Please note that the "Selection Criteria" section has now been added to the CIHR Partnership Award.

The CIHR Partnership Award, established in 2002, recognizes partnerships between organizations that exemplify excellence by bringing health research communities together to create innovative approaches to research, develop research agendas that are responsive to the health needs of Canadians and/or accelerate the translation of knowledge for the benefit of Canadians. The emphasis of the award is on innovative cross-sectoral partnerships between organizations that promote excellence

The Award

CIHR will present the Partnership Award at a special event of the winning organization where they will receive a $25,000 award in the form of a one-year research grant, to be used by the awardee(s) to advance the research or knowledge translation activities of the partnership. Winners agree to be highlighted on the CIHR website, in communication materials and included in a commemoration of all CIHR award winners at CIHR's corporate office. In addition, the partnership may be written up as a "best practice" for the CIHR partnership casebook.

Past recipients

2009: The Scleroderma Society of Canada and The Canadian Scleroderma Research Group
2008: Down Syndrome Research Foundation
2007: Alberta Bone and Joint Health Institute
2006: DaimlerChrysler Canada Inc.
2005: SARS Accelerated Vaccine Initiative (SAVI)
2004: Canadian Psychiatric Research Foundation/Astra Zeneca Inc.
2003: The Arthritis Society

Eligibility

• Any partnership between organizations that is synergistic and fosters better research and improved health for Canadians, more effective health services and products, and a strengthened Canadian health care system.
• Partnerships are not defined solely on financial grounds, but can include collaborations sharing intellectual, monetary or in-kind resources among organizations.
• While applicants for this award do not need a formal established relationship with CIHR , it is expected that the partnership will have some connection to CIHR and/or nominee(s) will have attracted external merit-based funding.  Examples of connections to CIHR include but are not limited to: CIHR funded researchers are involved in the partnership, CIHR Institute Advisory Board members are involved in the partnership, the new partnership is a result of previous networking activities with CIHR , etc.
• Where a CIHR partnership with one or more external partners (including private, voluntary or public-sector partners) is nominated, only the non-CIHR partners will be recognized for the purposes of this award.
• Self-nominations are accepted.  If the nominator is a member of the partnership, they are also eligible for the grant as long as they are an eligible organization to receive the monetary reward.
• For profit businesses and corporations, or departments and agencies of the federal government may be nominated for an award but cannot receive the monetary grant associated with the award.
• Partnerships between organizations must be formally established by a partnership agreement or similar document.
• The actual projects funded by a partnership are not eligible for this award.

Selection Criteria

The winner will be selected on the recommendation of a committee of the applicants' peers (a panel consisting of a CIHR Senior Manager, three partner organization representatives - one representative from each of the voluntary, public, and private sectors - and a past winner.) Nominees may not be members of the selection committee.

Partnerships will be assessed on the basis of the following selection criteria:

• Overall contribution to advancing health research and the improved health of Canadians, more effective health services and products and a strengthened Canadian health care system;
• Demonstrated results that would not have been achieved by individual partners acting alone;
• A relationship of mutual trust, respect, and commitment, including positive communication and mechanisms for continuous improvement;
• Maximizing strengths and assets of each partner, ultimately strengthening all partner organizations; and
• Sharing of credit, among all partners, for the partnership's accomplishments.

How to Nominate

Each nomination package must include:

• a completed "Partnerships Nomination Form":
  • [ PDF (fillable) (35 KB) | Help ]
  • [ PDF (38 KB) | Help ]  
• a one page summary maximum (single-spaced, one-sided page of text, Times New Roman 12 pt font) highlighting how this partnership between organizations meets the criteria listed above and brings research communities together in an innovative way (with an emphasis on the results of the partnership);
• a brief description of the organizations responsible for moving the partnership forward; and
• one letter of recommendation from either a CIHR representative or an external source.

The deadline for nominations is April 1, 2010.

For questions about the award, please contact:

Rosa Venuta
Senior Advisor, Citizen Engagement
Partnerships and Citizen Engagement Branch
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Telephone: 613-941-1006
E-mail: rosa.venuta@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

Please send nomination packages to:

Tammy Whynot
Project Officer
Partnerships and Citizen Engagement Branch
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Room 97, 160 Elgin Street
Address locator: 4809A
Ottawa, ON K1A 0W9
Telephone: 613-941-6696
E-mail: tammy.whynot@cihr-irsc.gc.ca