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Description
A training program supported by a Training Grant consists of a group of excellent mentors/educators, accomplished in health research, who work collaboratively to offer a research training program of defined format and content to a group of trainees, mainly at the level of graduate and postdoctoral studies, although other training components are possible. The training programs are intended to improve the mentoring and training environment for health researchers in Canada, foster collaborative, team research across disciplines and integrate training on the ethical conduct of research and related ethical issues, knowledge translation and professional skills such as communication, teamwork, project management and leadership. The training programs are anticipated to be an important source of Canada's next generation of health research leaders and creative agents for change. Grant funds are primarily targeted towards supporting research trainees through stipends. In addition, funds can be used for items such as developing the program and for travel between training sites.
NOTE: Potential trainees will apply directly to successful CIHR Training Grants for program admission and for stipend support. These competitive training opportunities will be advertised nationally and internationally.
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 maximum amount awarded for a single grant is $325,000 per annum for up to 6 years. The final three years of funding are subject to a satisfactory mid-term review in the third year of funding.
- Renewal grants (those that have held continuous full funding without interruption) are eligible for the maximum of $325,000 in the first full year. New grants are limited to a maximum of $165,000 in the first full year to reflect a ramp up of activities. In the second and later years, the maximum will also be $325,000.
- Grant recipients should not assume that there will be an opportunity for continued funding at the end of the six years of the grant and should plan for the long-term sustainability of the training program beyond the term of the CIHR Training Grant
Funds Available for Research in All Areas
Funds available in this competition for applications in all areas of research that address major health issues and/or health research challenges is $5 million per annum for up to six years. This amount may increase if additional funding partners decide to participate.
Funds Available for Research in Specific Areas
In this competition, funds are available to encourage and support applications in specific areas that are aligned with strategic research priorities, as identified in the relevant research areas section.
Types of Applicants
Applications are welcome from groups of mentors who currently do, or do not, hold a CIHR Training Grant.
Background
Health research is undergoing a revolution, characterized by the convergence of many disciplines such as mathematics, humanities, and the physical, social, biological, behavioral, and clinical sciences. For Canada to truly be competitive in this revolution it will need to meet the growing demand for skilled and adaptable individuals.
One way for Canada to compete internationally for new, bright, creative research talent is to cultivate innovation and excellence in the next generation of Canadian health research training programs. To work towards achieving this objective CIHR created a funding mechanism, the Strategic Training Initiative in Health Research (STIHR), through which it provides Training Grants.
Under the Government of Canada's science and technology strategy, the government is committed to creating a People Advantage by measures including enhancing opportunities for science and technology graduates and increasing the supply of highly qualified and globally connected science and technology graduates that businesses and other organizations need to succeed in today's economy. STIHR supports these measures by enabling the Canadian health research community to produce well-rounded, high-quality graduates capable of productive careers in different sectors such as industry, university, government, and non-profit organizations. Partnership with industry and research training experiences in private sector settings are encouraged and considered one of the desirable outcomes of STIHR.
Partners
CIHR is dedicated to identifying and developing collaborations between CIHR institute(s), branch(es) or office(s), and other funding organizations and stakeholders to enhance the availability of funding for this strategic initiative, and to create, where appropriate, opportunities for knowledge translation related to the scope of this particular initiative. Applicants are invited to visit the Descriptions of Partners to find a list of partners and their respective mandates and/or strategic interests. This list will continue to evolve as new partners join in this initiative. The specific research foci and requirements for each partner are outlined in the section "Objectives".
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Objectives
The overall mandate of the Strategic Training Initiative in Health Research is to increase the capacity of the Canadian health research community to produce high-quality graduates capable of addressing major health issues and/or health research challenges.
The objectives of Training Grants are to:
- Support the development of training programs that improve the mentoring and training environment for health researchers.
The training programs should raise the standards for best practices in the mentoring and training of researchers. They should bring added value compared to what can be achieved by funding trainees from individual operating grants or by individual awards directly to trainees. They should be innovative, effective, and internationally competitive.
- Support the development of collaborative, team research by bringing researchers together from different disciplines to address major health issues and/or health research challenges.
This supports the federal government's science and technology strategy, which calls for mobilizing science across all disciplines to support the government's priority areas. The training programs should provide deep knowledge and technical skills in a chosen discipline and develop an ability to work collaboratively with colleagues in other disciplines and professions.
- Support the development of well-rounded health researchers by integrating training on:
- the ethical conduct of research and related ethical issues;
- knowledge translation; and,
- professional skills such as communication, teamwork, project management, leadership, grant writing and peer review.
Relevant Research Areas:
Each application, whether targeting the open competition and/or priority area(s), must address a major health research issue and/or health research challenge.
1. Open Competition:
CIHR will accept applications for training programs representing all disciplines of, or approaches to, health research.
2. Priority Areas:
Several CIHR Institutes and partner organizations are collaborating in this funding opportunity. Some have identified priority areas or training program elements that are particularly encouraged. The list below describes the priority areas or program elements and their sponsoring Institute(s) and partner organization(s). Funding for additional training programs (beyond what can be funded through the base CIHR commitment of $5 million per year) may be made available through allocation of Institute strategic funds and through partner contributions. To be eligible for consideration for these additional funds, training programs should align with the priority areas and/or program elements outlined below. Note that aligning your application to one or more priority areas in no way affects the review process or chance of success in the open competition. It can only increase the possibility of your application being funded. The same version of your application will be considered for both the open competition and for priority areas. The review of applications for relevance to research priority areas will have no impact on the merit review process.
Priority Area A:
Institute of Aging
Average $450,000 per year for six years (Updated: 2008-02-08)
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): 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. Successful applications will fit within one or more of IA's priority research areas.
Applications applying to IA must
- relate significantly to the health and quality of life of older adults (generally above the age of 65),
- include at least one New Investigator as a co-applicant, to be mentored by the appropriate program leaders (New Investigator is defined here as a researcher within five years of their first appointment as an independent investigator),
- have secured additional funding from partners (i.e., non-CIHR sources), especially when benefits to a certain province or a certain university are obvious, or when relevant provincial networks exist.
Priority Area B:
Institute of Cancer Research
Minimum $1.0 Million per year for six years
The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) and its partners encourage applications for training programs for all types of fundamental or applied cancer research including origins and mechanisms of oncogenesis, cancer prevention, diagnostics, treatment or care. Only training programs focussed solely on cancer research regardless of research theme, will be considered for funding by ICR and it partners in the context of this competition. The program should aim to promote excellence in research training and multidisciplinary approaches to cancer research.
Priority Area C:
Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health
Minimum $375,000 per year for six years
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
Priority Area D:
Institute of Gender and Health
Minimum $325,000 per year for six years
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.
The Institute of Gender and Health is encouraging applications for transdisciplinary research training programs that focus specifically on how sex and gender influence healthy development, health outcomes, and access to health care.
Priority Area E:
Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health
Minimum $1.5 Million per year for six years
IHDCYH promotes and supports research that improves the health and development of mothers, infants, children, youth, and families in Canada and throughout the world. Through our support, researchers address a wide range of health concerns, including those associated with reproduction, early development, childhood, and adolescence.
Applicants submitting proposals related to reproductive and child health can propose research in any of the 11 research priorities of the Institute. For this competition, CIHR-IHDCYH also encourages proposals in 2 additional priority areas: training in reproductive and child health services research and training of clinician-scientists in reproductive and child health.
For training in reproductive and child health services research, CIHR-IHDCYH is partnering with CIHR Institute of Health Services and Policy Research. Please see their description below for more details.
Priority Area F:
Institute of Health Services and Policy Research
Minimum $1.6 Million per year for six years
The CIHR Institute of Health Services and Policy Research (IHSPR) will support approximately five successful STIHR applications determined to be relevant to one or more themes emerging from the Listening for Direction III (LfD III) consultation exercise and/or its three current priority research areas. Applications could reflect the LfD III themes or CIHR-IHSPR's priority research areas or areas of overlap between the two. These themes and priority research areas are described below:
In addition, the CIHR Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health (IHDCYH) is interested in partnering with CIHR-IHSPR to fund a STIHR within the LfD III theme areas at it relates to reproductive and child health services. Please refer to their description above for more information.
The Victoria Order of Nurses (VON) is interested in partnering with CIHR-IHSPR to fund a STIHR within the LfD III theme areas and /or CIHR-IHSPR's complementary and corresponding priority areas as it relates to community based care, including the development, implementation and evaluation and how it relates to the expressed needs of individuals, families and communities, in keeping with the principles of primary health care. Specific areas of interest to the VON within primary health care include chronic disease prevention and management, patient centered care, and patient safety in home care. The successful STIHR team is expected to have meaningful interactions with the VON such that there is a mutual exchange of knowledge. The specific terms of the relationship will be negotiated by the successful STIHR team and the VON.
Listening for Direction III Themes:
CIHR-IHSPR is committed to supporting research development and knowledge exchange activities that contribute to the advancement of the 11 themes that emerged from the LfD (III) consultation exercise that took place across Canada in early 2007. A detailed description of the LfD III themes is available.
CIHR-IHSPR Priority Research Areas:
Complementary and corresponding to the LfD III themes, CIHR-IHSPR has identified the following three priority research areas and has an interest in supporting STIHRs related to:
- Access to Appropriate Care across the Continuum
- Health human resources
- Primary health care reform
- Community-based care (e.g., long-term care, home care, mental health, rehabilitation)
- Chronic disease prevention and management
- Strategic management for timely treatment
- Citizen engagement
- Drug Policy
- Effectiveness, safety and adverse events
- Policies for equitable access to medicines (e.g., provincial formularies, regulation, financing and sustainability)
- Citizen-centeredness and public expectations (e.g., direct-to consumer advertising, role of the media, role of the public in resource allocation decision-making)
- Health Information
- Electronic health records (e.g., evaluation, implementation, secondary use of data, ethical & privacy issues)
- Improving the quality, access to, linkage of, and use of data by decision makers and health services researchers
- Linkability of datasets across jurisdictions
- Harmonizing data privacy laws and consent for use of data for health services research
A more detailed description of the three CIHR-IHSPR priority research areas is available.
In order to help secure additional funding for this strategic initiative, in some cases and with applicant consent, the following sections of the CIHR-IHSPR related applications may be shared with listed partners and other potential funding partners: 1) the summary of the research proposal (page 9. of the Research Module); 2) the research proposal pages of the Research Module, including related references, figures and tables; and 3) the Budget Module. Please note that these application sections will be anonymized. Partners will use this information to determine project relevance to their respective priorities/objectives/research interests and this information will not be shared beyond the competition partners and will not be used for other purposes other than those specified therein. In addition, listed and other potential funding partners will be required to sign a non-disclosure form.
Priority Area G:
Institute of Infection and Immunity
Minimum $1.8 Million per year for six years
The CIHR Institute of Immunity and Infection encourages applications for training programs in all areas embraced by the Institute mandate.
In keeping with its Strategic Plan, 2007-2012, the Institute of Infection and Immunity specifically encourages applications for STIHR programs which focus in one of its five strategic research priority areas:
- Emerging Infections and Microbial Resistance
- HIV/AIDS
- Immunotherapy
- Pandemic Influenza Preparedness
- Vaccines of the 21st Century
More information on these research priorities can be found on the Institute of Infection and Immunity website.
Within the area of HIV/AIDS, the CIHR HIV/AIDS Research Initiative will fund applications that address at least two of the CIHR pillars of health research and are determined to be relevant to one or more of the following research priorities:
- Health systems, services and policy
- Resilience, vulnerability and determinants of health
- Prevention technologies and interventions
- Drug development, toxicities and resistance
- Pathogenesis
- Issues of co-infection
The following criteria will be used in conducting the relevance review: The primary research focus must be HIV/AIDS; the research must focus on one or more of the identified priority areas.
More information on the HIV/AIDS priorities can be found on the Institute of Infection and Immunity website. Research in the priority areas that focuses on at risk populations including people living with HIV/AIDS, men who have sex with men, injection drug users, Aboriginal Peoples, prison inmates, youth at risk, women at risk and people from countries where HIV is endemic, is encouraged.
(Updated: 2008-09-05)
Within the area of Emerging Infections and Microbial Resistance, CIHR-III in partnership with PHAC will fund hepatitis C-related applications that:
- Support or address ongoing clinical and biomedical research focused on hepatitis C treatment advances and vaccine initiatives, including acute hepatitis C diagnostic research;
- Support or address public health research;
- Support or address research initiatives that improve access to diagnosis, treatment and care;
- Increase capacity for academic, scientific and non-traditional research, including community-based research initiatives;
- Focus on health and economic burden of disease, hepatitis C's "hidden epidemic";
- Support or address specific research related to prevention interventions and infection control initiatives (e.g., harm reduction); and
- Explore the correlation between behavioural, psycho-social and socio-economic determinants of hepatitis C infection.
The following criteria will be used in conducting the relevance review:
- The primary research focus must be hepatitis C or hepatitis C coinfection(s).
- Relevance to the criteria specified above.
- Relevance to training that leads to more effective public health responses to hepatitis C.
- Relevance to promising practices, guidelines, and quality assurance mechanisms (e.g., in laboratory settings).
- Relevance to training programs that sustain and enhance ongoing epidemiological, clinical and biomedical research initiatives.
- Relevance to the promotion and support of enhanced socio-behavioural and socio-economic research training programs related to risk factors and health determinants.
- Relevance to improved modelling and projection capacity with respect to hepatitis C incidence, prevalence and risk activities in targeted (marginalized/vulnerable) populations.
To be eligible for the CIHR-III/PHAC funding, the proposal must have a knowledge translation and exchange component and include at least one public health professional on the project team(s).
Please note: at the full application stage, representatives from III and PHAC will have access to an updated version of the Relevance Form and the anonymized proposal summary to conduct relevance review. If you wish to be considered for the hepatitis C funding pool, please make sure the relevance form and/or summary describe how your program will address the above criteria.
The Institute also encourages training program applications from Canadian researchers collaborating with German researchers at the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research. The Helmholtz Centre will contribute 100,000 Euros per annum for up to 6 years to support Helmholtz Centre researchers engaged in joint Canadian/German training programs focusing on infectious disease research.
The Institute of Infection and Immunity will commit up to $11 million over 6 years ($1.8 million per annum) to this competition. Funding from additional Institute partners, when known, will be used to increase this pool in order to fund additional highly ranked training programs.
Priority Area H:
Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis
Minimum $600,000 per year for six years
Research Areas of Physical Activity Mobility and Health Throughout the Lifespan; Tissue Injury, Repair and Replacement; Pain, Disability and Chronic Diseases.
The Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis is pleased to announce a priority area that will build research capacity to address challenges and gaps in the areas of:
- 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 and conditions 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 throughout the Lifespan
Research under this theme will create a better understanding of the relationships among physical activity, mobility and MSK health at every level and every point in the lifecycle, including the positive effects of motions and forces on the cellular behaviour of joint tissues and the well being of individuals. The psychosocial aspects of exercise, activity and sports on populations is also relevant.
Up to two additional grants will be funded in this competition. Funding decisions will be based on scientific excellence, potential for building research capacity to address challenges and gaps within IMHA's strategic priorities and the value added above and beyond the host institution's training capacity.
Priority Area I:
Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction
Minimum $1.0 Million per year for six years
INMHA's mission is to foster excellence in innovative, ethically responsible research in Canada that aims to increase our knowledge of the functioning and disorders of the brain and the mind, the spinal cord, the sensory and motor systems, as well as mental health, mental illness and all forms of addiction. Training of the next generation of Canadian scientists is a strategic goal and major investment of INMHA since 2001. In its second strategic plan (2007-2011), INMHA confirms as one of its five priorities to increase the capacity of the Canadian health research community in neurosciences, sensory systems, mental health and addiction through innovative, transdisciplinary training program. INMHA sees diversity as a major strength of the Training Grants. Therefore, INMHA intends to support excellent initiatives that mobilize and link scientists in innovative collaborative programs across any research domains relevant to its mandate.
Priority Area J:
Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes
Minimum $325,000 per year for six years
The CIHR Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes supports research to enhance health in relation to diet, digestion, excretion, and metabolism; and to address causes, prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, support systems, and palliation for a wide range of conditions and problems associated with hormone, digestive system, kidney, and liver function.
INMD will consider applications that are determined to be relevant to the mandate and/or applications that are focused on obesity.
Applicants submitting proposals under the strategic initiative can come from any discipline or area of expertise, and can propose research in any number of areas. Applicants must justify the linkage between their application and the INMD mandate and/or INMD's obesity strategic initiative.
Priority Area K:
Institute of Population and Public Health
Minimum $650,000 per year for six years
Population health intervention research includes the use of scientific methods to produce knowledge about policy and program interventions that operate within or outside of the health sector. Examples would include policies or programs that change a basic determinant of health, such as after-tax-and-transfer income distributions, or education levels in a society, and have the potential to impact health at the population level. The study of policy and program interventions aimed at vulnerable populations, and their differential impacts by socioeconomic and ethnic status (for example), such that health disparities are impacted, are of particular interest. Intervention research training with explicit linkages to, and informed by the needs of, population and public health policy and/or practice decision-makers is strongly encouraged. Also important to training in this field is a broad mix of multi-disciplinary methods for assessing policy and program impacts, which should include a mix of quantitative and qualitative methods drawing from a variety of disciplines (e.g. social sciences, epidemiology, biostatistics, economics, etc.)
Global health research, with a particular emphasis on population and public health approaches to understanding and addressing the global, political, social, cultural and/or environmental determinants of health, and the challenges facing health systems in low- and middle-income countries. Training Grant applications are particularly encouraged which create supportive local environments to train and nurture global health researchers both during and after completion of their studies, as well as those that emphasize leadership skills. Special importance will be accorded applications that correspond to the specific foci within global health, among those specified in the recent Teasdale-Corti Team competition, funded by the GHRI, that directly relate to population and public health, including: the global chronic disease pandemic and its control; the impact of environmental change, conflict and "failed governance" on health; the performance of health services (both clinical and public health) and policy-related "systems" at the national level.
Priority Area L:
Canada-California Strategic Innovation Partnership
Minimum $50,000 per year for six years
The Canada-California Strategic Innovation Partnership (CCSIP) is an informal process of collaboration and exchange between Canada and California in the area of Research, Development and Delivery (RD&D) of innovation. In the context of this partnership, training of Highly Qualified Personal in the areas of Cancer Stem Cell research, Infectious Disease research and Nanotechnology research have been identified as a key priority. Accordingly, CIHR invites applicants working in these areas to include in their proposal joint Canada-California training initiatives involving their training program and academic research training centres in California. This could take the form of student exchanges, joint graduate courses, travel funds for trainees to move between sites, etc (supplemental budget of up to $50,000 per year). Host universities could also offer tuition fee waivers. The partnership must be well justified and outlined in the submitted proposal with targets and projected outcomes.
Priority Area M:
Fonds de la Recherche en Santé du Québec
The FRSQ (Fonds de la recherche en santé du Québec) is a non-profit funding agency created in 1964, under the Act Respecting the Ministère du Développement économique, de l'Innovation et de l'Exportation (L.R.Q., c. M-30.01).
The FRSQ now reports to the Minister in charge of Québec's department for economic development, innovation and exportation (Ministère du Développement économique, de l'Innovation et de l'Exportation) and its mandate is to implement government strategy with respect to human health research as presented in the Québec Policy on Science and Innovation.
A pioneer, in both Québec and Canada, the FRSQ was established in 1964 by Québec's health department under the name Conseil de recherches médicales with the ultimate goal of advising the health minister in matters of medical research. Forty years later, the FRSQ plays a leading role in planning and coordinating the development of health research in Québec.
Within the context of the Strategic Training Initiative in Health Research, priority will be given to multi- and interdisciplinary training programs in neurosciences, mental health, aging, cancer and lifestyle-related diseases (obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease) as well as those programs with direct links to FRSQ research networks. The programs retained must give candidates exposure to at least three CIHR research pillars and promote areas with high potential for knowledge transfer or technology transfer that can lead, in the short to medium term, to changes in practices, treatments, services or other concrete spin-offs for public health.
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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.
In addition, eligibility criteria specified in the Training Grant Guide shall apply to applications submitted in response to this funding opportunity.
Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) will not be considered under this funding opportunity.
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Guidelines
This funding opportunity will follow the General Guidelines for Grant Programs.
In addition to CIHR standard guidelines and requirements please refer to the Training Grant Guide for special conditions that will apply.
Allowable Costs
Applicants should review the Training Grant Guide for a complete listing and description of specific allowable costs and activities.
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.
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.
In addition to CIHR standard guidelines and requirements, the following special conditions shall apply:
- All Conditions of Funding listed in the Training Grant Guide will apply.
- The Nominated Principal Applicant will be required to submit a yearly progress report and a mid-term report in the third year. Details on the reports will be provided by CIHR.
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
A type of merit review will be utilized where experts in education and training may be included as members of the review committees in addition to experts in different research areas. Merit review committees organized by CIHR will evaluate the letters of intent and full applications. The committees may be drawn from 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 review process in general, see Peer Review.
The merit review will be based in large part on the process used for peer review as described in The CIHR Peer Review Process: Policies and Responsibilities of Grants Committee Members, except that applications will be evaluated using the evaluation criteria as described in the Training Grant Guide.
The merit review committees will review the Letters of Intent for merit using the review criteria as described in the Training Grant Guide. The review committee(s) 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. Upon completion of the Letter of Intent review, selected applicants will be invited to submit full applications.
Relevance review for applications targeting a priority area will be conducted at the full application stage. For planning purposes, at the Letter of Intent stage representatives from the CIHR Institutes, branches and offices and partners sponsoring a given priority area will have access to the anonymized Relevance Form describing how the proposed training program 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 Relevance Form and the anonymized proposal summary to conduct relevance review. Merit review committee members will not have access to the Relevance Forms at any point in the process.
Partners listed on this Funding Opportunity may have access to all application information, unless the applicant indicates otherwise.
Upon completion of merit review, CIHR Institutes, branches and offices and partner organizations will receive the ranking lists, merit scores (ratings) and recommendations on funding level and award term for the applications that fall in the fundable range and have been determined to be relevant to the specific research areas and objectives of the initiative. The list will be used for funding decision-making purposes and will remain anonymous.
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How to Apply
The application process is comprised of two stages: 1) Letter of Intent (LOI), and 2) Full Application.
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.
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. When creating a new application, select "Operating" under "Grant Programs" and complete the following six sections of the Research Module web form. Print the "Registration Pages Only."
- Research Funding Program
- Nominated Principal Applicant / Candidate
- Project
- Applicants / Co-Applicants
- Suggested External Referees
- Collaborators and Committees (do not fill in "Suggested Peer Review Committee")
- Total requested is a maximum of $ 5,000 for development funds.
- Signature page: provide signatures of the Nominated Principal Applicant and co-applicants.
b) A cover page of maximum one page (free form; a standard form is not available for the cover page) indicating:
- the name of the Nominated Principal Applicant;
- the title of the proposal;
- the title of this Funding opportunity;
- a brief description (10 lines maximum) of the research area of the proposal;
- five keywords describing the research;
(Updated: 2008-03-13)
c) Relevance Form
If applicants wish to apply in response to a priority area as well as the open competition, applicants can apply in response to up to 3 priority areas using a separate Relevance Form for each one (see Lists of Forms and Guidelines). Follow the instructions in the Priority Announcement section of the Research Module with the following modifications:
- For "Title of Priority Announcement" select "Training Grant Priority Area".
- In the section "Relevant Research Area", state the priority area to which you are applying (use the exact title from the funding opportunity).
d) 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).
e) Proposal.
In a maximum of four pages (not including references), the proposal must outline clearly each of the review criteria listed below. Describe your proposal while addressing the review criteria, using each as a heading. Please refer to the Training Grant Guide for more details on each criterion.
- Rationale/Objectives
- Mentors
- Curriculum, Innovation and Approaches
- Collaborative Team Research
- Ethics, Knowledge Translation and Professional Skills
- Recruitment
- Tracking and Evaluation
- Organization
- Institutional Support and Long-Term Sustainability
- Additional criterion for renewal applications. Quality of outcomes of prior CIHR Training Grant
f) 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.
g) Reference: a short bibliography (maximum one page) of any references cited in the proposal.
h) Developmental Funds (for new applications only): Development Funds may be available. Applicants may request funds of up to $5,000 to be used in the development of a full application. The request for development funds comprises a one-page request outlining the activities for which the development funds will be used plus a one-page budget description.
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.
The names of teams that will be invited to apply and the title of their proposal will be published on the CIHR website.
NOTE: At the full application stage, if the program includes training for graduate students and/or postdoctoral fellows, the Dean of Graduate Studies, or other Dean responsible, at each of the host institutions, must provide a letter of support. Applicants are advised to begin communications with the appropriate Deans at the letter of intent stage.
Send the original Letter of Intent and six copies by courier to:.
RE: "Training Grants"
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.
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Contact Information
For questions on CIHR funding guidelines, how to apply, and the peer review process contact:
STIHR Program Delivery Coordinator
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Telephone: 613-941-0651 (Updated: 2008-09-05)
Fax: 613-954-1800
Email: stihr@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.
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.
Institute of Cancer Research (ICR)
The CIHR Institute of Cancer Research
supports research to reduce the burden of cancer on individuals and families through prevention strategies, screening, diagnosis, effective treatment, psycho-social support systems, and palliation.
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
Institute of Gender and Health (IGH)
The Institute of Gender and Health (IGH) supports research into how sex (biological-genetic dimensions) and gender (social-cultural dimensions) influence health. IGH is dedicated to generating evidence that will help to close the gendered gaps in men, women, boys’ and girls’ health status by ensuring that research is conducted that examines the biological, clinical, health service, psychological and social factors that influence health. The IGH is committed to fostering collaboration across disciplines and pillars developing new researchers, fostering knowledge exchange, and ensuring that research evidence is used to improve the health of Canadians.
Institute of Health Services and Policy Research (IHSPR)
CIHR-IHSPR is dedicated to supporting innovative research, capacity-building and knowledge translation initiatives designed to improve the way health care services are organized, regulated, managed, financed, paid for, used and delivered, in the interest of improving the health and quality of life of all Canadians.
Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health (IHDCYH)
IHDCYH promotes and supports research that improves the health and development of mothers, infants, children, youth and families in Canada and throughout the world. Through our support, researchers address a wide range of health concerns, including those associated with reproduction, early development, childhood, and adolescence.
Institute of Infection and Immunity (III)
The CIHR Institute of Infection and Immunity (III) supports research to enhance immune-mediated health and to reduce the burden of infectious disease, immune-mediated disease, and allergy through prevention strategies, screening, diagnosis, treatment, support systems, and palliation. CIHR-III is the lead CIHR Institute for the CIHR HIV/AIDS Research Initiative.
Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis (IMHA)
The goal of the CIHR - Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis is to support 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:
- Physical Activity, Mobility and Health
- Tissue Injury, Repair and Replacement
- Pain, Disability and Chronic Diseases
Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addictions (INMHA)
The Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction (INMHA) supports research on the functioning and disorders of the brain, the spinal cord, the sensory and motor systems, and the mind. The burden of disease in terms of the social, economic and health care costs associated with these disorders and related illnesses are staggering and there are indications that the number of people affected either directly or indirectly will continue to increase in the years to come.
The INMHA is a unique institute because, based on recent discoveries, it has been designed to address all aspects of research dealing with Brain-Mind relationships inclusive of the four pillars of the CIHR.
Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes (INMD)
INMD supports research to enhance health in relation to diet, digestion, excretion, and metabolism; and to address causes, prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, support systems, and palliation for a wide range of conditions and problems associated with hormone, digestive system, kidney, and liver function.
Institute of Population and Public Health (IPPH)
IPPH supports research into the complex interactions (biological, social, cultural, environmental) which determine the health of individuals, communities, and global populations; and into the application of that knowledge to improve the health of both populations and individuals.
Canada-California Strategic Innovation Partnership (CCSIP)
The Canada-California Strategic Innovation Partnership Initiative is an informal process of collaboration and exchange between the two jurisdictions involving academic, private sector, financial and public sector organizations. It champions the development of new models of cooperation and specific projects in innovation-intensive areas that are priorities in both jurisdictions:
- Stem cells & Regenerative medicine / Cancer stem cells
- ICT / Broadband internet connectivity and applications
- Advanced transportation & Energy / Sustainable Energy
- Nanotechnology / Micro-Macro Interfaces
- Infectious diseases
- Venture Capital & Intellectual Property / Cross-border flows
- Highly qualified personnel
Fonds de la Recherche en Santé du Québec (FRSQ)
The Fonds de la recherche en santé du Québec is a non-profit funding agency created in 1964, under the Act Respecting the Ministère du Développement économique, de l'Innovation et de l'Exportation.
The FRSQ now reports to the Minister in charge of Québec's department for economic development, innovation and exportation (Ministère du Développement économique, de l'Innovation et de l'Exportation) and its mandate is to implement government strategy with respect to human health research as presented in the Québec Policy on Science and Innovation.
A pioneer, in both Québec and Canada, the FRSQ was established in 1964 by Québec's health department under the name Conseil de recherches médicales with the ultimate goal of advising the health minister in matters of medical research. Forty years later, the FRSQ plays a leading role in planning and coordinating the development of health research in Québec.
Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI)
The Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research is a member of the Helmholtz Association, Germany's largest scientific organization. The focus of our work is the study and investigation of pathogens which are medically relevant or can be used as models for researching infection mechanisms. The center is supported by the federal government of Germany and the state of Lower Saxony.
The Victoria Order of Nurses (VON) Canada, a charity, guided by the principles of primary healthcare, works in partnership with Canadians for a healthier society through:
- Leadership in community-based care.
- Delivery of innovative, comprehensive health and social services.
- Influence in the development of health and social policy.
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