“To excel, according to internationally accepted standards of scientific excellence in the creation of new knowledge and its translation into improved health for Canadians, more effective health services and products and a strengthened Canadian health care system…”

Section 4, C-6, R.S.C. 2000

ObjectiveObjective

13 CIHR Institutes

Aboriginal People’s Health

Cancer Research Circulatory and

Respiratory Health Gender and Health Genetics Health Services and

Policy Research Aging

Human Development, Child and Youth

Infection and Immunity Musculoskeletal Health

and Arthritis Neurosciences, Mental

Health and Addiction Nutrition, Metabolism

and Diabetes Population and Public

Health

Four Research Themes

• Biomedical

• Clinical

• Health services and health systems

• Health of populations, societal and cultural dimensions of health, and environmental influences on health

CIHR Institutes at Work

Support outstanding research by outstanding researchers

Meet the objectives of our stakeholders and partners Innovate: take new approaches to research questions Increase capacity in areas where the opportunity for

growth exists Encourage multidisciplinary, team approaches to

health research Forge relationships among institutes, research

themes, and stakeholders.

CIHR Supports

Investigator-initiated research proposals

Any area of health research

Open competitions

Strategic Research Initiatives

Priority areas chosen by Institutes

Requests for applications

CIHR Grants and Awards Budget, 2003-2004: allocation by funding stream

Investigator-initiated

74.9%

Institute Support

2.6%

Knowledge Translation

0.4%

Institute Thematic Initiatives

12.0%

CIHR Strategic Initiatives

13.6%

Other Grants0.9%

Peer Review CommitteesPeer Review Committees 45 for operating grants (currently) Over 600 volunteers Composition for Grants committees:

ChairScientific Officer8-12 members

Review 30-70 applications over 2-3 days, twice a year.

.Prosthetic devices and artificial organs. Organ and tissue preservation. Imaging studies. Biological application of physical methods. Computer applications. Biomaterials. Radiation reactions. Biomechanics.

Biomedical Engineering PRCBiomedical Engineering PRC

.Gait studies, biomechanics. Muscle biology, fibre typing and regeneration. Muscle contraction. Movement disorders, neuromuscular disorders, myopathies. Exercise physiology, role of exercise in health promotion and rehabilitation. Rehabilitation and physical therapy. Orthopedics applied to the articular system. Occupational ergonomics, kinesiology. Health and physical fitness.

Movement and Exercise PRCMovement and Exercise PRC

Applying for a Grant Important Deadlines

Program Registra-tion

Deadline Adjudica-tion

Notifica-tion

Funding start

Operating

Grants

Aug. 15 Sep. 15 Dec. End Jan. Apr. 1

Feb. 1 Mar. 1 May End June Oct. 1

Prioritizing Ideas for a Strategic RFA

Sufficient Canadian capacity to initiate or build multi-disciplinary research

Potential of significant scientific advance

Possible reduction in Future burden of suffering Burden of health care system inefficiency Health inequalities

Canadian competitive niche and international linkages

Opportunities for partnerships and leverage

Stakeholder involvement

Unlikely to be investigator-initiated

Request for Applications (RFA) Important Deadlines

RFA

Launch

Registration Deadline Adjudica-tion

Notifica-tion

Funding start

December

June

April 1 June 1 Nov-Dec January 15 Feb

Nov 1 Jan 15 May-June

June 15 July

• Novel Technology Applications in Health Research (ICR, III)

• Invention and Technology Application- Tools, Techniques and Devices for Research and Medicine (IG, INMHA)

‘promotes the application, in health research, of technologies developed in science-based research disciplines not traditionally associated with the life sciences’.

RFAs – Some ExamplesRFAs – Some Examples

.Regenerative Medicine and Nanomedicine: Innovative Approaches in Health Research (INMHA, IG, and multiple partners)

‘to encourage the development of multi-disciplinary research approaches…specifically integrating the physical, engineering, computational and chemical sciences with the biosciences and social sciences’.

RFAs – Some Examples cont’dRFAs – Some Examples cont’d

.Collaborative Health Research Projects (with NSERC)

‘projects involving any field of the natural sciences

and engineering, and the health sciences’.

RFAs (Partnerships) - Some examplesRFAs (Partnerships) - Some examples

.NRC – CIHR Science and Technology Convergence for Health Innovation (with NRC)

‘Innovative, multi-disciplinary approach to a health research question’.

- especially nanosciences/nanorobotics, biophotonics, diagnostic imaging.

RFAs (Partnerships) – Some examples – cont’dRFAs (Partnerships) – Some examples – cont’d

Applying for a grant: Being a Principal InvestigatorApplying for a grant: Being a Principal Investigator

Appropriate training and publications Protected time for research Space and facilities

If not Be a collaborator in an existing team or Find an experienced and established

investigator to help you Explore the Institutes’ Request for

Applications

Applying for a grant Writing:Applying for a grant Writing:

Competition is tough: only 1 in 4 applications is funded!

Start at least 4 months before deadline Application should be completed 1

month before deadline Show it to experienced colleagues for

feedback (mentorship!) Revise, revise, revise

Applying for a grant Writing: in 11 pages explain

Applying for a grant Writing: in 11 pages explain What you want to do

central hypothesis/research question: the big ideaplus specific objectives (or aims)

Why this is a reasonable thing to do review of previous work by you and others,succinct rationale for project (concept and

approach)

Why this is important significant new knowledge to be obtained improvements to health which will result

Applying for a grant. Writing: in 11 pages explain

Applying for a grant. Writing: in 11 pages explain How you are going to do it

detailed work plan, logical sequence and timelinesanalysis and interpretation of resultspitfalls, ways around them, alternatives

Why you should do it relevant prior experience and skillscollaborators for technical gapspreliminary data showing feasibility

Applying for a grant Writing: on budget pages explain

Applying for a grant Writing: on budget pages explain What you need to do it

suppliespersonnel (research assistants, trainees, interviewers)

- named, if possibleequipment, database accessservices (photography, computing) travel to present findings, or for collaboration

Don’t ask forsalary for applicants infrastructure costs (space rental, heat, light, furniture,

regular telephone service, secretarial support, etc.)

Follow instructions exactly Adhere to format guidelines, e.g., font

size, margins, page limits, etc. Write the summary and key hypothesis

and rationale sections for generalists, detailed work plan for specialists.

It should be a pleasure to read Proof-read! Proof-read! Proof-read!

Follow instructions exactly Adhere to format guidelines, e.g., font

size, margins, page limits, etc. Write the summary and key hypothesis

and rationale sections for generalists, detailed work plan for specialists.

It should be a pleasure to read Proof-read! Proof-read! Proof-read!

Help yourself: Do not upset the reviewersHelp yourself: Do not upset the reviewers

Peer Review Committees (things to do when applying)

You will be asked to suggest external reviewers. To prepare read the guidelines regarding Conflict of Interest.

You will be asked to choose the peer review committee. To prepare, read the mandates on the Web site

Evaluation criteriaEvaluation criteria

Proposal Clear, testable hypothesis or central research problem originality and innovation in concept or approach soundness of methodology (ies) significance and relevance to health feasibility of work plan, usefulness of results knowledge of the field (cited literature)

Applicant(s) relevant experience productivity and reputation appropriate to stage of career supportive environment

Rating ScaleRating ScaleRange Descriptors4.5 - 4.9 outstanding4.0 - 4.4 excellent3.5 - 3.9 very good3.0 - 3.4 acceptable*2.5 - 2.9 needs revision2.0 - 2.4 needs major revision1.0 - 1.9 seriously flawed0 rejected

*but low priority for CIHR funds; may be funded through a partnership program

usually funded

may be fundedseldom funded

not fundable

For :

• Current RFA opportunities

• Grants and Awards Guide

• Database of funded research

• Peer review process in detail

• Application forms

• Staff contacts for assistance of any sort

• Toll-free number 1-888-603-4178

Visit us often at www.cihr-irsc.gc.caVisit us often at www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca