Table of Contents
Description
This funding opportunity is intended to increase research capacity at the interface of Mobility in Aging and Dementia.
Research and knowledge translation gaps have been identified in relation to Mobility in Aging through various consultations. These are documented on the CIHR IA website and in summary include:
- Understanding and defining mobility in aging: trajectory of mobility status in health and disease, and from function to impairment.
- Maintaining and restoring mobility in aging: impact of behaviour, prevention, intervention and health system models.
- Measures, tools, and technologies in research, assessment and mobility aids.
Many of the above research issues and gaps are highly relevant to people with dementia. For example, an early history of multiple falls is a predictor of impaired executive control processes. Also, many people with dementia gradually lose their ability to walk and to perform everyday tasks unaided.
Funds Available
The partnered funds available through this funding opportunity total to $400,000; therefore, permitting up to 4 fellowships to be awarded based on relevance and scientific merit. This amount may increase if additional Partners decide to participate.
The value of the Fellowship award is $40,500 per year for PhDs and $50,000 per year for MDs. This amount includes a $2,500 travel allowance. The total duration of the award shall not exceed two years.
The approved Fellowships will be co-funded by ASC (50%) and CIHR IA (50%).
Top
Objectives
The specific objectives of this funding opportunity are to:
- To provide support to highly qualified academic researchers at the early stages of their career;
- To advance knowledge and its application in the field of mobility in aging and dementia;
- To respond to Research and knowledge translation gaps identified by the Alzheimer Society of Canada and the CIHR Institute of Aging.
Top
Eligibility
Candidates eligible for this award must be graduates who have completed their doctoral training and wish to gain additional research experience in the area of mobility in aging and dementia.
Candidates must meet the eligibility criteria outlined in ASC's Application Guidelines and in the CIHR Grants and Awards Guide. All conditions 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 Support.
Candidates with more than three years of post-PhD research training by the competition deadline are not eligible to apply for this award. Any interruption in a candidate's post-PhD research training will be taken into account in determining eligibility.
Top
Guidelines
All conditions, as specified in ASC's Application Guidelines shall apply to awards offered through this program. Consult the full Program announcement for details.
Top
Performance Measurement
CIHR and ASC will work together to monitor progress and appropriate use of funds, as well as for performance measurement and program evaluation. As a result, funding recipients may be asked to:
- contribute to the monitoring, review and evaluation of this program and related 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.
In particular applicants should note the following condition:
A progress report must be submitted at the end of each award year and a final report is required upon termination of the award. These summaries will consist of two parts: (a) a lay summary (see ASC's Application Guidelines, Section II - 12. Lay Summaries) and (b) a scientific report briefly identifying the purpose & objectives, methods used, results obtained to date and the significance of on-going and anticipated findings. For the Progress report it should also identify plans for the next reporting period. These reports must be completed on the Progress/Final Report forms, available on the Downloadable Materials page on ASC's Web site.
Failure to provide a progress report within three months after the first year of funding will result in all further funding being withheld pending receipt of this information.
Top
Review Process and Evaluation
Applications to this funding opportunity will be initially screened for their relevance to mobility in aging and dementia and partners' mandates. Information on elements considered relevant to Mobility in Aging can be found at Relevance Review Process.
Only those applications judged to be relevant to mobility in aging and dementia will be retained as part of this competition. Those judged not relevant will be retained in the regular concurrent ASC's Research Program competition.
All applications to this funding opportunity will be evaluated by ASC's Social/Psychological Review Panel through a peer review process that is in accordance with CIHR standards.
The quality of the peer review and the appropriateness of the reviewers, including those in the ASC Social/Psychological Review Panel, are the joint responsibility of ASC and CIHR.
Funding decisions on retained relevant applications to the Program will be based on their ranking based on peer review scores of the ASC's Social/Psychological Review Panel, the funds available for this funding opportunity and level of relevance. In the case of funding decisions between two equally peer review scored applications, the degree of relevance will guide the selection.
Only applications receiving a score of 3.5 or greater will be considered for funding under this funding opportunity.
Applicants who are recommended for funding through ASC's Social/Psychological Review Panel, but who are not funded within this Mobility and Dementia Program budget, will be eligible for consideration for an award within the concurrent ASC's Research Program competition if that separate budget allows.
Notification and funding
Decisions will be made by late March 2008, at which time applicants will be informed by ASC of the outcome of the competition. Funding of successful applications may begin as early as April 1, 2008, but no later than September 2008.
Top
How to Apply
Applications to the Funding Opportunity for ASC/CIHR-IA Fellowship Awards in Mobility and Dementia must be submitted by October 31, 2007 to ASC.
The full Program Announcement with links to required application forms and submission information is available on the ASC Website.
Top
Contact Information
For questions on funding guidelines, how to apply, and the peer review process contact:
ASC
Shelagh McCarthy
Research Department
Alzheimer Society of Canada
20 Eglinton Ave. W., Ste. 1200
Toronto, ON M4R 1K8
Tel: 416-847-2968
Fax: 416-488-3778
E-mail: smccarthy@alzheimer.ca
For questions about the research objectives of this funding opportunity and the CIHR Institute of Aging, contact:
CIHR IA
Linda Mealing
Assistant Director, Partnerships
Institute of Aging
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Phone: 613-952-4537
Fax: 613-954-1800
E-mail: Lmealing@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
Top
Partner/Collaborator Description
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is Canada's premier federal funding agency for health research. Its objective is to excel, according to international standards of scientific excellence, in 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. CIHR has created 13 institutes, each dedicated to tackling health issues of importance to the national health agenda.
The CIHR Institute of Aging (CIHR IA) supports research that promotes healthy aging and addresses causes, prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, support systems, and palliation for a wide range of issues associated with aging.
Partner
The Alzheimer Society of Canada (ASC) is a nation wide network of provincial organizations, local chapters and support groups. The Society is dedicated to providing information and support to people affected with Alzheimer's disease, and to fostering research into biomedical and social/psychological aspects of the disease. Through its National Research Program, the Society offers research grants and training awards to scientists engaged in the study of causes, prevention, treatment, and management of Alzheimer's disease.
Top
| 
