Table of Contents
Description
This Meetings, Planning and Dissemination (MPD) Grant – Partnerships for Health System Improvement (PHSI) Development Funds – is a new addition to the revitalized PHSI program. It is intended to provide development funds for researchers and/or decision makers to facilitate the formation and development of partnerships with a view to PHSI.
CIHR recognizes that strong partnerships between researchers and decision makers form the foundation of PHSI. CIHR also recognizes that these partnerships take time to build, and must be promoted and fostered in order to become effective and productive. The new PHSI Development Funds were conceived with this in mind. Only researchers and/or decision makers interested in applying to the full PHSI program (next competition: April and October 2009) should submit an application for the PHSI Development Funds.
Activities eligible for funding may include, but are not limited to, the following examples:
- Planning meetings between researchers and decision makers where the sharing of information takes place for the purpose of building partnerships with a view to applying to the PHSI program ;
- 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) interested in applying to the PHSI program;
- Activities that assist potential teams of researchers and decision makers in identifying emerging issues and priorities that could potentially be addressed by projects funded in the PHSI competition;
- Opportunities for knowledge exchange involving stakeholder linkages (to inform practice, care, and/or policy) that could potentially lead to an application to the PHSI competition;
Background:
PHSI is an innovative program for supporting applied and policy-relevant health systems and services research that is deemed high priority by Canada's health care decision makers. PHSI funds teams comprised of researchers and decision makers and aims to ensure that the two work together throughout the research process - from identifying the research question, through conducting the research, to the discussion of research results and strategies for uptake. PHSI is well suited for action-oriented research projects that both add to the existing knowledge base and address high priority and policy-relevant health care and health systems problems.
More detailed information on PHSI is available on their website.
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 minimum amount available for the current funding opportunity is $120,000. The total amount available in FY 2009/10 is $120,000. This amount may increase if additional funding partners decide to participate.
- The maximum amount awarded for a single grant is $15,000 for up to one year. Meetings, Planning and Dissemination Grants are non-renewable.
- During the ResearchNet e-Submission process, applicants are to apply to the MPD-Partnerships for Health System Improvement (PHSI) funding opportunity.
- Candidates may suggest up to two additional CIHR Institutes/Branches to which their application is relevant. This information may be used to assist in finding funding partners for the application.
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".
Top
Objectives
The purpose of the Meetings, Planning and Dissemination Grant – Partnerships for Health System Improvement (PHSI) Development Funds - is to provide the opportunity for researchers and/or decision makers to apply for development funds to facilitate the formation and development of partnerships between researchers and decision makers interested in applying to the PHSI program.
CIHR will fund development activities to facilitate collaboration and partnership formation between Canadian researchers and decision makers from a variety of fields, disciplines, backgrounds and roles (e.g. program managers, decision makers and practitioners) with the objective of developing and/or enhancing:
- Partnerships between researcher(s) and decision makers interested in pursuing a collaborative research initiative through PHSI that will address a high priority and policy-relevant health care services or health systems problem;
- Initial planning and discussion of a PHSI research project among potential PHSI team members including both researchers and decision makers to assess the viability of the research project and the partnership;
- The ability of teams of health services and policy researchers and decision makers in Canada to become increasingly successful in the PHSI competition;
- Consensus on priority policy issues and research questions in health services and policy research where such common understanding is currently lacking or requires further development;
- Support for activities that assist potential teams of researchers and decision makers in identifying emerging issues and priorities that could potentially be addressed by projects funded in the PHSI competition.
Relevant Research Areas:
CIHR will fund MPD applications in health services and policy research that have the potential to contribute to the improvement of the health care system and the health of Canadians through PHSI. For subject matter examples, please see the results of the Listening for Direction (LfD) III consultation exercise.
Specific research foci and requirements of individual partners:
Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC)
The goal of the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) is to help bring into being an integrated mental health system that places people living with mental illness at its centre. One of the top priorities of the MHCC is to support research that finds ways to help the growing number of homeless people (and those at risk and in transition) who have a mental illness. To this end, the MHCC may contribute up to $1 million in partnership funding to the April 2009 Partnerships for Health System Improvement (PHSI) competition, and the two subsequent competitions (or until funds run out), for successful projects that are relevant to one of the three priority areas in mental health and homelessness listed below.
To help support the formation and development of partnerships between researchers and decision makers interested in submitting an application to the full-scale PHSI competition that is relevant to one of the three priority areas in mental health and homelessness listed below, the MHCC may also contribute up to a total of $60,000 for successful applications in the next four MPD – PHSI competitions (including the February 2009 competition), or until funds run out, that are relevant to one or more of the following priority areas within mental health and homelessness:
(1) Mental health and homelessness in youth: a minimum of $15,000 is available for research topics that align with this priority area.
(2) Mental health and homelessness in northern and remote areas (e.g., one or more of the Yukon, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and northern regions of the provinces): a minimum of $15,000 is available for research topics that align with this priority area.
(3) Mental health and homelessness: a minimum of $30,000 is available for research topics and questions dedicated to mental health and homelessness. Possible areas for investigation include:
- development of policy-relevant method(s) that enable cross-provincial analyses of homelessness trends and enhance policy makers’ understanding of the causes and consequences of homelessness
- participatory action research to develop innovative prevention and service programs
- evaluations of effective strategies for achieving collaboration across governmental levels to address homelessness
- understanding and modifying the causes of homelessness in at risk populations
The MHCC requires that successful applicants invite the MHCC to participate as a partner in the MPD development activity. Applicants interested in being considered for MHCC funding must state the relevance of their proposal to one of the three priority areas eligible for funding on their ResearchNet application. Please see the How to Apply section for more information.
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.
Planning Meetings:
The purpose of planning meetings will be for researchers and decision makers to come together to explore the feasibility and value of partnering on an upcoming PHSI grant and to engage in initial discussions on the PHSI research plan. The planning meeting would provide potential PHSI teams with the opportunity to identify current and/or emerging issues and/or priorities that are of interest to health care decision makers, managers and/or providers, and that could potentially be addressed by projects funded in the PHSI competition. The planning meeting would also be an opportunity to develop the partnership, and to have discussions on the research questions and knowledge translation plan for the upcoming PHSI grant.
Top
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.
- 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. 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.
- 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.
Top
Guidelines
General 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;
- 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);
- 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;
- 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.
- The final report should indicate whether the partnership has developed enough to apply to the PHSI competition (and when the team intends to submit a proposal). If no subsequent application to the PHSI competition is planned, the report should explain why.
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.
CIHR Guidelines for Health Research Involving Aboriginal People
The CIHR Guidelines for Health Research Involving Aboriginal People came into effect as policy for CIHR-funded research on July 1, 2008. Applicants whose proposed research will involve Aboriginal People are strongly encouraged to familiarise themselves with these guidelines and in particular with the section "Application of the Guidelines," which outlines the situations in which these guidelines apply.
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.
Top
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.
Top
Review Process and Evaluation
Review Process
CIHR 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, CIHR 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 and the detailed activity description 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.
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 Funding Opportunity
- Appropriate budget and justification for amount requested
The following evaluation criteria are specific to this funding opportunity:
- Involvement of both a researcher and decision maker in the development activity
- Extent to which the proposed activities will foster researcher and decision maker collaborations in preparation for the PHSI competition
- Potential to catalyze new initiatives in health services and policy research and their application to policy, program and practice needs and priorities
- Appropriateness of the proposed activity and likelihood of success
- Commitment to submitting an application to the full PHSI competition
Top
How to Apply
Note: This funding opportunity requires the use of ResearchNet to apply for funding.
Additional instructions that must be followed for this funding opportunity:
(Note: These additional instructions supersede all other policies or guidelines published by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, including, but not limited to, the Grants and Awards Guide, the Memorandum of Understanding, etc.)
- In order to be considered for funding, applicants must apply and state the relevance of their proposal to the "Meetings, Planning and Dissemination Grant: Partnerships for Health System Improvement" funding opportunity.
- If you are interested in being considered for funding from the Mental Health Commission of Canada, on the "Select Funding Opportunities” screen in ResearchNet, when completing the " Relevance of your proposal to the objectives outlined in the funding opportunity " section, please state your relevance to one of the MHCC’s three priority areas and clearly indicate that you would like to be considered for (1) Mental Health Commission of Canada funding – mental health and homelessness in youth; (2) Mental Health Commission of Canada funding – mental health and homelessness in the North; or (3) Mental Health Commission of Canada funding – mental health and homelessness.
Top
Contact Information
For questions on CIHR funding guidelines, eligibility, how to apply, and the Meetings, Planning and Dissemination Grant application review process contact:
Meetings, Planning and Dissemination Grant Program
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:
Krissy Davidge
Associate, Strategic Initiatives
Canadian Institutes of Health Research - Institute of Health Services and Policy Research
Telephone: 613-952-4539
Fax: 613-954-1800
Email: krissy.davidge@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
Top
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 the Government of Canada's agency for health research. CIHR's mission is to create new scientific knowledge and to catalyze its translation into improved health, more effective health services and products, and a strengthened Canadian health-care system. Composed of 13 Institutes, CIHR provides leadership and support to more than 11,000 health researchers and trainees across Canada.
Partners
The Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC)
The goal of the Mental Health Commission of Canada is to help bring into being an integrated mental health system that places people living with mental illness at its centre. One of the top priorities of the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) is to support research that finds ways to help the growing number of homeless people (and those at risk and in transition) who have a mental illness. The MHCC may contribute up to a total of $60,000 for successful applications in the next four MPD – PHSI competitions (including the February 2009 competition), or until funds run out, that are relevant to one or more of the following priority areas within mental health and homelessness:
(1) Mental health and homelessness in youth: a minimum of $15,000 is available for research topics that align with this priority area.
(2) Mental health and homelessness in northern and remote areas (e.g., one or more of the Yukon, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and northern regions of the provinces): a minimum of $15,000 is available for research topics that align with this priority area.
(3) Mental health and homelessness: a minimum of $30,000 is available for research topics and questions dedicated to mental health and homelessness. Possible areas for investigation include:
- development of policy-relevant method(s) that enable cross-provincial analyses of homelessness trends and enhance policy makers’ understanding of the causes and consequences of homelessness
- participatory action research to develop innovative prevention and service programs
- evaluations of effective strategies for achieving collaboration across governmental levels to address homelessness
- understanding and modifying the causes of homelessness in at risk populations
The MHCC requires that applicants invite the MHCC to participate as a partner in the MPD development activity.
Top
| 
