Institute of Aging
Part of the mandate of the CIHR Institute of Aging (IA) includes the development and support of high quality research programs and initiatives related to aging. The purpose of this Request for Applications is to encourage innovative investigations within IA's priority research areas by providing one-year pilot project grants. It is expected that this targeted investment will enable researchers to generate preliminary data, validate methodology or tools, and/or explore novel (high risk) research ideas towards enhancing the success of subsequent applications to the CIHR open and strategic competitions.
| April 1, 2005 | Registration Deadline - Registration packages must be courier stamped by this date. |
| June 1, 2005 | Full applications must be courier stamped by this date. |
| January 2006 | Anticipated Notification of decision. |
| February 2006 | Anticipated start date, with 100% of funding awarded. |
| Duration of projects | Up to one year. |
| Funds Available | For this initiative: $350,000 over a total of one year, at a minimum, but not to exceed $500,000. Per grant: $50,000/year. |
Summary
Background
Objectives and Eligible Research Areas
Funding Information
Eligibility
Evaluation Criteria and Process
General CIHR Guidelines and Conditions of Funding
Communications Requirements
Monitoring, Performance Measurement and Evaluation
How to Apply
Contact Information
The goal of the CIHR Institute of Aging is to support research that promotes healthy aging and addresses causes, prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, support systems, and palliation for a wide range of health issues associated with aging.
The CIHR Institute of Aging developed 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 strategic initiative aims to address strategic orientations 2 and 3.
The Institute has also identified five priority areas for research on aging and health. These priorities include (in no particular order):
The purpose of this strategic initiative is to encourage and stimulate new and established investigators to undertake new, high priority research challenges in the field of aging.
The Pilot Project grants provide support for research that will generate preliminary data, permit validation of new methodology or tools, and/or test high risk research ideas, the output of which will enable successful funding applications for subsequent projects focused on priority areas in aging.
The objectives of this initiative are to:
Eligible research areas include research in areas covered by the Institute's priority topics.
Eligibility of Randomized Controlled Trials Applications
Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) will NOT be considered under this RFA. RCTs are defined as any study involving humans where at least two interventions are compared using random allocation, statistical methodologies and blinding techniques for the purpose of determining whether an innovative intervention leads to improved health.
Feasibility studies and protocol development leading to an RCT are eligible in this RFA.
Mechanism of Support
This RFA is funded as a strategic initiative and is designed to solicit research grant applications to support pilot projects with a duration of one year.
This Request for Applications will follow the General Guidelines for all Research Funding Grants.
Allowable Costs
Pilot Project grants should NOT be used:
Applicants should review Use of Grant Funds and Eligibility of Expenses, Employment under Grants within the General Guidelines for All Research Grants for a complete listing and description of allowable costs and activities.
The full application must provide a detailed justification of all costs.
Funds Available
Based on the total funds available for the initiative, applications will be funded from the top-ranked down as far as budgets will allow. Applications receiving a score of less than 3.5 will not be considered for funding.
Eligibility Criteria
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.
Specific Eligibility Requirements
Although not to be used as strict eligibility requirements, this Request for Applications aims to promote the following:
Evaluation Criteria
Each proposal must describe how the grant meets the objectives of this RFA and will address one of the five priority topics of the Institute of Aging described under "Objectives and Eligible Research Areas." General criteria for assessing applications are listed below. Because different applications will emphasize different approaches to research and to knowledge translation, it is understood that reviewers and committees will weigh questions such as these differently from one application to another.
The peer review committee will evaluate each application according to CIHR Peer Review Process. In addition to these general criteria, the peer review committee will consider the criteria below to reflect the scope and nature of Pilot Projects Grants in Aging:
Evaluation Process
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.
Prior to peer review, the CIHR Institute of Aging may first review proposals for relevance to its strategic priorities. Institute representatives will have access to the anonymized project titles and summaries. This review will have no impact on the peer review process
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 Conflict of Interest, Confidentiality and Privacy Issues in Peer Review. For information on CIHR's peer review process, see Peer Review. and more specifically for Grants see: CIHR Peer Review Process - Policies And Responsabilities Of Grants Committee Members.
On completion of the review, the appropriate CIHR institute, portfolio and partner representatives will receive the ranking list, merit scores (ratings) and recommendations of the peer review committee with regards to funding level, for the submitted applications that fall in the fundable range.
Access to Information Act and Privacy Act, and the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA)
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.
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 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:
Grant recipients are required to acknowledge the CIHR Institute of Aging 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 CIHR Institute of Aging will be identified on the Authorization for Funding and decision letter.
CIHR and its Institute of Aging are 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 following table is intended to further clarify objectives by linking them to expected outcomes and measures which will be included in CIHR's Management Resources and Results Structure (MRRS) required by Treasury Board.
| Objective | Outcome | Measure / Indicator |
|
To build research capacity in aging by attracting researchers to the five priority topics of IA |
Increased number of researchers focusing on one or more of the five priority topics of IA |
Number of applicants to the Pilot Project Grants RFA |
|
To support innovative ideas and projects within the five priority topics on aging, in order to help researchers to subsequently obtain research grants through regular competitions |
Research that is innovative in the field of aging |
Application activity and success rate in future Operating Grant competitions following the Pilot Project Grant Innovative nature of future Operating Grant applications and resulting publications |
|
To generate new knowledge regarding the five priority topics of IA |
The generation of preliminary data that will lead to new knowledge on aging |
Knowledge translation activities (publications, patents, colloquia, etc.) |
The application process is comprised of two steps: Registration and Full Application.
Review the application instructions provided in How to Apply for a Grant or Award.
Select Operating Grants (Registration and Application) from the Research Funding Programs Application Packages.
Additional instructions must be followed for this RFA:
Send Application by Courier to:
RE: "Pilot Project Grants, Institute of Aging"
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:
Sophie Desjardins
Program Coordinator
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
160 Elgin Street
Ottawa, ON K1A 0W9
Telephone: (613) 952-9195
Fax: (613) 954-1800
Email: sdesjardins@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
For questions about this initiative and research objectives contact:
Susan Crawford
Assistant Director-Vancouver
Institute of Aging
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
The University of British Columbia
2080 West Mall, Room 038
Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z2
Telephone: (604) 822-9075
Fax: (604) 822-9304
Email: susanmc@interchange.ubc.ca
