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

According to the World Health Organization's World Health Statistics 2008 Report, each year close to two million people die globally as a result of inactivity, and 35 million die of non-communicable diseases where physical activity could have played a role in prevention. These numbers will continue to climb. In Canada, our population is growing and aging, and Canadians are living an increasingly sedentary lifestyle. We have to act now to lessen the future burden of disease. One way to accomplish this is to adopt proper lifestyle habits. Active living is the cornerstone of achieving healthy skin, teeth, bones and muscle. Physical activity has also been proven to reduce a host of diseases and conditions that do not fall under the IMHA's mandate, such as depression and neural deficiencies, but which can benefit from our work in this area.

CIHR's "Blueprint", its strategic direction through 2008 states that: "The complexity and scale of today's research challenges increasingly require that researchers and countries reach out beyond their own areas of expertise and that we experiment with new models to bring people and sectors together. This work will be enabled through the technological advances that support virtual networks. Partnerships and shared vision will underpin the most successful health research stories of the 21st century in ways unimaginable in the 20th century."

"Blueprint" commits CIHR to "Continue to catalyze and encourage the convergence of disciplines that underlie the most exciting and important discoveries in health research, and to resolve ever-more complex health problems."

Introduction of the CIHR Team Grant program puts this commitment into action. The purpose of this program is to strengthen the Canadian health research by supporting teams of talented and experienced researchers conducting high-quality research and providing superior training and mentorship. Its emphasis is on the production of new knowledge and the translation of research findings into improvements in the health of Canadians and the Canadian health care system that will be realized more rapidly and more efficiently than if the components were to be funded as a series of separate operating grants. It is expected that this investment will further the Canadian capacity for high-quality, problem-based research on relevant health, health care and health system issues.

Eligible teams will consist of at least three independent investigators, each of whom has an established research track record in areas related to the collaborative project(s) proposed. Collectively, team members will have an extensive record of success, be creative and original in their approach to research and its translation and have experience working in research teams. This competition is open to applications that address issues related to health and disease, health care and the health system. Through this flexible CIHR Team Grant program, it is the intent of CIHR to fund a variety of expert teams (uni-disciplinary teams, multi-disciplinary teams, trans-disciplinary teams, community-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 encouraged. The unifying element underlying all successful CIHR Teams will be a commitment to excellence and the pursuit of a problem-based, collaborative approach to health research.

The application process is comprised of two steps: 1. Letter of Intent (LOI) and 2. Full Application. CIHR Team Grant proposals will be evaluated as a single, integrated entity. While each research component included in the application must be meritorious, it is critical to demonstrate that the CIHR Team Grant brings added value, in terms of the approach to improving the health of Canadians or strengthening the Canadian health care system.

For more information on this opportunity, please see the Team Grant Questions and Answers.

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.

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 minimum amount of available funds for this competition is $7.5 million over 5 years. The maximum amount awarded for a single grant is up to $500,000 per annum for five years. CIHR-IMHA anticipates that a minimum of three grants will be funded through this competition. This amount may increase if additional funding partners agree to participate.

Duration of Projects:

The CIHR Team Grant program will provide support for a maximum duration of five years. The final 2 years of funding are subject to a satisfactory progress review in the third year of funding. The equipment amount is awarded in year one.

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

The objective of the CIHR Team Grant program is to strengthen Canadian health research by supporting teams of talented and experienced researchers conducting high-quality research and providing superior research training and mentorship. The program emphasis is on the production of new knowledge, and the translation of research findings into improvements in the health of Canadians and the Canadian health care system. These results will be realized more rapidly and more efficiently through the CIHR Team Grant program than if the components were to be funded as a series of separate operating grants.

CIHR collaborative programs are designed to facilitate and provide support for collaborative research. The programs are designed to provide sufficient flexibility to accommodate all area of health research. While the Research Resource grant (1st launch in June 2005) puts emphasis on support for research enabling environments, the Emerging Team grant and the CIHR Team grant focus on research teams and a problem-based research culture.

With the introduction of the flexible CIHR Team Grant program it is the intent of CIHR to fund a variety of expert teams (uni-disciplinary teams, multi-disciplinary teams, trans-disciplinary teams, community-partnered teams, academic-industry teams, etc.). The unifying element underlying all successful CIHR Teams will be a commitment to excellence and the pursuit of a problem-based, collaborative approach to health research.

To further the Canadian capacity for high-quality, problem-based research on relevant health and disease, health care and health system issues, the specific objectives of the CIHR Team Grant program are:

• to support expert teams of talented and experienced researchers;
• to support high-quality research that address an important health and disease, health care or health system problem or issue which is best approached through a collaborative team;
• to provide superior research training and mentorship environments;
• to support the production of new knowledge and the translation of research findings into improvements in the health of Canadians and the Canadian health care system.

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

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 partnership.

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; and
• In some cases, conducting the research.

Specific Objectives

The Canadian Institute of Health Research's Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis (CIHR-IMHA) and partners with a shared interest in improving our understanding of physical activity, mobility and health will jointly launch a Request for Proposals for the Physical Activity, Mobility and health CIHR Team Grants under this theme.

Relevant Research Areas:

Physical Activity, Mobility and Health.

The CIHR Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis (CIHR-IMHA) and its partners will fund applications that are determined to be relevant to the research priority area described as Physical Activity, Mobility and Health. Research under this theme will create a better understanding of the relationships among physical activity, mobility and musculoskeletal health at every level, including the positive effects of motions and forces on the cellular behaviour of joint tissues and the well being of individuals. The psychosocial aspects of exercise, activity and sports on populations are also relevant.

Examples of research that might be conducted are provided on IMHA's website. These examples are not intended to be exhaustive and there is no intent to imply that applications in these research areas would be more successful than those in other research areas.

For questions about, CIHR funding guidelines, how to apply, and the peer review process, see the "Contact Information" section.

Eligibility

Eligibility criteria for all CIHR research funding (grant) 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.

Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) will be considered under this funding opportunity. Applicants who are considering submitting a Randomized Controlled Trial application in response to this funding opportunity are required to consult CIHR RCT staff listed in "Contact Information" and are advised to familiarize themselves with the RCT specific guidelines and instructions, which are fully described in the Randomized Controlled Trials: 2008-2009 funding opportunity.

RCTs will NOT be permitted when necessary background research or preliminary studies have not yet been completed. Consult CIHR RCT staff should you require further clarification.

Specific Eligibility Requirements:

Each eligible CIHR 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. The Team Leader must be a researcher with proven leadership capabilities and experience who will act as research program director and who will assume administrative responsibility for the grant.
• At least two additional independent investigators who have an established research track record in areas related to the collaborative project(s) proposed, 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.
• Collectively, team members must have an extensive record of success, be creative and original in their approach to research and its translation and have experience working in research teams. The specific contribution of each team member and community partner, where applicable, must be described.

In addition, the following special conditions apply:

The members of the Team may pursue other avenues of research in addition to their commitment to the CIHR Team Grant; however, each individual investigator must contribute sufficient time to the CIHR Team Grant research program to ensure the achievement of its research objectives.

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; however, CIHR funding is restricted to work performed within CIHR (eligible Institutions), except where second order transfer agreements are in place.

Guidelines

CIHR's General Guidelines for Grant Programs will be followed. Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate the use of Gender and sex-based analysis in applications.

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. The Nominated Principal Applicant may also be asked to complete a survey related to the outcomes of their research projects.

Allowable Costs

Applicants should review the Tri-Agency (CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC) financial administration guidelines Use of Grant Funds for a complete listing and description of allowable costs and activities.

Funding can be used to support:

• Research operating costs for the proposed collaborative research program, which must be distinct in its objectives from those for which team members currently receive funding;
• 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 CIHR Team Grant research program;
• Costs of regional, national and international networking activities, including collaboration, planning, and knowledge exchange activities, directly related to the CIHR Team Grant research program;
• Salaries of research assistants, technicians and other personnel 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. CIHR Team Grants are expected to provide a superior training environment;
• Salary of a professional coordinator and/or administrative assistant;
• Release time payments to enable employees of community partners to participate in the research program, limited to 50% of salary costs, and an overall maximum of $100,000 per year;
• A maximum of $20,000 annually for a release time stipend for the team leader;
• 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).

With the exception of co-applicants who are trainees or research associates, co-applicants may not receive a salary, stipend, or honorarium from CIHR grants on which they are a co-applicant (as described in Participant Applicant Categories for CIHR Grants). The only exception is the release time stipends for the team leader and employees of community partners as described.

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 competition. Conditions cover areas such as Applicant and Institutional Responsibilities, Ethics, Official Language Policy, Access to Information and Privacy Acts, and Acknowledgement of CIHR Support. Successful applicants will be informed of any special financial conditions prior to the release of funds or when they receive CIHR's Authorization for Funding (AFF) document.

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

In addition to following the policies relating to the Public Communication and Acknowledgment of CIHR's Support, team grant recipients will also be required to adhere to special branding requirements as a condition of receiving a CIHR Team Grant. The official Team name 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." The Team name must be used in all communication and promotion relating to the CIHR Team Grant. A team name must be proposed as part of the application for a CIHR 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, grant recipients must:

• Adhere to CIHR's reporting requirements and provide required information in a timely fashion. For CIHR Team Grants, a progress report will be required in year 3 of five-year grants. Grantees are required to submit a "Progress Report for 5-year grant holder (Form 44)" 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 by the date requested. The Progress Report for 5 Year Grant Holder (Form 44) can be found under List of Forms and Guidelines for Completion;
• 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

CIHR and partner organizations will provide funding for applications that are relevant to the objectives and research priority areas described under "Research Priority Areas" within the "Objectives" section.

Relevance of the applications to the research priority areas will be determined at the Letter of Intent stage. Representatives from partner organizations 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"). At the full application stage, these representatives will have access to an updated version of the one-page attachment and the anonymized research proposal summary.

Upon completion of peer review of the full applications, the representatives from partner organizations 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.

Peer Review

Eligible Letters of Intent (LOI's) and applications will be evaluated by a specifically-constituted, multidisciplinary peer review committee(s) designed specifically for the review of CIHR Team Grants. The committee may include individuals from partner communities. The expert committee 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.

When the review of LOI's will be 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.

CIHR Team Grant applications will be evaluated as a single, integrated entity. While each research component included in the application must be meritorious, it is critical to demonstrate that the CIHR Team Grant brings 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, when compared with funding the proposed work as a series of separate operating grants.

Note: For Teams submitting Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) as part of their Team Grant proposal:

• Applications that include RCTs will be evaluated by the RCT peer review committee, as well as by the Team Grant peer review committee that evaluates all applications to this funding opportunity.
• Researchers whose applications include an RCT must submit an LOI (for review by the Team Grant peer review committee) and an RCT Outline (for review by the RCT peer review committee and recommendation whether or not an RCT Full Application should be invited). The review of the RCT Outline will precede the review of the LOI by the Team Grant peer review committee and the recommendation of the RCT peer review committee will be considered as part of the overall LOI evaluation.
• Researchers who are successful at the LOI stage and whose applications include an RCT will be required to submit a Full RCT Application in addition to the Team Grant application. The RCT peer review committee will evaluate the RCT Full Application and make a funding recommendation. This information will be considered by the Team Grant peer review committee as part of the overall evaluation of the application.
• If the RCT component is not recommended for funding, the non-RCT components of the Team Grant MAY OR MAY NOT be funded. This decision will be made by the Team Grant peer review committee, taking into consideration the importance of the proposed RCT to the overall Team Grant application.
• If the RCT component is recommended for funding but the non-RCT components of the Team Grant are not, then the RCT component WILL NOT be funded on its own.

General criteria for assessing applications are listed below. Because different applicant teams will emphasize different approaches to research and to knowledge translation, it is understood that reviewers and committees will weight questions such as these differently from one application to another.

Address an important health and disease, health care or health system problem or issue:

• How important is the health problem being addressed? Will anticipated findings be of broad interest and applicability?
• How important, novel and/or original are the hypotheses or the questions to be addressed, and how clearly are they formulated?
• 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?

Research proposed:

• How well will the proposed research address the hypotheses or questions?
• How appropriate are the methods for the conduct of the research? Where applicable to the type of research proposed, does the proposal take into account the social, cultural and environmental factors surrounding the research problem?
• Do the methods represent the best current practice, and the most economical, effective approach?
• How well have the applicants anticipated difficulties in their approach and considered alternatives?
• How critically has the relevant literature been appraised and evaluated?

Applicants' productivity, experience and training:

• How appropriate to the research proposed is the training or track record of the applicants?
• How important and original is the recent productivity of the applicants?
• What is the likelihood that the Team can do the work proposed? (The proposed time commitment to the research may influence this judgment).

Appropriateness of the Team:

• Do key members have a track record of having participated and/or having provided leadership to collaborative research teams?
• Have team members demonstrated sustained productivity, creativity and originality in their research?

Value added of funding through a collaborative program:

• How well will a CIHR Team Grant enhance the understanding and accelerate the resolution of the health and disease, health care or health system issue, when compared to independent research projects?

Propose a coherent, integrated and feasible research plan:

• 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?
• Does the Team have a plan for engaging and linking with, and dissemination of research findings to, those who will utilize and apply the results?
• Has the Team identified the roles and contributions of all the parties in planning, execution, and evaluation as well as management activities?

Provide superior training opportunities:

• Will the research training and mentoring environment provide a superior experience for undergraduate, graduate and/or post-doctoral trainees, including those with a health professional background?

Propose an innovative problem-based approach to research:

• Does the proposed program of research challenge current research thinking and paradigms and/or address unexplored areas?
• Does the proposed program of research bring together, in a meaningful collaboration, researchers from different disciplines?
• How is this approach going to build on the different expertise and perspectives of team members?

For those engaged with partners:

• Are governance and management structures in place to ensure the meaningful integration of community partners 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 the 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?

How to Apply

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

• A step-by-step overview of CIHR's application processes can be found under How 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.
• 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.

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 (LOI) [ PDF (297 KB) Help ]. One original, plus five copies, of the LOI must be sent to CIHR. Applicants must follow the instructions on the Acceptable Application Module Formats page, which outlines formatting requirements for the letter and attachments.

The LOI must include:

a) 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 "CIHR Team Grant" and complete the following six sections of the Research Module Web form:

• Research Funding Program;
• Nominated Principal Applicant / Candidate;
• Project;
• Applicants/Co-Applicants;
• Suggested External Referees;
• Collaborators and Committee (do not fill Suggested Peer Review Committee);
• Total requested is maximum $10,000 for development grants;
• The Nominated Principal Investigator/Team Leader and co-applicants must provide their signatures on the Signature page.

b) A cover page of maximum one page (free form; standard form is not available for 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;
• A brief description (10 lines maximum) of the research area of the proposal;
• Five key words describing the research;
• If the research proposed includes a Randomized control Trial (RCT) component it must be indicated on the cover page.

c) In a table format, a list of all team members with their affiliations and their expertise (the list need not be final at the letter of intent stage).

d) Proposal

In a maximum of five pages (not including references), the proposal must clearly outline 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 (why this cannot be funded through one or more operating grants);
• The capacity of the Team to carry out the program of research proposed;
• 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 description of the importance and novelty of hypotheses or questions to be addresses and expected findings;
• The plan, including proposed organizational structures for engaging and linking with those who will ultimately use the research findings.

If the team involves partners:

• The proposed roles of partners in the planning and execution of the research program and the dissemination and utilization of the research results.

e) Attachment

• On one page: the name, title, address, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail address of the team leader;
• A brief curriculum vitae (maximum two pages per applicant) for a maximum of five of the key applicants, including the team leader. This must include information on grants held (source, type, title, amount/yr, duration), relevant publications from the last five years, and 5-10 expertise keywords. Full CV s will not be considered;
• A development grant request whereby applicants may request funds of up to $10,000 to be used in the development of a full application. A one-page request must be submitted with the LOI, outlining the activities for which the development grant will be used, plus a one-page budget description.

f) Reference: A short bibliography (one page maximum) of any references cited in the Letter of Intent.

Additional instructions must be followed for this funding opportunity:

• Within the Research Funding Program section of the application web form, select the box marked "Strategic Initiative" and enter the title of this funding opportunity in the space provided.
• 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.

Any additional material will be discarded and not 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.

Results of the LOI will be posted on the CIHR web site.

Send the original Letter of Intent and five copies by Courier to:

RE: "CIHR Team Grant- Physical Activity, Mobility and Health Program"
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Room 97, 160 Elgin Street
Address locator: 4809A
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0W9

2. Full Application

Selected applicants will be invited to submit a full application. 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. The review process may involve external reviews and/or a meeting of the leader and team members with sub-sets of the review committee, as appropriate.

Contact Information

Contact for questions about the research priority area Physical Activity, Mobility and Health.

Tanya Gallant (Updated: 2009-04-02)
Program Manager/Analyst
CIHR Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Telephone: 613-954-3469
Fax: 613-954-1800
E-mail: tanya.gallant@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

For questions specific to the CIHR Team Grant Program, including CIHR funding guidelines, how to apply, and the peer review process contact:

Liliane Chénard (Updated: 2009-11-17)
Team Lead, Program Delivery
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Telephone: 613-957-8842
Fax: 613-954-1800
Email: liliane.chenard@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

For questions specific to the Randomized Controlled Trials program, including CIHR funding guidelines, how to apply, and the peer review process contact:

Toni Gasparini
Trials Officer
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Telephone: 613-941-4438
Fax: 613-954-1800
Email: toni.gasparini@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

Partner/Collaborator Description

Note: Additional partners/collaborators, including partners/collaborators from industry and the private sector are expected to join this funding initiative over the coming year.

Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
CIHR is Canada's major federal funding agency for health research. Its objective is to excel, according to internationally accepted standards of scientific excellence, in the creation of new knowledge and its translation into improved health for Canadians, more effective health services and products and a strengthened Canadian health care system.

CIHR - Institute ofMusculoskeletal Health and Arthritis (IMHA)
IMHA supports research to enhance active living, mobility and movement, and oral health; and addresses causes, prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, support systems, and palliation for a wide range of conditions related to bones, joints, muscles, connective tissue, skin and teeth. To achieve its vision, IMHA focuses on three strategic research priorities: Physical Activity, Mobility and Health; Tissue Injury, Repair and Replacement; Pain, Disability and Chronic Disease.

Partners

CIHR - Institute ofAboriginal Peoples Health (IAPH)
IAPH supports health research that addresses the special health needs of Aboriginal peoples in Canada, and aims to improve the health of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples through the assertion of Aboriginal understandings of health by fostering innovative community-based and scientifically excellent research.

CIHR - Institute of Cancer Research (ICR)
ICR is dedicated to supporting research that reduces the burden of cancer on individuals and families through prevention strategies, screening, diagnosis, effective treatment, psycho-social support systems, and palliation. ICR is interested in research in the area of physical activity and cancer. There is mounting evidence suggesting a link between the kind (e.g., aerobic, resistance training) and amount of physical activity and cancer risk. There are also studies that show the benefits of physical activity for cancer survivors, particularly for breast and prostate cancer survivors, including those for whom life expectancy is limited. As part of this initiative, ICR is interested in research which explores the benefits of physical activity and exercise along the cancer trajectory from prevention to palliation, including post-treatment rehabilitation. ICR will commit up to $500,000 per year for five years in support of successful teams."