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Description
The purpose of this funding opportunity is to provide undergraduate and health professional students with opportunities to undertake research projects with established health researchers in an environment that provides strong mentorship. In addition, the intent of the initiative is to develop human resources and expertise to facilitate the translational research objectives of CIHR (including clinical research). Furthermore, this opportunity targets the early stage of the student's academic training to encourage the pursuit of research in areas of strategic interest to CIHR's Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis (IMHA) and CIHR's Institute of Aging (IA).
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. 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.
- The total amount available for this initiative is $180,000. This amount may increase if additional funding partners decide to participate.
- Of this $180,000:
- $ 150,000 is available to fund applications relevant to Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis
- $ 30,000 is available to fund applications relevant to Institute of Aging
- The maximum amount awarded for a single award is $ 4,950.00 for up to 3 months.
Partner 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 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 "Studentship" funding opportunity are to:
- encourage undergraduate students early in their academic training into areas of strategic interest to CIHR's Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis (IMHA) and CIHR's Institute of Aging (IA).
- build human resources and expertise to facilitate the transfer of research to action.
Relevant Research Areas:
Applications in one or more of the following research areas are encouraged. Note that there is no requirement to cover more than one relevant research area.
The CIHR-IMHA will fund meritorious applications that are determined to be relevant to the research priority areas described below:
- Pain, Disability and Chronic Disease
The primary focus of this theme is to better understand the genetic and environmental causes, optimal treatment of MSK, oral, and skin chronic diseases and elimination of pain and disability in these disease conditions. A second area of significance is to understand the relationship between chronic diseases and conditions within IMHA's mandate (e.g. skin and bone diseases and diseases that compromise oral health) or the relationship between pain, disability, and/or disease. The impact of chronic musculoskeletal, oral, and skin diseases on general health and well-being is also of interest.
- Tissue/Bone Injury, Repair and Replacement
Potential research areas include novel drug or cell delivery models and approaches, application of tissue-engineered biomaterials as conduits or shunts in tissue regeneration, prosthetics research, and the ethical consequences of regenerative medicine based on tissue engineering strategies. Any research dealing with tissue/bone injury, repair and replacement from a microscopic level (stem cell research, molecular aspects, loading, biochemical or inflammatory injury, infection, external factors)
- Physical Activity, Mobility and Health
Research under this theme will create a better understanding of the relationships between physical activity, mobility and MSK health at every level, including the positive effects of exercise/physical activity on the cellular behavior of joint tissues and the musculoskeletal well being of individuals. The psychosocial and population health aspects of exercise, activity and sports on is also relevant.
The CIHR-IA is promoting advancement of research to action to address the intrinsic and extrinsic challenges associated with mobility in aging.
Research and Research Design in Aging should address issues of aging and/or the aged (generally above the age of 65) as essential elements of the objectives, hypotheses and analyses (e.g. dynamics of aging, age-relevant models and/or aged subject, uniqueness of aging or aged population). With respect to diseases common in old age, the focus must be on the effects of the disease specifically in the elderly, rather than on diseases in a general context, as these are addressed by other CIHR Institutes.
Intrinsic and extrinsic challenges in Mobility in Aging include:
- biological and physiological factors
- behavioural and psychosocial factors
- biomedical, clinical and technological innovations
- prevention, rehabilitation and management
- environmental factors - social, economic, policy and physical
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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 Individual Eligibility Requirements 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 program description.
Eligibility to Apply:
In order for your application to be accepted:
1) The Trainee must meet the following requirements:
- Enrollment in an undergraduate degree program at a Canadian university at the time of application. This includes but is not limited to students studying Kinesiology, Nursing, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, or Dentistry.
- Availability to present their work at an upcoming health research symposia or conference.
- Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada at the time of application.
2) The Supervisor must meet the following requirements:
- Have a proven 'track record' as a principal investigator in one of more of the relevant research areas described above.
- Be employed by a Canadian institution considered eligible under CIHR's guidelines (Please see CIHR's Grants and Awards Guide for more information.)
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Guidelines
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. This encouraged approach does not contradict CIHR-IA's promotion and support of research that advances the health and quality of life of older adults (generally above the age of 65).
Allowable Costs
The awards consist of a stipend
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.
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.
In addition to CIHR standard guidelines and requirements, the following special requirements shall apply:
- The candidates must be prepared to present their work at an upcoming research symposia or conference.
- Students must complete a consecutive 13-week term
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 (CCIP).
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 Communication of Competition Results 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
Relevance Review
The CIHR's Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis and CIHR's Institute of Aging will provide funding for applications that are relevant to (in alignment with) the objectives and research priority areas described in the Objectives section.
Prior to review, the CIHR Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis and the CIHR's Institute of Aging will have access to anonymized project titles and summaries to conduct relevance review.
The following criteria will be used in conducting the relevance review:
- Degree of alignment of the proposal with the objectives of the studentship training opportunity described in the "Objectives" section;
- Extent to which the proposal addresses the above relevant areas of inquiry of the Partners of this Funding Opportunity described in the "Objectives" section:
Review Committee
A CIHR review committee will evaluate the full applications. The review committee will be comprised of CIHR staff and in some cases, external delegates with expertise necessary to conduct the review. 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).
The review committee will review the applications for merit and the eligibility of the proposed activity to the objectives and research priorities outlined in the objectives section.
Evaluation Criteria
The following evaluation criteria are specific to this funding opportunity.
- fit of the research project to research objectives described above;
- excellence and suitability of the research project and training environment;
- quality of the mentoring plan;
- suitability of the mentor and appropriateness of the student for the award and training plan presented.
Funding Decision:
Upon completion of peer review, the CIHR Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis and Institute of Aging will receive the ranking list, merit scores (ratings) and recommendations on funding level and award term for the applications that fall in the fundable range and have been determined to be relevant to the specific research areas and objectives of the initiative. The list will be used for funding decision-making purposes and will remain anonymous.
Based on the total funds available for the initiative, applications will be funded from the top-ranked down as far as budgets will allow.
Applications that receive a rating below 3.5 will not be funded.
This award is non-renewable.
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How to Apply
- The application process for this funding opportunity is comprised of one step: Application.
- To complete your Application, follow the instructions identified in the General Awards - 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 Registration and 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.
- Only the original official transcripts must be sent (courier stamped no later than the application deadline date) to:
RE: "Studentship: Mobility, musculoskeletal, oral, and skin health and arthritis across the lifespan"
Attn: Olivier Jacob-Gravel
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Room 97, 160 Elgin Street
Address locator: 4809A
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0W9
Specific Instructions
The following criteria are mandatory for your Application to be accepted:
- Original official transcripts (must be an unopened original from the issuing institution; it is recognized that for applications submitted through a university, university officials will have opened the transcript envelopes before they reach CIHR). Certified true copies will only be accepted from institutions outside North America (translated in either English or French). A certified true copy is defined as a copy of the original document that has been certified to be a true copy of the original document by a commissioner of oath such as a notary or lawyer. The copy must bear the original signature and stamp of the official authority.
- Confirmation of Canadian citizenship or permanent residency
- A signed letter of up to two pages from the supervisor outlining the research project of candidate as well as the mentoring plan described in detail. This letter must be signed by the supervisor and uploaded as the sponsor letter.
- Half a page describing the relevance of the research project to the objectives and relevant research areas described above. This should be uploaded as the summary of research proposal.
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Contact Information
For questions on CIHR funding guidelines, how to apply, and the peer review process contact:
Olivier Jacob-Gravel
Program Delivery Coordinator
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Telephone: 613-952-5728
Fax: 613-954-1800
Email: Olivier.Jacob-Gravel@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
For specific questions on the Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis's research objectives contact:
Tanya Gallant
Analyst, Project Manager
Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis
Telephone: 613-954-3469
Fax: 613-954-1800
Email: tanya.gallant@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
For specific questions on the Institute of Aging's research objectives contact:
Sharon Nadeau
Associate, Strategic Initiatives
Institute of Aging
Telephone: 613-946-1270
Fax: 613-954-1800
E-mail: sharon.nadeau@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
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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.
CIHR Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis (IMHA)
IMHA's mission reflects that of CIHR's - to excel, according to internationally accepted standards of scientific excellence, in the creation of new knowledge in all areas relevant to arthritis, musculoskeletal (MSK) rehabilitation, bone, muscle, skin and oral health, and to translate that new knowledge into improved health for Canadians, more effective health services and products, and a strengthened Canadian health care system.
CIHR Institute of Aging (IA)
IA's fundamental goal is the advancement of knowledge in the field of aging to improve the quality of life and the health of older Canadians. IA has identified five priority areas for research on aging and health (in no particular order): healthy and successful aging, biological mechanisms of aging, cognitive impairment in aging, aging and maintenance of functional autonomy, and health services and policy relating to older people.
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