Important Dates

Table of Contents

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

Description

The overall program goal of Needs, Gaps and Opportunities Assessments (NGOAs) is the identification of Canadian research needs, gaps and opportunities within selected research areas identified as priorities by CIHR's Institutes. The intent is to provide input on the development and further refinement of the health services and policy research agendas of various CIHR Institutes as part their forward-looking strategic plans.

In early 2007, CIHR's Institute of Health Services and Policy Research (IHSPR), in conjunction with partner organizations, conducted the Listening for Direction III (LfD III) national consultation exercise. The LfD III process identified 11 theme areas where new knowledge is required. Complementary and corresponding to the LfD III themes, CIHR-IHSPR has identified priority research areas where an environmental scan of the current research activity and capacity in Canada is needed. The results of this funding opportunity will be used to inform CIHR-IHSPR's research and investment priorities in the coming years. To this end, CIHR-IHSPR is interested in supporting approximately five nationally-focused NGOAs in these identified priority research areas.

The CIHR Institute of Aging (IA) has identified health services and policy relating to the older population as a priority area. As such, CIHR-IA is interested in supporting two nationally-focused NGOAs, one in the priority area of "Access to Appropriate Care across the Continuum" and one in the area of "Drug Policy", both specific to the context of the older population. In addition to these two dedicated pools of funding, CIHR-IA will also consider supporting additional NGOAs in other areas if they are deemed highly relevant to aging and seniors issues. There is need for integrated and cost-effective health care delivery adapted to the needs and medical realities of the Canadian population aged 65 and over, of which the oldest old subgroup is the fastest growing segment.

The CIHR Institute of Metabolism, Nutrition and Diabetes (INMD) recognizes that the Canadian system is under pressure from the increasing prevalence of obesity and its associated co-morbidities. Consequently, CIHR-INMD is interested in supporting one nationally-focused NGOA in the priority area of "Health Services and Policy Research Related to Obesity".

In addition, CIHR-IHSPR is interested in supporting an NGOA related to health services and policy research in other high-income countries¹ as it applies to the LfDIII themes in order to provide insight for Canadian researchers and decision makers on learning from and applying international experiences effectively. CIHR-IHSPR is also interested in funding an NGOA that focuses on how Canada and Canadian researchers can best support or partner in health services and policy research in low- and middle-income countries².

The following priority research areas identified for this exercise are described in detail in the "Relevant Research Areas" section of this funding opportunity:

1. Nationally-Focused Priority Research Areas:

1.1 a) Access to Appropriate Care across the Continuum (CIHR-IHSPR)
1.1 b) Access to Appropriate Care across the Continuum, Relating to the Older Population (CIHR-IA)
1.2 a) Drug Policy (CIHR-IHSPR)
1.2 b) Drug Policy, Relating to the Older Population (CIHR-IA)
1.3 New Health Technologies (CIHR-IHSPR)
1.4 Electronic Health Records (CIHR-IHSPR)
1.5 Citizen Engagement (CIHR-IHSPR)
1.6 Health Services and Policy Research Related to Obesity (CIHR-INMD)

2. Internationally-Focused Priority Research Area - High-income Countries

3. Internationally-Focused Priority Research Area - Low-and Middle-income Countries

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.

• The total amount available for this initiative is $ 1,100,000. This amount may increase if additional funding partners decide to participate.
• Separate funding pools will be established to ensure that at least one meritorious application - that meets funding requirements, is top-ranked and deemed relevant to the priority research area - is funded in each of the 10 NGOA priority research areas, listed below and described in the "Relevant Research Areas"

1. Nationally-focused NGOAs:
   • 1.1 a) Nationally-focused NGOA related to Access to Appropriate Care across the Continuum (CIHR-IHSPR)
   • 1.1 b) Nationally-focused NGOA related to Access to Appropriate Care across the Continuum relating to the older population (CIHR - IA)
   • 1.2 a) Nationally-focused NGOA related to Drug Policy (CIHR-IHSPR)
   • 1.2 b) Nationally-focused NGOA related to Drug Policy relating to the older population (CIHR-IA)
   • 1.3 Nationally-focused NGOA related to New Health Technologies (CIHR-IHSPR)
   • 1.4. Nationally-focused NGOA related to Electronic Health Records (CIHR-IHSPR)
   • 1.5. Nationally-focused NGOA related to Citizen Engagement (CIHR-IHSPR)
   • 1.6 Nationally-focused NGOA related to Health Services and Policy Research in the area of Obesity (CIHR-INMD)
2. Internationally- focused NGOA related to high-income countries and
3. Internationally-focused NGOA related to low- and middle-income countries

1.Nationally-Focused NGOAs:

• $800,000 has been allocated for NGOAs focused on activities related to the "nationally-focused priority research areas"
• The maximum amount awarded for a single nationally-focused NGOA grant is $100,000 per annum for up to one year.

2. Internationally-Focused NGOA Related to High-income Countries:

• $150,000 has been allocated for an NGOA focused on activities related to high-income countries relevant to the LfD III research themes, as described in the "internationally-focused priority research area - high income countries".
• The maximum amount awarded for a single internationally-focused NGOA grant is $150,000 per annum for up to one year. The additional $50,000 is provided in recognition of additional costs that could be incurred in areas such as travel, accommodation and communication-related (e.g., video-conferencing) activities required to support deliberative dialogue among international researchers and other stakeholders.

3. Internationally-Focused NGOA Related to Low-and Middle-income Countries:

• $150,000 has been allocated for an NGOA focused on the Canadian researchers' role in research related to low- and middle-income countries as described below in the "internationally-focused priority research area - low- and middle-income countries".
• The maximum amount awarded for a single internationally-focused NGOA grant is $ 150,000 per annum for up to one year. The additional $50,000 is provided in recognition of additional costs that could be incurred in areas such as travel, accommodation and communication-related (e.g., video-conferencing) activities required to support deliberative dialogue among international researchers and other stakeholders.

Partner/Collaborator Participation

CIHR is dedicated to identifying and developing collaborations with other funding organizations and stakeholders to enhance the availability of funding for this strategic initiative, and to create, where appropriate, opportunities for knowledge exchange and translation related to the scope of this particular initiative. Applicants are invited to visit the "Partner/Collaborator Description" section to find a list of partners/collaborators and their respective mandates and/or strategic interests. This list will continue to evolve as new partners/collaborators join in this initiative. The specific research foci and requirements for each confirmed partner/collaborator are outlined in the section "Objectives".

Objectives

The specific objectives of this funding opportunity are:

1. To conduct an environmental scan of current and planned research activity and capacity in Canada (and internationally as appropriate to the internationally-focused NGOAs), related to one of the identified priority research areas in the "Relevant Research Areas" section of this funding opportunity
2. To facilitate a participatory consultation process involving stakeholders, concerning the needs, gaps and opportunities related to both research activity and capacity
3. To develop, collaboratively with stakeholders across the country, a prioritized list of these research and capacity needs/gaps/opportunities using explicit prioritization criteria

The NGOA grants are intended to entail all of the following:

1. A structured "environmental scan" of current and planned major Canadian research activities (projects/programs) in a specified priority research area - including key projects funded in Canada by agencies other than CIHR, as well as an assessment of related Canadian research capacity (personnel at various levels - including those with CIHR and other personal support awards, physical facilities, relevant major databases and analytic capacity, training programs). For the internationally-focused NGOAs, the environmental scan would include international research activities as appropriate.
   
   The design of the environmental scan should demonstrate both scientific methodological rigour and creativity of approach - for example in the identification of the relevant key research documents, projects and personnel/centres. The intent is to provide a sense of the overall state of research and capacity in specific areas of health services and policy research (Note: an exhaustive inventory of all individual researchers/stakeholders in the field and all grants/publications in recent years is NOT expected).
    
2. Collaborative stakeholder consultation process - the apparent needs, gaps and opportunities in these research activities and capacity in Canada should be identified through a consultative process involving a variety of stakeholders. This should be judged in comparison with the analogous activities and capacity in other countries with similar levels of overall health research expenditure, but with exemplary research productivity in the identified field.
   
   In addition, current activities and capacity should be assessed in light of current Canadian researchers' and research-users' visions as to what would constitute particularly innovative or informative research in the specified field. In short, this process should determine what would be needed for Canada to develop its research capacity and expertise in order to successfully inform policy and practice in the specified field(s). With respect to the NGOA related to low- and middle-income countries, the process will determine what would be needed in one or more such countries to develop research capacity and expertise in order to successfully inform policy and practice in the specified field(s) and the potential role of Canada and Canadian researchers within this.
    
3. Prioritization of Needs/Gaps/Opportunities - using clearly justified criteria applied in a collaborative stakeholder process, these identified research gaps and capacity needs should be prioritized in order to provide practical advice to CIHR-IHSPR and other potential funders, on the most urgent and fundamental investments that should be made in the field, as opposed to later or less critical investments. (A set of prioritization criteria for nationally-focused NGOAs is found in Appendix 1. Adaptations of or departures from these criteria are acceptable, but should be explicitly justified or explained).

Relevant Research Areas

Within each of the following priority research areas, key questions suitable for NGOA have been identified. CIHR-IHSPR and its partners recognize that many of these questions are quite broad in terms of scope, and therefore anticipate that individual proposals submitted might address only a sub-section of the questions. In such cases, applicants are asked to clearly justify the approach taken in their research proposal. CIHR-IHSPR and its partners do, however, expect all proposals to provide a statement of the approach to determining research and research capacity priorities, needs and gaps in the targeted priority research area.

1. Nationally-Focused Priority Research Areas:

CIHR-IHSPR, CIHR-IA and CIHR-INMD will support successful NGOA applications determined to be relevant to research areas where an environmental scan, identification of gaps and recommendations on research priorities are required. These priority research areas are described below:

1.1 a) and b) Access to Appropriate Care across the Continuum

CIHR-IHSPR and CIHR-IA have identified Access to Appropriate Care across the Continuum as a priority research area recognizing that Canadians expect access to quality, evidence-based health care services when and where they need them, but increasingly, they are receiving care outside the hospital walls in a range of community and other settings and from various healthcare providers that may or may not fall under the Medicare umbrella.

Although health care is increasingly shifting into a range of community and other settings (e.g., home care), the healthcare system has not kept up in terms of ensuring that patients receive timely, comprehensive and coordinated care as they move through a fragmented and complex "system." As well, care provided outside of hospitals may fall into a mixed world of public and private financing, but the two sectors are not well coordinated. Policy makers, managers and providers need strong evidence on effective interventions and practical solutions to improving health care across the continuum, as well as the means for overcoming the barriers to achieving these goals. Increased information is also required on how governance, financial and delivery arrangements impact on the delivery of timely, effective care, especially in the area of chronic disease prevention and management. More evidence and improved strategies on how to shift from an acute care paradigm to address chronic care are needed.

Within the priority research area of Access to Appropriate Care across the Continuum, CIHR-IHSPR has identified the following questions for funding of a NGOA grant. In addition, CIHR-IA is interested in supporting one NGOA responding to the following question(s), specific to issues relating to the older population. Older adults are more likely to suffer from more than one chronic disease affecting their physical and/or cognitive functions. A variety of health professionals and agencies are involved in their treatment increasing the potential for gaps in care:

• Improving coordination and continuity of care, integration and linkages in the community - What is the current state of research and research capacity in Canada on the coordination and continuity of care, including integration and linkages with and among community-based health services (e.g., primary care, long-term care, home care, mental health, rehabilitation)? What research has been conducted on the way healthcare organizations in the community work together to provide integrated care to their patients? What are the needs and gaps in knowledge and research capacity? What are the research and capacity priorities?
• Providing comprehensive chronic disease prevention and management - What is the current state of research and research capacity in Canada with regard to managing patients with common risk factors for various chronic diseases and with co-morbid chronic diseases? What research has been conducted on the management of those with multiple risks and/or chronic ailments? What are the needs and gaps in knowledge and research capacity? What are the research and capacity priorities? Specific chronic diseases that could be assessed include obesity, diabetes, cardiac care, cancer, arthritis, mental illness but applicants are not limited to this list.

1.2 a) and b) Drug Policy

CIHR-IHSPR and CIHR-IA have identified Drug Policy as a priority research area. Prescription medicines are a vital part of the Canadian healthcare system. They can save lives, treat diseases and improve the quality of life for many. Drugs have also helped ease the burden on the healthcare system by shortening and preventing hospital stays. However, prescription drug use presents several challenges to the healthcare system. For example, they are the fastest growing and second largest category of health care expenditure in Canada³; access to medicines varies across Canada due, in part, to the lack of harmonized drug coverage; and adverse drug-related events raise serious safety concerns. Governments across Canada are striving to address the challenges and ensure both good health outcomes and system sustainability.

First Ministers have agreed that no Canadians should suffer undue financial hardship in accessing needed drug therapies, and that affordable access to drugs is fundamental to equitable health outcomes for Canadians.⁴ In September 2004, First Ministers directed Health Ministers to establish a Ministerial Task Force to develop and implement a National Pharmaceuticals Strategy (NPS) to address the challenges and opportunities across the drug lifecycle related to three themes: access; safety, effectiveness and appropriate use; and sustainability.

Within the priority research area of Drug Policy, CIHR-IHSPR has identified the following questions for funding of a NGOA Grant. In addition, CIHR-IA is interested in supporting one NGOA responding to the following question(s), specific to issues relating to the older population. As seniors account for 28 to 40% of prescription drug use, it is imperative to develop and evaluate strategies to improve upon the issues surrounding medication use by seniors: under-prescribing, unneeded prescribing, misuse of medication, and communication and information gaps between physicians, older patients and pharmacists:

• Ensuring drug effectiveness and safety - What is the current state of research and research capacity in Canada in terms of the factors that impact on safe, appropriate and effective medication use (e.g., infrastructural and organizational influences, technology, physician prescribing patterns and adherence to best practices, the role of other healthcare providers, patient and consumer behaviour, current policies and regulations, post-marketing surveillance, etc.)? What are the needs and gaps in knowledge and research capacity? What are the research and capacity priorities?
• Achieving equitable access to prescription medicines - What research has been conducted about the factors affecting differential access to prescription medications in Canada (e.g., patient socio-economic status, prescribing patterns, different modes of financing (tax funded, social health insurance, private health insurance, out-of-pocket payments), regulatory policies, the various provincial drug programs' eligibility criteria and formularies) and the impact of differential access on quality of life and health outcomes? What are the challenges and barriers to conducting this research? How has cross-jurisdictional research been conducted? What are the needs and gaps in knowledge and research capacity? What are the research and capacity priorities?

1.3 New Health Technologies

Technological advances, both in biotechnology and nanotechnology, promise to have a profound impact on our health and health care systems.

Biotechnology refers to genetic technologies that can enhance organisms or transform all or part of these organisms into something different. The mapping of the human genome has been completed and new genetically-based interventions are on the horizon, based on stem cell research and therapies, gene therapy and enhancement, cloning and xenotransplantation. As well, genetic testing can allow for the early detection of hereditary diseases or a predisposition to disease, and tools like gene therapy can potentially be applied to address these risks.

Nanotechnology refers to the study and manipulation of systems at the scale of the atom or the nanoscale. Many definitions of nanotechnology are possible. These definitions typically encompass a wide range of technologies that measure, manipulate, or incorporate materials and/or features with at least one dimension between approximately 1 and 100 nanometers (e.g., ASTM International Terminology for Nanotechnology E2456-06). Such applications typically exploit the properties, distinct from bulk/macroscopic systems, of nanoscale components. At present, CIHR broadly defines nanomedicine as the specialized measurement or intervention - at a molecular scale - needed to treat disease or restore function.

Given most disease begins at the cellular and molecular levels, nanotechnology has the potential to directly address disease at these levels. It can be considered in terms of materials and products (e.g., nanoparticles, nanoarrays, nanotubes, dendrimers); application (e.g., pharmaceuticals, diagnostic products, medical supplies and devices); and indication (e.g., cancer, central nervous system conditions, infectious and viral conditions). In future, nanotechnology has the potential to remove obstructions in the circulatory system, kill cancer cells, detect viruses, repair organs, and view tissue samples in great detail.

CIHR has been funding nanotechnology health research through the Regenerative Medicine and Nanomedicine initiative. The latest Request for Applications (June 2007) features an expanded section of research support for the health risks associated with nanotechnology.

Although much of the research is still in the experimental stages, new bio- and nanotechnologies have the potential to greatly affect our health care system. While they hold great promise to improve health, they also raise several complex ethical, legal, social and safety issues, such as the potential for discrimination (e.g., based on genetic predisposition), how they should be used for commercial and research purposes, patient consent, potential adverse events, how the application of these technologies should be funded, and what the advent of these technologies means for the way health care is organized and delivered. Many regulatory, economic, health, managerial and environmental challenges lie ahead, and Canadians will need to be kept informed of the potential risks and benefits related to these technologies.

Within the priority research area of New Health Technologies, CIHR-IHSPR has identified the following questions for funding of a NGOA Grant:

• Assessing new health technologies - What is the current state of research and research capacity in Canada in terms of the assessing the potential impact of new technologies on Canada's healthcare system and the application of that research to policy making? What is the state of research (including evaluation and cost-effectiveness analyses) on approaches to ensure safe and appropriate use of these new technologies? What efforts have been made to investigate how and under what criteria Canadians could have safe, appropriate and affordable access to these technologies? How has financing and sustainability been assessed? What is the state of evidence with regard to the role and perceptions of healthcare providers, patients, consumers and the media? At what stage are the current policies and regulations with regard to the uptake and application of new technologies? What are the challenges and barriers to conducting this type of research? How has international research in this area been conducted and how has it informed Canadian initiatives? What are the needs and gaps in knowledge and research capacity? What should be the research and capacity priorities?

1.4 Electronic Health Records

Healthcare decision makers need data and information systems that support them in addressing access, quality and safety issues. The Romanow Report,⁵ federal health accords, Health Council of Canada reports and many other national and provincial organizations have emphasized the urgent need to establish an information infrastructure to support reform efforts of Canada's healthcare system. Subsequent initiatives to build the Health Information infrastructure have included Canada Health Infoway's efforts, together with those of the provinces, to create and implement electronic health records (EHRs).

Despite these initiatives, significant gaps remain in the understanding of the challenges related to developing, implementing and fully utilizing EHRs. Understanding these challenges and developing ways to address these is critical to driving and shaping future investments, encouraging providers to adopt e-Health solutions, ensuring public confidence in the system, facilitating patient access to EHRs to help them improve their own health, using the information within EHRs to inform policy and planning, and facilitating the accountable use of data within EHRs by researchers for the purposes of improving the health care system and the health of Canadians. National frameworks are needed to facilitate the development and implementation of EHRs in order to improve data systems and their effective use in patient care, including chronic disease management, policy development and health system monitoring, as well as to facilitate appropriate secondary access for researchers, decision makers and healthcare providers.

Within the priority research area of Electronic Health Records, CIHR-IHSPR has identified the following questions for funding of a NGOA Grant:

• Improving the quality, availability, access and use of data within EHRs by decision makers and health services researchers - What is the current and desired state of knowledge and research capacity in Canada with regard to EHRs? What is presently known in terms of evaluation frameworks, methods, techniques and strategies for employing EHRs as a means to improve health service delivery, decision making and research? What is the current and desired state of knowledge in terms of strategies, policies and procedures to improve the quality, availability and access to data residing within EHRs for researchers, healthcare providers, patients and decision makers? What is the present state of and best practices for planning for platforms, institutions and regulation that would facilitate such access in the future? How has international research in this area been conducted and how has it informed Canadian initiatives? What is known internationally about best practices in terms of obtaining the requisite co-operation and support of administrators and healthcare providers? What are the needs and gaps in knowledge and research capacity? What should be the research and capacity priorities?

1.5 Citizen Engagement

The amount that Canada allocates towards the provision of health care services and treatments demonstrates the value placed on health and well-being. Limited healthcare budgets and competing demands for resources, however, constrain the ability of decision makers to provide public coverage for all potentially effective treatments and services. Thus, healthcare decision makers must often make difficult resource allocation decisions that fall under close public scrutiny and can quickly become highly politicized. These decisions affect the lives of Canadians and consideration should be given to the extent to which they are interested in participating in the decision-making processes that directly affect their health (at the micro or individual level with their own care, including chronic disease management and end-of-life care, at the provincial level with drug formulary decision-making committees and primary care reform initiatives; and at the macro or national level with such processes as the Western Canada Wait List Project).

Within the priority research area of Citizen Engagement, CIHR-IHSPR has identified the following questions for funding of a NGOA Grant:

• Engaging the public effectively - What is the current state of research and research capacity in Canada about citizen engagement, citizen-centeredness and public expectations (e.g., models of public engagement and the role of the public in policy and resource allocation decision making, including their role vis-à-vis the adoption of new technologies and therapies)? What is presently known about best practices for informing and engaging the public in order to improve their understanding of challenges related to resource allocation decision making and their understanding of evidence about effectiveness and quality? What is known about the impact of the media, Internet, direct-to-consumer advertising, etc. on the perceptions, expectations and behaviour of patients and the public? What is known about research methodologies in this area? What are the needs and gaps in knowledge and research capacity? What are the research and capacity priorities?

1.6 Health Services and Policy Research Related to Obesity

CIHR-INMD recognizes that like healthcare systems around the world, the Canadian system is under pressure from the increasing prevalence of obesity and its associated co-morbidities. The deleterious health effects of obesity are well recognized and policy makers are seeking evidence on best practices for addressing obesity and its economic impact on the healthcare system. Decision makers and health system planners need information on how the healthcare system can best be organized to respond to the rise in obesity. And decision makers, managers and providers need solid evidence on effective interventions and practical solutions to improve the response to obesity across the continuum of care. Canada's healthcare system will continue to face the burden of obesity unless a comprehensive approach to its prevention, management and treatment is taken. Countries around the world (high, middle and low-income countries) are facing similar trends in obesity and are starting to mobilize resources and implement integrated obesity care management strategies. The research and experiences from these countries may be of relevance to Canada as it moves forward with the development of its own comprehensive obesity care prevention and management system.

Within the priority research area of Health Services and Policy Research Related to Obesity, CIHR-INMD has identified the following questions for funding of a NGOA grant:

• Improving obesity prevention and treatment - What is the current state of research and research capacity in Canada on obesity? What research has been conducted with regard to: integrated and comprehensive models of obesity care; access to, and coordination of, appropriate obesity and obesity-related chronic disease care across the continuum; and the management of obesity and obesity-related co-morbidities? What international research has been conducted in this area and how has it informed Canadian initiatives? What are the needs and gaps in knowledge and research capacity? What are the research and capacity priorities?

2. Internationally-Focused Priority Research Area - High-income Countries:

CIHR-IHSPR will fund a NGOA grant related to how health services and policy research involving other high-income countries (typically but not exclusively comparative research) can inform decision making in Canada and address the themes identified in the LfD III consultation process in order to help ensure that Canadian researchers, health system managers and decision makers learn from both their own health systems and health systems of other countries at comparable levels of development.

This investigation would include a scan of the research community, existing research capacity and experiences engaging stakeholders in one or more other high-income countries related to a particular LfD III theme or subject area, and an assessment of how research and knowledge translation efforts in other high-income countries can help address the evidence requirements related to LfDIII priority areas within the Canadian context. Through a scan of the research and deliberative dialogue, the NGOA could assess: the linkages that exist among Canadian and international researchers in a subject area; how evidence is disseminated and used; how comparative research can be used more effectively; potential synergies that can be achieved among research efforts; the types of comparative research that Canadian decision makers find most useful; and the types of needs assessments and consultation exercises conducted with decision makers. The NGOA should present the learnings and priority options for Canadian research, international collaboration and capacity-building investment in this regard.

3. Internationally- Focused Priority Research Area -Low- and Middle-income Countries:

CIHR-IHSPR will fund a NGOA grant related to how Canadian health services and policy researchers can better contribute to research in low- and middle-income countries that, in many instances, face a different set of challenges and the translation of that research into action.

This investigation would include a scan of the research community and the existing research capacity in specified low- or middle-income countries as it relates to a particular theme or subject area of specific relevance and importance to those regions. Through a scan of the research and deliberative dialogue, the NGOA would assess the capacity within these low- and middle-income countries to conduct research in a particular field, the gaps in knowledge, the ability to translate research to decision-makers, and the linkages that exist among Canadian researchers and those in low- and middle-income countries. It would also include the identification of high priority research needs and the means by which Canada and Canadian researchers can best support and partner in health services and policy research in low- and middle-income countries.

Specific Research Foci and Requirements

CIHR-IA is also interested in supporting NGOAs in the broader context of the aforementioned nationally-focused and internationally-focused priority research areas if they are deemed highly relevant to aging and seniors issues.

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.

Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) will not be considered under this RFA.

Specific Eligibility Requirements

Eligibility requirements specific to this funding opportunity include the following:

• For both nationally- and internationally-focused NGOAs, at the time of application to this competition, the Nominated Principal Applicant and other Principal Applicants must be affiliated with and able to receive funding from an institution eligible to receive CIHR funding (according to eligibility requirements for CIHR Grants and Awards described above).

Guidelines

This funding opportunity will follow the 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.

In addition, the following expenditures will be considered eligible for funding received through this funding opportunity:

1) Salary Costs

• The salary (ies) of professional co-ordinators, knowledge brokers, or research assistants
• Release time stipends to enable stakeholder partners to participate in the research program, limited to 50% of their current salary and up to an overall maximum of $50,000 per year

2) Consultation, Exchange and Dissemination Related Knowledge Translation Costs

• Regional, national and international networking and exchange activities during the planning and dissemination of the research activity (e.g. networking, conferences, workshops, meetings, communication and dissemination methods). Eligible activities must involve substantive and meaningful interaction between researchers and intended users and relevant stakeholders
• Costs associated with the creation and distribution of dissemination and communication tools (e.g. briefings , presentations, summaries or other mechanisms)
• Costs associated with ensuring open access to the findings (e.g., costs of publishing in an open access journal or making a journal article open access)
• Travel and accommodation costs for stakeholders

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 requirements prior to the release of funds or when they receive CIHR's Authorization for Funding (AFF) document.

In addition to CIHR standard guidelines and requirements, the following special requirements shall apply:

• Within three months after the end of the grant's term, the Nominated Principal Applicant is required to submit a comprehensive report that documents the process used to develop and conduct the environmental scan, the stakeholder consultation process and the key findings and lessons learned, as well as a prioritization of needs/gaps/opportunities. The template for this reporting will be provided by CIHR-IHSPR
• CIHR may, at its discretion, make these reports available to relevant partners and stakeholders. CIHR reserves the right to publish all or part of these reports on the CIHR website or in other CIHR communication tools (newsletters etc.)
• The intellectual property (IP) rights in all works produced as a result of these grants will belong to the grant recipients or IP holders, compliant with the IP policies of the grant recipients' institution.  Subject to the stipulation regarding sharing with partners and stakeholders and publication on the CIHR web-site or other CIHR communications tools, the copyright of the report described above will belong to the author(s) of the report
• At the end of the grant's term, researchers may be expected to brief CIHR-IHSPR, CIHR-IA and CIHR-INMD, their advisory Boards and other relevant stakeholders on their findings

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:

1. 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;
2. 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

Prior to peer review, CIHR-IHSPR, CIHR-IA, CIHR-INMD and the CIHR Partnerships and Citizen Engagement Branch will review proposals for relevance to their strategic interests, objectives and research priority areas described in the "Objectives" section. The purpose of this relevance review is to facilitate timely decisions regarding financial commitments to this RFA at the end of the process.

This relevance review will be conducted independently of and will have no impact on the peer review process. Successful proposals will be funded according to rank, within their respective funding pool.

To conduct this relevance review, CIHR-IHSPR, CIHR-IA, CIHR-INMD and the CIHR Partnerships and Citizen Engagement Branch will have access to anonymized project titles and summaries.

For CIHR-IA, applications must relate significantly to the health and quality of life of older adults (generally above the age of 65). Research and research design should address issues of aging and/or the aged as essential elements of the objectives, hypotheses and analyses (e.g., dynamics of aging, age-relevant models and/or aged subjects, uniqueness of aging or aged population).

Upon completion of peer review, CIHR-IHSPR, CIHR-IA, CIHR-INMD and the CIHR Partnerships and Citizen Engagement Branch will receive the ranking list, and recommendations on funding level and award term for the applications that fall in the fundable range and have been determined to be relevant to the specific research areas and objectives of the initiative. The list will be used for funding decision-making purposes and will remain anonymous.

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). 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).

The following evaluation criteria are specific to this funding opportunity. CIHR recognizes that applications will emphasize different approaches to research and to knowledge translation, therefore reviewers and committees are expected to weight criteria such as these differently from one application to another.

1. Relevance of the proposed NGOA to the priority research areas identified in this funding opportunity
2. Adequacy and justification of approach to identifying key research activities and capacities within the selected NGOA question
3. Robustness, creativity and participatory nature of the approach involving stakeholders in the identification and prioritization of needs/gaps/opportunities
4. Adequacy and extent of applicants' experience working with stakeholders to achieve collaborative outcomes
5. Adequacy of representation of key stakeholder groups reflected in the proposed planning and prioritization process. For the internationally-focused NGOAs, applicants are expected to include appropriate international partners
6. Likelihood that the findings would inform CIHR-IHSPR's, CIHR-IA's and CIHR-INMD's strategic investments where Canadian health research is currently under-developed, but capable of world-class excellence or would inform health policy and services decision making in low- and middle income countries

How to Apply

The application process is comprised of one step: Full Application. There is no registration for this funding opportunity.

Review the application instructions provided in How to Apply for Funding.

Applicants are required to complete their applications using the CIHR Web Forms.

Select "Operating Grants" (Registration and Application) from the Grant Programs Application Packages.

Additional instructions must be followed for this funding opportunity:

Research Module:

• In the Research Funding Program section of the Research Module, select "Strategic Initiative" and enter the title of this funding opportunity: "Needs, Gaps and Opportunities Assessments in Health Services and Policy Research".
• In the Summary of Research Proposal of the Research Module, applicants must clearly indicate which of the ten following priority research areas the application is targeting. If applicable, applicants can identify up to three priority research areas.

1. Nationally-focused NGOAs:
   • 1.1 a) Nationally-focused NGOA related to Access to Appropriate Care across the Continuum (CIHR-IHSPR)
   • 1.1 b) Nationally-focused NGOA related to Access to Appropriate Care across the Continuum relating to the older population (CIHR - IA)
   • 1.2 a) Nationally-focused NGOA related to Drug Policy (CIHR-IHSPR)
   • 1.2 b) Nationally-focused NGOA related to Drug Policy relating to the older population (CIHR-IA)
   • 1.3 Nationally-focused NGOA related to New Health Technologies (CIHR-IHSPR)
   • 1.4. Nationally-focused NGOA related to Electronic Health Records (CIHR-IHSPR)
   • 1.5. Nationally-focused NGOA related to Citizen Engagement (CIHR-IHSPR)
   • 1.6 Nationally-focused NGOA related to Health Services and Policy Research in the area of Obesity (CIHR-INMD)
2. Internationally- focused NGOA related to high-income countries
3. Internationally-focused NGOA related to low- and middle-income countries

• Applicants submitting proposals for nationally-focused NGOAs must clearly specify which of the priority research areas (from 1.1 to 1.6) their application relates to. If applicable, applicants can identify up to three priority research areas.
• The research proposal section of the Research Module is limited to five pages, not including references, figures, tables, support letters and the Summary of Research Proposal. The summary of progress (page 10) and the response to previous reviews (pages 11a & 11b) must not be submitted.
• The Research Module must include the following sections:
  1. Project relevance
  2. Project Plan - including approach to information gathering, consultation and prioritization
  3. Stakeholder partnerships

Common CV Module:

• All applicants must have a CV and a CIHR PIN number.
• Full common CV modules must be submitted for the Nominated Principal Applicant and Principal Applicants of the team
• Only abbreviated CVs (maximum 3 pages) are required for all Co-Applicants. Full common CVs will not be considered for Co-applicants
• For the abbreviated CV, the first page should only include the contact information of the Co-applicant (mailing address, telephone number, fax number and e-mail address, and CIHR PIN number). This information must be kept separate from the rest of the CV because it will not be forwarded to reviewers. The second and third page of the abbreviated CV should include information on current grants held, relevant publications from the last five years and expertise keywords.

Other:

• Courier the original and 6 copies of the full application by the application deadline
• Attach signed letter(s) of support from the stakeholder partner(s), especially for internationally-focused NGOAs

Send the completed registration and application packages by courier to:

RE: "Other - Needs, Gaps and Opportunities Assessments in Health Services and Policy Research"
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Room 97, 160 Elgin Street
Address locator: 4809A
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0W9

Contact Information

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

Julie Calendino
Program Officer
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Telephone: 613-941-0861
Fax: 613-954-1800
Email: jcalendino@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

For questions about this initiative and research objectives contact:

Michèle O'Rourke
Associate, Strategic Initiatives
Canadian Institutes of Health Research - Institute of Health Services and Policy Research
Telephone: 613-952-4539
Fax: 613-954-1800
Email: morourke@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

For questions about the CIHR-IA research objectives contact:

Sharon Nadeau
Associate, Strategic Initiatives
Canadian Institutes of Health Research - Institute of Aging
Telephone: 613-946-1270
Fax: 613-954-1800
Email: snadeau@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

Partner/Collaborator Description

Note: Additional partners/collaborators, including partners/collaborators from industry and the private sector may join this funding initiative over the coming year.

Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
CIHR is Canada's major federal funding agency for health research. Its objective is to excel, according to internationally accepted 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 - Institute of Health Services and Policy Research (IHSPR)
CIHR-IHSPR is dedicated to supporting innovative research, capacity-building and knowledge translation initiatives designed to improve the way health care services are organized, regulated, managed, financed, paid for, used and delivered, in the interest of improving the health and quality of life of all Canadians.

Partners

CIHR - Institute of Aging (IA)
CIHR-IA supports research that promotes healthy aging and addresses causes, prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, support systems, and palliation for a wide range of conditions associated with aging. One of the five priority topics of the Institute of Aging is "Health services and policy relating to older people." Recent national consultations with seniors and seniors' organizations (the IA-led Regional Seniors' Workshops on Research) consistently identified age-appropriate healthcare and continuity of care as vital issues for health research in Canada. Other IA priorities relevant to this funding opportunity include Cognitive Impairment in Aging and Mobility in Aging.

In addition to the priority research areas of 1.1 b) Access to Appropriate Care across the Continuum relating to the older population and 1.2 b) Drug Policy relating to the older population, CIHR-IA is also interested in supporting NGOAs in the broader context of the aforementioned nationally-focused and internationally-focused priority research areas of this funding opportunity if they are deemed highly relevant to aging and seniors issues.

CIHR-IA encourages proposals contributing to the development of new and more effective services and to the improved quality of existing ones in order to guarantee accessibility to excellent health and social services by the older population. It is also necessary to strengthen existing policies and develop new ones to support these services and the access to them by the older population. Issues such as age-appropriate healthcare and continuity of care are vital issues identified by older adults themselves in recent public consultations.

CIHR - Institute of Metabolism, Nutrition and Diabetes (INMD)
CIHR-INMD supports research to enhance health in relation to diet, digestion, excretion, and metabolism; and to address causes, prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, support systems, and palliation for a wide range of conditions and problems associated with hormone, digestive system, kidney, and liver function.

CIHR - Partnerships and Citizen Engagement Branch
The CIHR Partnerships and Citizen Engagement Branch`s mandate is to ensure the consistent and effective management of partnerships and citizen engagement activities across CIHR, based on the organization's strategic and operational priorities. We are responsible for a wide variety of tasks and projects which guide, facilitate, coordinate and manage partnership activities within CIHR. Some of these responsibilities include:

• Building relationships with internal and external partners for the purpose of knowledge exchange and collaboration on health research funding;
• Building and maintaining a partnership culture at CIHR;
• Recognizing partnership excellence;
• Developing Citizen Engagement activities with CIHR's key stakeholders, the Canadian public, to help advise on the development and definition of the National Health Research Agenda.

The CIHR Partnerships and Citizen Engagement Branch may contribute funds towards an NGOA related to the nationally-focused priority research area of Citizen Engagement, pending availability of funds.

Additional Information

Appendix 1

The following is the suggested prioritization criteria for the research gaps and needs identified in the nationally-focused NGOAs. These should be prioritized in order to provide practical advice to CIHR-IHSPR, CIHR-IA, CIHR-INMD and other potential funders on the most urgent and fundamental investments that should be made in the field, as opposed to later or less critical investments. Adaptations of or departures from these criteria are acceptable, but should be explicitly justified or explained).

Science

1. Potential to illuminate broader processes/principles (generalizability)
2. Potential for significant scientific advance

Pertinence/Strategic Importance

3. Potential to improve the effectiveness, efficiency and equity of the Canadian healthcare system
4. National competitive advantage/niche
5. Contribution to capacity building in Canada
6. Tackles emergent or increasing health or healthcare system problem

Organizational Arrangements

7. Bridges across sectors, CIHR institutes and themes
8. Unlikely to be funded through CIHR investigator-initiated competitions, given current Canadian research capacity.

1. The World Bank country classification
2. The World Bank country classification
3. Canadian Institute for Health Information. 2007. “Drug Expenditure in Canada, 1985 to 2006.” Retrieved from http://secure.cihi.ca/cihiweb/products/Drug_Expenditure_in_Canada_2007_e.pdf
4. Health Canada. 2004. First Minister’s Meeting on the Future of Health Care 2004: 10-Year Plan to Strengthen Health Care. Retrieved from http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hcs-sss/delivery-prestation/fptcollab/2004-fmm-rpm/index_e.html
5. Romanow RJ. 2002. "Building on Values: the Future of Health Care in Canada," Final Report, November 2002. Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada.