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Institute of Aging
The purpose of this strategic initIAtive is to encourage and stimulate established investigators to enter new targeted, high priority areas in the field of aging. The pilot project grants provides support for research that is likely to lead to a subsequent individual research operating grant focused on priority areas in aging. CIHR-IA would like to encourage established researchers across disciplines and sectors to develop research in any areas covered by the Institute's priority topics: healthy and successful aging, biological mechanisms of aging, cognitive impairment in aging, aging and maintenance of functional autonomy, health services and policy relating to older people. CIHR-IA anticipates funding up to 6 grants and the maximum amount awarded for a single grant is $50,000 for one year, including equipment.
Timeline | |
| August 15, 2003 |
Registration Deadline - Registration packages must be courier stamped by this date. (Please refer to "How to Apply" section of this document.) |
| September 15, 2003 | Full proposals must be courier stamped by this date. (Please refer to "How to Apply" section of this document.) |
| December 2003 | Notification of decision |
| January 2004 | Anticipated start date, with 100% of funding awarded |
| Duration of Projects | One year |
| Funds Available | Up to $300,000. The maximum amount per grant is $50,000 |
Introduction
Background
Specific Objectives and Eligible Research Areas
Who is Eligible to Apply?
Specific Eligibility Requirements
Mechanism of Support
Funds Available
Allowable costs
How to Apply
Evaluation Process and Criteria For Peer Review
General CIHR Guidelines and Conditions of Funding
Performance Measurement and Evaluation
Address for Submitting Application and Contact Information
The goal of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research-Institute of Aging (CIHR-IA) is to support research that promotes healthy aging and addresses causes, prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, support systems, and palliation for a wide range of conditions associated with aging.
The purpose of this strategic initiative is to encourage and stimulate established investigators to enter new targeted, high priority areas in the field of aging. The Pilot Project grants provide support for research that is likely to lead to a subsequent individual research operating grant focused on priority areas in aging.
The Institute of Aging elaborated its Strategic Plan through consultations with investigators from all four CIHR research themes as well as with representatives from governments and other stakeholders. Five strategic orientations were identified for the Institute: (1) Leadership in setting strategic research directions in the field of aging in Canada, (2) Development and support of capacity-building research initiatives and programs in the field of aging, (3) Development and support of strategic research initiatives, programs and projects on aging, (4) Promotion of the importance of research on aging and of the needs of the research community in aging and (5) Facilitating the dissemination, transfer and translation of knowledge from research findings into potential applications through policies, interventions, services and products. This RFA is part of strategic orientations 2 and 3.
The Institute also identified five priority areas for research on aging and health. These priorities include (in no particular order):
The specific objectives of this request are to:
CIHR-IA would like to encourage established researchers across disciplines and sectors to develop research in areas covered by the Institute's priority topics (listed above):
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 .
Established investigators already in the field of aging or established investigators in other fields who want to integrate the field of aging into their research are encouraged to apply. To be considered as an established researcher, the principal investigator should hold peer reviewed grants, show adequate research training, research capabilities and a good track record.
This RFA is funded as a strategic initiative and is designed to solicit project grant applications with the duration of one year.
The maximum amount awarded for a single grant is $50,000 for one year (non renewable), including equipment. The total amount available for this initiative is up to $300,000.
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.
To access CIHR application forms, including CVs, all applicants and co-applicants must acquire Personal Identification Numbers (PIN). There will be a delay of approximately one working day to receive confirmation of a PIN. More than one working day may be required in peak periods - late January and early August.
Applicants are advised to refer to the "Guidelines for Completion" specific to each application module, and the instructions on 'How to Apply,' including the applicable Grants and Awards Guides. Note that the proposals must address the criteria described under the "Evaluation Process and Criteria for Peer Review" section in the text of the RFA.
To ensure that your registration and application are forwarded to the appropriate CIHR staff, indicate "Pilot Project Grants, Institute of Aging" (exactly as specified in the Title are at the top of the RFA) (Research Module, page 7 of the PDF form).
There are two steps to applying for this RFA. Applicants are encouraged to use the Webforms.
1. Register your intent to apply, using the CIHR Operating Grants registration package, which consists of pages from the CIHR Research Module, in addition to pages one and two of the Common CV for each applicant and co-applicant participating in the research project. If you are using the Webforms, after entering your PIN and password, create a new application, and then complete the "Operating" section under the Research Funding Programs heading. Once you have completed this section, Save and Exit, then choose the print option for "Registration Pages Only." Send the original plus one copy of both the registration pages and the CV pages to CIHR by courier by August 15, 2003.
2. Complete the full application using the CIHR Operating Grants application package, which consists of:
Courier the original plus eight copies of the full application by September 15, 2003.
Each proposal must describe how the grant will address one of the five priority topics of the Institute of Aging, described under "Specific Objectives and Eligible Research Areas" above. The Institute of Aging will first evaluate proposals for relevance / responsiveness to the RFA.
Applications deemed relevant will then be evaluated by a CIHR peer-review committee on Aging. Committee members are selected based on suggestions from many sources including the Institutes. Names of committee members are published on the CIHR website. The committee will follow the CIHR peer review process for grants .
In addition to scientific excellence, the peer review committee shall consider the criteria below:
Research Plan. Original, innovative, coordinated and feasible research plan and methodology which will generate preliminary data for a further full proposal. In the case of a very innovative project, how well have the applicant(s) anticipated difficulties in their methodologies and considered alternatives ?
Relevance/Responsiveness. How research is oriented or focused towards the Institute's priority topics ?
Added Value. Demonstration that the Pilot Project will bring added value, in terms of the approach to the eligible research area, and that it would not be possible to submit the proposal to the usual operating grant competition.
Investigator's Productivity, Experience and Training. Whether the principal investigator is an established researcher. To be considered as an established researcher, the principal investigator should hold peer reviewed grants, show adequate research training, research capabilities and a good track record.
On completion of the review, the Institute will receive the ranking lists, merit scores (ratings) and recommendations of the Committee 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 3.0 will not be considered for funding.
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). The principal applicant (with funding responsibilities) will be required to submit a final report to CIHR summarizing the results and describing how the grant funds were used.
In addition to CIHR standard guidelines and requirements the following shall apply:
Communication Requirement
Recipients who receive funding are required to acknowledge the CIHR Institute of Aging in any communication or publication related to the grant as follows: CIHR-IA.
The Institute of Aging has made plans to 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.
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Program Objectives |
Expected Outcomes |
Outcome Measures |
| To build research capacity in aging by attracting researchers within the five priority topics |
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| To support innovative ideas and projects within the five priority topics on aging, in order to help researchers to subsequently obtain grants form the regular programs |
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| To generate new knowledge regarding the five research priorities on aging and health |
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RE: "Pilot Project grants"
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Research Portfolio
410 Laurier Avenue W., 9th Floor
Address Locator 4209A
Ottawa, ON K1A 0W9
Contacts for Further Information:
For questions on CIHR funding guidelines or how to apply contact
Susan Senior
Program Delivery Coordinator
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Telephone: (613) 954-1970
Fax: (613) 954-1800
Email: ssenior@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
For questions about this initiative and research objectives contact the Institute of Aging Representative:
Anne-Cécile Desfaits, PhD
Assistant Director
Institute of Aging
Telephone: (819) 821-5112
Fax:(819) 821-5205
Email: anne-cecile.desfaits@usherbrooke.ca
