Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis (IMHA)
Research Development and Translation Initiatives
Support for workshops, consensus conferences and other activities associated with research development and translation
Content Update: August 31, 2006
Introduction
IMHA's Vision is to sustain health and enhance quality of life, through research, by eradicating the pain, suffering and disability caused by arthritis, musculoskeletal, skin and oral health conditions. To achieve its vision, IMHA will focus on three Strategic Research Priorities:
- Physical activity, mobility and health
- Tissue injury, repair and replacement
- Pain, disability and chronic disease
Background and Rationale
IMHA wishes to support innovative health research that will lead to excellence in research and knowledge translation/exchange within both its strategic initiatives and its broader mandate. To this end, IMHA will support a spectrum of activities aimed at research development and knowledge translation/exchange via its Workshop Program. This Program, as elaborated by its Institute Advisory Board, is highly strategic. It is designed to bring together people to interact (cross-pillar and multi-disciplinary) and to further define unmet research needs in one or more of the Institute's six foci areas - arthritis, MSK rehabilitation, bone, skeletal muscle, skin and oral health - and one or more of its three strategic research priorities as noted above.
Timelines
Applications will be accepted at any time throughout the year provided that the application is received, by the Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis three months before the intended workshop date.
Funding
All funding is in Canadian dollars
- The maximum amount for a Tier 1 Workshop award is $5,000.
- The maximum amount for a Tier 2 Workshop award is $25,000.
Total Funds Available
The total funds available per fiscal year for the Workshop Program is $165,000.
Table of Contents
Objectives of the Research Development and Translation InitiativesMechanisms of SupportEligibility CriteriaAllowable CostsEvaluation and Criteria for Review Specific Conditions of Funding How to ApplyContact For Further Information
Objectives of the Research Development and Translation Initiatives
The objectives of a Tier 1 award are to:
- Increase awareness and raise the profile of the Institute and of CIHR;
- Enhance opportunities for IMHA stakeholder networking and information/idea exchange;
- Facilitate national and international meetings of relevance to IMHA and to recognize research excellence of Students or Post-Doctoral Fellows presenting their research findings at the meetings.
The objectives of a Tier 2 award are to:
- Bring together people who would not normally have the opportunity to interact (cross-pillar and multi-disciplinary);
- Enable IMHA researchers and other stakeholders to meet for the purposes of discussing new research ideas, consensus development, and/or development of innovative research proposals within the areas of IMHA's mandate and other activities that will enhance knowledge development and translation/exchange within IMHA's mandate;
- Identify key research questions and develop action plans of how subsequent multi-disciplinary and/or cross-pillar research teams (conference participants and/or others) and new research activities will address those key questions;
- Enable researchers to develop new national and international collaborations;
- Further the ability of researchers to work across research disciplines and priorities.
Mechanisms of Support
For instructions on how to apply to the following programs, please refer to the specific mechanism for support below.
Eligibility Criteria
IMHA will consider funding workshops, consensus conferences, opportunities for research collaboration and similar activities leading to identification of research priorities, the development of research proposals, and/or the translation and exchange of research knowledge in areas within its mandate or strategic research priorities.
Tier 1
- Eligible national or international meetings must be chaired and/or organized by a Canadian researcher.
- The meeting agenda/program will demonstrate relevance to IMHA's strategic research priorities and six focus areas.
- One or more student/postdoctoral fellow awards of research excellence, i.e. poster or oral presentations, is an eligible activity within the category, adjudicated by the relevant workshop/conference organizer(s).
Tier 2
- Meetings funded will involve a limited number of persons who have been individually invited to attend.
- The meeting agenda/program will address specific questions or problems of importance to research in IMHA's mandated areas for the purpose of developing research teams, developing research proposals and/or reaching a consensus on research needs, gaps and opportunities.
Tier 2 funding may not be used to support congresses, annual meetings, or open registration conferences. It may, however, be applied to gatherings that meet the above criteria, and are being held within the context of a larger meeting/conference.
Eligible applicants for Tier 1 and Tier 2 funding include investigators holding research appointments at a Canadian institution, professional associations and NGOs whose main focus of activity lies within IMHA's mandate or strategic focus.
Allowable Costs
Eligible expenses:
- travel expenses for invited participants (travel may not exceed full economy fare);
- meeting rooms and associated meeting costs;
- costs associated with administrative support of the meeting;
- publication, translation and dissemination costs.
Ineligible expenses:
- event meal costs;
- purchase of equipment;
- operating costs of research projects;
Evaluation and Criteria for Review
A subcommittee of the Institute Advisory Board will evaluate applications. On completion of the review, IMHA will receive the ranking lists, merit scores (ratings) and recommendation of the subcommittee for the applications submitted. Based on the total funds available for the initiative, applications will be funded from the top ranked down as far as the budget will allow. Applications receiving a score of less than 3.5 will not be considered for funding.
Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
Tier 1
- alignment with eligibility criteria and the purpose of the award;
- degree of alignment with IMHA's mandate or strategic focus;
- benefit of the meeting to Canadian research and researchers.
Tier 2
- clarity of objectives;
- strength of the applicants/coordinating group and consistency of objectives with backgrounds, experience and interests of key participants;
- alignment with eligibility criteria and the purpose of the award;
- degree of alignment with IMHA's mandate or strategic focus ;
- potential results or impact of the outcomes of the activity;
- benefit of the meeting to Canadian research and researchers;
- plan for dissemination of the results of the activity;
- budget justification (appropriateness of the budget / value for money).
Specific Conditions of Funding
The following terms apply if the applicant receives funding:
Tier 1
- The CIHR and the IMHA's contribution must be acknowledged in both the program and the proceedings of the funded event;
- On completion of the event or activity, the applicant will be required to forward to the IMHA a financial report outlining how the funds were expended and a final attendance list;
- At the Institute's expense, the IMHA can send a delegate to attend the funded event.
Tier 2
- The CIHR and the IMHA's contribution must be acknowledged in both the program and the proceedings of the funded event;
- On completion of the event or activity, the applicant will be required to forward to the IMHA a financial report outlining how the funds were expended and a final attendance list;
- A report of proceedings, including outcomes and recommended next steps with action plan, is required;
- At the Institute's expense, the IMHA can send a delegate to attend the funded event.
How to Apply
The application form is available on IMHA's website. [ PDF (68 KB) | RTF (615 KB) | Help ]
If the workshop topic has relevance to the mandates of other Institutes, please indicate all applicable CIHR Institutes on the application form. It will be the Applicant's responsibility to submit an application to each of the identified CIHR Institutes, according to their respective requirements.
Send an electronic copy of the completed application form to the following:
robson@ucalgary.ca (Elizabeth Robson)
Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis
In addition to the completed application form, please submit, electronically, a proposal which includes the following detail:
Tier 1
Proposal - In a maximum of two (2) pages, include:
- Title of event or activity; and its key topic(s);
- A statement of the planned objectives, how they align with the eligibility criteria and how they address research relevant to the IMHA;
- The total anticipated costs in relation to funds being requested and purpose of funds requested including whether funding is being requested for one or more trainee awards *;
- A preliminary list of attendees, including speakers/presenters;
- A list of key words.
* Student / Post-Doctoral Fellow Awards of Research Excellence
The intent of the Student/Post-Doctoral Fellow Awards of Research Excellence Program is strategic. It is designed to facilitate trainee (Students or Post-Doctoral Fellows) participation at national and international meetings of relevance to IMHA's mandate. This program is to recognize research excellence of Students or Post-Doctoral Fellows presenting their research at the meeting. This will help attract Students and Fellows to both attend and present their research at these major national and international meetings. Further, this program is designed to recognize research excellence in areas of relevance to IMHA and will provide incentives for further development of research careers and programs in these areas. This opportunity to interact and receive recognition is intended to further enhance the training environment of Students / Post-Doctoral Fellows engaged in arthritis, bone, skeletal muscle, skin, MSK rehabilitation and oral health research with respect to one of the Institute's three Strategic Research Priorities.
Funding for Student / Post-Doctoral Fellow awards is intended to enable national or international Workshop or Conference Organizers to fund one or more IMHA-specific awards per Workshop or Conference. Each award cannot exceed $1000.
Eligibility
- Workshops or Conferences must have national or international scope and participation.
- The objective(s) of the Workshop or Conference must be relevant to one or more of IMHA's three Strategic Research Priorities (noted above) and to one or more IMHA's six focus areas: arthritis, bone, skeletal muscle, skin, MSK rehabilitation, and oral health.
- The program of the Workshop or Conference must include Student/Post-Doctoral Fellow research presentations in oral/platform and or poster sessions.
- Clinical trainees, such as, medical or dental students, residents or trainees in any professional discipline of relevance to IMHAs mandate will also be considered eligible for these research awards.
- The meeting or workshop must include a formal Awards Ceremony where the Student/Post-Doctoral Fellow awardees will be recognized for research excellence and IMHA's sponsorship of the award(s) will be recognized.
- The Workshop or Conference Organizing Committee must have a documented process for judging presentations and or posters, including how submitted abstracts will be rated, and/or posters..
- Applications will only be good for one year of any workshop/conference (applications for multiple years of awards at repeating annual conferences cannot be considered due to funding uncertainty).
Proposal and Attachments (Minimum Requirements)
- Pre Workshop or Conference:
- Provide a copy of the Workshop or Conference Program.
- Provide full details of the Awards Program together with a recommendation regarding the award(s) most suited for IMHA sponsorship.
- Acknowledge IMHA's contribution and use IMHA logo in the Workshop or Conference program and proceedings.
- Advise Student(s)/Post-Doctoral Fellow(s) that IMHA will announce award winner(s) in the "IMHA On The Move' newsletter and potentially in other promotional material, i.e. website, etc.
- Awards Selection:
- The successful research presentation(s) or poster(s) must involve a research project of relevance to one or more of IMHA's focus areas and / or one of its strategic research priorities.
- Post Workshop or Conference:
- Provide a copy of the research abstract and CV together with contact information of the Student(s)/Post-Doctoral Fellow(s).
- If available, provide relevant photos (poster, research presentation, receipt of award, etc.).
Tier 2
Proposal - In a maximum of four (4) pages, include:
- Title of event or activity; and its key topic(s);
- A statement of the planned objectives, how they align with the eligibility criteria and how they address research relevant to the IMHA;
- A summary work plan, including the organizational and administrative arrangements and schedule;
- A rationale for the constitution of the proposed participants, including invited international participants and potential partners;
- Plans to disseminate and translate the outcomes;
- A preliminary list of attendees, including speakers/presenters;
- A list of key words.
Budget - In a maximum of one (1) page, include a budget for the proposed activities, with justification (e.g. approximate number of attendees, number of nights accommodation) under the following categories:
- Travel and subsistence of participants;
- Communications costs;
- Meeting rooms and associated meeting costs;
- Administrative support of the meeting (itemized);
- Publication, translation and dissemination of outcomes;
- Contributions requested/expected from other partners.
Letters of Support - Attach any letters of support from partners of any type confirming their involvement and support of the planned activities (if applicable).
Send Application Form and Supporting Documentation, by email, to:
robson@ucalgary.ca (E. Robson)
Subject Line: IMHA Research Development and Translation Initiative
Contact for Further Information:
For questions regarding application forms, submission requirements, the review process and the status of funding decisions please contact:
Elizabeth Robson
Administrative Officer / Stakeholder Relations
Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis
(403) 320-0068
robson@ucalgary.ca
