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Description
The HIV/AIDS Community-based Research (CBR) Program assists community-based organizations, non-governmental organizations and institutions in developing the knowledge necessary to carry out their HIV/AIDS work in the most effective manner, and in creating the expertise within these communities to conduct their own research.
Background
The CIHR Institute of Infection and Immunity (CIHR-III) in partnership with the CIHR Institute of Aboriginal Peoples' Health (CIHR-IAPH), is pleased to announce the launch of the next round of Requests for Applications (RFA) under the HIV/AIDS CBR Program, a component of the CIHR HIV/AIDS Research Initiative
The CIHR HIV/AIDS Research Initiative is supported by the Federal Initiative to Address HIV/AIDS in Canada. The Federal Initiative reaffirms the Government of Canada's commitment to addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic both in Canada and globally. As one of the partners in this initiative, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research sets priorities for and administers the HIV/AIDS Research Initiative and funds meritorious research grants and research personnel awards across the entire spectrum of HIV/AIDS research.
The goals of the Federal Initiative are to:
- Prevent the acquisition and transmission of new infections;
- Slow the progression of the disease and improve quality of life;
- Reduce the social and economic impact of HIV/AIDS; and
- Contribute to the global effort to reduce the spread of HIV and mitigate the impact of the disease.
The Federal Initiative builds on the successes of the Canadian Strategy on HIV/AIDS (CSHA) which recognized that collaboration across many different sectors was necessary to ensure an effective response to HIV/AIDS. The CSHA promoted the greater role of communities in the research process with the creation of the HIV/AIDS CBR Program. By building on the strengths of communities they will be best equipped to provide care, treatment and support to those already affected and to prevent the further spread of the HIV epidemic. Please visit the Federal Initiative to Address HIV/AIDS in Canada website for more information.
Community-based research involves community members in all stages of the research process from the definition of the research question to ensure relevance to the community, to capacity-building and integration of community members in conducting the research. It also promotes the active participation of communities in the development and implementation of knowledge dissemination strategies. In addition to these principles, CBR espouses the same values of methodological rigour and ethical review as other research approaches.
Community Leaders play an integral role in the research processes to ensure that the research will lead to useful and practical outcomes that will directly benefit the community.
Researchers from academic and other research institutions bring to community groups their research expertise in methodology, scientific rigor and supervision of future researchers.
The HIV/AIDS CBR Program supports knowledge development and capacity-building initiatives of relevance to communities addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic. There are two different streams of activities, each with distinct budgets, within the HIV/AIDS CBR Program - Aboriginal and General.
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 $264,000 over three years. The maximum amount awarded for a single award is $22,000 per year for up to 3 years:
- Trainee stipend: $21,000 per annum.
- Research allowance: $1,000 per annum.
- Stipends are valued in Canadian dollars and are taxable.
- This award is non-renewable.
General Stream
The total available in this stream is $132,000 over 3 years.
Aboriginal Stream
The total available in this stream is $132,000 over 3 years.
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.
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Objectives
The specific objectives of this funding opportunity are:
- To help ensure a reliable supply of highly qualified personnel to develop knowledge in the fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic through community-based research;
- To provide recognition and support to students who are pursuing a Doctoral degree in a community-based research field related to HIV/AIDS in Canada.
Community-based research involves community members in all stages of the research process from the definition of the research question to ensure relevance to the community, to capacity-building and integration of community members in conducting the research as well as promoting the active participation in the development and implementation of the dissemination strategy. In addition to these principles, CBR espouses the same values of methodological rigour and ethical review as other research approaches.
In line with the principles of CBR, applicants and their supervisors are encouraged to consider the engagement of the community in the training program of the applicant.
Relevant Research Areas:
The HIV/AIDS CBR Program is aimed at undertaking research that benefits Canadian communities in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The impact of the proposed research on Canadian communities must be clearly demonstrated.
Research supported within this program is intended to address the needs deemed relevant by the affected communities while at the same time supporting the goals of the Federal Initiative.
CIHR - Institute of Infection and Immunity (III)
The Institute of Infection and Immunity, with the guidance of the CIHR HIV/AIDS Research Advisory Committee (CHARAC) and through consultation with a wide range of stakeholders, has established six priorities for the CIHR HIV/AIDS Research Initiative. These HIV/AIDS Research Priorities reflect areas of particular interest for funding but are not intended to lessen the importance of other areas of HIV/AIDS research or limit applications. All areas of HIV/AIDS research will remain eligible for funding through the HIV/AIDS CBR Program. The Institutes do not wish to further limit the areas of HIV/AIDS research eligible to ensure its inclusiveness and responsiveness to the needs of the different communities. Both quantitative and qualitative research methods, including epidemiology, intervention research, case studies and interviews will be considered.
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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 Awards program description.
Specific Eligibility Requirements
Eligibility requirements specific to this funding opportunity include the following:
- HIV/AIDS CBR Doctoral Research Awards can only be held at Canadian institutions.
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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.
In addition to CIHR standard guidelines and requirements, the following special requirements shall apply:
Awards must be taken up within 12 months of the date of offer and must start May 1, September 1 or January 1 following the offer of award.
A Final Report is required to be submitted within six months after the end of the award's term. The report should not exceed five pages and should:
- Provide a summary of the objectives, research design and methods;
- Demonstrate that the links between the research program and community needs have been established.
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.
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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.
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Review Process and Evaluation
Merit Review
A CIHR Merit 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
Merit review will be conducted in accordance with The CIHR Peer Review Process - Policies and Responsibilities of Grants Committee Members.
Each proposal must describe how the award will address the objectives described under "Objectives" and "Relevant Research Areas" most notably the responsiveness to the principles of CBR as defined in that section.
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.
Scientific Merit
Assessment Criteria include:
- Achievements and Activities of the Candidate
- Characteristics and Abilities of the Candidate
- Research Training Environment
Potential Impact
Assessment Criteria include:
- The links between the research program and HIV/AIDS health policy and programming specific to community needs.
- The likely significance of the research for the involved community - Aboriginal and/or non-Aboriginal - and relevance to the goals of the Federal Initiative to Address HIV/AIDS in Canada;
- The candidate and supervisor's experience with community-based research.
- The involvement of the community as partners in the research. Information on community involvement and partnership should include:
- A clear description of the community and community-based organization involved in the research;
- Extent and nature of community involvement in the identification of the research question, development and implementation of the project; and
- How partnerships will operate with regards to mutual accountability, interaction, cultural competency, communication of results to participants and ownership of research results.
Evaluation Process
The committee will use the following Merit Review Scale.
| |
Potential Impact |
Range |
Scientific Merit |
| May Be Funded |
Enormous |
4.5 - 4.9 |
Outstanding |
| Extremely significant |
4.0 - 4.4 |
Excellent |
| Very significant |
3.5 - 3.9 |
Very good |
| Not Fundable |
Significant |
3.0 - 3.4 |
Acceptable, but low priority |
| Moderate |
2.5 - 2.9 |
Needs revision |
| Limited |
2.0 - 2.4 |
Needs major revision |
| Negligible |
0.0 - 1.9 |
Seriously flawed |
Each application will be assigned and reviewed by four merit committee members - two reviewers and two readers. One reviewer will focus on the assessment of Potential Impact and the other will focus on the assessment of Scientific Merit. The role of both reviewers is to present the application to the Merit Review panel. Readers will act as discussants at the review meeting. Potential Impact and Scientific Merit will be given equal weight in the assessment of the application by the Merit Review panel. Following the initial reviewers' and readers' comments and the discussion of the application by the entire panel, the two reviewers will determine a consensus rating for both Potential Impact and Scientific Merit. The Merit Review panel will then provide individual confidential votes within +/- 0.5 of the consensus ratings. Once the ratings have been determined, the Merit Review panel will review the requested budget and recommend an appropriate budget for the project. Only those applications that exceed the threshold rating of 3.5 on both Potential Impact and Scientific Merit will be considered for funding. The mean of the two scores will be calculated for the applications with a rating of 3.5 and above on both criteria to determine the final rating and establish a ranking list.
On completion of the review, the appropriate CIHR institute, portfolio and partner representatives will receive the ranking list, final merit review ratings and recommendations of the Merit Review committee with regards to funding level and period of support for the submitted applications that fall in the fundable range. Based on the total funds available for the RFA, applications will be funded from the top-ranked down as far as the budget will allow in both the General and the Aboriginal funding streams.
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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 one step: Application.
- To complete your Application, follow the instructions identified in the Doctoral Research Awards - Web Forms "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.
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.)
- Applicants are encouraged to resubmit previously unsuccessful applications, taking into consideration past reviewers' comments;
- A CBR Principles Summary (additionnal attachment) is mandatory and must demonstrate, in a maximum of one page, the level of partnership with relevant community stakeholders as well as a clear description of community involvement in the identification of the research question, development, implementation and knowledge dissemination activities of the project;
- In addition to the academic supervisor, students are encouraged to link with a mentor from the community (e.g., an elder or a stakeholder from the affected community) that would provide guidance as to the appropriate engagement of the student toward the affected community in the research project. A brief letter of support from this mentor describing the interaction with the student must be appended to the application, when applicable. Mentors from the community that hold an appointment at an eligible academic or research institution may be listed as a co-supervisor on the application;
- In the Program(s) section of the CIHR Training Module (page 3 of the web form printed report) select "Strategic Initiative/RFA" and enter "HIV/AIDS CBR Program - Doctoral Research Awards – STREAM: (Aboriginal or General)";
- In CV module (validated for CIHR), the section called "Activities/Contributions" should include information on both academic and non-academic contributions, publications including peer-reviewed articles and significant reports in the public domain and should focus on achievements of the applicant with community-based research and experience working with community-based organizations. Draft copies will not be accepted;
- Volunteer experience can be inserted into the 'Work Experience' section if deemed relevant;
- Community recognition can be inserted in the 'Distinctions/Awards/Credentials' section;
- Attach a cover page on your application indicating your name and that your application is submitted to the HIV/AIDS CBR Doctoral Research Award competition.
- If you are planning to apply to this opportunity, please contact Julien David at 613-941-6493 or julien.david@cihr-irsc.gc.ca.
Additional Assistance:
Send the completed application package by courier to: (Updated: 2009-09-28)
RE: "HIV/AIDS Community-based Research Program - Doctoral Research Awards"
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Room 97, 160 Elgin Street
Address locator: 4809A
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0W9
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Contact Information
For questions on CIHR funding guidelines, how to apply, and the Merit review process contact:
Julien David
HIV/AIDS Community-based Research Program Delivery Coordinator
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Telephone: 613-941-6493
Fax: 613-954-1800
Email: julien.david@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
For questions about this initiative and research objectives contact:
Suzette Dos Santos (Updated: 2009-11-02)
Officer, HIV/AIDS Research Initiative
Institute of Infection and Immunity
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
Telephone: 613-941-4464
Fax: 613-954-1800
Email: suzette.dossantos@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
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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.
Partners
CIHR - Institute of Infection and Immunity (III)
The CIHR Institute of Infection and Immunity (III) supports research to enhance immune-mediated health and to reduce the burden of infectious disease, immune-mediated disease, and allergy through prevention strategies, screening, diagnosis, treatment, support systems, and palliation. CIHR-III is the lead CIHR Institute for the CIHR HIV/AIDS Research Initiative.
CIHR - Institute of Aboriginal Peoples' Health (IAPH)
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research - Institute of Aboriginal Peoples' Health 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 and by fostering innovative community-based and scientifically excellent research.
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