is $60,000 per annum for up to two years. The CIHR-ICRH anticipates that approximately two awards will be funded through this competition.
 
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

14. Incontinence. CIHR through the Small Health Organization Partnership Program (SHOPP), in partnership with the Canadian Foundation for Research on Incontinence (CFRI), will fund applications that are determined to be relevant to the research priority areas described below:

• Urinary incontinence;
• Neurogenic bladder;
• Hyperactive bladder;
• Interstitial cystitis.

More information on the research priorities of the Canadian Foundation for Research on Incontinence can be found on their Website.

The maximum amount awarded for a single award is $55,000 per annum for up to three years. CIHR anticipates that one award will be funded through this competition.

Additional Information:

• Award must be held in Canada.
• CFRI will not pay for parental leave but agrees to extend the term of the award by the duration of the leave.

For questions about this initiative and research objectives contact:

Rosa Venuta, Senior Advisor, Partnerships, CIHR
Telephone: 613-941-1006
Fax: 613-954-1800
Email: rvenuta@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

15. Knowledge Translation. CIHR will fund applications that are determined to be relevant⁸ to Knowledge Translation (KT), as described below:

• KT Research Excellence: an increased understanding of the theory and practice of knowledge translation;
• Measuring KT: The development of measures to evaluate the effectiveness and/or impact of KT tools, practices and interventions.

Part of CIHR's mandate is to promote research that addresses the creation of new knowledge and its translation into improved health for Canadians, more effective health services and products and a strengthened Canadian health care system. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to further strengthen knowledge translation (synthesis, exchange and ethically sound application of knowledge) by supporting knowledge translation researchers early in their career. It is expected that this targeted investment will lead to a better understanding of concepts and theories that underlie effective KT. The specific objectives of this funding opportunity are: 1) To further strengthen knowledge translation by supporting knowledge translation researchers early in their career; 2) to lead to a better understanding of concepts, theories and practices that underlie effective KT; and 3) to move research in practice.

More information on the research priorities of the CIHR Knowledge Synthesis and Exchange Branch can be found on their Website.

The maximum amount awarded for a single award is $60,000 per annum for up to five years. CIHR anticipates that one award will be funded through this competition.

Additional Information:

• Applications deemed relevant to this priority announcement, which are funded in the CIHR Fellowship Award competition or through this priority announcement will be named "CIHR Knowledge Translation Fellowship Award."

For questions about this initiative and research objectives contact:

Leah Jurkovic, Knowledge Translation Specialist
Knowledge Synthesis and Exchange Branch
Telephone: 613-941-0805
Fax: 613-954-1800
Email: ljurkovic@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

16. Mood Disorders (Mona Bronfman Sheckman Award). The Canadian Psychiatric Research Foundation (CPRF) and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Foundation (CAMHF), in partnership with 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:

• Mood disorders. Mood disorders are deemed to include the following research areas: depression, bipolar disorder, postpartum depression, anxiety disorders and seasonal affective disorder.

More information on the research priorities of the Canadian Psychiatric Research Foundation, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Foundation and CIHR-INMHA can be found on their Websites.

The award consists of a top up to one CIHR Fellowship award for up to two years. The top up would bring the total annual value of the CIHR Fellowship awards to up to $60,000 per annum. The value of the top up is dependant on the value of the CIHR Fellowship received by the recipient.

Additional Requirement:

• Award must be held at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health located in Toronto.

For questions about this initiative and research objectives contact:

Rosa Venuta, Senior Advisor, Partnerships, CIHR
Telephone: 613-941-1006
Fax: 613-954-1800
Email: rvenuta@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

17. Physical Disabilities. CIHR through the Small Health Organization Partnership Program (SHOPP), in partnership with the Ontario March of Dimes, will fund applications that are determined to be relevant to the research priority areas described below:

• Physical disabilities research to enable adults with physical disabilities to participate more fully in community life, providing them with the tools they need to enhance their independence. Keywords: biomedical, clinical, rehabilitation, habilitation, health services, social/cultural, assistive technologies, rehabilitation engineering, psychosocial development, assessment, outcome measures, recreation therapy, vocational rehabilitation, workplace modifications, neurolocomotor disorders, acquired brain injury, MS, stroke rehabilitation/recovery, cerebral palsy, conductive education.

More information on the research priorities of the Ontario March of Dimes can be found on their Website.

The maximum amount awarded for a single award is $55,000 per annum for up to three years. CIHR anticipates that one award will be funded through this competition.

Additional Information:

• Award must be held in Canada.

For questions about this initiative and research objectives contact:

Rosa Venuta, Senior Advisor, Partnerships, CIHR
Telephone: 613-941-1006
Fax: 613-954-1800
Email: rvenuta@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

18. Public Health. The CIHR Institute of Population and Public Health (CIHR-IPPH) and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) will jointly fund applications that are determined to be relevant to the research priority areas described below:

• Public health⁹

The purpose of this priority announcement is to strengthen public health research capacity thereby supporting the next generation of public health researchers, and stimulating public health policy- and practice-relevant research across the country. Doctoral / health professional research projects with clear linkages to those who use and apply evidence from public health research (e.g. public health units/regional health authorities, federal/provincial/territorial governments, non-governmental organizations, etc.) and that are therefore relevant to policy and/or practice will be given strong consideration.¹⁰

More information on the research priorities of the CIHR-IPPH and the Public Health Agency of Canada can be found on their Websites.

The maximum amount awarded for a single award is $60,000 per annum for up to five years.

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

19. Transfusion Science. 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 Science.

More information on the research priorities of Canadian Blood Services can be found on their Website.

The maximum amount awarded for a single award is $60,000 per annum for up to three years. The CIHR-ICRH anticipates that approximately two awards will be funded through this competition.
 
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

20. Women's Health. The Ontario Women's Health Council (OWHC) in partnership with the CIHR Institute of Gender and Health (CIHR-IGH) will fund applications that respond to the objectives of the initiative and that are relevant¹¹ to one or more research priority areas described below:

• Access and equity for vulnerable populations, including violence and health, health equity, and access to health-related services;
• Promoting health in the context of chronic and infectious conditions and disabilities;
• Gender and health across the lifespan, including child and youth health, healthy aging, work, leisure and health, caregiving, reproductive and sexual health;
• Promoting positive health behaviours and preventing addictions;
• Gender and physical and social environments.

The specific objectives of this initiative are: 1) To support highly qualified candidates who meet the eligibility requirements in extending their research experience by engaging in women's health research training at institutions in Ontario; and 2) To build capacity to conduct research in women's health as defined by the Council, viz.: Women's health involves women's emotional, social, cultural, spiritual and physical well-being, and is determined by the social, political and economic context of women's lives, as well as by biology. It is defined by, and recognizes the validity of, women's perceptions and life experiences of health and illness, the values and knowledge of women, and the role of women both as users and providers of health care.

More information on the research priorities of CIHR-IGH can be found on their Website.

The maximum amount awarded for a single award is $60,000 per annum for up to five years. The total amount available for this initiative is up to $1,000,000 to be dispersed over several years (total to be split between the IGH-OWHC Doctoral Research Awards and Master's Awards Programs, as per need and demand in each program).

Additional Requirements:

• This award is non-renewable.
• The award must be held in Canada.

For questions about this initiative and research objectives contact:

Louise Robert, Associate Scientific Director, CIHR-IGH
Telephone: 613- 954-0616
Fax: 613- 954-1800
Email:  lrobert@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

B. Prizes in CIHR Research Priority Areas

21. Bisby Fellowship (Prize). Dr. Mark Bisby joined the former Medical Research Council of Canada in 1997 as Director of the Programs Branch. From his arrival in 1997 to his retirement in June 2006, he played an important liaison role with Canada's research community, firstly in ensuring that there was a smooth transition between MRC and CIHR and then creating an environment of research excellence to cultivate the broadened research mandate of CIHR. In honouring Dr. Bisby's commitment to CIHR and the health research community, CIHR offers Fellowship Awards in his name.

An award will be offered to the highest ranking candidates in each of the Fellowship committees in each CIHR Fellowship competition. In addition to receiving the applicable stipend and a research allowance under the fellowship program, awardees will carry the distinction of being branded a Bisby Fellow and will receive a supplement to the research allowance of an additional $5,000. The intent of the additional research allowance is to enable recipients to assert themselves as thought leaders on the national and international research stage through engagement in national or international conferences, workshops or meetings related to the award recipient's research.

For questions about this initiative and research objectives contact:

Adrian Mota, Program Delivery Coordinator, Research Capacity Development, CIHR
Telephone: 613-946-0088
Fax: 613-954-18000
Email: amota@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

22. Cancer (Prize). Jean-François St-Denis, PhD, (August 14, 1966 - March 2, 2004) joined the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) in 2000, after completing a PhD at the University of Montreal and postdoctoral studies at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland and the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. CIHR is pleased to honour Dr. St-Denis' courageous struggle against cancer by offering a Fellowship Award in his name. This award is offered to an outstanding individual who is to undertake postdoctoral training in the field of cancer research.

One award will be offered to the highest ranking candidate who applies to one of the two Fellowship Award competitions each year (October and February), whose research focus is on cancer and who is ranked highly enough to be approved for a regular CIHR Fellowship Award. The CIHR Jean-François St-Denis Fellowship consists of a $5,000 supplement to the research allowance of a regular Fellowship Award. The supplement to the research allowance is intended to be used mainly for travel to national or international conferences, workshops or meetings related to cancer research.

For questions about this initiative and research objectives contact:

Adrian Mota, Program Delivery Coordinator, Research Capacity Development, CIHR
Telephone: 613-946-0088
Fax: 613-954-18000
Email: amota@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

23. Schizophrenia (Prize). In 1993, Dr. Michael Smith, who received the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1993 for his discovery and development of a crucial technique, known as site-directed mutagenesis, used in genetic engineering. His discovery enabled researchers to gain enormous insights into the structure and function of genes and proteins. Throughout his career, Dr. Smith strongly encouraged young people to pursue science as a career, and he has used his prize to promote science, encourage women to pursue interests in science and support research on severe mental illnesses, especially schizophrenia. To honor Dr. Smith's scientific accomplishments and his lifelong promotion of science, CIHR offers a Doctoral Research Award in his name (CIHR Michael Smith Fellowship Award for Research in Schizophrenia).

To be considered eligible for this award, the application must be relevant to the research priority areas described below:

• Genetics, molecular genetics, imaging and biochemistry of the central nervous system with application to schizophrenia.

The maximum amount awarded for a single award is $60,000 per annum for up to five years. One award will be funded through this competition.

Additional Information:

• The recipient of the award will be the top ranked schizophrenia researcher as identified through the results of the October 2007 (2007-10) competition of the CIHR Fellowship: 2007-2008 program.

For questions about this initiative and research objectives contact:

Adrian Mota, Program Delivery Coordinator, Research Capacity Development, CIHR
Telephone: 613-946-0088
Fax: 613-954-18000
Email: amota@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

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.

Specific to CIHR training awards, please refer to the General Guidelines for Training Programs, as well as the Fellowship: 2007-2008 program description.

Guidelines

This funding opportunity will follow the General Guidelines for Training Programs. Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate the use of Gender and Sex-Based Analysis in applications.

Allowable Costs

The awards consist of a stipend and a research allowance.

For the research allowance, awardees 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.

Conditions of Funding

All conditions specified in CIHR General Grants and Awards Policies shall apply to applications funded through this funding opportunity. 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.

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:

• 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.

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 indicated their consent on the "Applicant Consent Form for Use and Disclosure of Personal information Provided to CIHR for Peer Review," which is included in the application forms.

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.

Applications deemed relevant to a priority announcement, which are funded in the regular Fellowship competition or through a priority announcement will be named "Fellowship in the area of [specific research area] research" (e.g., Fellowship in the area of aging research).

Peer review committees will not be informed of applications submitted for funding through this announcement.

B. 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 award term for all applications 1) that are funded in the regular CIHR Fellowship 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 Fellowship competition cut-off will not be considered for prizes.

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. The committee may be drawn from one of CIHR's pre-existing committees or may be created specifically for this funding opportunity. Committee members are selected based on suggestions from many sources including the institute(s) / portfolio(s) and partner(s), following CIHR's Policy on Confidentiality, Conflict of Interest and Privacy Issues in Peer and Relevance Review (CCIP).

Evaluation Criteria

Fellowship Awards are reviewed in accordance with the Guide for Reviewers - CIHR Fellowships.

The following general criteria for evaluating training award applications will be used:

• Achievements and Activities of the Candidate
• Characteristics and Abilities of the Candidate
• Research Training Environment

How to Apply

Applications are submitted through the October 2007 (2007-10) competition of the CIHR Fellowship: 2007-2008 program.

The application instructions are outlined in the "How to Apply" section of the Fellowship: 2007-2008 program.

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."

• Within the Research Funding Program section of the application web form, select "Priority Announcement," then enter the relevant research area(s) that relate(s) to your application and the title of this Priority Announcement in the spaces provided.
• Complete the Applicant Consent Form for Use and Disclosure of Personal Information Provided to CIHR for Peer Review, which is included in the application form.
• Complete one Relevance Form for each research area identified. Detailed instructions are provided on the Relevance Form (see Lists of Forms and Guidelines for Completion). Completion of the relevance form is mandatory.

You may request that your application be considered for up to three priority announcement research areas per application, in each Fellowship competition.

B. Prizes in CIHR Research Priority Areas:

Priority Announcement prizes are listed in the "Objectives" section of this funding opportunity.

Your application will automatically be entered into Priority Announcement prize competitions. Refer to the "Review Process and Evaluation Criteria" above for further details. Consideration for funding through priority announcements prizes is in addition to consideration for priority announcement funding in specific research priority areas.

Contact Information

For questions on CIHR funding guidelines, how to apply, and the peer review process contact:

Adrian Mota
Program Delivery Coordinator
Research Capacity Development
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Telephone: 613-946-0088
Email: amota@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

Additional Information

1. Aging. CIHR-IA will evaluate for relevance using the following criteria which must be addressed in separate paragraphs within the relevance form (see "How to Apply"). You may upload one additional page to the relevance form.
   
   
   • Criterion #1: Extent to which the proposal addresses one or more of the five IA priority topics;
   • 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.
     
     
2. Clinical Research. Clinical Research is that part of the continuum of health research which is conducted on humans or on materials, specimens, or data derived from humans and populations with a focus on:
   • Mechanisms of human health and disease;
   • Bench to bedside to bench research;
   • Clinical Trials and observational studies of prevention and therapy and;
   • Clinical Epidemiological studies.
     
     
   In addition, clinical research may utilize the methods of health care services/systems research and population health research as they relate to clinical encounters.
   
   
3. Clinical Research. Audiologist/Speech-language Pathologist, Chiropodist/Podiatrist, Chiropractor, Dentist/Dental Surgeon, Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist, Medical Laboratory Technologist, Medical Radiation Technologist, Midwife, Naturopath, Occupational Therapist, Optometrist, Pharmacist, Physician/Surgeon, Physiotherapist, Psychologist, Registered Nurse, Registered Psychiatric Nurse, Respiratory Therapy, Social Worker, Veterinarian, etc.
   
   
4. Clinical Research. Clinical research mentor (supervisor or co-supervisor):
   • Must have a proven "track record" as a principal investigator in clinical research;
   • Must have a proven track record in training graduate students;
   • Can provide the candidate with a fertile environment that is conducive to training in clinical research.
     
     
5. Global Health. The Global Health Research Initiative (GHRI) has responded to low and middle income country 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.
     
     
6. 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.
   
   
7. Health Services and Policy Research. Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-term Care - Drug System Secretariat: Through the Transparent Drug System for Patients Act (formerly known as Bill 102), the Ontario Government has committed to provide annual funding for innovative health system research through the establishment of the Drug Innovation Fund. Short-term and multi-year funding will be provided to eligible researchers and organizations in Ontario to support evidence-based research on the impact of drugs on patient outcomes and health system outcomes (including non-drug expenditures) in Ontario in order to support drug policy decision making in the province. Capacity building and knowledge transfer are also important objectives of the Fund.
   
   The mandate of the funding program is to:
   • generate strong, high-quality, independent scientific evidence on the impact and value of new and existing drugs across the healthcare system, by linking drug interventions to health or system outcomes
   • support linkages between researchers, clinicians and drug policy decision makers to ensure the timely and effective application of relevant evidence-based scientific information and to support the objectives and priorities of Ontario's Drug System Secretariat
   • support and develop research capacity in the area of drugs and health outcomes in Ontario.
     
     
8. Knowledge Translation. The following criteria will be used in conducting the relevance review:
   • Excellence in Advancing the Science of KT: An increased understanding of the theory and practice of knowledge translation (KT);
   • Developing innovative KT Tools: The creation of innovative KT tools
   • Measuring KT: The development of measures to evaluate the effectiveness and/or impact of KT tools, practices and interventions.
     
     
9. Public Health. Public health has been described as the science and art of promoting health, preventing disease, prolonging life and improving quality of life through the organized efforts of society. (Last J, editor. A dictionary of epidemiology: 4th edition. Toronto: Oxford University Press, 2001.) It primarily distinguishes itself from publicly funded health care at the clinical (one-on-one) level by focusing on the health of the population as a whole and by seeking to understand and address the root causes of disease and disability - i.e. their determinants. Essential public health functions include: population health assessment, health promotion, disease and injury prevention, health protection and health surveillance.
   
   
10. Public Health. Illustrative examples of eligible research areas include but are not limited to:
    1. The study of the effectiveness of policy interventions on the health of communities and populations (e.g. the impact of appropriate housing interventions on mental health outcomes in children and their families).
    2. Public health services research - to support the study of the organization, financing and management (including but not limited to the health human resource requirements) of public health services seeking to protect and improve the health of the population as a whole, as distinct from publicly funded health care services at the clinical (one-on-one) level.
    3. Research related to physical (examination and/or laboratory) health measures in Canada and internationally. Research undertaken under this sub-theme could provide a platform to explore emerging public health issues and new measurement technologies and will also serve as background research for the Canadian Health Measures survey and eventual analysis of the data once it is available. Such research could include, for example an examination of the relationships between risk factors of disease (both environmental and behavioural) and health status based on direct measures, and so on.
       
       
11. Women's Health. The following criteria will be used in conducting the relevance review. These must be addressed in separate paragraphs on the relevance form.
    • Extent to which the proposed research relates to women's health.
    • Location of proposed research at Ontario Institution.
    • Relevance of proposal to the strategic interests of partners as identified in the 'Objectives' section.
    • Relevance of proposal to the mandates and/or strategic priorities of the OWHC and IGH.