The Institute of Cancer Research
In partnership with
the James Birrell Neuroblastoma Research Fund

Priority Announcement for the October 2005 Fellowships Competition

Priority Announcements fund highly rated research applications that are determined to be relevant to CIHR's research priority areas and do not receive funding through CIHR's regular competitions.

Table of Contents

Partners
Relevant Research Areas and Eligibility
Peer Review Process
How to Apply
Contacts for Further Information

Partners

The CIHR Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) is dedicated to supporting research that reduces the burden of cancer on individuals and families through prevention strategies, screening, diagnosis, effective treatment, psycho-social support systems, and palliation. ICR is also committed to identifying and developing collaborations with funding organizations and stakeholders to enhance the availability of funding in strategic research priority areas and to create, where appropriate, opportunities for knowledge exchange and translation related to the scope of these priority areas.

The James Birrell Neuroblastoma Research Fund (James Fund) was established at Sick Kids Foundation by the Birrell family to generate knowledge leading to new therapies for the treatment of patients with neuroblastoma.

Relevant Research Areas and Eligibility

The CIHR Institute of Cancer Research and the James Fund will provide funding for Fellowships applications that are determined to be relevant to Neuroblastoma Research

Only candidates with at least 2 years of research experience and who are proposing to carry out a neuroblastoma research project at a Canadian research institution (university, hospital, or research centre) will be considered for this award.

Candidates who hold or are completing a health professional degree who intend to proceed to a Ph.D. degree are NOT eligible for the James Fund-CIHR Neuroblastoma Fellowship.

The supervisors of applicants are invited by the James Fund to apply for $30,000 James Birrell Neuroblastoma Research Fund grants to support the fellows' research projects. Research grants will be peer reviewed and will be administered by Sick Kids Foundation's National Grants Program (http://www.sickkids.ca/foundation). For more information on how to apply, please contact Sick Kids Foundation at national.grants@sickkids.ca or (416)813-6825.

Relevance of the applications to the research priorities will be determined in the following manner.

Prior to peer review, the Institute of Cancer Research and the James Fund will review applications to determine the relevance, or alignment, of the research proposed to the research priority areas and/or mandates described above.

To conduct the relevance review, these representatives will have access to the completed relevance form (see "How to Apply" below), anonymized project titles and summaries, provided that applicants have indicated their consent on the "Applicant Consent Form for Use and Disclosure of Personal Information Provided to CIHR for Peer Review," which is included in the application forms.

The following criteria will be used in conducting the relevance review:

• Candidate must have at least 2 years research experience (including Ph.D. training)
• The award is to be held at a Canadian institution.
• The proposed basic or translational research project must be directly related to the study of neuroblastomas and/or their treatment.

Upon completion of peer review, the Institute of Cancer Research and the James Fund will receive the merit scores (ratings) and peer review committee recommendations on award term for those applications that 1) are found to be relevant to the specific objectives of the research initiative and the research priority areas described under "Relevant Research Areas"; and 2) are rated within the CIHR fundable range but are not funded through the regular CIHR competition to which they were submitted. These applications will be funded from the top down in order of ranking as far as budgets will allow. Applications that receive a rating below 3.5 will not be funded. All successful relevant applications will be identified as James Fund-CIHR Neuroblastoma Fellowships.

The relevance review occurs apart from the peer review (scientific review) and has no relationship to the results of peer review. Peer review committees will not be informed of applications submitted for funding through this announcement.

Peer Review Process

A CIHR peer review committee will evaluate the full applications. The peer review 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 and Relevance Review. For information on CIHR's peer review process in general, see Peer Review.

How to Apply

Applicants are advised to review CIHR's grants and awards policies and guidelines outlined in the CIHR Grants and Awards Guide.

Applications to the Fellowships - October 2005 competition will be considered for funding through this priority announcement at the applicant's request. To request funding through this announcement, follow the instructions below.

• Submit your application to the Fellowships - October 2005 competition. From Application Packages select Fellowships application forms and follow the instructions provided.
• Within the Program(s) section of the application web form: 1) select the box marked "I request that this application be considered for funding through CIHR's Priority Announcements" and 2) under "Title of Priority Announcement", select Fellowships-James Fund-CIHR and enter "Neuroblastoma Research" under "Relevant Research Area." Up to three research areas may be selected per application, whether they are contained in this Priority Announcement or in another current Priority Announcement.
• The relevant research areas selected must also be entered in the Relevance Form [ PDF (108 KB, fillable) | Help ]. Complete one Relevance form for each relevant research area that you have selected. More detailed instructions are provided on the Relevance Form.
• Complete the Applicant Consent Form for Use and Disclosure of Personal Information Provided to CIHR for Peer Review, which is included in the application form.

Contacts for Further Information

For questions about the objectives and relevant research areas:

Benoît Lussier, Ph.D.
Assistant Director
CIHR Institute of Cancer Research
3655 Promenade Sir William Osler
Suite 701
Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6
Telephone: (514) 398-4964
Fax: (514) 398-8845
E-mail: benoit.lussier@mcgill.ca

For questions related to specific CIHR competitions and programs, including CIHR funding guidelines, how to apply, and the peer review process contact:

Nadia Martino
Program Delivery Coordinator, Partnerships
Research Capacity Development
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Telephone: (613) 946-0088
Fax: (613) 954-1800
E-mail: nmartino@cihr-irsc.gc.ca