Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health
| Important Dates | |
| Opportunity Launched | November 2006 |
| Content Last Updated | (No updates since launch) |
| December 8, 2006 | Full applications must be courier stamped by this date. |
| January 8, 2007 | Anticipated notification of decision. |
| January 8, 2007 | Anticipated start date. |
| Funds Available | |
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ICRH'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.
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| Summary | |
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The New Frontiers Program supports workshops, consensus conferences, opportunities for research collaboration and similar activities for specific research topics and issues. It is expected that this targeted investment will lead to the identification of research priorities and the development of highly successful new research proposals. The goal of this New Frontiers Program is to support a workshop that will bring researchers, clinicians and other stakeholders together to explore and define the gaps between basic imaging research and clinical imaging applications in areas of circulatory and respiratory sciences, including imaging technologies associated with the heart, lung, brain (stroke), blood and blood vessels, critical and intensive care and sleep. In particular, the workshop will focus on the question of how one can and should measure the impact of existing and novel imaging technologies and imaging biomarkers. The workshop will be a venue for stakeholders to discuss pressing research questions and methodological development in relation to the above focus, as well as to define opportunities, challenges, and possible future directions for a large scale research initiative related to the applications of imaging technologies and biomarkers. | |
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
The ICRH New Frontiers Program was designed:
This year, the ICRH Advisory Board identified clinical imaging research as a priority. Diagnostic medical imaging has undergone a dramatic evolution over the past several decades owing to rapid technological advancement and innovative clinical applications. Techniques such as Computerized Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Positron Emission Tomography (PET), Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT), digital x-ray and three-dimensional ultrasound have experienced rapid development and growth, and have been widely employed in clinical medicine for their ability to allow rapid, accurate and safe diagnosis. Many of these techniques are considered among the most significant medical advances of the last 100 years. Today's diagnostic imaging technologies form one of the most important foundations upon which the practice of modern-day medicine is based.
The non-invasive diagnostic imaging technologies are not only central to the Canadian healthcare enterprise, they are also rapidly evolving to form the basis of some of the newest and most exciting directions in basic health research; for example, these technologies and the quantitative biomarkers derived from them are rapidly being adopted as new tools for the fundamental understanding of basic biology and physiology in living organisms, for the detection and quantitative characterization of pre-clinical disease, and for the tracking, delivery and assessment of novel therapies.
For the above compelling reasons, efforts to develop novel or refine existing non-invasive imaging techniques and imaging biomarkers, to demonstrate their feasibility through clinical implementation, and to evaluate their diagnostic and prognostic utility and cost-benefit should be supported. These three tiers of research are of equal importance for the continued advancement of medical imaging and its appropriate role in clinical practice. Specific efforts should therefore be made to integrate these components within new translational research programs involving both the basic and clinical imaging sciences.
The purpose of this initiative is to build upon Canadian strengths in basic and clinical imaging research by identifying priorities in the development, application and assessment of imaging technologies and imaging biomarkers. In particular, this initiative seeks to emphasize the critical step between technology development and clinical implementation. The overall aim is to build an integrated platform which will bring together strengths in imaging technology development with the design and implementation of cutting-edge, methodologically sound, policy-relevant trials that specifically examine new clinical imaging technologies. Moreover, it is anticipated that this program will encourage the identification of novel non-invasive imaging techniques and imaging biomarkers, demonstration of their feasibility through clinical implementation, and evaluation of their diagnostic and prognostic utility and cost-benefit.
ICRH 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 goal of this New Frontiers Program is to support a workshop that will bring together researchers, clinicians and other stakeholders to explore and define the gaps between basic imaging research and clinical imaging applications in areas of circulatory and respiratory sciences, including imaging technologies associated with the heart, lung, brain (stroke), blood and blood vessels, critical and intensive care and sleep. In particular, the workshop will focus on the broad question of measuring the impact of existing and novel imaging technologies and imaging biomarkers. The workshop will be a venue for stakeholders to discuss pressing research questions and methodological development in relation to the above focus, as well as to define opportunities, challenges, and possible future directions for a large scale research initiative.
The successful workshop applicant (or co-applicants) will be required to submit a synthesis report to ICRH within two weeks following the workshop. The synthesis report will assist ICRH and its funding partners in responding to the recommendations. It is also anticipated that the interactions achieved in the workshop setting will facilitate the development of stronger applications in this arena to other grants competitions of CIHR and other health research funding organizations.
It is anticipated that the workshop agenda will address the following themes:
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.
Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) will not be considered under this RFA.
Specific Requirements
Requirements specific to this Request for Applications include the following:
Only one Workshop Grant will be approved through this process; therefore, it is advised that clinical imaging researchers collaborate to develop a single application.
The proposal must include the following:
Deliverables and Timeframe
The proposal should outline a plan to meet the following proposed actions and/or propose a modified schedule with appropriate rationale.
The workshop leader(s) is expected to complete the following tasks by the specified date:
Workshop: The workshop should be held by no later than March 19, 2007. Approximately 35-50 leading researchers and clinicians could be invited to attend and participate in the workshop.
Synthesis Report: The synthesis report should be submitted to ICRH in electronic format no later than April 2, 2007. It is important that the synthesis report be submitted by this date to allow partners organizations to make decisions on priority areas for future funding through Request for Applications (RFA) programs. The synthesis report should cover as many of the topics mentioned under the workshop objectives section as possible (see above). It would be helpful if the synthesis report included organized tables and lists as opposed to lengthy narratives.
Applicants should review the Tri-Agency (CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC) financial administration guidelines Use of Grant Funds (Compensation-Related Expenses) (external site) for a complete listing and description of allowable costs and activities.
The full application must provide a detailed justification of all costs.
Eligible Expenses
Due to the development nature of this initiative, funds may not be used for research and can only be utilized as follows:
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 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). For information on CIHR's peer review process in general, see Peer Review.
Peer review will be conducted in accordance with The CIHR Peer Review Process - Policies and Responsibilities of Grants Committee Members, including the standard evaluation criteria described under "Factors for Assessment" (section 6.2).
In addition, the following evaluation criteria specific to this Request for Applications will apply. CIHR recognizes that applications will emphasize different approaches to research and to knowledge translation, therefore reviewers and committees are expected to weight criteria such as these differently from one application to another.
The research proposed:
The applicant's productivity and leadership experience:
This Request for Applications will follow the CIHR Guidelines for Grant Programs. Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate the use of Gender and Sex-Based Analysis in applications.
All conditions 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: Within six months after the end of the grant's term, the Nominated Principal Applicant is required to submit a final performance report, summarizing the results and describing how the grant funds were used. A standard form will be provided by CIHR. Additional information (e.g., performance data) may be requested by ICRH following the completion of the grant.
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.
Grant 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, Public Communication and 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:
The application process is comprised of one step: Full Application.
Review the application instructions provided in How to Apply for Funding.
Select "Operating Grants" (Registration and Application) from the Application Packages.
Additional instructions must be followed for this RFA:
In a maximum of five (5) pages (not including references, key words or budget), include:
In the Research Funding Program section of the Research Module, select "Strategic Initiative/RFA" and enter "ICRH New Frontiers Program"
In addition to sending 1 copy of the full proposal by mail, please send an electronic copy of the 5-page proposal and budget by email to Martine Parent at mailto:{mparent@cihr-irsc.gc.ca by December 8, 2006.
Send Application by Courier to:
RE: "ICRH New Frontiers Program"
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:
Martine Parent
Program Coordinator
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Telephone: (613) 941-4634
Fax: (613) 954-1800
Email: mparent@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
For questions about this initiative and research objectives contact:
Christine Lavictoire
Project Manager, Strategic Initiatves and Evaluation
Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Telephone: (613) 941-4342
Fax: (613) 954-1800
Email: clavictoire@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
Note: Additional partners, including partners from industry and the private sector are expected to join this funding initiative over the coming year.
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 - Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health (ICRH)
The mission of the CIHR Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health (ICRH) is to support research into the causes, mechanisms, prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, support systems, and palliation for a wide range of conditions associated with heart, lung, brain (stroke), blood, blood vessels, critical and intensive care, and sleep.
