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

The Canada Graduate Scholarships (CGS) Doctoral Awards administered by CIHR are intended to provide special recognition and support to students who are pursuing a doctoral degree in a health related field in Canada. These candidates are expected to have an exceptionally high potential for future research achievement and productivity. This funding program will be administered through the CIHR Doctoral Research Award competition, with the top candidates meeting the eligibility criteria below receiving a CGS award.

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 maximum amount awarded for a single award is $35,000 for up to 3 years:

• Trainee stipend: $30,000 per annum.
• Research allowance: $5,000 per annum.
• This award is non-renewable.

Objectives

The specific objectives of this funding opportunity are:

• To provide recognition and funding to students early in their academic research career, providing them with an opportunity to gain research experience.
• To provide a reliable supply of highly skilled and qualified researchers.

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 to CIHR training awards, please refer to the General Guidelines for Training Programs, as well as the Doctoral Research Award: 2009-2010 funding opportunity.

Specific Eligibility Requirements

Eligibility requirements specific to this funding opportunity include the following:

• The program is open to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada. Only those students engaged in full-time PhD research training program in a Canadian graduate school are eligible for support.
• The award for which support is being sought should be under the supervision of a researcher who holds research funds obtained through a recognized competitive peer review process.
• Awards must be held at a Canadian institution.
• Candidates who already hold, or have held, a CIHR DRA, are not eligible for a CGS Doctoral Award, unless the term of the DRA awarded was less than the maximum allowed and they continue to meet the eligibility requirements as described in the DRA program description.

Guidelines

General CIHR Guidelines

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

Allowable Costs

The awards consist of a stipend and a research allowance.

For the research allowance, awardees 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.

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.

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.

Communication Requirements

Award 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.

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.

Review Process and Evaluation

Peer Review

A CIHR peer review committee will evaluate the full applications. 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

The following general criteria for evaluating Doctoral Research Award applications will be used:

• Achievements and activities of the candidate
• Characteristics and abilities of the candidate
• Research training environment

How to Apply

Note: This funding opportunity requires the use of ResearchNet to apply for funding.

• The application process for this funding opportunity is comprised of one step: Application.
• To complete your application, review the Doctoral Research Award: 2009-2010 funding opportunity and then follow the specific application guidelines and instructions which are fully described in its "How to Apply" section.
• An overview of CIHR's application processes can be found under 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.

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.)

• This funding program will be administered through the Doctoral Research Award competition, with the top candidates meeting the eligibility criteria mentioned above receiving a CGS award. For more details instruction on how to apply, candidates must consult theDoctoral Research Award: 2009-2010 funding opportunity.
• In order to ensure fairness in the evaluation of Doctoral Research Award applications, equivalent time must be guaranteed for each reviewer to assess each complete application. As a result, CIHR will accept updates to applications (notices of acceptance of publications, letters confirming academic appointment, and notices of any other funding requested or received only) until November 15, 2009.

Contact Information

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

CIHR Doctoral Research Awards Program Delivery Coordinator
Research Capacity Development Branch
Telephone: 613-941-0847 (Updated: 2009-09-23)
Fax: 613-954-1800
Email: DRA@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

If you are experiencing technical difficulties with your ResearchNet account or the e-Submission process contact:

CIHR ResearchNet Support
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Telephone: 613-941-9080
Email: support@researchnet-recherchenet.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.