Important Dates

Notices

Table of Contents

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

Description

Background

In Canada, HIV infects 2,500 additional people each year and disproportionately targets certain segments of the population. Around the world there are approximately 4.1 million new HIV infections per year and some countries have rates as high as 25%. Research is needed in many areas of HIV/AIDS and research focused on HIV prevention is seen as a critical step in controlling the epidemic.

Despite the progress that has been made, after more than two decades of HIV vaccine research many fundamental scientific questions remain unanswered. Missing is innovative research and vaccine design, as well as interest in testing novel hypotheses such as induction of broadly neutralizing antibody responses, triggering mucosal innate and adaptive immune responses, or mechanisms to achieve the same protective effects as live attenuated vaccines, but with fewer risks. Included is work on therapeutic vaccines which have the potential to stimulate immunity and more effectively suppress HIV replication. The resulting reduction in dependence on antiretrovirals treatments and regimes may allow for safer treatment interruption. Testing of therapeutic vaccines also can inform on specificity and other characteristics desirable for prophylactic vaccines. Projects looking at therapeutic vaccine approaches may include rational design, vaccine production, subject selection and recruitment, vaccine administration and monitoring of immune and virological responses.

Research on social and behavioural aspects and impacts of health systems and policy on HIV vaccine discovery and delivery is also central to achieving the overall goal of having safe, effective, affordable, acceptable and globally accessible HIV vaccines. This research is needed to address issues such as the acceptability of vaccines, attitudes and behaviour of trial participants, the impact of trials on risk behaviour in communities affected by HIV and challenges that affect the introduction, distribution and use of vaccines.

The Canadian HIV Vaccine Initiative (CHVI) invites applications from teams of Canadian researchers interested in contributing to research and research capacity focused on the discovery of HIV vaccines and related research and social, behavioural and ethical issues related to HIV vaccines use and research. The purpose of this research program is to further strengthen Canadian HIV/AIDS research by supporting new and emerging teams conducting high-quality, innovative research and providing superior training opportunities. This program is expected to enhance the understanding and accelerate the resolution of issues in HIV/AIDS through collaborative research. It is also expected that the program will enable Canadian basic scientists and clinical researchers to explore unique ideas and contribute to international efforts in vaccine development.

In partnership with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), CIHR will focus in part on Discovery and Social Research and will provide support to HIV vaccine discovery and social research while strengthening the capacity and promoting greater involvement and collaboration amongst researchers in Canada and low- and middle-income countries. This particular funding opportunity is focussed on new and emerging teams in HIV vaccines. Together CIDA and CIHR are making efforts to maximize the potential for important scientific discoveries in the area of HIV vaccines.

This funding opportunity is part of the larger Canadian HIV Vaccine Initiative (CHVI), a five-year collaborative initiative between the Government of Canada and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and represents a significant Canadian contribution to global efforts to develop a safe, effective, affordable and globally accessible HIV vaccine. As a partner of the CHVI, CIHR is responsible for implementing the Discovery and Social Research program area of the initiative in collaboration with CIDA.

This program is intended to fund the creation or further development of research teams undertaking collaborative research relevant to a significant health problem or issue. Eligible teams will consist of at least three independent investigators who will form an integrated and effective research team. It is expected that this program will enable such teams to strengthen capacity and add expertise, develop strategies for knowledge translation, provide superior training and mentoring environments and achieve research excellence.

Through the Emerging Team Grant program CIHR intends to fund a variety of new and emerging research teams (uni-disciplinary teams, multi-disciplinary teams, trans-disciplinary teams, partnered teams, academic-industry teams, etc.). Proposals that represent active and meaningful partnerships between community organizations and research teams based in institutions (including universities, colleges, hospitals, and affiliated research institutions) are welcome.

Funds Available

CIHR's contribution to the amount available for this initiative is subject to availability of funds voted annually to CIHR by parliamentary appropriations, and the conditions that may be attached to them.

• The total amount available for this funding opportunity is $2.5 million over five years. This amount may increase if additional funding partners decide to participate.
• Teams invited to submit full applications may be offered development grants of up to $10,000 if requested at the Letter of Intent stage (see Letter of Intent instructions).
• The maximum amount awarded for a single grant is $ 250,000 per annum for up to 5 years. The equipment amount, where applicable, is awarded in year one. In the case of 5-year grants, the final two years of funding are subject to a satisfactory progress review in the third year of funding.
• Emerging Team grants may be renewable, subject to launch of a relevant competition in the future and success through a competitive peer review process.

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 "Objectives" section.

Objectives

CIHR's collaborative programs focus on support of research teams and a problem-based research culture.

Through the Emerging Team Grant program it is the intent of CIHR to fund the creation or development of research teams of investigators undertaking collaborative research relevant to a significant health problem or issue. This grant will enable such teams to:

• Strengthen capacity and add expertise relevant to a significant health problem or issue.
• Develop strategies for knowledge translation and exchange.
• Provide a superior training and mentoring environment.
• Achieve research excellence so that at the end of the limited funding period they are competitive for funding through other major competitions.

Proposals that represent collaborations between community organizations and research teams based in institutions (including universities, colleges, hospitals, and affiliated research institutions) are welcome.

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

It is expected that the partners will contribute to:

• Formulating research agendas.
• Providing input into the development of research and training projects.
• Synthesizing and disseminating findings.
• Applying the research findings to inform policies, programs and/or practices.
• In some cases, conducting the research.

For more information about knowledge translation consult "Defining and Framing Knowledge Translation"of the CIHR Knowledge Translation Strategy 2004-2009.

Within the framework of the overall objectives of the Emerging Team Grant Program noted above the specific objectives of this funding opportunity are:

• To support teams of Canadian investigators in their efforts to contribute important knowledge to the global search for HIV vaccines;
• To build capacity for HIV Vaccines discovery and related social research in Canada; and
• To create mechanisms for individual investigators and teams funded under the initiative to network and share information with one another and other relevant international networks and consortia (e.g. other Gates Foundation funded programs; NIH and The Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise).

Relevant Research Areas:

The CIHR Institute of Infection and Immunity in partnership with CIDA through the Canadian HIV Vaccine Initiative (CHVI) will provide funding for biomedical and clinical research that is required for the discovery and development of HIV vaccines, as well as pertinent and timely studies on the social dimensions of HIV vaccines development, such as access and delivery issues, particularly in hard to reach communities. Examples of eligible research topics include:

Discovery

• Novel approaches to induction and long-term maintenance of mucosal innate and adaptive immune responses;
• Novel approaches to developing prophylactic vaccines aimed at induction of broadly neutralizing antibodies and B cell responses to HIV;
• Development and testing of therapeutic HIV vaccines;
• Studies aimed at better understanding the correlates of immune protection relating to HIV; and
• Development and testing of novel vaccine adjuvants.

Social

• Development and evaluation of targeted communication strategies to ensure the participation of at risk groups in the design and implementation of vaccine trials;
• Monitoring the attitudes and behaviour of trial participants to assess the impact of trials on risk behaviour in communities affected by HIV;
• Investigation of social issues surrounding HIV vaccines including knowledge, acceptability and access;
• Ethical issues related to studying vulnerable populations; e.g. adolescents, injection drug users, sex workers;
• Patent law and intellectual property issues related to HIV vaccines and related research; and
• Knowledge translation and risk communication relating to HIV Vaccine research.

More information on the research priorities of this initiative can be found on the CHVI website. Research in the priority areas described above 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.

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.

Each eligible Emerging Team Grant application will include:

• A Team Leader who meets the criteria of "Principal Applicant" as described in the CIHR Participant Categories for CIHR Grants and who will assume administrative responsibility for the grant as nominated Principal Applicant. In addition, the Team Leader must be a researcher with proven leadership capabilities and experience who will act as research program director.
• At least two additional independent investigators who meet the criteria of "Principal Applicant" as described in the CIHR Participant Categories for CIHR Grants who together with the Team Leader will form an integrated and more effective research team. Teams with a nucleus of experienced and productive investigators are encouraged to include some promising, new investigators in the Team.

In addition, the following special conditions apply:

• Members of a Team may be located in one or more departments, faculties or CIHR-eligible institutions in Canada. As well, international or private sector collaborators who make a substantial intellectual contribution to the research program may be listed as additional Team members.

Specific Eligibility Requirements

Eligibility requirements specific to this funding opportunity include the following:

No applicant can be named as Nominated Principal Applicant on both the Emerging Team and Large Team grants. It is expected that a funding opportunity for Large Team Grants will be launched under the CHVI in spring 2009.

Randomized Controlled Trials will not be considered under this funding opportunity.

Guidelines

General CIHR Guidelines

This funding opportunity will follow the General Guidelines for Grant Programs. Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate the use of Gender and Sex-Based Analysis in applications.

Allowable Costs

Applicants should review the 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.

Through the Emerging Team Grant program, funding can be used to support:

• Research operating costs for the proposed collaborative research program (where an application includes overlap with an existing CIHR grant, and that application is successful in the Emerging Team Grant competition, continued funding of the ongoing grant will be reviewed).
• Purchase of equipment and maintenance contracts for common services and shared facilities.
• Costs of data collection, database and maintenance of information holdings directly related to the Emerging Team Grant research program.
• Costs of regional, national and international networking activities, including collaboration, planning, and knowledge exchange activities, directly related to the Emerging Team Grant research program.
• Salaries of research assistants, technicians and other personnel (eligible to receive salary) who will enhance the collaborative research productivity of the Team.
• Support of research trainees, at the rate specified by CIHR for trainees paid from research grants.
• Salary of a professional coordinator and/or administrative assistant.
• Minimal operating costs for planning and pilot projects.
• Release time stipends to enable employees of community partners to participate in the research program, limited to 50% of their current salary and up to an overall maximum of $50,000 per year.
• A maximum of $20,000 annually for a release time stipend for the Nominated PI/Team Leader.
• Establishment funds and salary for New Investigators joining the team (New Investigators are within the first five years of their independent research careers). Salary contributions paid for by the Emerging Team Grant must not exceed the stipend paid to CIHR New Investigators. Those paid from the Emerging Team Grant cannot also hold a Canada Research Chair or another salary award. Note that new investigators paid from the grant can not be listed as co-applicants on the grant application. Similarly, they can not be listed as co-investigators on the grant after it is approved; however they can be considered members of the team.
• Costs involved in linkage with and dissemination of research findings to those who use the results, as appropriate for the research program, (including other researchers, the public, practitioner and policy communities, and the industrial sector).

Co-applicants may not receive a salary, stipend, or honorarium from CIHR grants, with the exception of co-applicants who are trainees or research associates, and the release time stipends for the team leader and employees of community partners as described in Participant Categories for CIHR Grants.

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 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 six months after the end of the grant's term, the Nominated Principal Applicant is required to submit a final performance report, summarizing the results and describing how the grant funds were used.

• A spokesperson will need to be identified to interact with the media to communicate activities and findings to the general public through CIHR's Marketing and Communications branch.

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

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

Performance Measurement

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

• adhere to CIHR's reporting requirements and provide required information in a timely fashion. A Progress Report for Long-Term Grant Holders (5 or more years) will be required in year 3 of five-year grants. Grantees are required to submit the "Progress Report for Long-Term Grant Holders (5 or more years)" form [ PDF-Fillable (95 KB) | PDF (47 KB) | Help ] describing the progress made and the publications issued since the start of the grant. CIHR will cancel the last 12 months of the grant if the progress is unacceptable and will cancel the final two years of the grant if it does not receive a report.
• 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.

Review Process and Evaluation

Relevance Review

Relevance review will be conducted at the Letter of Intent stage. For this process, representatives from the Institute of Infection and Immunity, specifically the HIV/AIDS Research Initiative, and representatives from the funding partners will have access to the anonymized Letter of Intent package and the one-page attachment describing how the proposed research addresses the objectives and relevant research areas (see "How to Apply").

Only Letters of Intent that clearly align with the Relevant Research Areas listed above will be peer reviewed.

Peer Review

a) Letter of Intent (LOI)

The peer review committee will review the LOIs for excellence using the evaluation criteria described below. The peer 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 LOI review, selected applicants will be invited to submit a full application.

The names of teams invited to apply and the topic of their research will be published on the CIHR website.

b) Full Application

Each Emerging Team Grant application will be evaluated as a single, integrated entity: the Team research program and the collaborative aspect. It is critical to demonstrate that the Emerging Team Grant will strengthen capacity and bring added value, in terms of the approach to the health and disease, health care or health system issue, and the speed and efficiency with which new knowledge will be generated, or translated into improvements in health or the health care system, through the new directions of research proposed by the team.

The letters of intent and full applications will be reviewed by specifically-constituted, multidisciplinary peer review committee(s) designed specifically for the review of Emerging Team Grants. Committee members are selected based on suggestions from many sources including the institute(s) / portfolio(s) and partner(s), following CIHR's Policy on Conflict of Interest and Confidentiality in the context of Merit, Relevance and Peer Review (CCIP). For information on CIHR's peer review process in general, see the Understand Peer Review section of CIHR's website.

Upon completion of peer review of the full applications, the representatives from the Institute of Infection and Immunity, specifically the HIV/AIDS Research Initiative will receive the ratings, rankings and peer review committee recommendations on funding level and term for the applications that are rated in the CIHR fundable range and are found to be relevant to the specific objectives of the research initiative and the research areas described under "Objectives" and "Relevant Research Areas." These applications will be funded from the top down in order of ranking as far as budgets will allow. Applications that receive a ranking below 3.5 will not be funded.

Evaluation Criteria

Peer review will be conducted in accordance with The CIHR Peer Review Process – Policies and Responsibilities of Grants Committee Members. Reviewers will use the following set of criteria for the evaluation of applications received in response to this funding opportunity:

Impact

• How important and original are the contributions expected from the research proposed? What is the potential for important new knowledge or impact on health and health research?

Innovation

• Does the proposed program challenge the current research thinking and paradigms and/or address unexplored areas?
• How important, novel and/or original are the hypotheses or the questions to be addressed, and how clearly are they formulated?
• How will an Emerging Team Grant add value by bringing together researchers, in a meaningful collaboration to advance our understanding of the health problem or issue?

Methodology

• Is the health and disease, health care or health system issue approached through an original, cohesive/integrated and feasible research plan that will generate valid, reliable and useful knowledge?
• Have clear and realistic deliverables been set? Have indicators been defined to measure success been defined at the outcome of the grant term?
• Has the Team identified the roles and contributions of all the parties in planning, execution, and evaluation as well as management activities?
• Does the Team have a plan for engaging and linking with, and a description of the approaches that will be taken, to reach those who will utilize and apply the results?

Applicant's Productivity, Experience and Training

• How appropriate to the research proposed is the training or track record of the applicants?
• Have team members demonstrated sustained productivity, creativity and originality in their research?

Environment

• Has the Team demonstrated the potential for excellence through their approach to recruiting members and providing a superior training opportunity for graduate and/or post-doctoral trainees, as well as independent investigators who may be new to the team's area of research?
• Do members of the research team have the appropriate environment in which to conduct the research?

Partner engagements

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

Applications receiving a score less than 3.5 on the CIHR 0 to 4.9 rating scale are not eligible to receive funding. The CIHR rating scale is described in CIHR Peer Review Process: Policies and Responsibilities of Grants Committee Members.

How to Apply

Note: This funding opportunity requires the use of CIHR Web Forms to apply for funding.

• The application process for this funding opportunity is comprised of two steps: Letter of Intent and Application.
• To complete your Letter of Intent and Application, follow the steps identified below.
• An overview of CIHR's application processes can be found under Apply for Funding.
• Reminder to applicants: Please ensure that your application is complete, includes all required signatures (application participants, organizational and partner signatures both National and/or International, as identified in the Participant Categories for CIHR Grants, the Required Signatures on Application Forms, and the Meaning of Signatures on Application Forms sections of the CIHR Grants and Awards Guide) and is submitted on time to CIHR. As of September 1, 2008, CIHR no longer assumes responsibility in following-up with applicants who submit an incomplete application. Incomplete or late applications will not be accepted into the competition.

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.(Updated: 2009-07-02)
• Applicants must 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:
• The Registration pages of the CIHR Research Module. To generate the Registration pages, you must access the CIHR Web Forms. Under Research Funding Program select "Emerging Team Grant" and complete the following sections of the Research Module Web Form:
  • Research Funding Program
  • Nominated Principal Applicant / Candidate
  • Project
  • Applicants / Co-Applicants
  • Suggested External Referees
  • Collaborators
• Note: Institutional signatures are not required at the LOI stage.
• A cover page of maximum one page (free form; a standard form is not available for the cover page) indicating:
  • the title of the Team program as it will appear in publicity and other announcements (CIHR Team in area of research);
  • the title of the proposal;
  • the title of this funding opportunity: Emerging Team Grant – HIV/AIDS Vaccine Discovery and Social Research
  • a brief description (10 lines maximum) of the research area of the proposal;
  • five keywords describing the research;
• 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).
• Proposal. In a maximum of five pages (not including references), the proposal must outline clearly each of the elements below:
  • The objectives of the research program to be undertaken by the Team over the period of funding;
  • The nature of the Team and extent of collaboration between investigators, with an explanation of the anticipated value added to the research program through the synergy of the Team;
  • The proposed roles of partners in the planning and execution of the research program and the dissemination and utilization of the research results;
  • The plan, including proposed organizational structures for engaging and linking with those who will ultimately use the research findings;
  • The research training and mentoring environment that will provide a superior experience for undergraduate, graduate and/or post-doctoral trainees, including those with a health professional background;
  • The preliminary plan for the research program and schedule of work;
  • The nature and extent of the host institutions' financial and other forms of long-term commitment to the Team's research, and to ensuring a favorable environment for carrying out the research activities.
• 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.
• Reference: a short bibliography (maximum one page) of any references cited in the proposal.
• A development grant request through which applicants may request up to $10,000 to be used for the development of a Full Application. The development grant request comprises a one-page request outlining the activities for which the development grant 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.

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 the Research Funding Program section of the Research Module, select "Strategic Initiative" and enter the title of this funding opportunity: Emerging Team Grant: HIV/AIDS Vaccine Discovery and Social Research.
• Provide an additional one page attachment (to be identified by the title of this funding opportunity) describing how the research proposed addresses the objectives and relevant research areas described in the section "Objectives".
• Complete the Applicant Consent Form for Use and Disclosure of Personal Information Provided to CIHR for Peer Review, which is included in the application form.
• Send the original Letter of Intent and five copies by courier to:
  RE: Emerging Team Grant: HIV/AIDS Vaccine Discovery and Social Research
  Canadian Institutes of Health Research
  Room 97, 160 Elgin Street
  Address locator: 4809A
  Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0W9

2) Full Application

• Once the review of LOI's is completed, selected applicants will be invited to submit a full application by the deadline date. The names of teams that will be invited to apply and the topic of their research will be published on the CIHR website.
• Details of the application procedure will be provided to those invited to apply. Information required will include a description of the individual components making up the Team's research program, as well as the justification for supporting the synergistic aspects of the entire proposal.

Contact Information

For questions on CIHR funding guidelines, how to apply, and the peer review process contact:

André Fortin
Program Delivery Coordinator
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Telephone: 613-941-0651
Fax: 613-954-1800
Email: andre.fortin@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

For questions about this initiative and research objectives contact:

Andrew Matejcic (Updated: 2009-10-20)
Acting Associate Director, HIV/AIDS Research Initiative
Telephone: 613-952-3564
Fax: 613-954-1800
Email: andrew.matejcic@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

Partner/Collaborator Description

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 enable 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 nearly 12,000 health researchers and trainees across Canada.

CIHR - Institute of Infection and Immunity (III)
III is the lead CIHR Institute for the CIHR HIV/AIDS Research Initiative. This initiative, supported by the Federal Initiative to Address HIV/AIDS in Canada, promotes Canadian research and builds research capacity in order to increase our understanding of the virus, the epidemic and effective responses. Further information on the Priorities for the CIHR HIV/AIDS Research Initiative is available on the Institute website.

Partners
Canadian HIV Vaccine Initiative (CHVI)
CHVI is a five-year collaborative initiative between the Government of Canada and the Bill and Melinda Gate Foundation with the following goals: to coordinate Canadian domestic and international contribution to the Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise; accelerate development of a preventive HIV vaccine; and collaborate with key global and domestic partners. This collaboration builds on the Government of Canada's commitment to a comprehensive, long-term approach to address HIV/AIDS globally and domestically. Participating federal departments and agencies include: the Public Health Agency of Canada, Industry Canada, Health Canada, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and the Canadian International Development Agency.

Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
CIDA has as its mandate to contribute to poverty reduction and sustainable human development in developing countries. The recent policy statement on Strengthening Aid Effectiveness allows CIDA to support programs that assist developing countries to reach the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) set for 2015. CIDA's Strategy for Health and its Social Social Development Priorities: A Framework for Action, and the resulting HIV/AIDS and Health and Nutrition Action Plans, all recognize the importance of evidence-based programming and the need for further research to continuously improve the impact and cost-effectiveness of Canadian Official Development Assistance (ODA).