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Description
The New Frontiers Program supports workshops, consensus conferences, opportunities for research collaboration and similar activities for specific research topics and issues. It is expected that this targeted investment will lead to the identification of research priorities and the development of highly successful new research proposals.
The goal of this New Frontiers Program is to support a workshop that will bring basic and clinical researchers and other stakeholders together to identify the research priorities and define the gaps in the area of sleep and circadian rhythms. Specifically, the workshop will focus on identifying target topics and defining knowledge gaps with respect to sleep and circadian rhythms, as related to all areas of basic and applied health research. Some topics may include: effects of normal and disrupted sleep and circadian rhythms on metabolism, vasculature, respiration, cognition and function; links between sleep disorders and neurological and psychiatric conditions; national networks for education and research; translation of knowledge of the impact of sleep and circadian organization to health practitioners and the public.
The workshop will be a venue for stakeholders to discuss pressing research questions and methodological developments in relation to the above focus, as well as to define opportunities, challenges, and possible future directions for a large scale research initiative.
This funding opportunity is announced under the Strategic Initiative New Frontiers Program.
Background
The ICRH New Frontiers Program was designed:
- To help build an integrated and evolving national research agenda for circulatory and respiratory health; and,
- To enhance the effectiveness and activity of the research communities directly relevant to the mandate of the ICRH and its partners toward solving a health research issue or problem.
This year, the ICRH Advisory Board identified sleep and circadian rhythms as a research priority. Sleep disorders are very common at all life stages, including: the parasomnias in children (sleepwalking, night terrors); delayed sleep phase syndrome in adolescence; insomnia throughout life, but increasing in older age groups (especially after menopause); obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) at all ages, but worsening with age and increased body weight. Many of these disorders (and others: restless legs syndrome, narcolepsy, REM behaviour disorder, periodic limb movements, etc.) are sometimes regarded as more of a nuisance than a health issue, with their impact being seen as affecting primarily sleep itself. Since our society behaves as if sleep were highly plastic and at least partially dispensable in favour of extended waking activities, the consequences of sleep disorders for sleep quality and duration have seemed to be of minor importance to health in general. Recent evidence has, however, demonstrated how far-reaching the health impacts of sleep disorders and sleep loss are. For example:
- Obstructive sleep apnea is an important factor in vascular disease development and progression, contributing to hypertension, stroke and cardiovascular disease.
- Acute, but especially chronic, sleep loss is associated with obesity and several features of the metabolic syndrome.
- Chronic disruption of circadian (daily) rhythms, including the sleep-wake cycle, is associated with increased risk of cancer, most clearly in the case of breast cancer in lifelong shift workers.
- Acute sleep loss disrupts the process of memory consolidation for newly acquired information. The loss of sleep arising from causes as diverse as sleep apnea, shift work, insomnia, or periodic limb movements could be affecting learning, memory and performance in people of all ages.
- Narcolepsy is an inherited disorder of a discrete neurotransmitter/receptor system, having the characteristics of a progressive neurodegenerative disease.
- REM behaviour disorder is strongly associated with, and may be an early marker of, devastating neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's disease and Lewy body dementia.
The scope of these recent findings indicates that there are important research opportunities related to sleep within the mandate of the Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health and also in the mandates of other CIHR Institutes. There are exciting and important research opportunities related to sleep in virtually all areas of basic and applied health research.
Canada has a longstanding reputation as a major contributor internationally in the areas of sleep and circadian physiology. Canadian scientists and clinicians in these areas have made numerous important contributions and continue to lead in some areas. Despite the existence of some local networks and concentrations of research strength in a few geographic regions, Canadian researchers are, however, hampered by the lack of a national commitment to sleep research and a lack of national networks for training, research and clinical innovation.
Health professionals to the general public have inadequate understanding of the impact of sleep and circadian rhythms on human health. Many health practitioners are poorly educated about sleep and often suggest inappropriate treatments when patients raise issues about their sleep. Huge sums are spent annually by the public to manipulate their own sleep and waking with prescription drugs, OTC pharmaceuticals and other products, with little understanding of their own sleep status and with no knowledge of the potential consequences for their health. Well-characterized, highly effective treatments for serious sleep disorders are not available to many Canadians because of a lack of trained specialists and technologists, inadequate education of health practitioners, and inadequate facilities.
The purpose of this initiative is to build upon Canadian strengths in sleep and circadian rhythms research by identifying priorities and providing support for developing new and stronger networks among basic researchers, clinicians, and other stakeholders. The initiative will also allow investigators to identify new research opportunities that can address important questions related to the health impacts of sleep and circadian physiology and address the gap between current knowledge and practice.
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 $ 75,000.
- The maximum amount awarded for a single grant is $ 75,000 per annum for up to one year.
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 partner/collaborator are outlined in the section "Objectives".
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Objectives
The goal of this New Frontiers Program is to support a workshop that will bring researchers, clinicians and other stakeholders together to explore and define the gaps in the areas of sleep and circadian rhythms.
The workshop will be a venue for stakeholders to discuss pressing research and knowledge translation issues in relation to the above focus, as well as to define opportunities, challenges, and possible future directions for a large scale research initiative.
The successful workshop applicant (or co-applicants) will be required to submit a synthesis report to ICRH within six weeks following the workshop. The synthesis report will assist ICRH and its funding partners in responding to the recommendations. It is also anticipated that the interactions achieved in the workshop setting will facilitate the development of stronger applications in this arena to other grants competitions of CIHR and other health research funding organizations.
It is anticipated that the workshop agenda will include themes that will contribute to defining the current needs/opportunities in the areas of sleep and circadian rhythm, including:
- Metabolic consequences of disrupted sleep and circadian rhythm
- Vascular consequences of disrupted sleep and circadian rhythms
- Cognitive and functional consequences of disrupted sleep and circadian rhythms
- Links between sleep disorders and neurological and psychiatric conditions
- National networks for education and research: The research capacity of Canadian sleep and rhythms researchers would be greatly enhanced by development of a national network to support research activities and to provide a rich training environment for learners at levels from undergraduate to postdoctoral and including sleep technologists.
- Translation of knowledge of the impact of sleep and circadian organization to health practitioners and the public
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Eligibility
Eligibility criteria for all CIHR research funding programs apply. The business office of the institution of an eligible Nominated Principal Applicant generally administers CIHR funds. Please refer to the Eligibility Requirements for CIHR Grants and Awards regarding the eligibility requirements for individuals and institutions.
Randomized Controlled Trials: 2007-2008 (RCTs) will not be considered under this funding opportunity.
Specific Eligibility Requirements
Only one Workshop Grant will be approved through this process; therefore, it is advised that researchers collaborate to develop a single application.
Eligibility requirements specific to this funding opportunity include the following:
- The investigators are expected to host a workshop that will identify research questions and make recommendations to ICRH on what should be done to advance this field of research. The workshop leader's summary report will be expected to include information collected before the workshop and a synthesized concise summary of the workshop discussions, feedback, and recommendations for research areas to be included in potential future RFA. The report should be submitted to ICRH within six weeks of the meeting. For these reasons, it is highly recommended that a professional process consultant/facilitator be retained for this workshop.
The proposal must include the following:
- Review of the scientific literature with appropriate references
- Description of the core organizing team (e.g. investigators) and evidence of leadership and meeting organization skills
- Plans to :
- Establish an organizing/program committee which is representative of the broad community (e.g., geographical representation, disciplines and themes, basic and clinical researchers and policy makers, appropriate international representation, etc.);
- Engage appropriate workshop participants (e.g., pre-workshop survey);
- Conduct a scan of current investments and programs relevant to sleep and circadian rhythms research;
- Determine appropriate speakers, format, and thematic topics of the Workshop (e.g., breakout groups);
- Identify knowledge gaps and research questions;
- Prioritize research questions; and,
- Recommend programs that would best support research in this field (e.g., operating grants, clinical trials, etc.);
- Conceptual agenda
- List of possible participants
- Detailed budget
Deliverables and Timeframe
The proposal should outline a plan to meet the following proposed actions and/or propose a modified schedule with appropriate rationale. The workshop leader(s) is expected to complete the following tasks by the specified date:
Workshop: The workshop should be held by no later than June 27, 2008. Approximately 35-50 leading researchers, clinicians, and other stakeholders could be invited to attend and participate in the workshop.
Synthesis Report: The synthesis report should be submitted to ICRH in electronic format no later than August 15, 2008. It is important that the synthesis report be submitted by this date to allow partner organizations to make decisions on priority areas for future funding through Request for Applications (RFA) programs. The synthesis report should cover as many of the topics mentioned under the workshop objectives section as possible (see above) and provide recommendations for research areas to be included in potential future RFA. It would be helpful if the synthesis report included organized tables and lists as opposed to lengthy narratives.
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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.
The following expenditures will be considered eligible for funding received through this funding opportunity:
Due to the development nature of this initiative, funds may not be used for research and can only be utilized as follows:
- Salary for support personnel
- Services of a consultant(s), as required
- Travel and subsistence for face-to-face meeting(s) of the meeting participants
- Regular costs associated with meetings (e.g. conference room, teleconference calls, meeting materials, printing, etc.)
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.
Access to Information Act and Privacy Act, and the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA)
All personal information collected by CIHR about applicants is used to review applications, to recruit reviewers, to administer and monitor grants and awards, to compile statistics, and to promote and support health research in Canada. Consistent with these purposes, applicants should also expect that information collected by CIHR may be shared as described in Use and Disclosure of Personal Information Provided to CIHR for Peer Review.
CIHR as a federal entity is subject to the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act, therefore the requirements of these two statutes will apply to all information located in CIHR's premises including, without limitation, cost-sharing agreements related to this Funding opportunity and all matters pertaining thereto.
While respecting the application of the Privacy Act to federal entities, all signing parties involved in a collaborative agreement will also be bound by the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA). All personal information (as identified by the PIPEDA) collected, used or disclosed in the course of any commercial activity under collaborative agreements related to the Funding opportunity will be collected, used and disclosed in compliance with the PIPEDA.
Communication Requirements
Grant recipients are required to acknowledge CIHR, its institutes and partners in any communication or publication related to the project. See CIHR General Grants and Awards Policies, Public Communication and Acknowledgement of CIHR's Support for details on CIHR's communication requirements. The contributing institutes / partners will be identified on the Authorization for Funding and decision letter.
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Performance Measurement
CIHR is committed to demonstrating results to Canadians for the money invested in health research. Therefore, processes for monitoring progress and appropriate use of funds, as well as for performance measurement and program evaluation are in place. As a result, funding recipients must:
- contribute to the monitoring, review and evaluation of CIHR's programs, policies and processes by participating in evaluation studies, surveys, workshops, audits and providing data or reports as required for the purpose of collecting information to assess progress and results;
- encourage their associates, trainees and administration to participate in the monitoring, review and evaluation of CIHR's programs, policies and processes as required.
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Review Process and Evaluation
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.
The research proposed:
- Clarity of the proposal
- Thoroughness of the environmental scan.
- Feasibility of the proposed project with special attention to appropriateness, coherence, design, timelines, milestones
- Appropriateness of the budget and leveraged funding (if applicable)
- Appropriateness of the proposed organizing committees and members
- Appropriateness of the processes for the carrying out the proposed workshop
The applicant's productivity and leadership experience:
- How appropriate is the applicant(s) training, track record and productivity?
- How appropriate is applicant(s) leadership experience?
- How much confidence do you have that the applicant(s) can do the work proposed?
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How to Apply
The application process is comprised of one step: Full Application
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:
In a maximum of five (5) pages (not including references, key words or budget), include:
- Title: "ICRH New Frontiers Program in Sleep and Circadian Rhythms "
- A statement of the planned objectives and how they address the topic/issue as outlined in the RFA
- Appropriate scientific citations in framing the objectives, and in relation to the proposed team composition
- A summary work plan, including the organizational and administrative arrangements and schedule (as indicated in the section "Additional Requirements")
- A rationale for the constitution of the coordinating group and a listing of the proposed other participants, including invited international participants and potential partners
- Plans to disseminate and translate the outcomes
- A list of key words
In the Research Funding Program section of the Research Module, select "Strategic Initiative/RFA" and enter "ICRH New Frontiers Program"
- Only the full CV of the nominated principal applicant is required.
- Only a listing of the coordinating group and brief statement of their contributions to the workshop grant is required.
In addition to sending 1 copy of the full proposal by mail, please send an electronic copy of the 5-page proposal and budget by email to Martine Parent at parent@cihr-irsc.gc.ca by February 15, 2008
Note: ICRH is aware of the difficulties the different communities may experience in putting forth an application; since the workshop focus is very broad, one community may not be able to adequately address all the needs in question. It is recommended that workshop leader/s engage stakeholders from the all fields; this approach will enable ICRH plan for a large scale initiative, encompassing broad themes and research areas relevant to more than one community.
Send the completed registration and application packages by courier to:
RE: "ICRH New Frontiers Program"
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Room 97, 160 Elgin Street
Address locator: 4809A
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0W9
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Contact Information
For questions on CIHR funding guidelines, how to apply, and the peer review process contact:
Martine Parent
Program Coordinator
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Telephone: 613-941-4634
Fax: 613-954-1800
Email: mparent@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
For questions about this initiative and research objectives contact:
Tina Lawton
Project Manager
Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health
Telephone: 416-340-4531
Fax: 416-340-4753
Email: tlawton@uhnresearch.ca
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Partner/Collaborator Description
Note: Additional partners/collaborators, including partners/collaborators from industry and the private sector are expected to 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 Circulatory and Respiratory Health (ICRH)
ICRH supports research into the causes, mechanisms, prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, support systems, and palliation for a wide range of conditions associated with the heart, lung, brain (stroke), blood, blood vessels, critical and intensive care, and sleep. The ICRH vision is to achieve international leadership by fostering an environment of openness, excitement, energy, commitment and excellence in highly ethical, partnered initiatives focused on research, research training, and research translation for the circulatory and respiratory sciences and for the betterment of the health of Canadians. In March 2007, following consultations with the ICRH community and Institute Advisory Board, the following new priorities were identified:
- Genetics/biomarkers
- Psychosocial, behavioural, environmental research
- Technology
- Sleep, circadian impact on circulatory/respiratory health, metabolism and obesity
- Injury repair, inflammation mechanisms of chronic disease
- Transplantation, regeneration, stem cells, bioethics
- Aging, changing epidemiology
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