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Description
The purpose of this funding opportunity is to build research capacity to advance clinical knowledge and practice in the field of Dementia and Veterans Care.
One Fellowship program is announced in this funding opportunity:
- Ste. Anne's Hospital - Veterans Affairs Canada - CIHR IA Fellowship on Veterans and Dementia
This funding opportunity is announced under the Cognitive Impairment in Aging Priority Topics of the CIHR Institute of Aging, in collaboration with partners who have a common goal of offering Veterans and eligible civilians a wide range of programs and a continuum of high quality care and services. All Partners seek to bridge the gap between research and clinical practice in the domains of gerontology and mental health.
Aging is associated with a high prevalence of cognitive impairment. It is estimated that 16% of people over 65 years have some form of cognitive impairment, in addition to 8% presenting with a degenerative brain disease such as dementia. This prevalence increases exponentially with age to figures of 30% (cognitive impairment) and 35% (dementia), after age 85. Cognitive impairment and dementia not only threaten the quality of life of those affected, but also have an impact on family and professional partners in care, representing challenges to clinical practice and health services.
Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) works in partnership with other government health care authorities, health care providers and research professionals to ensure that clients receive appropriate health care. VAC's Ste. Anne's Hospital offers a number of Priority Access Beds sites enable VAC to accommodate veterans.
Ste. Anne's Hospital is located in the proximity of a number of renowned universities and research institutions in Montreal, Quebec, making it a hub for a number of research collaborations among various institutions and multidisciplinary research.
Funds Available
Funding through this announcement is contingent upon the partners' availability of funds and CIHR's availability of funds, which is voted annually to CIHR by parliamentary appropriations and the conditions that may be attached to them.
The maximum amount awarded for a single award is $55,000 annually for up to three years. The stipend and eligible term depends on degree(s) held, licensure (where applicable) and experience of the applicant. Complete details can be found in the Fellowship Awards program description. The award includes the following:
- Trainee stipend: $21,000 to $50,000 per annum.
- Research allowance: $5,000 per annum.
- This award is non-renewable.
- Applications receiving a review score of less than 3.5 will not be considered for funding.
A total of two (2) awards could be offered.
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 specific objectives of this funding opportunity are to:
- provide support for highly qualified candidates at the post-PhD or post-health professional degree stages in the field of aging to add to their experience by engaging in health research;
- advance clinical knowledge and practice in the field of dementia;
- respond to knowledge needs identified by the CIHR Institute of Aging, Veterans Affairs Canada, Veterans Care Programs, and Veterans and older clients.
Relevant Research Areas
The relevant research areas are outlined below, additional details for each fellowship opportunity can be found under the Partner/Collaborator Description.
For the Ste. Anne's Hospital - Veterans Affairs Canada training opportunity, the proposed research activities must fit with the research environments and research areas listed below.
The Hospital accommodates some 430 Veterans receiving extended or respite care. A newly built pavilion of 116 beds is dedicated to the residents suffering from dementia. The Day Centre offers support services to about 200 Veterans still living in their community. Also the Ste. Anne's Centre offers mental health services to Canadian Forces members and Veterans.
Relevant research areas in dementia include:
- Prevention
- Dementia and other disorders
- Treatment and interventions
- Health services, care delivery and environment
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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.
Specific to CIHR training awards, please refer to the General Guidelines for Training Programs as well as Fellowship program description.
Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) will not be considered for funding through this Priority Announcement.
Specific Eligibility Requirements
Eligibility requirements specific to the Ste. Anne's Hospital - Veterans Affairs Canada training opportunity include the following:
- The proposed research project to be undertaken by the fellow must demonstrate that the primary research environment will be the Ste. Anne's Hospital.
- In addition to CIHR's regular requirement for the supervisor, the candidate must secure an on-site supervisor, unless the primary supervisor is affiliated with Ste. Anne's Hospital.
- The candidate must secure a Letter of support from Ste. Anne's Hospital (see Contact Information below).
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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. This encouraged approach does not contradict CIHR IA's promotion and support of research that advances the health and quality of life of older adults (generally above the age of 65).
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.
In addition to CIHR standard guidelines and requirements, the following special conditions shall apply:
- One copy of all published research articles based on this Fellowship must be forwarded to each Partner on this funding opportunity.
- Awardees are expected to disseminate research findings through appropriate venues, including professional conferences and publications.
- Awardees are expected to acknowledge appropriate funding Partners in all communications regarding their award and related research activities.
For the Ste. Anne's Hospital - Veterans Affairs Canada training opportunity:
- As the primary research environment for the fellow's research must be the Ste. Anne's Hospital, this will require regular meetings with Ste. Anne's Hospital Director of Innovation, Research and Training.
- The fellow will be expected to submit an abstract and present a research poster at the Canadian Association on Gerontology Annual Scientific and Education Meeting and the Ste. Anne's Hospital Research Day.
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
Award 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
Relevance Review
The CIHR Institute of Aging, Ste. Anne's Hospital - Veterans Affairs Canada, will deem eligible for funding only those applications that are relevant to (in alignment with) the objectives, research environments and research priority areas described in the "Objectives" section.
To conduct the relevance review, the CIHR Institute of Aging, will receive anonymized project titles and summaries prior to peer review. Ste. Anne's Hospital - Veterans Affairs Canada will receive the same information.
The following criteria will be used in conducting the relevance review:
- Criterion #1: Extent to which the proposal addresses the Cognitive Impairment in Aging Priority Topics of the CIHR Institute of Aging;
- Criterion #2: Extent to which the proposal responds to the relevant research areas described above;
- Criterion #3: 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).
Upon completion of peer review, the Ste. Anne's Hospital - Veterans Affairs Canada, will receive the ranking list, merit scores (ratings) and recommendations of the peer review committee with regards to award term, for the applications submitted to their respective training sites that were, 1) found to be relevant to the specific objectives of their research initiative and the research priority areas/relevant research areas described under "Relevant Research Areas", and 2) rated within the CIHR fundable range. The CIHR Institute of Aging will receive the same information. The information will be used for funding decision-making purposes and will remain anonymous. Applications that receive a ranking below 3.5 will not be funded. Applications deemed relevant to this initiative, which are funded in the CIHR Fellowship competition or through this funding opportunity will be named Fellowship in the area of Veterans and Dementia in partnership with CIHR Institute of Aging, Ste. Anne's Hospital and Veterans Affairs Canada". Up to two (2) awards per research location will be offered.
The relevance review occurs apart from the peer review (scientific review) and has no relationship to the results of peer review. Peer review committees will not be informed of applications submitted for funding through this request for applications.
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
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How to Apply
Applications are submitted through the February 2008 (2008-02) competition of the Fellowship: 2007-2008 program.
The application instructions are outlined in the "How to Apply" section of the CIHR Fellowship: 2007-2008 program.
Additional instructions must be followed for this funding opportunity.
- In the Program(s) section of the CIHR Training Module, select "Strategic Initiative" and enter the title of this funding opportunity: "Fellowships: Veterans and Dementia" and the proposed Fellowship training opportunity - Ste. Anne's Hospital - Veterans Affairs Canada 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.
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Contact Information
For questions on CIHR funding guidelines, how to apply, and the peer review process contact:
Annik Pilon
Program Delivery Officer
Research Capacity Development Branch
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Telephone: 613-954-1813
Fax: 613-954-1800
Email: apilon@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
For questions about the training environment and their research objectives:
For the Ste. Anne's Hospital - Veterans Affairs Canada training opportunity, contact:
Maryse Savoie
Director of Innovation, Research, and Training
Veterans Affairs Canada
305 boul. des Anciens Combattants
Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec
H9X 1Y9
Telephone: 514-457-3440 ext 2572
Fax: 514-457-8410
Email: maryse.savoie@vac-acc.gc.ca
For questions about the research objectives of this funding opportunity and the CIHR Institute of Aging, contact:
Linda Mealing, PhD
Assistant Director-Ottawa
CIHR Corporate Headquarters
Telephone: 613-952-4537
Fax: 613-954-1800
Email: Lmealing@cihr-irsc.gc.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 Aging (IA)
The CIHR Institute of Aging (IA) supports research to promote healthy aging and to address causes, prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, support systems, and palliation for a wide range of conditions associated with aging. IA has identified five priority areas for research on aging and health (in no particular order): healthy and successful aging, biological mechanisms of aging, cognitive impairment in aging, aging and maintenance of functional autonomy, and health services and policy relating to older people.
Partners
Veterans Affairs Canada
Veterans Affairs Canada provides exemplary, client-centred services and benefits that respond to the needs of veterans, our other clients and their families, in recognition of their services to Canada; and to keep the memory of their achievements and sacrifices alive for all Canadians.
Ste. Anne's Hospital
St-Anne's Hospital is dedicated to offering Veterans and eligible civilians a wide range of programs and a continuum of high quality care and services.
The Hospital accommodates some 430 Veterans receiving extended or respite care. A newly built pavilion of 116 beds is dedicated to the residents suffering from dementia. The Day Centre offers support services to about 200 Veterans still living in their community. Also the Ste. Anne's Centre offers mental health services to Canadian Forces members and Veterans.
As part of its on-going quest for excellence, the Hospital has created a Multidiscplinary Scientific Research Council. The Council reports to the Hospital's senior administration and is an integral part of the Hospital's structure and functioning.
The goal of research at Ste. Anne's Hospital is to contribute to bridging the gap between research and clinical practice in the domains of gerontology and mental health. Relevant research areas include:
1. Prevention
- Social and psychological factors that contribute to dementia and its progression;
- Causal and risk factors of dementia.
2. Dementia and other disorders
- The relationship between personality disorders and dementia;
- The relationship between post traumatic stress and dementia;
- Neuropsychological testing in differential diagnosis, and in diagnosing, screening and following patients.
3. Treatment and Interventions
- Non-pharmacological approaches;
- Novel and alternative therapies;
- Effect of exercise on mood and dysfunctional behaviours.
4. Health services, care delivery and environment
- Nutrition, dysphagia and dietetics in dementia care;
- Health services organizational structures and processes;
- Health care delivery models and approaches such as "Milieu de vie" and "prosthetic";
- Impact of patient relocation;
- Impact of family involvement and relationships;
- Quality of life indicators;
- Ethical issues: end-of-life care, intensity of care, substitute decision-making.
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