Important Dates

Notices

Table of Contents

• Description
• Objectives
• Eligibility
• Guidelines
• Performance Measurement
• Review Process and Evaluation
• How to Apply
• Contact Information
• Partner/Collaborator Description
• Additional Information

Description

The CIHR Institute of Population and Public Health aims to improve the health of populations and promote health equity in Canada and globally through research and its application to policies, programs and practice in public health and other sectors. Over the last eight years, the institute and its partners have offered funding programs with a focus on building research and knowledge translation capacity to tackle population and public health problems (e.g. IPPH's Centres for Research Development Program, the Applied Public Health Chairs Program, the Reducing Health Disparities Initiative and other funded strategic training initiatives that have helped to build capacity and evolved from the Aboriginal Capacity and Developmental Research Environments program). This funding opportunity builds on these and other program learnings from Canada and other jurisdictions.

Many challenges in public and population health remain including persisting health inequities between and within countries, differential effects of chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer and mental illnesses on the health of vulnerable populations or the impacts of urban densification on the ways we live, eat and work. These challenges require the active collaboration of researchers and knowledge-users from diverse disciplines and sectors in Canada and internationally. To better address these complex problems, the institute and its partners are launching this inaugural funding opportunity to support comprehensive programs of research.

The purpose of this funding opportunity is to support programmatic operating grants in population and public health research. Programmatic research involves connected sequences of conceptually related research projects, executed by the same group of investigators and their decision-making partners. Examples of funding initiatives with a programmatic focus include the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation's Research, Exchange and Impact for System Support (REISS) and the Global Health Research Initiative's Teasdale-Corti Team grant program.

Programmatic research involves:

• Multiple research projects that are conceptually linked and implemented over several years, based on an analysis of gaps in current knowledge in the field, especially gaps of importance to research users engaged in relevant policies and programs;
• A series of research projects (addressing the eligible research area(s) of this RFA), inside a clearly conceptually linked programmatic theme;
• An assessment of related research capacity in the eligible research area(s) to be examined and a clear rationale for the proposed program for strengthening that capacity; and,
• An interdisciplinary group of researchers and knowledge-users engaged in the program's development and implementation.

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 funding opportunity is $12,300,000 over 6 years (including development grant funds). This amount may increase if additional funding partners decide to participate.
• The maximum amount awarded for a single grant is $400,000 per year for up to five years.
• Equipment funds may be requested and will be awarded in year one.
• Developmental grants of up to $15,000 may be offered, if requested, to successful applicants at the Letter of Intent stage (see Letter of Intent Instructions).

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/Collaborator Description section to find a list of partners and their respective mandates and/or strategic interests. This list will continue to evolve as new partners join in this initiative. The specific research foci and requirements for each partner are outlined in the "Objectives" section.

Objectives

The specific objectives of this funding opportunity are to:

• support programmatic research that contributes new knowledge to improve health and health equity at a population level;
• support interdisciplinary collaborations that involve researchers and knowledge-users in public health and other sectors in Canada and if appropriate, also with other countries; and,
• facilitate effective knowledge translation approaches that enhance the integration and use of new and existing knowledge to inform decision-making in public health and other sectors.

Relevant Research Areas:

IPPH and its partners will provide funding for applications that address or build on research examining pathways to health equity ¹ at a population level and that also address population health interventions and/or implementation systems:

• Pathways to health equity - Existing and emergent inequities are reinforced or mitigated through both intended and unintended population health influences that operate at all system levels (from micro to macro); and across sectors and geographic borders. This priority focuses on understanding pathways to promote health equity within and between countries.
• Population health interventions - Population health interventions can include policy, programmatic and resource distribution approaches. These interventions are often ethically challenging and complex. Examining what types of population health interventions promote health and health equity is an important area of inquiry.
• Implementation systems for population health interventions in public health and other sectors - Population health interventions are implemented within organizational, policy, and program delivery systems. These systems include many key elements such as inter-organizational, intersectoral and inter-jurisdictional governance structures, leadership supports and information exchange mechanisms. Of particular interest is how these reciprocal influences may strengthen or mitigate the impacts of population health interventions on health and health equity

Applicants are strongly encouraged to account for the ethical considerations related to the design of research programs in population and public health. This might include but not be limited to how one might investigate the ethical foundations of population health interventions and their impacts on health and health equity or potential ethical issues arising from scaling up population health interventions in public health and other sectors.

Illustrative examples of programmatic research

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

• Programmatic research to study population health interventions to improve household food security among the working poor: the program might include the examination of the relative impacts of housing, social assistance and food subsidy policy and program interventions on household food security; research on comparative policy intervention studies with another country or between jurisdictions within Canada, and active involvement of relevant social policy actors.
• Programmatic research to examine the provision of affordable housing for vulnerable populations: the sequential research projects might include a comparison of alternative housing policies and their implementation in several jurisdictions, and an examination of changes in mental health outcomes among those who gain access to affordable housing.

Note: While not required, applicants are encouraged to demonstrate how their proposed program of research might contribute to the development and/or use of theoretical and methodological innovations in population and public health research and/or knowledge translation.

For more detailed information on the relevant research areas of partners as they relate to the objectives of this RFA, please see the "partner description" section.

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

Eligibility to Apply:

For your application to be accepted:

1. The Nominated Principal Applicant must be an independent researcher;
2. At least one participant must be one of the following:
1. An independent researcher;
2. A knowledge user;
3. For global health research applications, at least one program participant must be:
   1. An independent researcher; OR
   2. A knowledge user
   from a low-and-middle income country (LMIC)

Randomized Controlled Trials:

Randomized Control Trials (RCTs) will not be considered under this funding opportunity

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.

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.

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 knowledge-users 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 (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.

Performance Measurement

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.

• Long-term grant holders (5 or more years) are subject to a mid-term review in the 3rd year of funding. IPPH will provide instructions about the mid-term review process to the Nominated Principal Applicant following the notifice of decision. (Updated: 2010-05-05)
• Within eighteen months after the end of the grant's term, the Nominated Principal Applicant will be required to submit a "Programmatic research to tackle health and health equity" End of Grant Report. This report will summarize the outcomes and describe how grants funds were used. IPPH will provide the Nominated Principal Applicant with a Final Report template within the granting period.
• 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.

Review Process and Evaluation

Relevance Review Process

The CIHR Institutes of Population and Public Health, Circulatory and Respiratory Health, Gender and Health, Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction, Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes, as well as the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, the New Brunswick Health Research Foundation and the Ministry of Health and Long-term Care through its Applied Health Research Networks Initiative 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 peer review, the CIHR Institutes of Population and Public Health and its partners will have access to anonymized project titles, summaries and relevance forms to conduct relevance review. (Updated: 2010-05-05)

Applications that are not deemed to be relevant will be withdrawn from the competition.

Review Committee

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) / branch(es) 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.

The peer review committee will review the Letters of Intent for scientific merit (including the alignment of the proposed research to the Funding Program and its objectives). Upon completion of the LOI review, selected applicants will be invited to submit full applications. Only successful LOI applicants invited to submit full applications will be accepted.

Evaluation Criteria:

Peer review will be conducted in accordance with CIHR Peer Review Manual for Grant Applications.

Reviewers will use only the final 3 (Applicant(s), Environment for Research, and Impact of Research) of the 5 standard evaluation criteria as the baseline for their assessments. A detailed elaboration of these criteria and interpretation guidelines can be found at Revised Grants Evaluation Criteria.

3. Applicant(s)
4. Environment for the Research
5. Impact of the Research

A detailed elaboration of these criteria can be found in the Information for Peer Reviewers section of CIHR website.

To support the strategic objectives of this funding opportunity, the following criteria will also be considered in addition to the relevant standard set of evaluation criteria, identified above:

1. Research Approach

• Clarity of the overall goals and objectives for the program of research;
• Conceptual coherence of the program of research with proposed components presenting a "unified whole";
• Completeness of the literature review and its relevance to supporting the theoretical and/or conceptual framework for the program of research;
• Appropriateness of the research questions, design, research methods and theories and with lesser specificity for each of the project components;
• Feasibility of programmatic research approach to address research questions;
• Anticipation of difficulties that may be encountered in implementing the program of research and plans for management;
• The extent to which a proposed series of future studies, beyond those described as initial project components, show the potential to address adequately the program's specific research questions {Note: the series of future studies would not need to be laid out in as much detail as the initial studies].

2. Originality of the Proposal

• Value added through a program of research, i.e. potential for discovery realized by a series of sequential and conceptually linked projects.
• Originality of the program of research, in terms of the research questions addressed, novel theories and methodologies to be developed or applied
• Evidence that the program of research is addressing a compelling population and public health problem that is relevant to knowledge-users.

3. Applicant(s)

• Evidence that the approach will create a conceptually coherent program;
• Evidence that applicants' will engage researchers and knowledge-users from different disciplines and sectors in the program of research.

4. Environment for Research

• Evidence that a positive and nurturing environment supports working with knowledge-users and fosters oppportunities for mentoring, career transition, graduate and post-doctoral student involvement, (if relevant) and ongoing learning will be enabled;
• Degree of interdisciplinarity and interprofessional synergies, including:
  • Evidence of contributions of researchers from different scientific disciplines and knowledge-users from public health and other sectors,
  • Complementarity among members including knowledge-user partners,
  • Evidence of collaboration involving substantive contributions from all members.

5. Impact of the Research

• Evidence of engagement in and commitment to the development and implementation of the research program by relevant potential knowledge-users such as policy makers private (e.g. workplace), public and voluntary sector program administrators; practitioners, and/or community-based organizations in public health and other sectors
• Likelihood that knowledge generated will be used by knowledge-user organizations involved in research program.
• Complementarity among team members, including knowledge-user partners, in terms of interdisciplinary synergy. Substantive contribution is expected from all team members.

Funding Decision:

Upon completion of peer review, the CIHR Institutes of Population and Public Health, Circulatory and Respiratory Health, Gender and Health, Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction, Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes, as well as the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, the New Brunswick Health Research Foundation and the Ministry of Health and Long-term Care through its Applied Health Research Networks Initiative will receive the ranking list, 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 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.

How to Apply

(Updated: 2010-05-05)

• The application process for this funding opportunity is comprised of two steps: Letter of Intent (and) Application.
• To complete your Letter of Intent, follow the instructions identified in the Team Grant / Emerging Team Grant – ResearchNet "Letter of Intent" Phase Instructions.
• To complete your Application, follow the instructions identified in the 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 including Partner signature(s) (if applicable) and the Routing Slip in the Print/Upload Signature Pages task in ResearchNet prior to submitting your application.
• Note: Signatures MUST be uploaded for all applicants (Nominated Principal Applicant, Principal Applicant(s), and co-applicant(s)), and individual(s) with signing authority from the Institution Paid.

Specific Instructions:

Phase 1 - Letter of Intent:

With regards to the "Team Grant - ResearchNet "Letter of Intent" Phase Instructions" provided above:

1. Replace "Task 2: Attach Common CVs and Supporting Documents" with the following:

• A brief free-form CV (maximum two pages per applicant) is required for a maximum of five of the key applicants. For global health research applications, at least one CV must be from an independent researcher from a LMIC.
• Each CV must include information on grants held (source, type, title, amount/year, duration), relevant publications from the last five years, and 5-10 expertise keywords.
• Registration CVs validated for CIHR are not required for this funding opportunity.
• Full CVs will not be considered.
• Please note: As only 5 free-form CVs are required, a 1 page PDF entitled "CV not required" should be uploaded for any additional applicants.

2. For "Task 3: Enter Project Information and Supporting Documents", additional instructions for attachments are as follows:

• Attachments
  • Research Proposal (five pages maximum, not including references). The proposal should outline clearly each of the elements below:
  • the main features of the program of research (preliminary plan for the Program of Research and schedule of work), including research, mentorship and knowledge translation activities, and how they fit the objectives of this funding opportunity;
  • the extent of collaboration between investigators, with an explanation of the anticipated value added to the Program of Research (why this cannot be funded through one or more operating grants);
  • the nature and extent of the host institutions' financial and other forms of long-term commitment to the Program of Research, and to ensuring a favourable environment for carrying out the research and knowledge translation activities;
  • the plan, including proposed organizational/governance structures for engaging and linking with those who will ultimately use the research findings;
  • Identified partnerships, and a brief description of how they are contributing or will contribute with regard to governance and interaction during the research.
• Reference bibliography (if applicable):
  • A short (1 page) bibliography of any references cited in the Letter of Intent, including the literature relevant to the theme(s) of the Programmatic Grant can be attached as an appendix.

3. For "Task 4: Attach Other Application Materials", additional information on what must be attached under “other” is as follows:
(Updated: 2010-06-14)

• Relevance Form [ PDF (108 KB) | Help ] (2 pages)
  • In the "description" section, applicants must clearly justify how their Letter of Intent is relevant to (in alignment with) the objectives and research priority areas of the RFA. This is required over and above the project summary.
  • "Title of Priority Announcement" section – please write n/a.
• Applicant table:
  • In table format, list all applicants with their affiliations and expertise. This list does not need to be final at the Letter of Intent stage.
• Partners/Agencies table:
  • List all partners/agencies that will be involved. This list does not need to be final at the Letter of Intent stage.
• Development budget (2 page maximum):
  • A development grant request must consist of a one-page outline of activities for which development grant funds will be used, and a one-page budget description. See the funding opportunity for additional information on "Funds Available" and "Allowable Costs".
• Objectives page (1 page maximum):
  • Describe how the proposed program of research addresses the objectives and relevant research areas described in the "Objectives" section of the funding opportunity. This document will be used to conduct relevancy review.
• Letter of support (if applicable)
  • Global health research applications must submit a letter of support from the LMIC applicant confirming the nature of their role.

Phase 2 - Application:

With regards to the "Grants - ResearchNet "Application" Phase Instructions" provided above:

1. For "Task 3: Enter Project Information and Supporting Documents", additional instructions for attachments are as follows:

• Attachments
  • Research Proposal: (twenty pages maximum, not including references)
• The proposal should include the following:
  • Background;
  • Summary of the relevant literature;
  • The main features of the research program (preliminary plan for the Program of Research and schedule of work), including research, mentorship and knowledge translation activities, and how they fit the objectives of this funding opportunity (Please refer to the evaluation criteria for more details);
  • the extent of collaboration between investigators, with an explanation of the anticipated value added to the Program of Research (why this cannot be funded through one or more operating grants);
  • the nature and extent of the host institutions' financial and other forms of long-term commitment to the Program of Research, and to ensuring a favourable environment for carrying out the research activities;
  • the plan, including proposed organizational/governance structures for engaging and linking with those who will ultimately use the research findings;
  • identified partnerships, and a brief description of how they operate or will operate with regard to governance and interaction during the research.

2. For "Task 6: Attach Other Application Materials", additional instructions for what must be attached is as follows:

• Applicant table:
  • In table format, list all applicants with their affiliations and expertise.
• Partners/Agencies table:
  • In table format, list all partners/agencies that will be involved in the project.
• Letters of Support (if applicable)
  • Signed letters of Support are required from all organization(s) listed as partners on the application.
• Letters of Collaboration:
  • Signed letters of Collaboration are required from all collaborator(s) listed as Collaborators at the application stage.

Please note original signatures are not required. Letters of Support and Letters of Collaboration must be uploaded directly onto ResearchNet.

3. "Task 8: Apply to Priority Announcements / Funding Pools" is not applicable to this funding opportunity.

4. "Task 9: Apply to Linked Programs" is not applicable to this funding opportunity.

Contact Information

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

André Fortin
Team Lead (A)
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Telephone: 613-941-0651
Fax: 613-954-1800
Email: andre.fortin@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

For questions about this initiative and research objectives contact:

Erica Di Ruggiero
Associate Director
CIHR Institute of Population and Public Health
Telephone: 416-524-0111
Email: e.diruggiero@utoronto.ca

Kim Gaudreau
Associate, Strategic Initiatives
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Telephone: 613-957-6128
Fax: 613-954-1800
Email: kim.gaudreau@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

Partner/Collaborator Description

Note: Additional partners are expected to join this funding initiative over the coming year.

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 more than 13,000 health researchers and trainees across Canada.

CIHR Institute of Population and Public Health
The institute aims to improve population health and reduce health inequities in Canada and globally. The Institute has identified the following priorities and encourages applications to address same: pathways to enhance equities and reduce inequities in population health; and, population health interventions and implementation systems to reduce inequities and promote equity in Canada and globally.

Partners

CIHR Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health
The Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health (ICRH) supports research into the causes, mechanisms, prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, support systems, and palliation for a wide range of conditions associated with the heart, lung, brain (stroke), blood, blood vessels, critical and intensive care, and sleep. The ICRH vision is to achieve international leadership by fostering an environment of openness, excitement, energy, commitment and excellence in highly ethical, partnered initiatives focused on research, research training, and research translation for the circulatory and respiratory sciences and for the betterment of the health of Canadians.

ICRH is interested in supporting programmatic operating grants that align with one or more ICRH research priorities as they relate to chronic lung and cardiovascular (CVD) diseases. In keeping with this funding opportunity's objectives and relevant research areas, ICRH encourages applicants to consider pathways to health equity as they relate to the above.

Some illustrative examples working towards the goals of the National Lung Health Framework may include, but are not limited to:

• Population health interventions that address indoor and outdoor air quality issues that affect respiratory health at home, at work, and in communities (i.e. working conditions, overcrowding and sub-standard housing problems, etc.)
• Population health interventions that address poverty and income inequality and their impacts on respiratory disease

Some illustrative examples in working towards the goal to reduce the CVD disease burden which remains the major cause of morbidity and mortality in Canada may include, but are not limited to, population and community interventions that:

• Create heart healthy environments;
• Help populations lead healthier lives through CVD prevention; and/or,
• Are compatible with the Canadian Heart Health Strategy

Applicants are encouraged to address the design and implementation of population health interventions that are multi-level and combine education, policy and environmental support approaches and that lead to improvements in cardiovascular and/or respiratory health.

In addition, ICRH is interested along with other partners on this funding opportunity to support programmatic research on population health interventions that focus on the reduction of sodium. In January 2010, the CIHR Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism, and Diabetes co-hosted a workshop with the Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health, Developing a Research Agenda to Support Sodium Reduction in Canada. This workshop engaged a broad range of stakeholders in identifying research gaps and opportunities in a number of thematic streams. Research gaps identified in the thematic streams of Knowledge-to-Action and Surveillance and Monitoring are important areas of inquiry that this funding opportunity could support.

CIHR Institute of Gender and Health
The mission of the Institute of Gender and Health (IGH) is to foster research excellence regarding the influence of gender and sex on the health of women and men throughout life, and to apply these research findings to identify and address pressing health challenges. Accounting for gender and sex in health research has the potential to make health research more just, more rigorous and more useful.

Violence, gender and health

"Violence and health: impacts and implications" is one of the six strategic research directions in IGH's 2009-2012 strategic plan.

As a partner on this funding opportunity, IGH will provide support for programmatic operating grants in population and public health research with a specific focus on violence, gender and health. For the purposes of this funding priority, violence is defined as: "the intentional use of physical force or power, threatened or actual, against oneself, another person, or against a group or community, that either results in or has a high likelihood of resulting in injury, death, psychological harm, maldevelopment or deprivation.² While IGH works from the assumption that all forms of violence are 'gendered' and 'sexed' applicants must specify the gender and/or sex dimensions of violence that are being considered in their research.

In keeping with this funding opportunity's objectives and relevant research areas, IGH encourages applicants to consider pathways to health equity as they relate to violence, gender and health. Programs of research may include a focus on change over time in risk and protective factors for violence, as well as the multiple and interacting levels, structures, systems and contexts that influence violence. Applicants are encouraged to address the design and implementation of evidence-based population health interventions that focus on preventing and reducing violence and improving health outcomes. IGH is particularly interested in supporting multi-disciplinary programs of research that encourage and facilitate reciprocity among researchers, participants, and communities in research and knowledge translation processes.

CIHR Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction (INMHA)
The vision of the Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction (INMHA) is that innovative research will provide new knowledge of the biological and socio-cultural processes underlying neurological, mental and addictive disorders. As such, the INMHA's mission is to foster excellence in innovative, ethically responsible research in Canada that aims to increase our knowledge of the functioning and disorders of the brain and the mind, the spinal cord, the sensory and motor systems, as well as mental health, mental illness and all forms of addiction. The INMHA intends to support initiatives that mobilize and link scientists in innovative collaborative programs across these research domains. The INMHA seeks to translate this new knowledge into a better quality of life for all Canadians through improved outcomes, health promotion and health care services.

Workplace/workforce mental health

INMHA will provide support for population health intervention research in the area of workplace/workforce mental health and/or addictions and problematic use of drugs and alcohol in the workplace. For the purposes of this research priority, "mental health" includes mental disorders and illnesses (common disorders such as anxiety and depression and severe mental disorders such as schizophrenia), as well as positive mental health, mental well-being and resilience.

In line with the overarching objectives of this funding opportunity, a focus on health equity must be part of the research program (for example, innovative programs for small or low-paid workplaces, or immigrant workers). This funding opportunity is intended to solidify the partnerships between researchers and workplace organizations that are critically important to ensuring that the research will be relevant, of high quality, and useful in real world settings; and generate knowledge on effective workplace policies, programs and activities addressing mental health and/or addiction and problem use of drugs and alcohol.

Researchers are also encouraged to consider health services and systems issues related to workplace mental health problems that have an impact at a population level (e.g. the impact of variations in supplemental insurance benefits on access and use of services and return to work; determination of cost-effective screening, assessment and intervention approaches for the primary prevention of mental health problems in the workplace; evaluation of collaborative strategies to link occupational health and disability management with other providers in the mental health sector to support primary prevention and mental health promotion efforts).

This research priority is intended to build on previous CIHR funding opportunities in the area of workplace mental health (Catalyst Grant: Planning and Development in Mental Health and Addiction in the Workplace and Team Grant: Mental Health in the Workplace.

Applicants are also encouraged to refer to discussions at past conferences in this area sponsored by CIHR:

• Report of the Working Group mandated by the Institute of Population and Public Health and the Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction
• Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
• First Canadian Conference for Research in Mental Health in the Workplace
• 2nd Canadian Congress on Research on Mental Health and Addiction in the Workplace
• 40th Annual Congress of the Canadian Association of Ergonomy
• 4th Annual Canadian Congress for Research on Mental Health and Addiction in the Workplace

CIHR Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes
The Institute of Nutrition Metabolism and Diabetes (INMD) supports research to enhance health in relation to diet, digestion, excretion, and metabolism; and to address causes, prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, support systems, and palliation of conditions and problems associated with hormone, digestive system, kidney, and liver function.

INMD has identified Food and Health as a new Strategic Priority. INMD aims to develop a stronger evidence base to inform future nutritional practice and food policy. We will foster research on the total diet and specific nutrients to enhance health and reduce the risk of chronic disease.

INMD will provide funding for applications that address or build on research examining Food and Health, and in particular, sodium reduction at the population level. In January 2010, INMD co-hosted a workshop with the Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health, Developing a Research Agenda to Support Sodium Reduction in Canada. This workshop engaged a broad range of stakeholders in identifying research gaps and opportunities in a number of thematic streams. Research gaps identified in the thematic streams of Knowledge-to-Action and Surveillance and Monitoring are important areas of inquiry that this funding opportunity could support.

Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada (HSFC), a volunteer-based health charity, leads in eliminating heart disease and stroke and reducing their impact through the advancement of research and its application, the promotion of healthy living, and advocacy. For more than 50 years, Canadians have looked to HSFC to fund research that will reduce their risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease and improve the quality of their lives.

HSFC allocates approximately 10% of its annual research investment toward strategic research in areas of mission priority (presently obesity, stroke and resuscitation) through its Federation Research Fund. Through the Fund, HSFC launches strategic Requests for Applications and partners with other organizations like CIHR to support research in common areas of priority.

In the context of this funding opportunity, HSFC is specifically interested in supporting research related to:

• Obesity - Within the area of obesity, HSFC is particularly interested in supporting population health intervention research related to the prevention of childhood obesity.
• Stroke - HSFC is interested in supporting population health intervention research that addresses stroke and that helps to advance the efforts of the Canadian Stroke Strategy.For more information, please visit their web site.

New Brunswick Health Research Foundation
The New Brunswick Health Research Foundation (NBHRF) was created in July 2008 with a mandate to co-ordinate, support and promote health research in New Brunswick. Our vision is a healthy and prosperous New Brunswick through excellence in health research and innovation. Our mission is to provide leadership and support to build health research capacity, improve the health of New Brunswickers and advance the knowledge economy.

The NBHRF is an independent organization governed by a board of directors comprised of key stakeholders from the health research community in New Brunswick. Provincial funding is provided by Business New Brunswick.

The core business areas of NBHRF are to:

• Develop and administer funding programs that will build health research capacity and produce world class health research
• Encourage connections among stakeholders to produce a vibrant and collaborative health research community
• Increase funding levels for health research through the formation of strategic partnerships
• Lead in the translation of new knowledge and innovation in the health care system

The New Brunswick Health Research Foundation will contribute funding to this program for principal investigators and Decision Makers that are New Brunswick based and/or affiliated with a New-Brunswick Organization.

Priority Areas:

• Rural Health: create a broader understanding of rural health needs with a focus on informing and supporting policy and program development. What interventions improve health and health equity among rural populations?
• Chronic Illness: effective community-based programs to address chronic illness prevention.
• Mental Health
• Violence - Given existing provincial research strength in intimate partner abuse, family violence, and workplace bullying, the broad category of violence is also of interest.

The Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care through its Applied Health Research Networks Initiative (AHRNI)
The Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care is changing its focus and embracing a new direction. As staff continue to work towards better health care for Ontarians, stewardship will become the ministry's mission and mandate. This new stewardship role will mean that the ministry will provide overall direction and leadership for the system, focusing on planning, and on guiding resources to bring value to the health system. The ministry will be less involved when it comes to the actual delivery of health care and more involved in:

• Establishing overall strategic direction and provincial priorities for the health system;
• Developing legislation, regulations, standards, policies, and directives to support those strategic directions;
• Monitoring and reporting on the performance of the health system and the health of Ontarians;
• Planning for and establishing funding models and levels of funding for the health care system;
• Ensuring that ministry and system strategic directions and expectations are fulfilled.

Partnership funding for direct or indirect costs associated with applications for this initiative may be available from the Applied Health Research Network Initiative funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. Research teams whose members include researchers from Ontario and whose research will be undertaken in whole or in part in Ontario are potentially eligible for this partnership funding. Funding opportunities include contributions to pilot initiatives, knowledge translation activities and secondary analysis of data; and support for graduate students or postdoctoral fellows whose research work is directly related to the project under review.

All inquiries about potential partnership funding should be directed to Dr. Ivy Bourgeault, Director, Population Health Improvement Research Network, University of Ottawa, at 613-562-5800 ext. 8957 or info@rrasp-phirn.ca.

Final decisions will be taken in consultation with the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.

For additional information about the Applied Health Research Network Initiative and their current program priorities please consult their website.

Additional Information

¹ Health equity suggests that everyone can reach their full health potential and that they should not be disadvantaged from attaining this potential as a result of their race, ethnicity, religion, gender, age, social class, socioeconomic status or other socially determined circumstance.

² World Health Organization (2002). World report on violence and health: summary. Geneva.