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

Meetings, Planning and Dissemination Grants are intended to provide support for meetings, planning and/or dissemination activities consistent with the mandate of CIHR and relevant to CIHR Institutes, Initiatives, or Branches.

Activities eligible for funding may include, but are not limited to, the following examples:

• scientific meetings where the sharing of information takes place (workshops, symposia, conferences, colloquia, etc.).
• gatherings of health researchers, non-researchers, and/or users of health research where the main objective is to facilitate collaboration among individuals or groups (for example, consensus meetings, planning and/or development meetings, networking and partnership development events).
• opportunities for knowledge exchange involving stakeholder linkages (to inform practice, care, and/or policy).
• knowledge translation activities at the end of a CIHR grant when it is appropriate to disseminate the results of the research beyond the traditional scientific community.

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 the current funding opportunity is $150,000. This amount may increase if additional funding partners decide to participate.
• The maximum amount awarded for a single grant is $25,000 for up to one year. Meetings, Planning and Dissemination Grants are non-renewable.
• During the ResearchNet e-Submission process, applicants must apply to at least one Meetings, Planning and Dissemination Grant funding opportunity, and can apply to up to three separate Meetings, Planning and Dissemination Grant funding opportunities. Funding for successful applications may be granted through a single funding opportunity or through a combination of funding opportunities. However, the total of all Meetings, Planning and Dissemination Grants received from CIHR cannot exceed $25,000.
• Individual applicants may apply to more than one competition per year, however the total grant amount received to support a particular project cannot exceed $25,000.

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

The purpose of the Meetings, Planning and Dissemination Grant program is to provide financial support for the broad category of Meetings, Planning and/or Dissemination activities that are consistent with the mandate of CIHR and relevant to CIHR Institutes, Initiatives, or Branches.

IPPH will fund meritorious knowledge exchange activities (e.g. workshops¹, environmental scans, researcher exchanges to facilitate joint research project development with/between IPPH-funded teams/centres/training initiatives) to facilitate collaboration among individuals from a variety of disciplines, backgrounds and roles (e.g. researchers and research users such as program managers, policy-makers and practitioners) with the objective of developing and/or enhancing:

• collaborative research and knowledge exchange initiatives to address at least one or more domains of IPPH's strategic research and knowledge exchange priorities that are underdeveloped;
• interdisciplinary networks of researchers and research users dedicated to addressing one or more of IPPH's strategic research and knowledge exchange priorities (across geography and/or discipline and/or sector); and
• consensus on priority policy issues and research questions in IPPH's strategic research and knowledge exchange priority areas, where such common understanding is currently lacking or requires further development.

Relevant Research Areas

IPPH encourages activities that directly address the goal of the Population Health Intervention Research Initiative for Canada, aimed at increasing the quality, quantity and use of population health intervention research² for use by policy makers and practitioners.

• Analyzing and Addressing the Impacts of the Social and Built Environments on Health
  
  As individuals pass through life's stages, their health is affected by a sequence of "macro- and micro- environments" or "contexts" - both built and social - such as home/family, daycare/school, work/recreation, health care-settings (at home and institutional) for the disabled and elderly, neighbourhood/community, region and society or national-state levels. Numerous public, private and voluntary sector policies and programs are intended to improve the quality of these environments, but the effects are not always optimal in terms of human health. IPPH supports research that will examine the health impacts of such policies and programs, devise improvements that should benefit population health status, rigorously evaluate the effects of those changes, and synthesize this body of knowledge for ease of use by decision-makers. Examples of areas within this priority include, but are not limited to:
  1. The study of the differential impacts of policies and programs shaping the social and built environments on various population groups. This includes research on interventions that work across the social spectrum (i.e. the relative contributions of population- level and more targeted approaches to reducing inequalities in health by modifying the social environment).
  2. Research on the health impacts of intersectoral interventions.
  3. Research on the processes of adaptation/tailoring of policy and program interventions to different socio-cultural and political contexts.
  4. Research on the public health capacity required to support the implementation of effective interventions that influence these environments (e.g. pilot studies involving public health).
     
     
• Gene-environment Interactions
  
  In applying a broad "determinants of health" perspective to guide Canadian research, the IPPH aims to ensure that the full range of important contributors to the causation of most common causes of ill health in our society are elucidated. Virtually all major diseases and health conditions affecting industrialized nations are jointly determined by the interaction of our individual genetic endowments and their patterns of expression, with the complex sequence of environmental factors - physical, chemical, biological and social to which we are exposed over the life-course.
  
  The new knowledge that is emerging from genomic research needs to be balanced by equally sophisticated assessments of environmental exposures (which generally change over time, unlike an individual's genome), in order to elucidate the full causal pathways leading from health to disease and premature death.
  
  
• Understanding and Promoting Equity in Health
  
  Inequities in health continue to persist within and between countries. Despite an increasing global evidence base regarding what produces these inequities across the life course, whether by socioeconomic status, gender, race/ethnicity or geography, comprehensive research and knowledge translation programs are still needed but must be strategically oriented to not only understanding health inequities but how they can be systematically tackled through effective policy and program interventions and other forms of concerted action. Examples of sub-themes can include but are not limited to:
  1. Why are some communities healthy and others not, in spite of the odds? (e.g. what are the policy and program interventions that promote community resilience and what are the dynamic processes in communities that support positive social change to promote equity in health?)
  2. Research on public policy making processes and the effectiveness of policies to reduce socio-economic inequities in health.
  3. Research that supports an understanding of the role of sociopolitical and cultural contexts at multiple levels (e.g. individual, community, structural levels) and their influence on promoting equity in health.
  4. Research that encourages the study of natural policy experiments occurring in other sectors (outside of health) and their impacts on the health of the population.
  5. What are the differential impacts of policies on different population groups?
  6. Promoting comparative research within and between countries to tease out the complexities.
  7. Promoting research that supports interjurisdictional comparisons or that examines the complexities of intersectoraliarity.
  8. Research on the role of public policy and governance in mitigating the perpetuation of health inequities and research on the intersection between public policy and governance.

Examples of activities eligible for funding are provided below. These examples are not intended to be exhaustive and there is no intent to imply that applications for these types of activities would be more successful than for activities not captured in the list below.

• Scientific meetings (workshops, symposia, conferences, colloquia, etc.)
• Skill-building workshops
• Capacity building initiatives
• Videoconferences

Eligibility

Please refer to the Eligibility Requirements for CIHR Grants and Awards regarding the eligibility requirements for individuals and institutions.

The following eligibility requirements apply to the CIHR Meetings, Planning and Dissemination Grant program:

• Applicants affiliated with Canadian non-governmental not-for-profit organizations (including community or charitable organizations) with a research or knowledge translation mandate consistent with the mandate of CIHR may be eligible to apply for funds through the CIHR Meetings, Planning and Dissemination Grant program.
• If an organization or institution is uncertain about its eligibility for funding through the Meetings, Planning and Dissemination Grant program, it is encouraged to seek clarification from CIHR staff designated in "Contact Information".
• The CIHR definition of Principal Applicant does not apply to the Meetings, Planning and Dissemination Grant program. Applications are equally welcomed from independent researchers, research trainees, activity/event coordinators affiliated with Canadian non-governmental not-for-profit organizations, and/or community leaders. In the context of the Meetings, Planning and Dissemination Grant program, the term Principal Applicant is defined as any individual who plays a primary role in the organization or administration of the proposed activity/event.
• A Nominated Principal Applicant, who assumes administrative responsibilities for the grant, must be named for each Meetings, Planning and Dissemination Grant application.
• The business office of the institution/organization of an eligible Nominated Principal Applicant will generally administer CIHR funds. If the institution/organization of the Nominated Principal Applicant has not previously signed a memorandum of understanding with CIHR, then additional paperwork will be required as a condition of funding. Additional details will be provided by CIHR.

Guidelines

This funding opportunity will follow the General Guidelines for Grant Programs.

Allowable Costs

Applicants should review the Use of Grant Funds section of the Tri-Agency (CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC) Financial Administration Guide for a complete listing and description of allowable costs and activities.

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

Expenses eligible for support through the Meetings, Planning and Dissemination Grant program include:

• costs associated with planning, publication, translation, and/or dissemination; and
• fees or honoraria for the preparation of background documents (e.g. environmental scan).

For meetings funded through the Meetings, Planning and Dissemination Grant program, the following expenses are eligible for support:

• travel and accommodation for participants;
• meeting rooms and associated meeting costs (e.g. audio-visual equipment, videoconferences);
• hospitality costs (non-alcoholic refreshments or meals); and
• modest honoraria (up to $500 CAD) for guest experts.

The following costs are not eligible for support through the Meetings, Planning and Dissemination Grant program:

• stipend/salary support for investigators, research trainees or technical assistants (other than for aforementioned purposes);
• purchase or maintenance of equipment; and
• operating costs of research projects.

Conditions of Funding

All conditions specified in CIHR General Grants and Awards Policies shall apply to applications funded through this Funding opportunity. Conditions cover areas such as Applicant and Institutional Responsibilities, Ethics, Official Languages Policy, Access to Information and Privacy Acts, and Acknowledgement of CIHR's Support. Successful applicants will be informed of any special financial requirements prior to the release of funds or when they receive CIHR's Authorization for Funding (AFF) document.

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

• Within three months after the activity/event, the Nominated Principal Applicant is required to submit a final report, summarizing the outcomes and describing how the grant funds were used. A standard form 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.

Policy on Access to Research Outputs

CIHR believes that greater access to research publications and data will promote the ability of researchers and knowledge users in Canada and abroad to use and build on the knowledge needed to address significant health challenges. Open access will promote accessibility to CIHR-funded research and will serve to increase the international visibility of Canadian research. As of January 1, 2008, CIHR grant recipients are reminded to adhere with the responsibilities outlined in the Policy on Access to Research Outputs. Under this policy, grant recipients must make every effort to ensure that research papers and bio-molecular data generated from CIHR funding are freely accessible online.

Communication Requirements

Grant recipients are required to acknowledge the CIHR Institutes, Initiatives, Branches and/or partners providing funding in any communication, materials, or publications related to the activity/event. See CIHR General Grants and Awards Policies, Public Communication and Acknowledgement of CIHR's Support for details on CIHR's communication requirements. The contributing CIHR Institutes, Branches, and/or funding partners will be identified on the Authorization for Funding and decision letter.

Performance Measurement

CIHR is committed to demonstrating results to Canadians for the money invested in health research. Therefore, processes for monitoring progress and appropriate use of funds, as well as for performance measurement and program evaluation are in place. As a result, funding recipients must:

• 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; and
• encourage their associates, trainees and administration to participate in the monitoring, review and evaluation of CIHR's programs, policies and processes as required.

Review Process and Evaluation

Review Process (Updated: 2008-08-18)

The CIHR Institute of Population and Public Health will provide funding for applications that are relevant to (in alignment with) the objectives and relevant areas described in the "Objectives" section.

Relevance Review

The relevance of applications will be determined prior to peer review. For this process, the CIHR Institute of Population and Public Health and other Partners, as required, will have access to the project titles, the brief description of the proposed activity and the relevance of the application to the objectives sections. Applications deemed not relevant to the initiative will be withdrawn from the competition and will not proceed to peer review.

The following relevance criterion will be used in conducting the relevance review:

• Alignment of the objectives of the proposed activity with the specific objectives of the CIHR Institute, Initiative, or Branch offering funding through the Meetings, Planning and Dissemination Grant program 

Peer Review

A CIHR review committee will evaluate the full applications. The review committee will be comprised of CIHR staff and in some cases, external delegates with expertise necessary to conduct the review. 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).

The review committee will review the applications for merit in the context of the objectives and research priorities outlined in the Meetings, Planning and Dissemination Grant funding opportunities to which the applicant is applying. (Updated: 2008-08-18)

Evaluation Criteria

The following set of evaluation criteria will be employed to assess applications:

Activity objectives

• Clarity of the stated objectives and defined scope.
• Likely impact of the anticipated outcomes (consensus, research priorities, guidelines, research project).

Knowledge exchange and/or Dissemination

• Inclusion of relevant stakeholders (research community, decision-makers, health care providers, etc.) and sectors (private, public, charities).
• Potential to catalyze new initiatives, develop new inter- and multi-disciplinary collaborations among researchers and/or users of research.
• Clearly defined dissemination plans for activity outcomes.

Feasibility

• Perceived ability of applicant(s) or coordinating group(s) to meet objectives of this funding opportunity.
• Appropriate budget and justification for amount requested.

How to Apply

Applicants to the Meetings, Planning and Dissemination Grant program are required to submit their applications electronically using ResearchNet.

ResearchNet is a tool available on the Internet which allows the research community to electronically submit grant registrations and applications, to obtain funding-related information, and to actively share, collaborate on, and complete administrative tasks. The applicant will be able to submit their information electronically and will be acknowledged electronically. This allows CIHR to receive and begin processing the data and documents which comprise the application almost immediately.

Apply using ResearchNet as follows:

1. Register to obtain a CIHR PIN. If you already have a CIHR PIN, do not re-register.

2. Register to obtain a ResearchNet account. You should only have one ResearchNet account. If you have already accessed ResearchNet, please do not register for a new account.

3. Logon to ResearchNet and follow the on-screen instructions; these will guide you through the application process. Provide clear and concise answers to all applicable questions in one of the official languages.

4. In order to be considered for funding, applicants must apply and state the relevance of their proposal to at least one Meetings, Planning and Dissemination Grant funding opportunity. However, the same application can be used to apply to up to three separate Meetings, Planning and Dissemination Grant funding opportunities, provided the proposed activity is relevant to multiple funding opportunities. Funding for successful applications may be granted through a single funding opportunity or through a combination of funding opportunities.

During the ResearchNet e-Submission process, applicants will be prompted to select the Meetings, Planning and Dissemination Grant funding opportunities to which their application is relevant from a pull-down menu, and to describe the relevance of their application to the specific objectives and evaluation criteria listed in those funding opportunities.

Reminder to applicants: Please ensure that your application is complete (including all required signatures) and submitted on time to CIHR. Effective September 1, 2008, CIHR will assume no responsibility in following-up with applicants who submit an incomplete application. Incomplete or late applications will not be accepted into the competition.

Contact Information

For questions on CIHR funding guidelines, eligibility, how to apply, and the Meetings, Planning and Dissemination Grant application review process contact:

Grace Almasi
Meetings, Planning and Dissemination Grant Program Coordinator
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Telephone: 613-941-3485
Fax: 613-954-1800
Email: MPD-SRPD@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

For questions about this initiative and the objectives of this funding opportunity contact:

Kim Gaudreau
CIHR Institute of Population and Public Health
Telephone: 613-957-6128
Fax: 613-954-1800
Email: kim.gaudreau@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

Partner/Collaborator Description

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 Population and Public Health (IPPH)
CIHR's IPPH supports research into the complex interactions, which determine health, and its application to improve the health of individuals, communities and global populations.

Additional Information

1. CIHR defines a workshop in the context of IPPH as "a meeting of a limited number of persons (10 - 30) individually invited to address specific questions or problems related to improving the health of populations locally or globally, with the purpose of reaching a consensus on recommendations or conclusions leading to an improved focus on population and public health research issues. The majority of participants should hold appointments in Canada."
2. Population health intervention research involves the use of scientific methods to produce knowledge about policy and program interventions that operate within or outside of the health sector and have the potential to impact health at the population level.