Please Note: This opportunity is expected to be re-launched in 2007-2008.

Request for Applications

Important Dates
Opportunity Launched	Not Applicable
Content Last Updated	January 18, 2007 (Review Process and Evaluation Criteria, How to Apply)
A - October 1, 2006 B - February 1, 2007	Full applications must be courier stamped by this date.
A - April 15, 2007 B - July 15, 2007	Anticipated notification of decision.
A - April 1, 2007 B - July 1, 2007	Earliest start date.
Additional Information	This funding opportunity has two competitions per year: A and B.
Funds Available
CIHR's contribution to the amount available for this initiative is subject to the availability of funds voted annually to CIHR by parliamentary appropriations, and the conditions that may be attached to them. The maximum amount awarded for a single award is $ 60,000 for up to 5 years. The value and duration of each fellowship is related to the major degree held, licensure (where applicable), location of tenure and experience of the applicant. Research allowance: $ 5,000 per annum. Stipend: The annual stipend level for those with a PhD degree (or equivalent) is $ 40,000 per annum. The following stipend levels apply to health professionals who hold licensure (full or educational) in Canada at the time of taking up the award. The stipend level is dependent upon the number of years of research or clinical training completed since obtaining the health professional degree. Upon completion of two years of postgraduate research training during the tenure of the award, the awardee may be eligible to receive a stipend increase to the higher level. Less than 2 years of research or clinical training experience: $ 40,000 Two or more years of research or clinical training experience: $ 50,000 The stipend for health professionals who do not hold licensure in Canada is $ 21,000 per annum (i.e., equivalent to a Doctoral Research Award). Upon completion of two years of postgraduate research training the stipend may increase to $ 40,000 per annum. For awards held outside Canada $ 5,000 is added to the annual stipend. Stipends are valued in Canadian dollars and are taxable. This award is non-renewable. Duration of Support: The duration of support will depend on the degree(s) and licensure (where applicable) held by the applicant: For those with a PhD degree (or equivalent), or PhD and health professional degrees, the maximum period of support is three years, and candidates will only be eligible for support until the end of their fifth year of post-PhD training. For those with a health professional degree who do not intend to proceed to a PhD degree, the maximum period of support is four years. For those with a health professional degree who intend to proceed to a PhD degree, the maximum period of support to complete the PhD degree is five years (from all federal funding sources) and includes funding received to complete a Master's degree or non-degree research training. The total duration of funding provided by CIHR through this program may not exceed the maximum periods of support described above. Note that Health Professionals receiving funding through this program to complete a PhD degree may also be eligible to apply for post-PhD funding through this program. Effective Dates: For post-PhD and health professional awardees not enrolled in a degree program: Awards must be taken up within 12 months of the date of offer, and may commence on the first day of any month. For graduate student awardees: Awards must be taken up within 12 months of the date of offer and must start January 1, May 1 or September 1 following the offer of award.
Summary
Fellowships provide support for highly qualified candidates at the post-PhD or post-health professional degree stages to add to their experience by engaging in health research either in Canada or abroad. Additional opportunities in priority research areas Additional funds are available for this competition to support Fellowship Award applications in the following priority research areas: Fellowship Priority Announcement: Aging Fellowship Priority Announcement: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Fellowship Priority Announcement: Clinical Research Fellowship Priority Announcement: Gender, Sex and Health Fellowship Priority Announcement: Global Health Fellowship Priority Announcement: Health Services and Policy Research Fellowship Priority Announcement: HIV/AIDS Fellowship Priority Announcement: Knowledge Translation Fellowship Priority Announcement: Obesity and Healthy Body Weight Fellowship Priority Announcement: Patient Safety Fellowship Priority Announcement: Respiratory Health Fellowship Priority Announcement: Transfusion Science

Table of Contents

Objectives
Eligibility
Allowable Costs
Review Process and Evaluation Criteria
General CIHR Guidelines
Conditions of Funding
Communications Requirements
Monitoring, Performance Measurement and Evaluation
How to Apply
Contact Information
Appendix

Objectives

The specific objectives of this program are:

• To provide recognition and funding to academic researchers early in their career.
• To provide a reliable supply of highly skilled and qualified researchers.

Eligibility

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 to CIHR training awards, please refer to the General Guidelines for Training Programs.

Specific Eligibility Requirements

Eligibility requirements specific to this program include the following:

• Applicants to the October competition are not eligible to apply to the following February competition.
• The program is open to both Canadians and citizens of other countries.
• At the time of application, a candidate must hold, or be completing a PhD or a health professional degree (or equivalent). The health professional degree must be in a regulated health profession such as medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, optometry, veterinary medicine, chiropractic, nursing or rehabilitative science which requires at least a Bachelor's degree to be eligible for licensure in Canada. To determine if a particular health profession is eligible, please consult the list of Eligible Health Professions.
• For individuals that do not hold a health professional degree, awards will take effect only after the recipient has completed all requirements of the PhD program, including the oral examination.
• Candidates with more than three years of post-PhD research training by the competition deadline are not eligible to apply for this award. Any interruption in a candidate's post-PhD research training will be taken into account in determining eligibility.
• A candidate may not hold more than three years of federal award funding (in total from SSHRC, NSERC or CIHR, or a combination thereof) to undertake post-PhD studies. Recipients already holding a post-PhD award from a federal source for a term of three years are not eligible to apply.
• Individuals wishing to undertake post-PhD research training in the same research environment (e.g., same department, supervisor or co-supervisor) in which they received their PhD are NOT eligible for an award.
• Candidates with a health professional degree may propose a program of research leading to a Master's or PhD degree; however, registration in a graduate degree program is not a requirement.
• These awards are normally held at Canadian institutions; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents may apply for awards to be held outside Canada. Candidates who are neither Canadian citizens nor permanent residents may apply for awards to be held in Canada only.

Allowable Costs

The awards consist of a stipend and a research allowance.

For the research allowance, awardees should review the Tri-Agency (CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC) financial administration guidelines, Use of Grant Funds section for a complete listing and description of allowable costs and activities.

Review Process and Evaluation Criteria

CIHR peer review committees will evaluate complete applications. Committees are created specifically for this funding opportunity. Committee members are selected based on suggestions from many sources including the institute(s) / portfolio(s) and partner(s), following CIHR's Policy on Confidentiality, Conflict of Interest and Privacy Issues in Peer and Relevance Review (CCIP). Fellowship Awards are reviewed in accordance with the Guide for Reviewers - CIHR Fellowships.

(Updated: 2007-01-18)
The following general criteria for evaluating Fellowship Award applications will be used:

• Candidate data
• Assessments by Sponsors
• Fellowship Training Environment

General CIHR Guidelines

This funding opportunity will follow the CIHR General Grants and Awards Policies. Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate the use of Gender and Sex-Based Analysis in applications.

Conditions of Funding

All conditions specified in CIHR General Grants and Award 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.

Access to Information Act and Privacy Act, and the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA)

All personal information collected by CIHR about applicants is used to review applications, to recruit reviewers, 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.

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 funding opportunity and all matters pertaining thereto.

While respecting the application of the Privacy Act to federal entities, all signing parties involved in a collaborative agreement will also be bound by the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA). All personal information (as identified by the PIPEDA) collected, used or disclosed in the course of any commercial activity under collaborative agreements related to the funding opportunity will be collected, used and disclosed in compliance with the PIPEDA.

Communications Requirements

Award recipients are required to acknowledge CIHR, its institutes and partners in any communication or publication related to the project. See CIHR General Grants and Awards Policies, Public Communication and Acknowledgement of CIHR's Support for details on CIHR's communication requirements. The contributing institutes / partners will be identified on the Authorization for Funding and decision letter.

Monitoring, Performance Measurement and Evaluation

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:

• contribute to the monitoring, review and evaluation of CIHR's programs, policies and processes by participating in evaluation studies, surveys, workshops, audits and providing data or reports as required for the purpose of collecting information to assess progress and results;
• encourage their associates, trainees and administration to participate in the monitoring, review and evaluation of CIHR's programs, policies and processes as required.

How to Apply

The application process is comprised of one step: Submission of full application.

Review the application instructions provided in How to Apply for Funding.

Select "Fellowships" from the Training Programs Application Packages.

A complete application consists of:

1. A CIHR Training Module;
2. Common CV Modules (validated for CIHR) for both the candidate and the proposed supervisor(s). Draft copies of the CV modules will not be accepted;
3. Official transcripts of the candidate's graduate and/or health professional training, including proof of any degrees completed, in the original sealed envelope. CIHR will only accept an official student's copy of the transcript if submitted in the original sealed envelope from the institution. Certified true copies will only be accepted from institutions outside North America;
4. Proof of a current and valid Canadian licensure for applicants with a health professional degree with an expiry date (if available); (Updated: 2007-01-18) 
5. Sponsor's Assessment of a Candidate for a Fellowship or a Clinician Scientist (Phase 1) Award from three people under whom the candidate has trained and who have had a good opportunity to assess the candidate's potential for research. Assessments should be provided by the candidate's PhD supervisor and postdoctoral supervisor(s) (if applicable);
6. Proof of Canadian citizenship or residency for candidates requesting to hold the award outside Canada; and
7. Candidates who are neither citizens nor permanent residents of Canada are also required to have their proposed supervisor write a separate supporting letter ensuring that the required research space and resources will be provided. This letter of support does not replace one of the required Assessments for a CIHR Fellowship Candidate.

Only the original application and attachments are required.

Send the completed application package by courier to:

RE: "CIHR Fellowships"
Research Capacity Development
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Room 97, 160 Elgin Street
Address locator: 4809A
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0W9

Contact Information

For questions on CIHR funding guidelines, how to apply, and the peer review process contact:

Fellowships, Program Delivery Coordinator
Research Capacity Development
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Telephone:

• October competition: (613) 954-1964
• February competition: (613) 948-8199

Fax: (613) 954-1800
Email: Fellowships@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
 

Appendix: List of CIHR-Eligible Health Professions

• Audiologist/Speech-language Pathologist
• Chiropodist/Podiatrist
• Chiropractor
• Dentist/Dental Surgeon
• Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist
• Medical Laboratory Technologist
• Medical Radiation Technologist
• Midwifery
• Naturopath
• Occupational Therapist
• Optometrist
• Pharmacist
• Physician/Surgeon
• Physiotherapist
• Psychologist
• Registered Nurse
• Registered Psychiatric Nurse
• Respiratory Therapy
• Social Worker
• Veterinarian

Notes:

1. To be considered eligible for CIHR programs, the health profession must require at least a Bachelor's degree for licensure in Canada and be regulated by provincial legislation.
2. The provincial legislation regarding licensing requirements for the above professions will vary from province to province.
3. All health professionals in one of the disciplines listed above and licensed to practice in Canada are eligible to be considered for the higher stipend level under the CIHR Fellowships program and when being paid from a CIHR grant.