IMPORTANT NOTICE: The deadline for full applications was extended to March 15, 2005.
Founded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and Aventis Pharma Inc., a member the sanofi-aventis Group
The CANADA-HOPE Scholarship Program (Program) founded in 2004, is dedicated to improving the health of people in developing countries. The CANADA-HOPE scholarship was made possible by a grant from Aventis Pharma Inc., a member the sanofi-aventis Group, as a consequence of the successful HOPE clinical trial led by Dr. Salim Yusuf and other Canadian investigators. This donation of approximately $1.7 Million was matched by CIHR to create the CANADA-HOPE Scholarship.
The primary goal of the Program is to further develop international collaborative efforts between researchers. The short term goal will enable promising individuals to be mentored by prominent Canadian researchers. The long term objective of the Program would enable promising scientists and clinicians from Low and Middle Income Countries (LMIC), as identified by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the United Nations (UN) to be exposed to some of the best science, laboratories and training environments in Canada. This objective will be realized by developing research training opportunities which in the long term, would lead to the development of sustainable programs to help people in developing countries. The pilot round of this program will focus on sub-continental South Asia. It is the intent to gradually expand the Program to other regions of the world.
| March 1, 2005 | Deadline for Full Application |
| May 1, 2005 | Phase 1 Review of the Full Application |
| Early June 2005 | Phase 2 Interview of Short-listed Applicants |
| Mid-late June 2005 | Notification of decision |
| Duration of the award | 4 years |
| Funds Available | Up to 5 awards will be funded (1st round) |
| Start Date | As early as September 2005 |
Summary
Partners
Specific Objectives and Eligible Research Areas
Who is Eligible to Apply?
Funds Available
How to Apply
Evaluation Process and Criteria For Peer Review
General CIHR Guidelines and Conditions of Funding
Communications Requirements
Performance Measurement and Evaluation
Address for Submitting Application and Contact Information
Sanofi-aventis, with global headquarters in Paris, France, is one of the leading pharmaceutical companies in Canada. We are dedicated to protecting health and combating disease by working to make innovative, effective and safe medicines available to physicians and patients throughout the world. To accomplish our goal, we rely on our strong research focus and place the patient at the heart of our efforts. For more information on sanofi-aventis, visit our global Web site.
CIHR is Canada's premier 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.
The CIHR/Rx&D Research Program is a partnership between Canada's Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (Rx&D) and CIHR established to provide an opportunity for health researchers to work in collaboration with Rx&D companies. Research undertaken must be beneficial to both partners with a view to improving the quality of health of Canadians.
The goals of the Program are to encourage a broad spectrum of foreign post-doctoral scholars (PhDs and/or MDs) to train in health and health related areas which affect people in LMIC. Eligible research areas include clinical epidemiology, population health, clinical trials, the health sciences, global health and areas which can have an impact on the health of people in LMIC. The scholars must:
In order to be eligible for this award, the scholar must have a mentor at an eligible Canadian institution and the sponsorship of an eligible institution in sub-continental South Asia, (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh Sri Lanka and Nepal). The scholarships are intended for men and women of high intellectual promise who may be expected to make a significant contribution to their own countries on their return from study in Canada. Anyone who has obtained Canadian citizenship or who has applied for permanent residency in Canada shall not be eligible for the award. The mentor, scholar and the sponsoring institution(s) must meet the following requirements:
a) Mentor
b) Scholar
c) Sponsoring Institution(s)
The faculty members must be actively involved in clinical medicine, health related research, global health and/or population health research and demonstrate the potential to develop functional linkages to collaborative projects at other institutions. The sponsoring institutions must have adequate infrastructure, physical space, research training environment and computer facilities for its' trainees. The institutions are also required to meet the following specific criteria:
Eligibility criteria for all CIHR research personnel programs apply. Please refer to Eligibility for Research Personnel Programs on the CIHR website.
The business office of the mentor's institution will administer the first two years of research funding. The eligibility requirements for Canadian institutions are found on the CIHR website in the CIHR Financial Administration of Funds Guidelines.
During the post-training period, specifically years three and four, the research funding will be administered by the scholar at the sponsoring institution where he/she is to be employed.
The awards in the first round will be allocated as indicated in the table below.
| Quota | India | Pakistan | Bangladesh, Sri Lanka & Nepal | Total |
| Awards | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
A quota of five awards are available, if however no qualified candidates are identified as indicated by the allotment for that country and/or region, the remaining funds will be carried forward to future years.
Funding for up to five scholarships is offered through this partnership in the pilot round of this program. Scholars will receive funding in Canadian dollars based on the following table:
| Year | Stipend (max.) |
Research Allowance | Mentor (Operating grant)- |
Total |
| 1 | $50,000 | $6,000 | $16,000 | $72,000 |
| 2 | $50,000 | $6,000 | $16,000 | $72,000 |
| 3 | $10,000 | $5,000 | $15,000 | |
| 4 | $10,000 | $5,000 | $15,000 | |
| Total | $100,000 | $32,000 | $42,000 | $174,000 |
The stipend level is related to the major degree, licensure (where applicable) and experience of the applicant. Stipends are valued in Canadian dollars and are taxable.
A request for the CANADA-HOPE Scholarship Program must be submitted to CIHR using the appropriate forms.
The full application must contain:
Applicants must indicate on page 1 of the Training Module the "CANADA HOPE Scholarship Program" under "Partnership Program".
One original and one (1) copy of the full application package, including appendices, are required.
Send the complete application package to the following address:
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
CANADA-HOPE Scholarship Program
160 Elgin Street, 9th Floor
Address Locator 4809A
Ottawa, ON K1A 0W9
Applicants must obtain a Personal Identification Number (PIN) from the CIHR Website prior to submitting their applications.
All personal information collected by CIHR about applicants is used to review applications, 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.
The CIHR conflict of interest guidelines will apply to the members of the Peer Review Committee. A conflict of interest is a situation where an individual, or the organization he or she represents or has an interest in, has a real, potential or perceived, direct or indirect competing interest with CIHR's activities. This competing interest may result in the individual, or other(s) related to them or entities in which they have an interest, being in a position to benefit from the situation or in CIHR not being able to achieve a result which would be in the best interest of CIHR. The complete guidelines are posted on the CIHR web site.
Applications will be reviewed by a special Peer Review Committee of CIHR. Applications meeting the research objectives of the program and the scientific standards as determined by peer review will be selected and interviewed. Applications rated between 3.5 and 4.9 on the CIHR rating scale will be considered for funding in order of scientific ranking. CIHR will not provide any funds to support applications rated below 3.5.
Peer review of the applications will occur in two distinct phases.
Phase 1 CIHR Peer review
The research training and potential for a promising career in research, in a health related area which will help people in an LMIC and the potential to develop linkages are the principal criteria, on which applications will be judged. More specifically, the points considered in the Phase 1 assessment of an application are as follows:
Phase 2: Personal interview
Further information about the interview process will be forwarded to selected candidates.
Awards will be jointly funded through CIHR and Aventis, award amounts, as indicated in the CIHR Grants and Awards Guide, apply.
CIHR guidelines and Access to Information Act and Privacy Act, and the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA)
CIHR has 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.
The parties, while respecting the application of the Privacy Act to federal entities, will also be bound by the PIPEDA. All personal information (as identified by the PIPEDA) collected, used or disclosed in the course of any commercial activity under cost-sharing agreements related to the Request for Applications will be collected, used and disclosed in compliance with the PIPEDA.
All conditions, as specified in CIHR's Grants and Awards Guides, shall apply to those funded through this initiative. Conditions cover areas such as Applicant and Institutional Responsibilities, Ethics, Official Language Policy, Access to Information and Privacy Acts, Acknowledgement of CIHR support etc. Successful recipients will be informed of any special financial conditions when they receive CIHR's Authorization for Funding Form (AFF). In addition to CIHR standard guidelines and requirements the following shall apply:
Recipients who receive funding are required to acknowledge the Program, CIHR and the 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 partners will be identified on the Authorization for Funding and decision letter.
It is intended that performance of this initiative wil be assessed through ongoing monitoring and periodic evaluation. All funded applicants will be expected to participate in the evaluation strategy, contributing advice, data and reports as required for assessment purposes.
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:
Send Application by Courier to:
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
CANADA-HOPE Scholarship Program
Innovations and Industry Division
160 Elgin Street, 9th Floor
Address Locator 4809A
Ottawa, ON K1A 0W9
For questions on CIHR eligibility, guidelines or how to apply contact:
Prabha Singh
Program Delivery Officer
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Room 97, 160 Elgin Street
Address locator: 4809A
Ottawa, ON K1A 0W9
Canada
Telephone: (613) 952-0823;
Fax: (613) 954-1800;
Email: psingh@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
For questions regarding the research objectives please contact:
Dr. Arun Chockalingam
Assistant Director
Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Phone: (604) 806-8932
E-mail: achockalingam@mrl.ubc.ca
