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This is the inaugural competition of The CIHR Team Grant Program. This program is an ongoing program of CIHR, now part of the regular suite of programs offered by CIHR to the research community. The second competition will be launched in June, 2005.

Summary

The objective of the CIHR Team Grant program is to strengthen Canadian health research by supporting teams of talented and experienced researchers conducting high-quality research and providing superior research training and mentorship. The program emphasis is on the production of new knowledge, and the translation of research findings into improvements in the health of Canadians and the Canadian health care system. These results will be realized more rapidly and more efficiently through the CIHR Team Grant program than if the components were to be funded as a series of separate operating grants.

Eligible teams will consist of at least three independent investigators, each of whom has an established research track record in areas related to the collaborative project(s) proposed. Collectively, team members will have an extensive record of success, be creative and original in their approach to research and its translation¹ and have experience working in research teams. This competition is open to applications that address issues related to health and disease, health care and the health system. Through the introduction of this flexible CIHR Team Grant program, it is the intent of CIHR to fund, through this and future competitions, a variety of expert teams (uni-disciplinary teams, multi-disciplinary teams, trans-disciplinary teams, community-partnered teams², academic-industry teams, etc.). Proposals that represent active and meaningful partnerships between community organizations and research teams based in institutions (including universities, colleges, hospitals, and affiliated research institutions) are encouraged. The unifying element underlying all successful CIHR Teams will be a commitment to excellence and the pursuit of a problem-based, collaborative approach to health research.

The application process is comprised of two steps: 1. Letter of Intent (LOI) and 2. Full application. CIHR Team Grant proposals will be evaluated as a single, integrated entity. While each research component included in the application must be meritorious, it is critical to demonstrate that the CIHR Team Grant brings added value, in terms of the approach to improving the health of Canadians or strengthening the Canadian health care system.

Timeline

Value and Duration

Table of Contents:

Introduction
Background
Objectives
Eligibility
Funds Available
Allowable Costs
Evaluation Criteria and Peer Review Process
General CIHR Guidelines and Conditions of Funding
Communication Requirements
Monitoring, Performance Measurement and Evaluation
How to Apply
Address for Submitting Application and Contact Information

Introduction

CIHR's "Blueprint", its strategic plan for the next four years, states that: "The complexity and scale of today's research challenges increasingly require that researchers and countries reach out beyond their own areas of expertise and that we experiment with new models to bring people and sectors together. This work will be enabled through the technological advances that support virtual networks. Partnerships and shared vision will underpin the most successful health research stories of the 21st century in ways unimaginable in the 20th century."

"Blueprint" commits CIHR to "Continue to catalyze and encourage the convergence of disciplines that underlie the most exciting and important discoveries in health research, and to resolve ever-more complex health problems."

Introduction of the CIHR Team Grant program puts this commitment into action. The purpose of this program is to strengthen the Canadian health research by supporting teams of talented and experienced researchers conducting high-quality research and providing superior training and mentorship. Its emphasis is on the production of new knowledge and the translation of research findings into improvements in the health of Canadians and the Canadian health care system that will be realized more rapidly and more efficiently than if the components were to be funded as a series of separate operating grants. It is expected that this investment will further the Canadian capacity for high-quality, problem-based research on relevant health, health care and health system issues.

Background

In 2000, during the transition between the Medical Research Council (MRC) and CIHR, two new grant programs supporting interdisciplinary health research were announced, Interdisciplinary Health Research Teams (IHRTs), and Community Alliances for Health Research (CAHRs). These grants will end in December 2005 and March 2006, respectively. CIHR has also maintained the Group Grants program of the former MRC, and introduced a number of new collaborative research program "tools", such as New Emerging Teams. Over the next two years, CIHR intends to simplify its program offerings in support of facilitating collaborative research, while retaining sufficient flexibility to accommodate all desirable aspects of collaborative research, including the importance of ensuring the meaningful participation by community partners who play a vital role in the planning, execution, dissemination and application of health research.

Impact on Other CIHR Programs

The CIHR Team Grant program is intended as a replacement for, and enhancement of, the IHRT, CAHR and some Group programs. As the next step in this simplification, CIHR will announce a Research Resource Grant (RRG). Some existing CIHR Groups, where the main purpose of the Group core grant is to provide shared research facilities or skilled personnel, rather than to support collaborative projects among Group members, may wish to renew this support through the new RRG program, rather than the CIHR Team Grant program.

Objectives

CIHR collaborative programs focus on support of research teams and a problem-based research culture.

With the introduction of the flexible CIHR Team Grant program it is the intent of CIHR to fund a variety of expert teams (uni-disciplinary teams, multi-disciplinary teams, trans-disciplinary teams, community-partnered teams, academic-industry teams, etc.). The unifying element underlying all successful CIHR Teams will be a commitment to excellence and the pursuit of a problem-based, collaborative approach to health research.

To further the Canadian capacity for high-quality, problem-based research on relevant health and disease, health care and health system issues, the specific objectives of the CIHR Team Grant program are:

• to support expert teams of talented and experienced researchers
• to support high-quality research that address an important health and disease, health care or health system problem or issue which is best approached through a collaborative team
• to provide superior research training and mentorship environments
• to support the production of new knowledge and the translation of research findings into improvements in the health of Canadians and the Canadian health care system

Proposals that represent active partnerships between community organizations and research teams based in institutions (including universities, colleges, hospitals, and affiliated research institutions) are encouraged.

For community-focused proposals, the guiding principle for participation is that community groups are active, influential and ongoing participants in the research, training, mentoring and knowledge translation activities, and that their roles have been formally agreed upon in the spirit of ensuring equity and mutual benefits from the partnership.

It is expected that the partners will contribute to:

• Formulating research agendas
• Providing input into the development of research and training projects
• Synthesizing and disseminating findings
• Applying the research findings to inform policies, programs and/or practices, and
• In some cases, conducting the research.

Eligibility

Eligibility criteria for all CIHR research funding (grant) programs apply. The business office of the institution of an eligible Nominated Principal Applicant generally administers CIHR funds. Please refer to Eligibility Requirements for CIHR Grants and Awards regarding the eligibility requirements for individuals and institutions.

Specific Eligibility Requirements

Each eligible CIHR Team Grant application will include:

• A team leader who meets the criteria of "Principal Applicant" as described in the CIHR Applicant Categories for CIHR Grants.  The team Leader must be a researcher with proven leadership capabilities and experience who will act as research program director and who will assume administrative responsibility for the grant.
• At least two additional independent investigators who have an established research track record in areas related to the collaborative project(s) proposed, who together with the team leader will form an integrated and more effective research team. Teams with a nucleus of experienced and productive investigators are encouraged to include some promising, well-trained, new investigators in the Team.
• Collectively, team members must have an extensive record of success, be creative and original in their approach to research and its translation and have experience working in research teams. The specific contribution of each team member and community partner, where applicable, must be described.

In addition, the following special conditions apply:

• The members of the Team may pursue other avenues of research in addition to their commitment to the CIHR Team Grant; however, each individual investigator must contribute sufficient time to the CIHR Team Grant research program to ensure the achievement of its research objectives.
• Members of a team may be located in one or more departments, faculties or CIHR-eligible institutions in Canada. As well, international or private sector collaborators who make a substantial intellectual contribution to the research program may be listed as additional team members; however, CIHR funding is restricted to work performed within CIHR eligible Institutions.

Funds Available

$12 million, at a minimum, per annum for 5 years of CIHR funding will be available for this competition, beginning in fiscal year 2006-2007. CIHR anticipates that between 6 and 16 Teams will be funded through this competition.

• There is no upper limit on the amount requested, but only applications of exceptional merit and scope will receive over $2 million per year.
• CIHR Team Grants will be funded for a maximum of five years, subject to a satisfactory progress review in year three. The CIHR Team Grant is renewable though regular competitions.

Allowable Costs

Applicants should review the Eligibility of Expenses, Employment under Grants section of the CIHR Research Grant Guidelines for a complete listing and description of allowable costs and activities.

Funding can be used to support:

• Research operating costs for the proposed collaborative research program, which must be distinct in its objectives from those for which team members currently receive funding³.
• Purchase of equipment and maintenance contracts for common services and shared facilities;
• Costs of data collection, database and maintenance of information holdings directly related to the CIHR Team Grant research program;
• Costs of regional, national and international networking activities, including collaboration, planning, and knowledge exchange activities, directly related to the CIHR Team Grant research program;
• Salaries of research assistants, technicians and other personnel who will enhance the collaborative research productivity of the Team;
• Support of research trainees, at the rate specified by CIHR for trainees paid from research grants. CIHR Team Grants are expected to provide a superior training environment;
• Salary of a professional coordinator and/or administrative assistant;
• Release time payments to enable employees of community partners to participate in the research program, limited to 50% of salary costs, and an overall maximum of $100,000 per year;
• A maximum of $20,000 annually for a release time stipend for the team leader;
• Costs involved in linkage with and dissemination of research findings to those who use the results, as appropriate for the research program, (including other researchers, the public, practitioner and policy communities, and the industrial sector).

With the exception of co-applicants who are trainees or research associates, co-applicants may not receive a salary, stipend, or honorarium from CIHR grants on which they are a co-applicant (as described in Applicant Categories for CIHR Grants). The only exception is the release time stipends for the team leader and employees of community partners as described.

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

Evaluation Criteria and Peer Review Process

CIHR Team Grant applications will be evaluated as a single, integrated entity. While each research component included in the application must be meritorious, it is critical to demonstrate that the CIHR Team Grant brings added value, in terms of the approach to the health and disease, health care or health system issue, and the speed and efficiency with which new knowledge will be generated, or translated into improvements in health or the health care system, when compared with funding the proposed work as a series of separate operating grants.

Applications will be reviewed by specifically-constituted, multidisciplinary peer review committee(s) designed specifically for the review of CIHR Team grants.

General criteria for assessing applications are listed below. Because different applicant teams will emphasize different approaches to research and to knowledge translation, it is understood that reviewers and committees will weight questions such as these differently from one application to another.

Address an important health and disease, health care or health system problem or issue;

• How important is the health problem being addressed? Will anticipated findings be of broad interest and applicability?
• How important, novel and/or original are the hypotheses or the questions to be addressed, and how clearly are they formulated?
• How important and original are the contributions expected from the research proposed? What is the potential for important new knowledge or impact on health and health research?

Research proposed;

• How well will the proposed research address the hypotheses or questions?
• How appropriate are the methods for the conduct of the research? Where applicable to the type of research proposed, does the proposal take into account the social, cultural and environmental factors surrounding the research problem?
• Do the methods represent the best current practice, and the most economical, effective approach?
• How well have the applicants anticipated difficulties in their approach and considered alternatives?
• How critically has the relevant literature been appraised and evaluated?

Applicants' productivity, experience and training;

• How appropriate to the research proposed is the training or track record of the applicants?
• How important and original is the recent productivity of the applicants?
• What is the likelihood that the Team can do the work proposed? (The proposed time commitment to the research may influence this judgment).

Appropriateness of the Team;

• Do key members have a track record of having participated and/or having provided leadership to collaborative research teams?
• Have team members demonstrated sustained productivity, creativity and originality in their research?

Value added of funding through a collaborative program;

• How well will a CIHR Team Grant enhance the understanding and accelerate the resolution of the health and disease, health care or health system issue, when compared to independent research projects?

Propose a coherent, integrated and feasible research plan;

• Is the health and disease, health care or health system issue approached through an original, cohesive/integrated and feasible research plan that will generate valid, reliable and useful knowledge?
• Does the Team have a plan for engaging and linking with, and dissemination of research findings to, those who will utilize and apply the results?
• Has the Team identified the roles and contributions of all the parties in planning, execution, and evaluation as well as management activities?

Provide superior training opportunities;

• Will the research training and mentoring environment provide a superior experience for undergraduate, graduate and/or post-doctoral trainees, including those with a health professional background?

Propose an innovative problem-based approach to research;

• Does the proposed program of research challenge current research thinking and paradigms and/or address unexplored areas?
• Does the proposed program of research bring together, in a meaningful collaboration, researchers from different disciplines?
• How is this approach going to build on the different expertise and perspectives of team members?

For those engaged with partners;

• Are governance and management structures in place to ensure the meaningful integration of community partners in the decision-making process?
• To what extent are partners involved and committed to formulating the research agenda, providing input into the development of research and training projects, disseminating findings, and applying the outcomes of research?
• Does the proposal demonstrate the involvement of the necessary local, regional, provincial/territorial, national and/or international partners in the planning and execution of the research plan, and the application of the research results? Will this involvement permit research activities and outcomes that would not otherwise be possible?

Based on the total funds available for the competition, applications will be funded from the top-ranked down as far as budget will allow. Applications receiving a score less than 3.5 on the CIHR 0 to 4.9 rating scale (as described in Policies And Responsibilities Of Grants Committee Members) will not be considered for funding.

General CIHR Guidelines and Conditions of Funding

All conditions specified in CIHR General Grants and Awards Policies shall apply to applications funded through this competition. 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.

Communication Requirements

In addition to following the policies relating to the Acknowledgment of CIHR's Support, team grant recipients will also be required to adhere to special branding requirements as a condition of receiving a CIHR Team Grant. The official Team name is "CIHR Team in (area of research)." In cases where there is another major funding partner a shared title should be considered. The format of a shared title is "CIHR/(partner name) Team in ." The Team name must be used in all communication and promotion relating to the CIHR Team Grant. A team name must be proposed as part of the application for a CIHR Team Grant. Successful applicants and their host institutions will be required to agree in writing to proper use of the Team name as well as the CIHR (and applicable partners) logo(s) on appropriate communications materials such as brochures, letterhead, publications and media materials. Recognition guidelines, including instructions on logo use, will be provided to successful applicants as part of the approval package.

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, grant recipients must:

1. adhere to CIHR's reporting requirements and provide required information in a timely fashion. For CIHR Team Grants, a progress report will be required in year 3 of five-year grants. Grantees are required to submit a "Progress Report for 5-year grant holder (Form 44)" which can be found under All Forms and Guidelines for Completion  describing the progress made and the publications issued since the start of the grant. CIHR will cancel the last 12 months of the grant if the progress is unacceptable and will cancel the final two years of the grant if it does not receive a report by the date requested;
2. 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;
3. 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 two steps: 1. Letter of Intent (LOI) and 2. full application. Please take note of the following application instructions which are specific to this program.

1. Letter of Intent (LOI):

In the first stage of the application process, the nominated principal applicant must submit a Letter of Intent (LOI), through his/her Canadian institution (the host institution).

One original, plus five copies, of the LOI must be sent to CIHR by January 7, 2005 (i.e. must be courier stamped by this date).

Eligible LOI's will be evaluated by a specifically-constituted, multidisciplinary peer review committee(s) designed specifically for the review of CIHR Team Grants. The committee may include individuals from partner communities. The expert committee may make suggestions to the applicants on how to strengthen their detailed proposal. It could, for example, suggest the grouping of complementary applications, and propose additional partnerships or funding sources.

The review of LOI's will be completed by April 8, 2005, and selected applicants will be invited to submit a full application for the October 3, 2005 deadline. The names of teams that will be invited to apply and the topic of their research will be published on the CIHR website.

The LOI must include:

a) A cover page (maximum one page) indicating:

• the title of the Team program as it will appear in publicity and other announcements;
• a brief description (10 lines maximum) of the research area of focus;
• the name, title, address, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail address of the team leader; and,
• a statement indicating which university or affiliated institution will administer the funds.

b) A list of all team members with their affiliations (The list need not be final at the letter of intent stage).

c) The following pages from the CIHR Research Module Web form printed report:

• Routing Slip of Registration/Application
• Research Module, Page 1
• Applicant consent form for use and disclosure of personal information provided to CIHR for peer review

To generate these printed pages, you must complete three sections of the Research Module Web form, namely:

• Research Funding Program
• Nominated Principal Applicant / Candidate, and
• Project

d) The CIHR Research Module - "Applicants/Co-Applicants" section (Page 2a "Signature page" of the web form printed report).

e) Letter:

In a maximum of five pages (not including references), the letter must clearly outline each of the elements below:

• The objectives of the research program to be undertaken by the Team over the period of funding;
• The nature of the Team and extent of collaboration between investigators, with an explanation of the anticipated value added to the research program through the synergy of the Team;
• The proposed roles of partners in the planning and execution of the research program and the dissemination and utilization of the research results;
• The plan, including proposed organizational structures for engaging and linking with those who will ultimately use the research findings;
• The research training and mentoring environment that will provide a superior experience for undergraduate, graduate and/or post-doctoral trainees, including those with a health professional background;
• The preliminary plan for the research program and schedule of work;
• The nature and extent of the host institutions' financial and other forms of long-term commitment to the Team's research, and to ensuring a favorable environment for carrying out the research activities.

f) Attachments:

• A brief curriculum vitae (maximum two pages per applicant) for a maximum of five of the key applicants, including the team leader. This must include information on grants held (source, type, title, amount/yr, duration), relevant publications from the last five years, and 5-10 expertise keywords. Full CVs will not be considered;
• A development grant request whereby applicants may request funds of up to $10,000 to be used in the development of a full application. A one-page request must be submitted with the LOI, outlining the activities for which the development grant will be used, plus a one-page budget description;
• A short bibliography (one page maximum) of any references cited in the Letter of Intent;
• A list of the areas of expertise of the team members.

Any additional material will be discarded and not sent to the review committee; this includes letters of support, updates on publications, updates on other support received, letters confirming academic appointment, reprints, etc.

Applicants must follow the Mandatory Instructions for Data Entry which outline formatting requirements for the letter and attachments.

2. Full Application

Selected applicants will be invited to submit a full application. The deadline for receipt of applications is October 3, 2005.

Details of the application procedure will be provided to those invited to apply. Information required will include a full description of the individual components making up the Team's research program, as well as the justification for supporting the synergistic aspects of the entire proposal. The review process may involve external reviews and/or a meeting of the leader and team members with sub-sets of the review committee, as appropriate.

Teams invited to submit full applications may be offered development grants of up to $10,000 (see Letter of Intent instructions).

Competition Results

The results of the competition are expected to be announced early in 2006 with an anticipated funding start date of April 1, 2006 (subject to the availability of funds).

Address for Submitting Application and Contact Information

Send letter of intent and application by Courier to:

RE: CIHR Team Grant - 2005 Competition
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Room 97, 160 Elgin Street
Address locator: 4809A
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0W9

For further information on The CIHR Team Grant Program please contact:

Danièle St-Jean
Program coordinator, Knowledge Creation Programs
Telephone: (613) 957-0623
Fax: (613) 952-2277
E-mail: Daniele.St-Jean@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

¹ CIHR defines knowledge translation as "the exchange, synthesis and ethically-sound application of knowledge - within a complex system of interactions among researchers and users- to accelerate the capture of the benefits of research for Canadians through improved health, more effective services and products, and a strengthened health care system". CIHR recognises that the approach to translation of research results will vary depending on the type of research being performed, and the likely users of research knowledge. For example, some biomedical research may give rise to intellectual property of commercial potential, with Industry as the user of this product of research. The results of health services research would be expected to influence the organization and policies of the health care system, through interactions with provincial or regional health authorities.

² Community partners can include decision-makers, program administrators, care givers, policy makers and practitioners working in health-oriented community organizations, community-based foundations and organizations, local, provincial/territorial and national health charities and non-profit organizations, hospital and research institute foundations, municipal and regional health authorities, public health departments, district health councils, and provincial/territorial government agencies.

³ Where an application includes overlap with an existing CIHR grant, and that application is successful in the CIHR Team Grant competition, continued funding of the ongoing grant will be reviewed.