Important Dates

Notices

Table of Contents

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

Description

This funding opportunity is announced under the Strategic Initiative for the Prevention and Treatment of Intentional and Unintentional Injury.

Background

Unintentional and intentional injuries kill more Canadians between the ages of 1 and 44 years than any other cause. Unintentional injury is a major cause of morbidity and death for Canada's elderly population, and is most often associated with falls and motor vehicle crashes. Recent statistics estimated the economic burden of unintentional and intentional injuries combined to be greater than $14 billion per year. Yet many injuries can be avoided, given appropriate preventive measures, and the impacts of injuries on victims and their families can be mitigated through appropriate and timely interventions. Injury research has much to offer on both counts.

In recent years, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) supported a national consultative process to identify gaps in knowledge in the field of injury prevention, treatment and control and on how best to address them. One of the key recommendations emerging from this process was for CIHR to create and lead a partnership consortium to support the development of teams for applied interdisciplinary injury across key themes identified through this process.

Accordingly, CIHR, in collaboration with members of its Injury Initiative Advisory Committee, began discussions with potential funding partners culminating in a CIHR-Partner Injury Research Workshop which took place in Montreal in June 2007. Representatives from federal, provincial and regional governments and non-governmental organizations identified key research questions, the answers to which would aid decision makers in the planning and funding of health care services, programs, products and policy. Additionally, they identified priority research areas: workplace injury, transportation injury, injury sequelae and health services, and intentional injuries. They also identified risk factor assessment by age, gender, socio-economic status and other population subgroups as cross-cutting themes applicable to each research area.

The purpose of this funding opportunity is to reduce the occurrence of injuries and its consequences. By supporting multi-disciplinary teams of talented and experienced researchers and building further researcher capacity in the areas of injury prevention, treatment and control, it is expected that this strategic investment will create new knowledge useful in the development of policies, programs and products related to the safety of Canadians.

The CIHR Team Grant program funds expert teams (uni-disciplinary teams, multi-disciplinary teams, trans-disciplinary teams, community-partnered teams, academic-industry teams, etc.). Partners can include decision-makers, program administrators, care givers, policy makers and practitioners working in health-oriented community organizations, community-based foundations and organizations, local, provincial/territorial and national health charities and non-profit organizations, hospital and research institute foundations, municipal and regional health authorities, public health departments, district health councils, and provincial/territorial government agencies.

• Proposals that represent active and meaningful partnerships between community organizations and research teams based in institutions (including universities, colleges, hospitals, and affiliated research institutions) are encouraged. The unifying element underlying all successful CIHR Teams will be a commitment to excellence and the pursuit of a problem-based, collaborative approach to health research.
• More information about the CIHR Team Grant Program is provided in the CIHR Team Grant Program overview.

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 funding opportunity is $15M over five years, beginning on April 1, 2009. This amount may increase if additional funding partners participate.
• The maximum amount awarded for a single grant is $500,000 per annum for up to 5 years of funding will be available for this competition, beginning on April 1, 2009. CIHR anticipates that a minimum of 6 Teams will be funded through this competition.
• Teams invited to submit full applications will be eligible for development grants of up to $10,000 if requested at the Letter of Intent stage (see Letter of Intent instructions).
• Teams recommended for funding through this funding opportunity may be required to submit a revised budget based on the total funds available.

Duration of Projects:

• The CIHR Team Grant program will provide support for a maximum duration of five years. In the case of five year grants, the final 2 years of funding are subject to a satisfactory progress review in the third year of funding.
• The Team Grants are non-renewable, although funded teams may apply to the Team Grant open competition to continue their work beyond the funding period of this strategic initiative.
• The equipment amount, where applicable, is awarded in year one only.

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".

Objectives

Specific Objectives

Within the framework of the objectives of the CIHR Team Grant Program, the specific objectives of this funding opportunity are:

• To promote innovative, applied and interdisciplinary research on the determinants of injury and its prevention, treatment and rehabilitation;
• To support research that will inform and engage decision makers in the development, planning and implementation of prevention programs, health care services, products and policies and practices related to injury;
• To promote effective knowledge translation through continuous and sustained interactions between researchers and users of research;
• To promote novel collaborations and develop multidisciplinary research partnerships among community partners, policy makers and knowledge translation experts and end-users;
• To enhance capacity with recruitment and training of students and post-doctoral fellows and mentoring of new investigators;
• To conduct evaluations of interventions for the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of injuries.

General Objectives

The objectives of the CIHR Team Grant program are:

• To support expert teams of talented and experienced researchers;
• To support high-quality research that addresses an important health and disease, health care or health system problem or issue which is best approached through a collaborative team;
• To provide superior research training and mentorship environments;
• To support the production of new knowledge and the translation of research findings into improvements in the health of Canadians and the Canadian health care system.

For community-focused proposals, the guiding principle for participation is that community groups are active, influential and ongoing participants in the research, training, mentoring and knowledge translation activities, and that their roles have been formally agreed upon in the spirit of ensuring equity and mutual benefits from the partnership.

It is expected that partners will contribute to:

• Formulate research agendas;
• Provide input into the development of research and training projects;
• Synthesise and disseminate findings;
• Apply the research findings to inform policies, programs and/or practices, and in some cases, conduct the research.

Information about knowledge translation can be found in the section "Defining and Framing Knowledge Translation" of the CIHR Knowledge Translation Strategy 2004-2009.

Relevant Research Areas:

For this first set of team grants in injury, CIHR and its partners will provide funding for applications that are determined to be relevant to the following research areas (listed in alphabetical order and not according to priority):

• Culture of Safety - Research is needed to promote an integrated safety culture across the life-span such that safety-related attitudes, values and beliefs developed in childhood (car seats, sports equipment, traffic safety) are carried seamlessly into adulthood (workplace, driving, recreational activities) and ultimately into retirement years. Research under this theme include creating a better understanding of the relationships among physical activity, mobility and MSK health at every level, including the positive effects of motions and forces on the cellular behavior of joint tissues and the well being of individuals. The psychosocial aspects of exercise, activity and sports on populations are also relevant.
• High Risk Populations - Research that includes approaches or interventions to reduce injuries in higher risk and chronic disease populations is needed, for example, specific programs based upon cultural and psycho-social determinants of intentional and unintentional injury and recovery in vulnerable populations such as older Canadians, children and youth, Aboriginal populations as well as muskuloskeltal disease.
• Intentional Injuries - Research is needed to develop evidence-based prevention and intervention strategies to reduce intentional injuries, such as suicide, spousal violence, and child maltreatment.
• Rehabilitation Services - Research is needed to understand the determinants of disability and recovery from injury, for example, psycho-social consequences of injury and recovery and injury patterns and access to care (e.g., in immigrant populations or by geographical areas).
• Transportation - Research is needed to improve transportation safety through the development, evaluation and implementation of effective strategies by addressing the many human, vehicle and system factors that affect the risk for motor vehicle crash and injury.
• Workplace Injury - Research is needed on workplace risks, factors influencing successful prevention strategies, rehabilitation and return to work after an injury. Research is also needed on the effectiveness of intervention strategies at the sectoral and community-wide levels.

Cross-Cutting Themes:

Cross-cutting themes that span all types of injury research. Applicants are encouraged to include one or more of the following relevant areas in the research methodology.

• Common Risk Factors - Applicants are encouraged to include plans to assess behavioural, social and cultural factors where appropriate. There is also interest in understanding the relationship between unintentional and intentional injury through the assessment of risk factors common to both.
• Cost of Injury - Applicants are encouraged to include cost-benefit analysis of interventions as well as the human, social and economic costs of injury. This theme supports innovative research into the cause and prevention of the physical, psychological, psychosocial and economic impacts of acute and chronic injury and prostheses.
• Data Collection - Applicants are encouraged to address the need for data collection and linkages among existing databases to better understand injury etiology, time-course and prevention opportunities.
• Gender /Sex Based Analysis (GSBA or GBA) - Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate the use of gender-based or gender sensitive analysis. These are approaches to research and evaluation which systematically inquires about biological (sex-based) and socio-cultural (gender-based) differences between women and men, boys and girls.
• Understanding and Reducing High-Risk Behaviours - High-risk behaviours, whether the result of thrill-seeking or attempts to save time or gain convenience or comfort, are a significant source of injury that needs further attention.

Specific Research Foci and Requirements:

The following partners have interest in funding research related to their organization's priorities:

Alberta Centre for Child, Family and Community Research seeks to improve the well-being of children, their families and communities in Alberta, Canada and internationally, by mobilizing research evidence into policy and practice. The Centre funds unique research driven by and meeting the needs of policy makers, while providing current knowledge to fill in gaps.

Contact Information
Ms. Nancy Reynolds
Executive Director and CEO
Alberta Centre for Child, Family and Community Research
6^th Floor, 9925-109 Street
Edmonton, AB T5K 2J8
Telephone: 780-944-8635/8630
Email:nreynolds@research4children.com

AUTO21 Centre of Excellence will consider supporting applications that relate directly to health, safety and injury prevention and societal issues such as anti-social behaviours (including drunk driving, road rage, etc.)

Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

• CIHR - Institute of Aging (IA) will consider supporting applications that relate directly to the aging process or specifically to the health and quality of life of older adults (generally above the age of 65) and are relevant to current Institute of Aging Initiatives such as : Mobility in Aging. Research and research design should address issues of aging and/or the aged as essential elements of the objectives, hypotheses and analyses.
  
  
• CIHR - Institute of Gender and Health (IGH) will support research that addresses how sex (biological-genetic dimensions) and gender (social-cultural dimensions) interact with other socio-cultural, bio-physical, and political-economic factors to influence health and create conditions that differ with respect to risk factors or effective interventions for males and females, boys and girls throughout the lifespan. The Institute also encourages applicants to use Gender/Sex-Based Analysis (GSBA). The CIHR Resource Guide on GSBA is available.
  
  Intentional and unintentional injuries have important gender and sex components. Incidence of suicide, injury rates and types, peer pressures, access to health services, treatments and interventions, etc. have sex and/or gender components that influence onsets and outcomes. The Institute of Gender and Health is encouraging applications that focus specifically on how sex and gender influence healthy development, health outcomes, and access to health care.
  
  
• CIHR - Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health (IHDCYH) will consider funding applications that are relevant to at least one of IHDCYH's childhood injury and maltreatment research priorities: risk factors and prevention, parenting styles, exposure to violence and development of violent behaviour, youth violence, and long-term sequelae.
  
  
• CIHR - Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis (IMHA) supports research to sustain health and enhance quality of life by eradicating the pain, suffering and disability caused by arthritis, musculoskeletal, oral and skin conditions. To achieve its vision, IMHA will focus on three research priorities:

  Pain, Disability and Chronic Disease
  The primary focus of this theme is to better understand the genetic and environmental causes, optimal treatment and elimination of pain and disability in all IMHA disease areas. A second area of significance is the need to understand the relationship between chronic diseases and conditions within IMHA's mandate (e.g. skin and bone diseases and diseases that compromise oral health). The impact of chronic musculoskeletal, oral, and skin diseases on general health and well-being is also of utmost importance.

  Tissue Injury, Repair and Replacement
  This theme supports innovative research into the cause and prevention of the physical, psychological, psychosocial and economic impacts of acute and chronic injury and prostheses. Potential research areas include novel drug or cell delivery models and approaches, application of tissue-engineered biomaterials as conduits or shunts in tissue regeneration and the ethical consequences of regenerative medicine based on tissue engineering strategies.

  Physical Activity, Mobility and Health
  Research under this theme will create a better understanding of the relationships among physical activity, mobility and MSK health at every level, including the positive effects of motions and forces on the cellular behavior of joint tissues and the well being of individuals. The psychosocial aspect of exercise, activity and sports on populations is also relevant.

  For more detail, please see Foci Overviews.

Canadian Red Cross is dedicated to reducing injury and suffering in Canada through our injury prevention programs (First Aid, Swimming and Water Safety, and RespectED). We work with community partners to ensure our programs reach as many Canadians as possible with skills, awareness and training to reduce injuries.

The foundation of our programs is based on research (injury surveillance, market research and consumer feedback), injury prevention methodology and the latest in international science. Canadian Red Cross will fund research in the areas of injury surveillance and trends, health and safety, and research that can significantly improve the efficacy of injury prevention programs and thereby contribute to a reduction in injuries, suffering and deaths.

Child Welfare League of Canada (CWLC) is a national organization dedicated to promoting the protection and well-being of vulnerable young people. Its mandate is to ensure the values, policies and activities that address the rights of young people and contribute to their healthy development well-being and inclusion are the top priorities; to promote and support the development and implementation of excellence in services; to pursue collaborative relationships to maximize the opportunities for vulnerable young people; to create, share and mobilize knowledge to reduce the vulnerabilities of young people and their families; to actively engage and communicate with members, stakeholders and the public in promoting the cause of vulnerable young people.

Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST). The IRSST's scientific activities are concentrated in seven research fields defined as priorities based on consultations within the occupational health and safety network and the working community, as well as on the requests received. The following seven research fields will be considered for funding:

• Accidents
• Chemical substances and and biological agents
• Musculoskeletal disorders
• Noise and vibration
• Protective equipment
• Occupational rehabilitation
• Safety and industrial tools, machines and processes

For additional details on these research fields, visit their web site.

Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation (ONF) will consider contributing to applications that have a strong Ontario component (include Ontario researchers and community partners) and that have relevance to children, youth, adults and seniors with acquired brain injuries.

The Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation (ONF) is a strategic and applied health research funder with a significant emphasis on knowledge mobilization. ONF's mission is to improve the quality of life for those living with neurotrauma (an acquired brain injury or spinal cord injury), and to reduce the incidence and prevalence of neurotrauma injuries.

For ONF, research should inform and be mobilized to a) transform the lives of those living with a neurotrauma so they can engage in productive activity as full citizens, and b) to transform our ability and capacity to reduce and/or eliminate these injuries. The foundation views researchers, policy makers and practitioners, and consumers as the three key stakeholder groups that must come together to effect change.

Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) will fund research focusing on injury epidemiology such as indicators development or other projects that will advance the collection, development and implementation of injury knowledge. Provide a link to a more detailed description of the research area / mandate, if applicable.

(Updated: 2008-02-25)
Sport Canada. The objective of the Sport Canada Research Initiative is to create a foundation of knowledge to advance the goals of the Canadian Sport Policy. Research priorities are defined and monitored by Sport Canada in consultation with sport experts, researchers and non-partisan sport system experts. The SCRI council programs are designed to provide empirical evidence to gain a better understanding of sport participation in Canada to inform those policies and initiatives intended to promote and enhance participation in sport in Canada. Sport Canada's research priorities are the following:

• identifying and overcoming barriers to participation in sport
• training of participants, volunteers, coaches and administrators in sport
• development, monitoring and evaluation of policies designed to enhance participation in sport
• development of capacity that will enhance participation in sport
• identifying and assessing the benefits and outcomes of participation in sport

In the context of this initiative, Sport Canada would be seeking research under these themes related to injury risk and prevention.

Transport Canada Transportation related issues are one of the leading causes of death and serious injury in youth. The department, along with other road safety partners endeavours to reduce transportation related risk through research, standards, policy and awareness campaigns. Specific areas of interest include issues related to transportation as drivers, passengers, pedestrians, cyclists or other modes of transport. An important component would be the anthropometric measure of Canadian children on an on-going basis to monitor changes across time, which might affect the design and use of safety equipment.

Young drivers (16-19) are a specific risk factor related to death and serious injury on Canadian roads. Indicators related to quantifying or mitigating the risk in this category of road users is important.

Other indicators that are important are the numbers and mechanisms of fatalities and injuries in transportation related collisions, as well as the personal and social burden of these events.

In addition, a number of use and compliance indicators are important to gauge the correct and appropriate use of safety systems for children, such as all types of restraint systems and bike helmets. Another area is compliance of young drivers with existing graduated licensing models. Actual exposure measures to different risks, such as time in vehicle, time on bike, time walking and other less popular transportation options such as scooters and roller blades are also valuable indicators.

Road Safety Vision 2010 contains a number of targets related to improving road safety among children. Projects considered must fall within the strategic areas outlined by RSV2010 (e.g., seat belt and child restraint use, impaired driving, vulnerable road users, speeding).

Contact Information
Paul Boase, Chief, Road Users,
Road Safety and Motor Vehicle Regulation
330 Sparks St. Tower C, 8th floor
Ottawa, ON K1A 0N5
Telephone: 613-993-4463
Email: boasep@tc.gc.ca

WorkSafeBC is dedicated to promoting workplace health and safety for the workers and employers of the province of British Columbia. In addition it consults with and educate employers and workers and monitor compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation. In the event of work-related injuries or diseases, WorkSafeBC works with the affected parties to provide return-to-work rehabilitation, compensation, health care benefits, and a range of other services. In accordance to their mandate WorkSafe BC will fund research in the area of workplace health and safety.

Eligibility

Please refer to the Eligibility Requirements for CIHR Grants and Awards regarding the eligibility requirements for individuals and institutions. The business office of the institution of an eligible Nominated Principal Applicant generally administers CIHR funds.

Each eligible CIHR Team Grant application will include:

• A team leader who meets the criteria of "Principal Applicant" as described in the CIHR Participant Categories for CIHR Grants. The Team Leader must be a researcher with proven leadership capabilities and experience who will act as research program director and who will assume administrative responsibility for the grant.
• At least two additional independent investigators who have an established research track record in areas related to the collaborative project(s) proposed, who together with the team leader will form an integrated and more effective research team. Teams with a nucleus of experienced and productive investigators are encouraged to include some promising new investigators in the Team.
• Collectively, team members will have an extensive record of success, be creative and original in their approach to research and its translation and have experience working in research teams. The specific contribution of each team member and community partner, where applicable, must be described.

In addition, the following special conditions apply:

• The members of the Team may pursue other avenues of research in addition to their commitment to the CIHR Team Grant; however, each individual investigator must contribute sufficient time to the CIHR Team Grant research program to ensure the achievement of its research objectives.
• Members of a team may be located in one or more departments, faculties or CIHR-eligible institutions in Canada. As well, international or private sector collaborators who make a substantial intellectual contribution to the research program may be listed as additional team members; however, CIHR funding is restricted to work performed within CIHR eligible Institutions, except where second order transfer agreements are in place.

Specific Eligibility Requirements:

Eligibility requirements specific to this funding opportunity include the following:

• Applicants are encouraged to include one or more trainees at each the master's, doctoral and /or fellowships level.
• Teams must include end-users as co-applicants. These individuals will not receive funding through the grant but will integrate the end-user's perspective into the research project. End-users may include health care and public health practitioners, program administrators, policy makers, research users, etc.
• Letters of support from end-users are required for this funding opportunity.

Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) will be considered under this funding opportunity. Applicants who are considering submitting a Randomized Controlled Trial application in response to this funding opportunity are required to consult the CIHR RCT staff listed in Contact Information and are advised to familiarize themselves with the RCT specific guidelines and instructions, which are fully described in Randomized Controlled Trials: 2007-2008.

RCTs will NOT be permitted when necessary background research or preliminary studies have not yet been completed. Consult CIHR RCT staff should you require further clarification.

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 Tri-Agency (CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC) Financial Administration guidelines Use of Grant Funds for a complete listing and description of allowable costs and activities.

Funding can be used to support:

• Research operating costs for the proposed collaborative research program, which must be distinct in its objectives from those for which team members currently receive funding. Where an application includes overlap with an existing CIHR grant, and that application is successful in the CIHR Team Grant competition, continued funding of the ongoing grant will be reviewed.
• Purchase of equipment and maintenance contracts for common services and shared facilities;
• Costs of data collection, database and maintenance of information holdings directly related to the CIHR Team Grant research program;
• Costs of regional, national and international networking activities, including collaboration, planning, and knowledge exchange activities, directly related to the CIHR Team Grant research program;
• Salaries of research assistants, technicians and other personnel who will enhance the collaborative research productivity of the Team;
• Support of research trainees, at the rate specified by CIHR for trainees paid from research grants. CIHR Team Grants are expected to provide a superior training environment;
• Salary of a professional coordinator and/or administrative assistant;
• Release time payments to enable employees of community partners to participate in the research program, limited to 50% of salary costs, and an overall maximum of $100,000 per year;
• A maximum of $20,000 annually for a release time stipend for the team leader;
• Costs involved in linkage with and dissemination of research findings to those who use the results, as appropriate for the research program (including other researchers, the public, practitioner and policy communities, and the industrial sector).

With the exception of co-applicants who are trainees or research associates, co-applicants may not receive a salary, stipend, or honorarium from CIHR grants on which they are a co-applicant (as described in Participant Categories for CIHR Grants). The only exception is the release time stipends for the team leader and employees of community partners as described.

The following expenditures will be considered eligible for funding received through this funding opportunity:

In order to build capacity for injury research, proposals may include establishment funds and salary for investigators new to the field of injury joining the team (e.g, new investigators are within the first five years of their independent research careers or established investigators who are new to the field of injury). Salary contributions paid for by the Team Grant must not exceed $60,000 per annum (including fringe benefits) per investigator supported. Those paid from the Team Grant cannot also hold a Canada Research Chair or another federal salary award. Note that new investigators paid from the grant cannot be listed as co-applicants on the grant application. Similarly, they cannot be listed as co-investigators on the grant after it is approved; however they can be considered members of the Team.

• Support for knowledge translation and communication activities, including hiring of staff, publishing of reports, communicating with the media, and costs associated with the creation and distribution of communication tools (e.g. plain language summaries or other mechanisms).
• Regional, national and international networking and exchange activities during the planning and dissemination of the research (e.g. networking, conferences, workshops, meetings, communication and dissemination methods). Eligible activities must involve substantive and meaningful interaction between researchers and end-users of the research.

The full application must provide a detailed justification of all costs.

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 language policy, Access to Information and Privacy Acts, and Acknowledgement of CIHR Support. Successful applicants will be informed of any special financial conditions prior to the release of funds or when they receive CIHR's Authorization for Funding (AFF) document.

Access to Information Act and Privacy Act, and the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA)

All personal information collected by CIHR about applicants is used to review applications, to recruit reviewers, to administer and monitor grants and awards, to compile statistics, and to promote and support health research in Canada. Consistent with these purposes, applicants should also expect that information collected by CIHR may be shared as described in Use and Disclosure of Personal Information Provided to CIHR for Peer Review.

CIHR as a federal entity is subject to the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act, therefore the requirements of these two statutes will apply to all information located in CIHR's premises including, without limitation, cost-sharing agreements related to this Funding opportunity and all matters pertaining thereto.

While respecting the application of the Privacy Act to federal entities, all signing parties involved in a collaborative agreement will also be bound by the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA). All personal information (as identified by the PIPEDA) collected, used or disclosed in the course of any commercial activity under collaborative agreements related to the Funding opportunity will be collected, used and disclosed in compliance with the PIPEDA.

Communication Requirements

In addition to following the policies relating to the Public Communication and Acknowledgment of CIHR's Support team grant recipients will also be required to adhere to special branding requirements as a condition of receiving a CIHR Team Grant. The official Team name is "CIHR Team in (area of research)". In cases where there is another major funding partner a shared title should be considered. The format of a shared title is "CIHR / (partner name) Team in". The Team name must be used in all communication and promotion relating to the CIHR Team Grant. A team name must be proposed as part of the application for a CIHR Team Grant. Successful applicants and their host institutions will be required to agree in writing to proper use of the Team name as well as the CIHR (and applicable partners) logo(s) on appropriate communications materials such as brochures, letterhead, publications and media materials. Recognition guidelines, including instructions on logo use, will be provided to successful applicants as part of the approval package.

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:

• Adhere to CIHR's reporting requirements and provide required information in a timely fashion. A Progress Report for Long-Term Grant Holders (5 or more years) will be required in year 3 of five-year grants. Grantees are required to submit the "Progress Report for Long-Term Grant Holders (5 or more years)" describing the progress made and the publications issued since the start of the grant. CIHR will cancel the last 12 months of the grant if the progress is unacceptable and will cancel the final two years of the grant if it does not receive a report. CIHR will provide a template for the Progress Report
• 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.

In addition to CIHR standard guidelines and requirements, the following requirements, specific to this Funding Opportunity, shall apply:

• An annual Team meeting will be held to review progress and research outcomes. The Team may cover its travel costs to attend the meeting through the Team Grant;
• Following the annual Team meeting the Nominated Principal Investigator will provide a summary of the annual meeting outlining progress and outcome (3 pages maximum);
• Within six months after the end of the grant's term, the Nominated Principal Applicant is required to submit a final performance report, summarizing the results and describing how the grant funds were used. The format will be provided to successful applicants by CIHR. The final report will be disseminated to each partner;
• Willingness to participate in the announcement of the Team Grant(s) to the media with the partner(s) present at the research site(s).

The following table is intended to further clarify objectives by linking them to expected outcomes and measures which will be included in CIHR's Management Resources and Results Structure (MRRS), as required by the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat.

Review Process and Evaluation

This is a two phase application process, Letter of Intent (LOI) and Full application. Relevance will be determined at the LOI phase.

Letter of Intent - Relevance Review

Relevance review will be conducted at the Letter of Intent stage. The Relevance review will be conducted by representatives from CIHR's Institutes and partners (even those that may be brought into this initiative at a later stage). They will have access to the anonymized Letter of Intent package and the one-page attachment describing how the proposed research addresses the objectives and relevant research areas (see "How to Apply"). At the full application stage, these representatives will have access to an updated version of the one-page attachment and the anonymized research proposal summary to ensure applications are still relevant.

The following criteria will be used in conducting relevance review.

• Direct relevance to the development of injury programs, products and policies.
• Fit of the application to the objectives and relevant research areas outlined in this funding opportunity.
• Alignment with the priorities of one or more partners. Please clearly identify the funding partners with which the research project best aligns.

For the CIHR Institute of Aging, 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).

Full Application

Upon completion of peer review of the full applications, the representatives from existing partners and new partners that may be brought into this initiative will receive the ratings, rankings and peer review committee recommendations on funding level and term of the anonymized applications that are rated in the CIHR fundable range and are found to be relevant to the specific objectives of the research initiative and the research areas described under "Objectives" and "Relevant Research Areas." These applications will be funded from the top down in order of ranking as far as budgets will allow. Applications that receive a ranking below 3.5 will not be funded.

Peer Review

Eligible Letters of Intent (LOI's) and applications will be evaluated by a specifically-constituted, multidisciplinary peer review committee(s) designed for the review of CIHR Team Grants. The committee may include individuals from partner communities. The expert committee may make suggestions to the applicants on how to strengthen their detailed proposal. It could, for example, suggest the grouping of complementary applications, and propose additional partnerships or funding sources.

Once the review of LOI's is completed, selected applicants will be invited to submit a full application by the deadline date. The selected applicants will be eligible to receive up to $10,000 in development funds to help them prepare their full application. The names of teams that will be invited to apply and the topic of their research will be published on the CIHR website.

CIHR Team Grant applications will be evaluated as a single, integrated entity. While each research component included in the application must be meritorious, it is critical to demonstrate that the CIHR Team Grant brings added value, in terms of the approach to the health and disease, health care or health system issue, and the speed and efficiency with which new knowledge will be generated, or translated into improvements in health or the health care system, when compared with funding the proposed work as a series of separate operating grants.

Note: For Teams submitting Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) as part of their Team Grant proposal:

Applications that include RCTs will be evaluated by the RCT peer review committee, as well as by the Team Grant peer review committee that evaluates all applications to this funding opportunity.

Researchers whose applications include an RCT must submit an LOI (for review by the Team Grant peer review committee) and an RCT Outline (for review by the RCT peer review committee and recommendation whether or not an RCT Full Application should be invited). The review of the RCT Outline will precede the review of the LOI by the Team Grant peer review committee and the recommendation of the RCT peer review committee will be considered as part of the overall LOI evaluation.

Researchers who are successful at the LOI stage and whose applications include an RCT will be required to submit a Full RCT Application in addition to the Team Grant application. The RCT peer review committee will evaluate the RCT Full Application and make a funding recommendation. This information will be considered by the Team Grant peer review committee as part of the overall evaluation of the application.

If the RCT component is not recommended for funding, the non-RCT components of the Team Grant MAY OR MAY NOT be funded. This decision will be made by the Team Grant peer review committee, taking into consideration the importance of the proposed RCT to the overall Team Grant application.

If the RCT component is recommended for funding but the non-RCT components of the Team Grant are not, then the RCT component WILL NOT be funded on its own.

Evaluation Criteria

General criteria for assessing applications are listed below. Because different applicant teams will emphasize different approaches to research and to knowledge translation, it is understood that reviewers and committees will weight questions such as these differently from one application to another.

Address an important health and disease, health care or health system problem or issue:

• How important to injury research is the health problem being addressed? Will anticipated findings be of broad interest and applicability?
• How important, novel and/or original are the hypotheses or the questions to be addressed, and how clearly are they formulated?
• How important and original are the contributions expected from the research proposed? What is the potential for important new knowledge or impact on injury research?

Research proposed:

• How well will the proposed research address the hypotheses or questions?
• How appropriate are the methods for the conduct of the research? Where applicable to the type of research proposed, does the proposal take into account the social, cultural and environmental factors surrounding the research problem?
• Do the methods represent the best current practice, and the most economical, effective approach?
• How well have the applicants anticipated difficulties in their approach and considered alternatives?
• How critically has the relevant literature been appraised and evaluated?

Applicants' productivity, experience and training:

• How appropriate to the research proposed is the training or track record of the applicants?
• How important and original is the recent productivity of the applicants?
• What is the likelihood that the Team can do the work proposed? (The proposed time commitment to the research may influence this judgment).

Appropriateness of the Team:

• Do key members have a track record of having participated and/or having provided leadership to collaborative research teams?
• Have team members demonstrated sustained productivity, creativity and originality in their research?

Value added of funding through a collaborative program:

• How well will a CIHR Team Grant enhance the understanding and generate new knowledge in the area of injury prevention and treatment, when compared to independent research projects?

Propose a coherent, integrated and feasible research plan:

• Is the research plan original, cohesive/integrated and feasible? Will it generate valid, reliable and useful knowledge?
• Does the Team have a plan for engaging and linking with, and dissemination of research findings to, those who will utilize and apply the results?
• Has the Team identified the roles and contributions of all the parties in planning, execution, and evaluation as well as management activities?

Provide superior training opportunities in injury research:

• Will the research training and mentoring environment provide a superior experience for undergraduate, graduate and/or post-doctoral trainees, including those with a health professional background?

Propose an innovative problem-based approach to injury research:

• Does the proposed program of research challenge current research thinking and paradigms and/or address unexplored areas?
• Does the proposed program of research bring together, in a meaningful collaboration, researchers from different disciplines?
• How is this approach going to build on the different expertise and perspectives of team members?

For those engaged with partners:

• Are governance and management structures in place to ensure the meaningful integration of community partners in the decision-making process?
• To what extent are partners involved and committed to formulating the research agenda, providing input into the development of research and training projects, disseminating findings, and applying the outcomes of research?
• Does the proposal demonstrate the involvement of the necessary local, regional, provincial/territorial, national and/or international partners in the planning and execution of the research plan, and the application of the research results? Will this involvement permit research activities and outcomes that would not otherwise be possible?

The following evaluation criteria are specific to this funding opportunity.

• The extent to which the proposed research project will influence decision makers and other potential users.
• The extent of involvement of end-users in the team interactions and planning of the research project. End-users may include health care and public health practitioners, program administrators, policy makers, research users, community agencies, etc.
• Promotion of novel collaborations and multidisciplinary research partnership, across sectors.
• Extent to which studies in specific populations are included, where appropriate.
• Quality of the training component in the proposal. Teams are encouraged to build capacity by including researchers from related fields and must include trainees at the master's, doctoral and/or fellowship level.
• Demonstrate that Team members can work collectively to address the research topics and meet the objectives outlined in this funding opportunity, including the knowledge transfer objectives.
• The quality of the knowledge translation plan and inclusion of a budget for disseminating research outcomes and recommendations to national or international agencies relevant to injury prevention.

Based on the total funds available for the competition, applications will be funded from the top-ranked down as far as budget will allow. Applications receiving a score less than 3.5 on the CIHR 0 to 4.9 rating scale will not be considered for funding. The CIHR rating scale is described in Policies And Responsibilities of Grants Committee Members.

How to Apply

Applicants are advised to review CIHR's grants and awards policies and guidelines outlined in the CIHR Grants and Awards Guide.

The application process is comprised of two stages: 1) Letter of Intent (LOI), and 2) Full Application.

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

1) Letter of Intent (LOI)

In the first stage of the application process the Nominated Principal Applicant is required to submit a Letter of Intent. [ PDF (297 KB) | Help ].

Applicants are advised to follow the instructions on the Acceptable Application Module Formats page which outlines formatting requirements for the letter and attachments.

The Letter of Intent must include:

a) The Registration pages of the CIHR Research Module:

To generate the Registration pages, you must access the CIHR Web Forms. Under Research funding program select "CIHR Team Grant" and complete the following sections of the Research Module Web Form:

• Research Funding Program
• Nominated Principal Applicant / Candidate
• Project
• Applicants / Co-Applicants
• Suggested External Referees
• Collaborators
• Total requested is maximum $10,000 for development funds.
• The Nominated Principal Investigator/Team Leader and co-applicants must provide their signatures on the Signature page.
• In order for development funds to be granted at the LOI stage, representatives of the Institution that will administer those funds (Institution Paid) must provide their signatures on page 1 of the Research Module.

b) A cover page of maximum one page (free form; a standard form is not available for the cover page) indicating:

• the title of the Team program as it will appear in publicity and other announcements (CIHR Team in area of research);
• the title of the proposal;
• the title of this funding opportunity: Team Grant - Strategic Teams in Applied Injury Research Insert the Area of Research (STAIR);
• a brief description (10 lines maximum) of the research area of the proposal;
• five keywords describing the research;
• If the research project includes a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) component, it must be indicated on the cover page.

c) In a table format, a list of all applicants with their affiliations and expertise (the list need not be final at the Letter of Intent stage).

d) Proposal.

In a maximum of five pages (not including references), the proposal must outline clearly each of the elements below:

• the objectives of the research program to be undertaken by the Team over the period of funding;
• The nature of the Team and extent of collaboration between investigators, with an explanation of the anticipated value added to the research program through the synergy of the Team (why this cannot be funded through one or more operating grants);
• The capacity of the Team to carry out the program of research proposed;
• The research training and mentoring environment that will provide a superior experience for undergraduate, graduate and/or post-doctoral trainees, including those with a health professional background;
• The preliminary plan for the research program and schedule of work;
• The nature and extent of the host institutions' financial and other forms of long-term commitment to the Team's research, and to ensuring a favourable environment for carrying out the research activities;
• A brief description of the importance and novelty of hypotheses or questions to be addresses and expected findings;
• The plan, including proposed organizational structures for engaging and linking with those who will ultimately use the research findings;

If the team involves partners:

• The proposed roles of partners in the planning and execution of the research program and the dissemination and utilization of the research results.
• Letters of support from end-users (as defined in the specific eligibility requirement section)

e) Attachment:

• On one page: the name, title, address, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail address of the team leader;
• A brief curriculum vitae (maximum two pages per applicant) for a maximum of five of the key applicants. This must include information on grants held (source, type, title, amount/year, duration), relevant publications from the last five years, and 5-10 expertise keywords. Full CVs will not be considered.
• A development grant request whereby applicants may request funds of up to $10,000 to be used in the development of a full application. A one-page request must be submitted with the LOI, outlining the activities for which the development grant will be used, plus a one-page budget description;

f) Reference: a short bibliography (maximum one page) of any references cited in the Letter of Intent.

Any additional materials will not be sent to the review committee; this includes letters of support, figures not included in the proposal, updates on publications, updates on other support received, letters confirming academic appointment, reprints, etc.

Once the review of LOI's is completed, selected applicants will be invited to submit a full application by the deadline date. The names of teams that will be invited to apply and the topic of their research will be published on the CIHR website.

Send the original Letter of Intent, plus five copies by courier to:

RE: "Strategic Teams in Applied Injury Research (STAIR)"
CIHR Team Grant Program
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Room 97, 160 Elgin Street
Address locator: 4809A
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0W9

2) Full Application

Selected applicants will be invited to submit a full application by the deadline date. Details of the application procedure will be provided to those invited to apply. Information required will include a description of the individual components making up the Team's research program, as well as the justification for supporting the synergistic aspects of the entire proposal. The review process may involve external reviews and/or a meeting of the leader and team members with sub-sets of the review committee, as appropriate.

Additional instructions must be followed for this funding opportunity:

• Within the Research Funding Program section of the application web form, select the box marked "Strategic Initiative" and enters the title of this funding opportunity in the space provided.
• Provide an additional one page attachment (to be identified by the title of this funding opportunity) describing how the research proposed addresses the objectives and relevant research areas described in the section "Objectives.".
• 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.

Contact Information

For questions specific to the CIHR Team Grant Program, including CIHR funding guidelines, how to apply, and the peer review process contact:

Carole Chow (Updated: 2009-11-02)
Program Delivery Coordinator
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Telephone: 613-948-2903
Fax: 613-954-1800
Email: phsi-pass@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

For questions about the objectives and relevant research areas:

Johanne A. Lapointe
Team Lead - Strategic Initiative on Prevention and Treatment for Intentional and Unintentional Injury
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Telephone: 613-954-2474
Fax: 613-954-1800
Email: jlapointe@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

For questions specific to the Randomized Controlled Trials program, including CIHR funding guidelines, how to apply, and the peer review process contact:

Toni Gasparini
Trials Officer
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Telephone: 613-941-4438
Fax: 613-954-1800
Email: tgasparini@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

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.

Partners

Alberta Centre for Child, Family and Community Research is an innovative resource that develops and mobilizes priority research evidence into policy. Because children and their families in Alberta share fundamental needs with children living elsewhere, our research has relevancy and impact that extends to outside of Alberta, thus making The Centre an innovative nexus for the most important issues for children. The Centre is a not-for-profit, charitable organization that is operated arms-length from government.

The Centre also manages The Child and Youth Data Laboratory, the world's first lab to focus exclusively on a population of children and youth. It is expected that the CYDL will substantially advance our understanding of the impact of, and need for, government policies and programs to improve child health and well being.

AUTO21 is a national research initiative supported by the Government of Canada through the Networks of Centres of Excellence Directorate and more than 110 industry, government and institutional partners. It was created to address the many issues surrounding the automobile in the 21st century, and to help advance Canada as a leader in automotive-related research and development. The Network currently supports over 265 top researchers working at more than 42 academic institutions, government research facilities and private sector research labs across Canada and around the world.

Currently, AUTO21 supports research projects exploring issues that range from consumer education in the use of safety devices, to new or improved processes for design, materials and manufacturing, to advanced fuel research.

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)
  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: aging and maintenance of functional autonomy; biological mechanisms of aging; cognitive impairment in aging; healthy and successful aging; and health services and policy relating to older people.
  
  
• CIHR - Institute of Gender and Health (IGH) supports research that addresses how sex (biological-genetic dimensions) and gender (social-cultural dimensions) interact with other socio-cultural, bio-physical, and political-economic factors to influence health and create conditions that differ with respect to risk factors or effective interventions for males and females, boys and girls throughout the lifespan. The Institute also encourages applicants to use Gender/Sex-Based Analysis (GSBA). The CIHR Resource Guide on GSBA is available.
  
  Intentional and unintentional injuries have important gender and sex components. Incidence of suicide, injury rates and types, peer pressures, access to health services, treatments and interventions, etc. have sex and/or gender components that influence onsets and outcomes. The Institute of Gender and Health is encouraging applications that focus specifically on how sex and gender influence healthy development, health outcomes, and access to health care.
  
  
• CIHR - Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health (IHDCYH) supports research that ensures the best start in life for all Canadians and the achievement of their potential for optimal growth and development. Through our support, researchers address a wide range of health concerns, including those associated with reproduction, early development, childhood, and adolescence.
  
  
• CIHR - Institute of Musculoskeletal Health & Arthritis (IMHA)
  IMHA's vision is to sustain health and enhance quality of life by eradicating the pain, suffering and disability caused by arthritis, musculoskeletal, oral and skin conditions. IMHA's mission reflects that of CIHR's - to excel, according to internationally accepted standards of scientific excellence, in the creation of new knowledge in all areas relevant to arthritis, musculoskeletal (MSK) rehabilitation, bone, muscle, skin and oral health, and to translate that new knowledge into improved health for Canadians, more effective health services and products, and a strengthened Canadian health care system.

Canadian Red Cross
The Canadian Red Cross is the leading humanitarian organization through which people voluntarily demonstrate their caring for others in need. Our network is vast, but our approach is simple. All Red Cross programs and activities are guided by the Fundamental Principles of Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Service, Unity and Universality. These principles allow us to provide help immediately to whoever needs it, wherever they are, whatever their race, political beliefs, religion, social status, or culture.

Child Welfare League of Canada (CWLC) is a national organization dedicated to promoting the protection and well-being of vulnerable young people. Its mandate is to ensure the values, policies and activities that address the rights of young people and contribute to their healthy development well-being and inclusion are the top priorities; to promote and support the development and implementation of excellence in services; to pursue collaborative relationships to maximize the opportunities for vulnerable young people; to create, share and mobilize knowledge to reduce the vulnerabilities of young people and their families; to actively engage and communicate with members, stakeholders and the public in promoting the cause of vulnerable young people.

Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST)
The IRSST's mission is to contribute, through research, to the prevention of industrial accidents and occupational diseases as well as to the rehabilitation of affected workers, to offer the laboratory services and expertise necessary for the activities of the public occupational health and safety prevention network and to disseminate knowledge, and to act as scientific benchmark and expert.

Through its leadership in occupational health and safety research, the IRSST intends to:

• Become a reference centre that is vital for the operations and strategies of the CSST and its network;
• Be used by its social partners in a context of labour/management collaboration;
• Be recognized nationally and internationally;
• Have a firmly established network of collaborators in research and development.

Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation is a strategic and applied health research funder with a significant emphasis on knowledge mobilization. ONF's mission is to improve the quality of life for those living with neurotrauma (an acquired brain injury or spinal cord injury), and to reduce the incidence and prevalence of neurotrauma injuries.

For ONF, research should inform and be mobilized to a) transform the lives of those living with a neurotrauma so they can engage in productive activity as full citizens, and b) to transform our ability and capacity to reduce and/or eliminate these injuries. The foundation views researchers, policy makers and practitioners, and consumers as the three key stakeholder groups that must come together to effect change.

Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has a mandate to focus on more effective efforts to prevent chronic diseases, like cancer and heart disease, prevent injuries and respond to public health emergencies and infectious disease outbreaks, the Public Health Agency of Canada works closely with provinces and territories to keep Canadians healthy and help reduce pressures on the health care system.

SMARTRISK is a national non-profit organization dedicated to preventing injuries and saving lives. Founded in 1992, SMARTRISK has become one of the leading injury prevention groups in Canada and enjoys international recognition and support.

(Updated: 2008-02-25)
Sport Canada works to help Canadians participate and excel in sport. As part of the Department of Canadian Heritage, Sport Canada strengthens the unique contribution that sport makes to Canadian identity, culture and society.

Together, with our many partners, we strive to increase the number of Canadians participating in sport and help those with talent and dedication to achieve excellence in international sport. We also work together to strengthen our sport development system so that it continues to be coordinated, participant-focused and ethical.

Transport Canada's mission is to develop and administer policies, regulations and services for the best transportation system for Canada and Canadians - one that is safe and secure, efficient, affordable, integrated and environmentally friendly. Learn more about who we are by looking at our organization and senior management structure. Or learn more about what we do by browsing our departmental publications, list of programs and services, or acts and regulations for which the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities is responsible.

Transportation related issues are one of the leading causes of death and serious injury in youth. The department, along with other road safety partners endeavours to reduce transportation related risk through research, standards, policy and awareness campaigns. Specific areas of interest include issues related to transportation as drivers, passengers, pedestrians, cyclists or other modes of transport. An important component would be the anthropometric measure of Canadian children on an on-going basis to monitor changes across time, which might affect the design and use of safety equipment.

Young drivers (16-19) are a specific risk factor related to death and serious injury on Canadian roads. Indicators related to quantifying or mitigating the risk in this category of road users is important.

Other indicators that are important are the numbers and mechanisms of fatalities and injuries in transportation related collisions, as well as the personal and social burden of these events.

In addition, a number of use and compliance indicators are important to gauge the correct and appropriate use of safety systems for children, such as all types of restraint systems and bike helmets. Another area is compliance of young drivers with existing graduated licensing models. Actual exposure measures to different risks, such as time in vehicle, time on bike, time walking and other less popular transportation options such as scooters and roller blades are also valuable indicators.

Road Safety Vision 2010 contains a number of targets related to improving road safety among children. Projects considered must fall within the strategic areas outlined by RSV2010 (e.g., seat belt and child restraint use, impaired driving, vulnerable road users, speeding).

WorkSafeBC is dedicated to promoting workplace health and safety for the workers and employers of the province of British Columbia. It consults and educates both employers and workers, in addition to monitoring compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation.

In the event of work-related injuries or diseases, WorkSafeBC works with the affected parties to provide return-to-work rehabilitation, compensation, health care benefits, and a range of other services. In accordance with their mandate WorkSafeBC will fund research in the area of workplace health and safety, particularly research that has the potential to significantly improve prevention programs and thereby contribute to an overall reduction in work related deaths and injuries.

Additional Information

More information about the CIHR Team Grant Program is provided in CIHR Team Grant Program.