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Description
The CIHR Open Operating Grant Program (OOGP) provides operating funds to support research proposals in all areas of health research.
The mandate of CIHR 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 (Bill C-13, April 13, 2000).
CIHR's Strategic Plan states: "The contributions and excellence of individuals and individual disciplines are at the very foundation of CIHR's vision of health research. Indeed, CIHR's single largest investment, through our open grants competition, is to fund the research of individuals, allowing them to pursue their own creative ideas for novel and significant research projects. CIHR will fund the best ideas of the most talented researchers at internationally competitive levels, and across the full spectrum of health research."
The OOGP is the foundation of CIHR's programming. CIHR recognizes that the creativity, skill, and insight of individuals and self-assembled teams lie at the heart of the research enterprise. The pursuit of excellence in research, as evaluated through the peer review process, inspires ideas that drive progress and ensures a continuous flow of fresh insights.
The OOGP is flexible, in that there are:
- No specific requirements in relation to team size or team composition; nonetheless, the role of each applicant must be clearly identified.
- No specific requirements or restrictions on the specific research activities to be undertaken.
- No maximum or minimum with respect to funds being requested.
Funds Available (Updated: 2009-12-16)
CIHR’s contribution to the amount available for this initiative is subject to availability of funds voted annually to CIHR by parliamentary appropriations. Should CIHR funding levels be decreased by Parliament, CIHR reserves the right to defer or suspend payments to grants received as a result of this funding opportunity.
Funding is augmented by Institute Priority Announcements and other linked funding programs that also award grants through the OOGP, as well as one-year grants that may be awarded by CIHR as a means of managing our multi-year investments.
- The total amount available for this funding opportunity is $400M (i.e., $200M per competition) over the multi-year terms of the grants. This amount may increase subject to the availability of funds.
- It is anticipated that this will fund approximately 800-900 new grants per year (i.e., 400-450 per competition).
- Through the Open Operating Grant Program, grants will usually be awarded for a period of two to five years.
- Equipment will not be funded. CIHR will not be funding equipment through its Open Operating Grant competitions until further notice.
- Definition of "Equipment" at CIHR: CIHR has decided to introduce a definition of "equipment" effective for application deadlines of August 1, 2009 and later.
"Research Equipment: Any item (or interrelated collection of items comprising a system) of nonexpendable tangible property, having a useful life of more than 1 year and a cost of $2,000 or more, which is used wholly or in part for research."
Note that all three conditions must be met for an item to be considered equipment, i.e.:
1. nonexpendable tangible property; and,
2. useful life of more than 1 year; and,
3. a cost of $2,000 or more.
To be considered materials or supplies an item must meet only one of the following conditions:
1. expendable tangible property; or,
2. useful life of 1 year or less; or,
3. a cost of less than $2,000.
For example, a laptop computer that costs less than $2,000 would be considered as materials or supplies even though it is a nonexpendable tangible item with a useful life of more than one year.(Updated: 2009-07-23)
Funding Opportunities in Specific Research Areas
Funds are available for the current competition to support Operating Grant applications in specific research areas:
Partner/Collaborator Participation
The OOGP has no formal requirements for partnering.
From time to time, additional funding for the OOGP may be made available through partnerships with other health research funding bodies. These funding opportunities will be announced individually where they occur.
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Objectives
The specific objectives of this funding opportunity are:
- To contribute to the creation, dissemination and use of health-related knowledge, and to help develop and maintain Canadian health research capacity, by supporting original, high quality projects proposed and conducted by individual researchers or groups of researchers, in all areas of health.
The OOGP is further expected to:
- Support original, high quality projects;
- Support individual researchers and groups of researchers;
- Support research in all areas and disciplines with relevance to health;
- Contribute to the creation and use of health-related knowledge;
- Contribute to the dissemination, commercialization/knowledge translation, and use of health-related knowledge;
- Develop and maintain Canadian health research capacity, including research training.
Relevant Research Areas:
The OOGP is open to applications in all areas of health research that are aligned with the CIHR mandate: "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". The onus is on the applicant to clearly state the link between the application and CIHR's mandate.
As outlined in the CIHR Grants and Awards Guide (section 1-A2), it is the researcher's responsibility to apply to the agency that deals with the dominant research discipline. Applicants are encouraged to contact CIHR with regards to eligibility well before the application deadline. Applications submitted to CIHR that would be more appropriate for evaluation by NSERC or SSHRC will be withdrawn from the OOGP competition.
CIHR will not provide support for studies that are solely for the purpose of satisfying regulatory requirements and any such application will be withdrawn.
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Eligibility
(Updated: 2009-12-16)
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 Individual Eligibility Requirements regarding the eligibility requirements for individuals and institutions
Eligibility to Apply:
In order for your application to be accepted:
- The Nominated Principal Applicant must be an independent researcher;
- Principal Applicants must be an independent researcher;
- Co-Applicants may be one of the following:
- An independent researcher; or,
- A trainee;
There is no limit to the number of applications an individual can submit as a Nominated Principal Applicant, or to the number of applications for which an individual is a Principal Applicant or a Co-Applicant, per Operating Grant Competition.
Randomized Controlled Trials:
Applications involving Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) are accepted and encouraged where appropriate based on scientific and methodological grounds.
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Guidelines
(Updated: 2009-12-16)
General CIHR Guidelines
This funding opportunity will comply fully with the policies and guidelines outlined in the CIHR Grants and Awards Guide. 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.
The full application is expected to provide a detailed justification of all costs.
Global Health Research and International Collaborations
As outlined in the CIHR Grants and Awards Guide Global Health Research Section and International Collaborations Section, applicants who are eligible for CIHR funding may apply to CIHR’s funding opportunities for funds to support research to be carried out in, or in direct collaboration with researchers and/or decision-makers based in, other countries. CIHR contributes to, and supports international research projects and international collaborations to address a range of research areas, including but not limited to established priorities in global health research and contributes to the development of health-research capacity both internationally and at home.
Conditions of Funding
Successful applicants funded through this funding opportunity and any other persons working on the project must comply fully with the “policies and guidelines in the conduct of research”. Policies and guidelines cover areas such as Applicant Responsibilities, 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 CIHR's Policy on Conflict of Interest and Confidentiality in the context of Merit, Relevance and 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.
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Performance Measurement
(Updated: 2009-12-16)
CIHR is committed to collecting and disseminating information on the outputs and impacts of the research it funds. This information is an important part of CIHR accountability within the Federal Government and to Canadians.
- The Nominated Principal Applicant, may be required to submit an End of Grant report to CIHR within 18 months after the authority to use the grant fund period. This online report would be made available to the Nominated Principal Applicant on ResearchNet at the beginning of the grant funding period and can be filled in as the research progresses.
- For grants other than Randomized Controlled Trials (RCT), the Nominated Principal Applicant may be required to submit a Progress Report for Long-Term Grant Holders (5 or more years) in year 3 of five-year grants summarizing the outcomes and describing how the grant funds were used.
- For all RCT grants the Nominated Principal Applicant, regardless of the grant's term and funding level must submit a final report following the revised CONSORT Checklist.
- For RCT grants, the Nominated Principal Applicant will be informed of the reporting requirements in his/her Notification of Decision letter. He/she must submit annual, mid-term and/or final reports depending on the value and duration of their grant as follows:
- grants of less than five years and awarded less than $500K in every year have to submit only a final report;
- grants of five years and awarded less than $500K in every year have to submit a mid-term and a final report;
- grants of five years or more and awarded more than $500K in any one year have to submit annual and final reports.
- If deemed to require closer oversight, the peer review committee may request more frequent reports (e.g., quarterly) for any grant, or annual reports for grants of less than five years and awarded less than $500K in every year.
- The Nominated Principal Applicant 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;
- The Nominated Principal Applicant must also encourage their associates, trainees and administration to participate in the monitoring, review and evaluation of CIHR’s programs, policies and processes as required.
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Review Process and Evaluation
Peer Review
Applications to the OOGP are reviewed by one of approximately 50 peer review committees that are specifically constituted for this purpose. Each committee consists of about 10-16 members, including a Chairperson and Scientific Officer. For a list of these committees and their respective mandates, refer to Peer Review Committees and Mandates on the CIHR Website.
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.
Applicants have the opportunity, within the ResearchNet application process, to indicate their preference of peer review committee (see description of mandates).CIHR will consult with committee Chairs and Scientific Officers, as required, in assigning applications to specific committees. Note that CIHR will make the final decision on which peer review committee will review each application.
Evaluation Criteria (Updated: 2010-01-20)
Peer review will be conducted in accordance with CIHR Peer Review Manual for Grant Applications. Reviewers will use the following set of criteria for the evaluation of all CIHR grant applications:
- Research Approach
- Originality of the Proposal
- Applicant(s)
- Environment for the Research
- Impact of the Research
A detailed elaboration of these criteria can be found in the Revised Grants Evaluation Criteria section of CIHR website.
In addition to these standard evaluation criteria for the assessment of scientific merit, for applications containing a randomized control trial (RCT), the following RCT Evaluation Criteria will be used when evaluating the RCT methodology.
Funding Decision (Updated: 2009-12-16)
Upon completion of peer review, CIHR Scientific Council will receive the ranking list, ratings and recommendations on funding level and award term for the applications that fall in the fundable range. The list will be used for funding decision-making purposes and will remain anonymous unless applicants have provided written consent to share nominative information.
Applications will be funded from the top down in order of ranking as far as budgets will allow.
Applications that receive a rating below 3.5 will not be funded.
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How to Apply
- The application process for this funding opportunity is comprised of two steps: Registration and Application.
- To complete your Registration and Application, follow the instructions identified in the Operating Grants - Researchnet "Registration" Phase Instructions and the Operating Grants - ResearchNet "Application" Phase Instructions.
- 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.
Submission Requirements
- Your Application will be submitted using ResearchNet.
Scan and upload the signed signature pages including the routing slip in the Print/Upload Signature Pages task in ResearchNet prior to submitting your application.
Specific Requirments
- Where cash or in-kind contributions from other sources are indicated within the budget module of an application, supporting documentation of those contributions must be provided in a separate attachment called the "Other Funding Sources Support Letter" under "Enter Budget Information and Supporting Documents - Budget Attachments".
- In order to ensure fairness in the evaluation of grant 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 final acceptance of publications and notices of any other funding requested or received only) until October 26, 2009 for the "200909MOP" competition and April 12, 2010 for the "201003MOP" competition.
- Appendices may be appended as deemed appropriate by the applicant. There is no page limit to Appendices and no restrictions on the content of Appendices. However, reviewers are under no obligation to read Appendices.
Randomized Controlled Trials
- For applications for Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs): (1) researchers may apply to the most relevant discipline-based peer review committee or to the RCT peer review committee if the budget requested is less than $250,000 in every project year; and (2) researchers must apply to the RCT peer review committee if the budget requested is greater than or equal to $250,000 in any project year.
- All applications submitted to the RCT committee, regardless of the level of funding requested, must follow the RCT headings provided under RCT Evaluation Criteria and Headings.
- All applications for RCTs that are submitted to discipline‑based committees are encouraged to use the RCT headings but are not required to do so.
- The requirement for submission of an RCT Outline as a preliminary step to submitting an RCT application has been discontinued
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Contact Information
For questions on CIHR funding guidelines, how to apply, and the peer review process contact:
CIHR Info Service
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Telephone: 613-954-1968
Toll-free: 1-888-603-4178
Email: info@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
Specific information about the Operating Grant Program peer review committees can also be obtained by contacting the individuals listed on the CIHR Committees and Programs Contacts page of the CIHR Website.
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
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