Table of Contents
Description
In 1993, Dr. Michael Smith shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for discovering and developing a crucial technique, known as site-directed mutagenesis, which is used in genetic engineering. His discovery enabled researchers to gain enormous insights into the structure and function of genes and proteins.
To honour Dr. Smith, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) has established the Canada's Health Researchers of the Year: Michael Smith Prizes in Health Research (formerly, the Michael Smith Award for Excellence).
One Prize is provided annually to an outstanding Canadian researcher who has demonstrated a high degree of innovation, creativity, leadership and dedication in health research. This year, the Prize will be awarded to an individual whose main research area is health services or population ans public health research.
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 initiative is $500,000.
- The maximum amount awarded for a single prize is $100,000 per annum for up to 5 years.
The Prize consists of a medal and a research grant of $100,000 per year for five years.
Top
Objectives
The Prize is intended to provide a significant boost in funding for an exceptional investigator, who will continue over the next five years to produce research of exceptional merit; it is also intended to offset the direct costs of the winner's research program, including support for trainees. The winner will be selected on the recommendation of an international peer review committee.
Relevant Research Areas
- Health services research; or
- Population and public health research
Top
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.
Specific Eligibility Requirements
- To be eligible for consideration, individuals must have at least 10 years of experience as an independent investigator and hold a position within a Canadian academic, hospital, not-for-profit or governmental institution or affiliated research institution. They must have worked in Canada for at least the five continuous years before the nomination deadline.
- Each candidate must be nominated by a member of the Canadian health research community and be endorsed by the executive head of the candidate's institution. Candidates may be nominated on more than one occasion provided that they still meet the eligibility requirements.
- Individuals may only hold the award once.
Top
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.
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. The successful applicant will be informed of any special financial requirements prior to the release of funds or when he receives CIHR's Authorization for Funding (AFF) document.
Access to Information Act and Privacy Act, and the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA)
All personal information collected by CIHR about applicants is used to review applications, to recruit reviewers, to administer and monitor grants and awards, to compile statistics, and to promote and support health research in Canada. Consistent with these purposes, applicants should also expect that information collected by CIHR may be shared as described in Use and Disclosure of Personal Information Provided to CIHR for Peer Review.
CIHR as a federal entity is subject to the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act, therefore the requirements of these two statutes will apply to all information located in CIHR's premises including, without limitation, cost-sharing agreements related to this Funding opportunity and all matters pertaining thereto.
While respecting the application of the Privacy Act to federal entities, all signing parties involved in a collaborative agreement will also be bound by the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA). All personal information (as identified by the PIPEDA) collected, used or disclosed in the course of any commercial activity under collaborative agreements related to the Funding opportunity will be collected, used and disclosed in compliance with the PIPEDA.
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 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.
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
Peer Review
A CIHR peer review committee will evaluate the nominations. The committee may be drawn from one of 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 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.
Evaluation Criteria
Peer review will be conducted in accordance with The CIHR Peer Review Process - Policies and Responsibilities of Grants Committee Members, including the standard evaluation criteria described under "Rating of Grant Applications" (section 7.2 number 3).
The following evaluation criteria are specific to this funding opportunity. CIHR recognizes that applications will emphasize different approaches to research and to knowledge translation, therefore reviewers and committees are expected to weight criteria such as these differently from one application to another.
- Innovation
- Creativity
- Leadership
- Dedication
- Translation of research findings into improved health for Canadians, more effective health services and products and a strengthened Canadian health care system
- Training and Mentoring Record
- Potential to continue over the next five years to produce research of exceptional merit.
Top
How to Apply
Note: This funding opportunity DOES NOT require the use of CIHR Web Forms or ResearchNet to apply for funding.
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.
Nomination Process
Each candidate must be nominated by a member of the Canadian health research community and be endorsed by the executive head of the candidate's institution. Candidates may be nominated on more than one occasion provided that they still meet the eligibility requirements.
Nominations must include the following items:
- A signed letter from the nominator providing the principal reasons for which the nominee merits consideration for the Prize. Scientific innovation, creativity, leadership and dedication should be emphasized. Reference should also be made to the nominee's role as a mentor of young researchers, and record of, or potential for, translating research findings into improved health for Canadians, more effective health services and products and a strengthened Canadian health care system. The letter should not exceed four pages. Please note that only candidates who are expected to continue to produce research of exceptional merit over the next five years can be nominated.
- A signed letter from the executive head of the nominee's institution endorsing the nomination.
- Common CV Modules (validated for CIHR) of the nominee. Draft copies of the Common CV Module will not be accepted. The nominee indicates that they agree to be nominated by signing the Common CV Module.
- The names, addresses (including e-mail) and affiliations of six individuals whom CIHR might contact for an assessment of the nominee's suitability for the award. These individuals should be internationally recognized as experts in the nominee's field of research.
Only the original application is required.
Send the completed nominating application package by courier to:
RE: "Michael Smith Prize in Health Research"
Research Capacity Development
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Room 97, 160 Elgin Street
Address locator: 4809A
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0W9
Top
Contact Information
For questions on CIHR funding guidelines, how to apply, and the peer review process contact:
Christina Disipio (Updated: 2010-01-07)
Program Delivery Coordinator
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Telephone: 613-952-9873
Fax: 613-954-1800
Email: Christina.Disipio@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
Top
| 
