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The CIHR Rx&D Collaborative Research Program
In partnership with
Wyeth Pharmaceuticals
| Important Dates | |
| Opportunity Launched | June 2006 |
| Content Last Updated | November 16, 2006 (Appendix) |
| June 1, 2006 | Initiation of the Site Selection Process (Phase 1). |
| August 1, 2006 | Deadline for Nomination Package. |
| August 15, 2006 | Offer to participate in the Program. |
| September 1, 2006 to January 31, 2007 |
Candidates apply to Supervisors for positions (Phase 2). |
| A - October 1, 2006 B - February 1, 2007 C - October 1, 2007 |
Full applications must be courier stamped by this date (Phase 3). |
| A - April 30, 2007 B - June 30, 2007 C - April 30, 2008 |
Anticipated notifications of decision. |
| Additional Information |
This funding opportunity has three (3) competitions: A, B and C. Applicants must choose the most appropriate CIHR research training award program for which they are eligible and may only submit an application to one of these programs. Applicants must wait until after they are notified of the decision for one application before they can submit to another training award opportunity. |
| Funds Available | |
| CIHR's contribution to the amount available for this initiative is subject to availability of funds voted annually to CIHR by parliamentary appropriations, and the conditions that may be attached to them. The maximum amount awarded for a single award is $55,000 per annum for up to 2 years:
| |
| Summary | |
| The goal of the Program is to increase research capacity and research training in therapeutic areas where both Wyeth Pharmaceuticals (Wyeth) and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) have a scientific interest by supporting Fellowships at various selected sites across Canada. | |
Background
Partners
Objectives
Eligibility
Allowable Costs
Review Process and Evaluation Criteria
General CIHR Guidelines
Conditions of Funding
Communications Requirements
Monitoring, Performance Measurement and Evaluation
How to Apply
Contact Information
Description of Partners
Appendix
The goal of the Program is to establish a joint effort to increase research capacity and research training in therapeutic areas where both Wyeth and CIHR have a scientific interest by supporting Fellowships at selected sites across Canada.
Wyeth in partnership with CIHR offers 6 Fellowship positions in several therapeutic areas of interest. The number of available awards in each therapeutic area will vary for each competition year.
The process is structured in three distinct phases in a Timeline as follows:
CIHR's Research Translation Programs Branch is dedicated to identifying and developing collaborations with other CIHR institute(s), branch(es) or office(s), 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 Descriptions of Partners 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 section "Objectives."
The specific objective of this initiative is to increase research capacity and research training in therapeutics areas. In addition, the intent of this initiative is to facilitate the translational objectives of CIHR, with particular interests in clinical research. Clinical research combines discoveries from the basic science laboratory incorporating the observations and insights of health professionals (a key aspect of translational research). It is the creation of new health knowledge and the translation of that knowledge from the research setting into applications where it ultimately impacts on the health of Canadians.
Relevant Research Areas include:
Wyeth and CIHR will provide funding for applications that are relevant to (in alignment with) the objectives and research priority areas described above.
Upon completion of peer review, Wyeth will receive the ranking list, merit scores (ratings) and recommendations of the peer review committee with regards to funding level and award term, for the submitted 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.
Eligibility criteria for all CIHR research funding programs apply. The business office of the institution of an eligible Nominated Principal Applicant generally administers CIHR funds. Please refer to the Eligibility Requirements for CIHR Grants and Awards regarding the eligibility requirements for individuals and institutions.
Specific to CIHR industry-partnered programs, please refer to the General Guidelines for Industry-Partnered Programs.
Specific to CIHR training awards, please refer to the General Guidelines for Training Programs as well as the Fellowship Awards - Industry-Partnered program description.
The awards consist of a stipend and a research allowance.
For the research allowance, awardees should review the Tri-Agency (CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC) financial administration guidelines, Use of Grant Funds section for a complete listing and description of allowable costs and activities.
CIHR peer review committees will evaluate the full applications. Committees may be drawn from CIHR's pre-existing committees or may be created specifically for this Request for Applications. Committee members are selected based on suggestions from many sources including the institute(s) / portfolio(s) and partner(s), following CIHR's Policy on Confidentiality, Conflict of Interest and Privacy Issues in Peer and Relevance Review (CCIP). Fellowship Awards are reviewed in accordance with the Guide for Reviewer - CIHR Fellowships.
The following general criteria for evaluating Fellowship Award applications will be used:
Achievements and Activities of the Candidate:
Characteristics and Abilities of the Candidate:
Research Training Environment:
This Request for Applications will follow the CIHR General Grants and Awards Policies. Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate the use of gender and sex-based analysis in applications.
All condition specified in CIHR General Grants and Awards Policies shall apply to applications funded through this Request for Applications. Conditions cover areas such as Applicant and Institutional Responsibilities, Ethics, Official language policy, Access to Information and Privacy Acts, and Acknowledgement of CIHR Support. Successful applicants will be informed of any special financial conditions 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 conditions shall apply:
Recipients of the Fellowship Awards must provide Wyeth with copies of papers and conference presentations that arise during, or result from, the research activities funded through the award, at least seven days before any release into the public domain. (Please note that Wyeth will have no right to request any modifications to, or to delay publication of, research results.)
Wyeth and the CIHR agree that they do not and will not claim any proprietary right to any intellectual or tangible property resulting from the research associated with the Fellowship Award. Ownership of the Intellectual Property will be in accordance with the policies of the nominating institution.
The awardees employing institution (university or hospital) will be expected to have a clear policy regarding the author's right to publish and intellectual property in order to provide adequate protection and management of intellectual property of potential commercial interest.
CIHR and Wyeth require to be informed of any commercial exploitation arising from activity support through this program.
CIHR directs that effort should be made to maximize beneficial impact to Canada.
Access to Information Act and Privacy Act, and the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA)
All personal information collected by CIHR about applicants is used to review applications, to recruit reviewers, to administer and monitor grants and awards, to compile statistics, and to promote and support health research in Canada. Consistent with these purposes, applicants should also expect that information collected by CIHR may be shared as described in Use and Disclosure of Personal Information Provided to CIHR for Peer Review.
CIHR as a federal entity is subject to the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act, therefore the requirements of these two statutes will apply to all information located in CIHR's premises including, without limitation, cost-sharing agreements related to this Request for Applications 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 Request for Applications will be collected, used and disclosed in compliance with the PIPEDA.
Award recipients are required to acknowledge CIHR, its institutes and partners in any communication or publication related to the project. See CIHR General Grants and Awards Policies, Acknowledgement of CIHR's Support for details on CIHR's communication requirements. The contributing institutes / partners will be identified on the Authorization for Funding and decision letter.
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:
Phase 1 - Site Selection
Invitations to apply are sent to all major Canadian universities, research institutes and teaching hospitals to nominate supervisors/mentors. The Nomination form, to be sent to Wyeth, can be found under List of Forms and Guidelines for Completion and, if desired, may be accompanied by any letters of recommendation made by universities or research institutes.Site selection is the result of a competitive process administered and adjudicated by Wyeth. The sites are evaluated against the following criteria:
Site selection results are posted on the CIHR website in the Fellowship Opportunities document for the program year and sites are also notified of their selection by Wyeth. The purpose of posting on the website is to aid sites in recruiting eligible candidates for the available fellowship positions.
The supervisors/mentors at the selected sites are required to advertise nationally for these positions, through CIHR and Wyeth and any other means at their disposal.
Send Nominations package by Courier to:
Michelle Davies
Compliance & Partnerships Program Manager
Wyeth Pharmaceuticals
50 Minthorn Boulevard
Markham, Ontario
L3T 7Y2
Phase 2 - Candidate Fellows apply to selected sites (Updated: 2006-09-26)
Application must be made by the Candidate Fellow to the supervisors/mentors of interest by sending a curriculum vitae, a description of his/her research experience and the names of three references using the contact information provided in the Fellowship Opportunities document for the current program year. Each supervisor/mentor may nominate up to three (3) candidates for competitive review by the CIHR.
Phase 3 - CIHR Peer Review
Review the application instructions provided in How to Apply for Funding.
Select "Fellowships - Industry Partnered - Application" from the Training Programs Application Packages.
Additional instructions must be followed for this RFA.
Send the completed application packages by courier to:
RE: "Wyeth / CIHR Rx&D Research Fellowship Program"
Research Translation Programs Branch
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Room 97, 160 Elgin Street
Address locator: 4809A
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0W9
For questions on CIHR funding guidelines, how to apply, and the peer review process contact:
Jacqueline Jorge
Program Delivery Officer
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Tel: (613) 952-5728
Fax: (613) 954-1800
Email: jjorge@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
For questions about this initiative and research objectives contact:
Michelle Davies
Compliance & Partnerships Program Manager
Wyeth Pharmaceuticals
50 Minthorn Boulevard
Markham, Ontario L3T 7Y2
Tel: (905) 470-3978
Fax: (905) 470-4385
Email: daviesmi@wyeth.com
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
CIHR is Canada's major federal funding agency for health research. Its objective is 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.
CIHR/Rx&D Collaborative Research Program enables scientists, clinicians and members of the full spectrum of health professions, and Rx&D members to optimize opportunities in clinical research intended to ultimately impact on the health of Canadians.
Partners
Wyeth
Wyeth is one of the world's largest research-driven pharmaceutical and health care products companies. It is a leader in the discovery, development, manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceuticals, vaccines, biotechnology products and non-prescription medicines that improve the quality of life for people worldwide.
Wyeth Canada, an affiliate of Wyeth, employs over 1,700 people across the country with a commercial head office in Markham, Ontario and manufacturing and R&D facilities in Montreal, Quebec. It markets leading products in the areas of women's health care, neuroscience, musculoskeletal therapy, transplantation and immunology, hemophilia and vaccines.
Opportunities are being offered in the following fields :
Oncology (Updated: 2006-11-16)
Transplantation
Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Neuroscience
Infectious Disease
If you are a candidate (fellow) looking for a fellowship opportunity, please proceed as follows:
Fellowship positions are available at the following sites:
Sherbrooke has unique infrastructure for the diagnosis, treatment and evaluation of brain tumour radio-surgery. This infrastructure consists of 1) a Leksell Gamma-knife for extremely focused brain tumour irradiation 2) a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner for humans, and 3) a high-field micro-MRI scanner for animals. We developed a methodology to characterize the vascular state of mouse tumors before and after radiotherapy. In preliminary studies, we have applied this methodology to characterize the vascular state of brain metastasis before a Gamma-knife radiosurgery treatment. In this study, we hypothesized that the vascular properties of a tumor before irradiation is a predictive factor for the outcome of the treatment. Briefly, we propose 1) to extend this study and compare the response of human and animal tumours to radiotherapy and 2) to complement these studies with our development of novel contrast agents for MRI that will detect the activity of certain matrix metalloproteinases and of novel radiosensitizing compounds currently under development in our department.
This proposal centers on the development of magnetic resonance (MR) methodologies that can be used to assess the effects of drugs on tumour tissue. Tiled image histological mapping (TIHM) - a new tool that permits large regions of tissue to be mapped with probes to various features, blood vessels, perfusion, hypoxia, proliferation - will be utilized to guide the development of MR techniques. The ultimate goal is to develop and implement non-invasive MR methods to assess and follow treatment response. Applications in drug development at the mouse model experimental stage as well as the clinical evaluation of drugs are envisaged.
The candidate will draw on the wealth of expertise in histological mapping by biologist Andrew Minchinton. Supported by MR physicist Stefan Reinsberg, the candidate will use state-of-the-art animal imaging at 7T in order to develop MR techniques aimed at measuring drug response. These techniques will be developed, validated and evaluated against TIHM.
Despite improvements in immunosuppressive therapy, the long-term survival of kidney transplants have not increased over the past 10 years. Like a battery, the kidney's lifetime is dependent upon damage during its previous use, damage as a result of the transplant process and immune-related damage. During the transplantation process, the kidney may develop irreversible damage during prolonged cold storage and shock when the kidney regains blood flow. However, our current methods of storage and reperfusion (return of blood flow) have not changed over the past 15 years.
In animal models, carbon monoxide (CO) inhalation has been shown to protect organs by decreasing inflammation and preventing cell death during the transplantation process. However, carbon monoxide inhalation is difficult to regulate and may lead to serious injury to patients by preventing oxygen delivery to vital organs. Carbon monoxide releasing molecules (CORM) are agents that safely deliver CO without risk of oxygen deprivation to the patient. We have shown that CORM, like CO, prevents inflammation and cell death when administered to the types of cells that allow the kidney to function.
Our goal is to optimize kidney transplant protection from damage during transplant storage and return of blood flow. We believe that CORM protects kidney transplant function and longevity through reduction of inflammation and prevention of cell death. There are 3 specific aims:
AIM 1: To study the effect of CORM on kidney cells under conditions of stress
AIM 2: To study the ability of CORM to protect the kidney transplant from injury during the transplant process by placing CORM into the kidney flush and storage solution
AIM 3: To study the ability of CORM to protect the kidney if administered to the kidney donor and/or recipient
By investigating new compounds such as CORM, we hope to minimize kidney damage during the removal, storage and implantation process during transplantation. This may lead to a reduction of irreversible damage and improve the long-tem survival of kidney transplants. We believe that this is in keeping with the vision of Wyeth and our multi-organ transplant program.
This project is supported by grants from the CIHR.
