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Rural and Northern Health Research - New Emerging Team Grants (Archived)

Request for Applications - Archive

CIHR is pleased to announce a strategic initiative in Rural and Northern Health Research

Rural and Northern Health Research (RNHR) is a CIHR strategic cross-cutting initiative led by the Institute of Aboriginal Peoples' Health with co-lead involvement from the Institute of Public and Population Health and the Institute of Health Services and Policy Research. RNHR is supported by all CIHR institutes.

New Emerging Team (NET) Grants
New Emerging Team grants are intended to support the creation or development of teams comprised of investigators undertaking collaborative, multidisciplinary research. The program is intended to promote the formation of new and previously non-existent research teams or the growth of small existing teams of researchers in the area of rural and northern health.

Timeline
November 1, 2003	Registration deadline; must be courier stamped by this date.
January 15, 2004	Full proposals deadline; must be courier stamped by this date
June 1, 2004	Notification of decision
July 1, 2004	Anticipated start date
Duration of funding	Up to five (5) years
Funding	Up to a total of $1.2million per year, depending on the availability of funds. The maximum amount per grant is $ 300 000 per year.

Objectives of this Request for Applications
Eligibility Criteria
Allowable Costs
Evaluation Process and Criteria for Peer Review
Specific Conditions of Funding
How to Apply
RFA Performance Outcomes and Measures
Contacts for Further Information

Information on the following areas can be found in the strategic initiative announcement Rural and Northern Health Research:

Introduction, Background, Eligible Research Areas, Funds Available, Partners and their Specific Focus Areas, Research Programs, Peer Review Process, Contacts for Further Information.

Objectives of this Request for Applications

Health researchers in rural and northern health are currently faced with the challenge of addressing a growing number of important research questions in the face of critical deficits in research capacity. Therefore the purpose of this RFA is to address this challenge by building capacity among teams of investigators who are poised to conduct research and translate new knowledge in rural and northern health. The funding associated with this RFA is intended to enhance the capacity of groups of researchers to address key research themes related to rural and northern health through the creation of strong intra- and inter-institution mentoring arrangements to add expertise to their core capabilities. Important aspects of this capacity-building program are the objectives of forging multidisciplinary teams around rural/northern health themes and attracting researchers from relevant disciplines who have not been primarily (or at all) previously involved in this area of health research.

The essence of NET team grants is to provide support for new or existing groups who can demonstrate that they are committed to engendering a trans-disciplinary research culture and to attracting into, engaging and mentoring junior researchers (faculty and post-doctoral fellows not otherwise funded) or established researchers who have not worked extensively in Rural and northern health in the past, within teams or networks working on Rural and northern health research themes. The creation or enhancement of teams likely to develop new, or refine existing, research methods or tools, is encouraged.

The specific objectives of the New Emerging Teams grant program under the strategic initiative Rural and Northern Health Research are to:

Foster cross-theme research in rural and northern health with an emphasis on a multidisciplinary approach
Create a team environment that favours the development of excellent and innovative research projects that will advance our understanding of rural and northern health
Train and establish new investigators capable of undertaking research relevant to understanding rural and northern health

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility criteria for all CIHR research funding (grant) programs apply. Please refer to Eligibility for Research Funding Programs on the CIHR website.

The business office of the institution of an eligible Principal Applicant generally administers CIHR funds. The eligibility requirements for Institutions are found on the CIHR website in the Financial Administration of Funds Guide.

In addition to the standard CIHR eligibility requirements, the following special conditions apply:

It is anticipated that New Emerging Teams will consist of 3 to 6 independent investigators.The specific contribution of each team member must be described.
At least two of the investigators must have an established research track record in areas related to the collaborative project(s) proposed. Ideally, the investigators should have complementary expertise in at least two of the four CIHR themes.
Capacity building may be in the form of training doctoral and post-doctoral trainees. However, teams may also want to train and establish New Investigators
The members of the team may pursue other avenues of research in addition to their commitment to the Team, however each individual investigator must contribute sufficient time to the Team to ensure the achievement of its research objectives.
Members of a Team may be located in one or more departments, faculties or institutions in Canada.
The team, as a whole, should not, at the time of submission, benefit from any majo infrastructure program designed to facilitate group activities, including programs of the CIHR (e.g. IHRTs, CAHRs, Groups program) or of any other federal or provincial agencies. Teams with small amounts of prior infrastructure must provide clear justification for the expansion of this support through the NET program. Any overlaps in support must be clearly described.
Individual team members may be part of other research teams or groups, as long as there is minimal to no overlap in the research programs.
The Team Leader must be a researcher with proven leadership capabilities

Allowable Costs

Applicants should review CIHR's guidelines on Eligible Expenditures for Research Funding Programs for a complete listing and description of allowable costs and activities.

The full application must provide a detailed justification of all costs.

Allowable costs for a NET grant under the strategic initiative Rural and Northern Health include:

Salaries for technicians and other research personnel;
Equipment purchase, and maintenance contracts;
Salaries of research trainees (graduate and postdoctoral) and other personnel whose participation will enhance the collaborative research productivity of the Team;
Operating costs for the proposed new collaborative research project(s), which must be distinct from those for which team members currently receive funding;
A New Emerging Team grant can NOT be used to support team members' currently funded research projects;
Costs of data collection and maintenance of information holdings directly related to the Team research program;
Costs of networking activities, including collaboration, planning, and research exchange activities directly related to the Team's research program, and extra travel funds required for members and trainees separated by a significant distance;
Establishment funds and salary of new investigators joining the team; New investigators are within the first five years of their independent research careers. Salary contributions paid from a NET grant must not exceed the stipend paid to CIHR New Investigators. Those paid from NET grants cannot also hold a Canada Research Chair or other salary award;
The salary of a professional coordinator and/or administrative assistant.
A New Emerging Team grant can NOT be used to purchase major equipment (over $20,000). If the application includes a request for equipment, it must be indicated as expenditure for the first year. The first installment of the grant may then include a one-time payment of up to $20,000 for equipment.

Funding

The maximum amount per grant is $300,000 per annum including equipment.

Funding for New Emerging Team grants will be provided for a period of up to five (5) years, subject to a satisfactory progress review at 2.5 years.

Total amount available for this initiative is $1.2 million per year, depending on the availability of funds.

Evaluation Process and Criteria for Peer Review

A committee comprised of members of CIHR's Scientific Advisory Committee on Rural and Northern Health will determine the relevance of the applications to the strategic initiative in Rural and Northern Health and responsiveness to the eligibility criteria of the NET program.

A special ad hoc, multi-disciplinary, peer review committee with expertise in areas relevant to rural and northern health could be established to evaluate the full applications. Names of the peer review committee members will be posted on the CIHR website.

On completion of the review, CIHR and partners will receive the ranking lists, merit scores (ratings) and recommendation of the Committee for the applications submitted. Based on the total funds available for the initiative, top ranked applications will be funded. Applications receiving a score less than 3.5 will not be considered for funding.

In addition to the general evaluation criteria outlined in the CIHR peer review process for grants, applications will be evaluated on the following:

Relevance. Applicants should describe the alignment of the proposed program with the objectives of the strategic initiative Rural and Northern Health
Responsiveness to the NET program. Applicants must indicate how the proposed team meets the objectives and the eligibility criteria of the NET program.
Value Added. Applicants should emphasize the ways in which the New Emerging Team research program adds value by bringing together researchers from different disciplines, institutions, and/or themes, in a meaningful collaboration that will advance our understanding of rural and northern health.
Innovation/Advancement. The project should challenge current research thinking and paradigms and/or address unexplored areas. Applicants should also provide a plan for effective dissemination of research findings through linkages with the appropriate user communities.
Approach. The application should describe the conceptual framework, methods, hypotheses, design and analyses for projects to be funded by this application. Brief descriptions of projects already funded, but which constitute part of complete research program should also be provided.
Team Excellence. New Emerging Teams should consist of team members who have been productive, creative and original in their approach to research. Applications should describe how the team will recruit and provide training opportunities for graduate and post-doctoral trainees and New Investigators

Specific Conditions of Funding

All conditions, as specified in CIHR's Grants and Awards Guides and the strategic initiative Rural and Northern Health, shall apply to New Emerging Teams funded through this initiative. 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 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 special conditions shall apply:

The Team Leader(s) has the obligation to inform CIHR in writing if a new Team member is added and the new member's salary is to be funded by the NET grant. A responsible official of the institution employing the new investigator must also confirm the terms of the appointment.
Funding for the final 2 years of the program are contingent on progress report review during the third year of funding.
Applicants will be provided with a standard performance evaluation form, which must be completed and submitted annually.
The principal applicant will be required to submit a final report to CIHR summarizing the results and describing how the grant funds were used.
Applicants who receive funding are required to acknowledge CIHR in any communication or publication related to the grant.

How to Apply

Applicants should review the instructions of the application process for Operating Grants on "How to Apply" on the CIHR website.

In completing CIHR forms, be sure to refer to both the Grants and Awards Guides and the guidelines for completion specific to each module. The proposals must address all criteria as described below under "Evaluation Process and Criteria for Peer Review"

Please note that in order to apply to CIHR you must have a CIHR or MRC Personal Identification Number (PIN). If you do not already have a PIN, please follow the application procedures and allow at least one working day to receive confirmation. More than one working day may be required in peak periods - late January and early August.

Full application

In completing CIHR forms, be sure to refer to both the Grants and Awards Guides and the guidelines for completion specific to each module.

The following application forms/modules are required, using the CIHR application forms (modules).

CIHR Research Module
- Indicate "Rural and northern health: NET Program" in the section "Name of Industrial Partner(s) OR Partnership Program OR Special Program".
CIHR CV Modules for all applicants/team members
CIHR Operating Budget Module (including the costs of personnel, travel, supply/equipment, etc.) which fully justifies each item of funding requested

The original and 5 copies of the full application are required. Only complete applications will be considered.

Send applications by Courier to:

RE: "Rural and northern health: NET Grants"
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Research Portfolio
410 Laurier Avenue W., 9th Floor
Address Locator 4209A
Ottawa, ON K1A 0W9

RFA Performance Outcomes and Measures

CIHR and its partners will assess performance of this initiative through ongoing monitoring and periodic evaluation. We are committed to informing Canadians about the performance of our initiatives and the results that they deliver.

The following table is intended to further clarify objectives by linking them to expected outcomes and measures. All funded applicants will be expected to participate in the evaluation strategy, contributing advice, data and reports as required for assessment purposes.

Program Objectives	Expected Outcomes	Outcome Measures
Foster cross-theme research in rural and northern health with an emphasis on a multidisciplinary approach.	Multidisciplinary and cross-theme research in rural and northern health	Multidisciplinary and cross-theme nature of operating grant applications and subsequent publications Awardees opinion on the effectiveness of the program to foster multidisciplinary and cross-theme research
Create a team environment that favours the development of excellent and innovative research projects that will advance our understanding of rural and northern health.	Increased quality and productivity of award recipients in area of rural and northern health	Applications to operating grants and success rate Knowledge translation activities (publications, patents, colloquia,)
Train and establish new investigators capable of undertaking research relevant to understanding rural and northern health.	Increased number of trainees in rural and northern health Establishment of new investigators in rural and northern health	Number of trainees within the teams New investigators that are integrated in the teams

Contacts for Further Information

For questions regarding application forms and submission requirements, contact:

Kalpana Phansalker B.Sc., B.A.Sc. (Eng.)
Program Officer
Health & Clinical Research Unit
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
410 Laurier Ave. W., 9th Floor, Address Locator 4209A
Ottawa, ON Canada
Tel: (613) 954-5998
Fax: (613) 952-2277
E-mail: kphansalker@cihr.gc.ca

For general questions about the strategic initiative Rural and Northern Health Research, please do not hesitate to contact:

Ginette Thomas B.A., M.A.
Project Director
Rural and Northern Health Research
Research Portfolio
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
410 Laurier Ave. W., 9th Floor, Address Locator 4209A
Ottawa, ON Canada
Tel: (613) 954-0616
Fax: (613) 941-0568
E-mail: gthomas@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

Created: 2003-06-30
Modified: 2004-04-21
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