Important Dates

Notices

Table of Contents

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

Description

CIHR's mandate is to excel, according to internationally accepted standards of scientific excellence, in the creation of new knowledge and its translation into improved health, more effective health services and products, and a strengthened health care system. CIHR recognizes that an important part of this process is the planning required to build active and meaningful collaborations and/or effectively scan and understand the health research landscape before embarking on a grant application.

The CIHR Knowledge Translation (KT) Branch will provide support to individuals or groups for planning activities that will contribute to the advancement of research consistent with the mandate of CIHR and relevant CIHR Institutes, Initiatives or Branches.

Funds Available

CIHR's and partner contribution to the amount available for this initiative is subject to availability of funds. Should CIHR or partner funding levels not be available or are decreased for some overseen circumstances, CIHR and partner reserve 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 $50,000.
• The maximum amount awarded for a single grant is $25,000 for up to one year.
• Meetings, Planning and Dissemination Grants are non-renewable.

Funding Opportunities in Specific Research Areas

Funds are available for the current competition to support Planning Grant applications in specific research areas:

• Meetings, Planning and Dissemination Grant: Planning Grants - Spring 2010 Priority Announcement (Specific Research Areas)

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 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 purpose of the Meetings, Planning and Dissemination Grant program is to provide financial support for the broad category of Meetings, Planning and/or Dissemination activities that are consistent with the mandate of CIHR and relevant to CIHR Institutes, Initiatives, or Branches.

The specific objective of this funding opportunity, announced through the Meetings, Planning and Dissemination Grant program is:

• To provide support for planning activities, partnership development and/or increasing the team's understanding of the health research landscape that will contribute to the advancement of research consistent with the mandate of CIHR and relevant CIHR Institutes, Initiatives or Branches.

Relevant Activities

Activities may focus on, but are not limited to, the following:

• Meetings of health researchers, knowledge-users and/or partners where the main objective is to facilitate collaboration among individuals or groups from a variety of fields, disciplines, backgrounds and roles (for example, consensus meetings, planning and/or development meetings, networking and partnership development events) interested in applying to a CIHR Funding Opportunity;
• Activities that assist potential teams of researchers, knowledge-users and/or partners in working together to identify research questions or emerging issues and priorities that could form the basis of a CIHR application;
• Opportunities for knowledge exchange involving stakeholder linkages (to inform practice, care, and/or policy) that could potentially lead to an application to a CIHR Funding Opportunity;
• Conducting an environmental scan or preliminary synthesis of relevant literature, activities or programs;
• Stakeholder consultations regarding needs, gaps and opportunities in the health research landscape, priority policy issues and/or priority research questions, where such common understanding is currently lacking or requires further development;
• Initial planning and discussion of a research project among potential team members including researchers, knowledge-users and/or partners to assess the viability of the research project and the partnership.

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

In order for your application to be eligible:

1. The Nominated Principal Applicant must be one of the following:
1. An independent researcher
2. A knowledge user
3. A trainee
4. A supervisor
5. An activity/event coordinator affiliated with a Canadian non-governmental not-for-profit organization, and/or a community leader.
2. Applicants must be affiliated with:
   1. Canadian post-secondary institutions and their affiliated institutions including hospitals and research institutes; or
   2. Canadian non-governmental, not-for-profit organizations (including community or charitable organizations) with an explicit health research or knowledge translation mandate; or
   3. Canadian non-federal government departments or agencies, including regional health authorities, when specific programs of those departments or agencies do not fund the activity that forms the subject matter of the grant.
   4. If an organization or institution is uncertain about its eligibility for funding through the Dissemination Events Grants Funding Opportunity, it is encouraged to seek clarification from CIHR staff designated in Contact Information.
3. The Nominated Principal Applicant has responsibility for the intellectual direction of the proposed activity/ event as well as administrative and financial responsibility over the grant.
4. Activities/events starting or taking place before the funding start date are not eligible for funding through this opportunity.
5. Applicants are not eligible to apply for additional funding for an activity or event which has been previously funded through the MPD program.

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.

The full application must provide a detailed justification of all costs.

Expenses eligible for support through the Meetings, Planning and Dissemination Grant program include:

• Costs associated with planning, publication, translation, and/or dissemination;
• Fees or honoraria for the preparation of background documents (e.g., environmental scan);
• Travel and accommodation for participants;
• Meeting rooms and associated meeting costs (e.g., audio-visual equipment, videoconferences);
• Hospitality costs (non-alcoholic refreshments or meals);
• Modest honoraria (up to $500 CAD) for each guest expert.

The following costs are not eligible for support through the Meetings, Planning and Dissemination Grant program:

• Stipend/salary support for investigators, research trainees or technical assistants (other than for aforementioned purposes);
• Purchase or maintenance of equipment;
• Operating costs of research projects.

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 in direct collaboration with researchers and/or decision-makers based in, other countries. CIHR contributes to, and supports 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.

• The Nominated Principal Applicant, may be required to submit an End of Grant report to CIHR 18 months after the authority to use the grant fund period. This online report will 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.
• Within 3 months after the end of the grant's term, the Nominated Principal Applicant is required to submit a report called "MPD Final Report" [ PDF (276 KB) | Help ]
• 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

CIHR Institutes/Branches 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 Knowledge Translation Branch, Ethics Office, Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes, Institute of Infection and Immunity, HIV/AIDS Research Initiative, and Institute of Health Services and Policy Research will have access to, upon consent of the applicant, full applications and nominative information to conduct relevance review. Such consent is a requirement to be eligible for funding.

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

The following criteria will be used in conducting the relevance review:

• Alignment of the objectives of the proposed activity with the specific objectives of the CIHR Institute, Initiative, or Branch offering funding through the Planning Grants program.

Review Committee

A CIHR 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.

Evaluation Criteria

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

The following set of evaluation criteria will be employed to assess applications:

Activity objectives:

• Clarity of the stated objectives and defined scope
• Likely impact of the anticipated outcomes (consensus, research priorities, guidelines, research project)

Knowledge exchange and/or Dissemination:

• Inclusion of relevant stakeholders (research community, decision-makers, health care providers, etc.) and sectors (private, public, charities)
• Potential to catalyze new initiatives, develop new inter- and multi-disciplinary collaborations among researchers and/or users of research
• Clearly defined dissemination plans for activity outcomes

Feasibility:

• Perceived ability of the Nominated Principle Applicant or project team to meet objectives of Funding Opportunity
• Appropriate budget and justification for amount requested

Funding Decision

Upon completion of the review, the Knowledge Translation Branch, Ethics Office, Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes, Institute of Infection and Immunity, HIV/AIDS Research Initiative and Institute of Health Services and Policy Research 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.

Unless otherwise stated, the applications relevant to the specific research focuses will be funded from the top down, in order of ranking, as far as the budgets will allow. The remaining applications will be funded by the general pool of funds 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

• The application process for this funding opportunity is comprised of one step: Application.
• To complete your Application, follow the instructions identified in the Meetings, Planning and Dissemination 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 Instructions

1) The following criteria must be met for your application to be accepted:

• The maximum number of pages for the Summary of Research Proposal is 4 pages excluding figures or tables.

2) The following criteria, although optional, is encouraged and will enhance the quality of the application during the review:

• Signed letters of support from participants describing their collaboration are accepted and encouraged.

Contact Information

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

Meetings, Planning and Dissemination Grants Program Delivery Team
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Telephone: 613-954-1970
Fax: 613-954-1800
Email: MPD-SRPD@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

For questions about this initiative and research objectives contact:

Yumna Kanda
Senior KT Specialist
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Telephone: 613-954-1944
Fax: 613-954-1800
Email: yumna.kanda@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 Knowledge Translation Branch
Knowledge translation (KT) is a dynamic and iterative process that includes synthesis, dissemination, exchange and ethically-sound application of knowledge to improve the health of Canadians, provide more effective health services and products and strengthen the health care system. The CIHR Knowledge Translation Branch is dedicated to supporting outstanding research and research synthesis, building capacity for the uptake of knowledge and strengthening the science of knowledge translation best practices in the interest of improving the health and quality of life of all Canadians.