Team Grant: Clinical Autoimmunity (Archived)
(New Emerging Team Grants)
CIHR Institute of Infection and Immunity
In partnership with
CIHR Institute of Aboriginal People's Health
CIHR Institute of Gender and Health
CIHR Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis
CIHR Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction
CIHR Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes
Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
Request for Applications
| Important Dates | |
| Opportunity Launched | December 2005 |
| Content Last Updated | February 19, 2007 (Important Dates) |
| March 1, 2006 | Letter of Intent Deadline - Letter of Intent must be courier stamped by this date. |
| May 1, 2006 | Letter of Intent Decision |
| August 1, 2006 | Full applications must be courier stamped by this date. |
| February 2007 | Anticipated notification of decision. |
| July 1, 2007 | Anticipated start date. |
| Summary | |
|
New Emerging Team grants are intended to support the creation or initial development of teams comprised of investigators undertaking collaborative, multidisciplinary research. In the case of this program, applications of single disease-focused research will also be considered although preference will be given to applications covering more than one single disease. The program is intended to promote the formation of new and previously non-existent research teams or the growth of small existing teams of researchers in the area of Clinical Autoimmunity Research. CIHR and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) of the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) have agreed to encourage Canadian clinical autoimmune disease researchers to work with NIAID-funded researchers. Funds Available:
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Table of Contents
Background
Partners
Objectives and Relevant Research Areas
Eligibility
Allowable Costs
Peer Review Process and Evaluation Criteria
General CIHR Guidelines
Conditions of Funding
Communications Requirements
Monitoring, Performance Measurement and Evaluation
How to Apply
Contact Information
Description of Partners
Background
Recent advances in health research have significantly increased our understanding of the relationship between infections and our body's immune defences. Diseases that involve or affect the human immune system are, however, still a major health concern for many Canadians. Autoimmune diseases are debilitating, chronic illnesses that affect multiple organ systems, and they affect nearly 5% of our population. Examples of autoimmune diseases include multiple sclerosis, Lupus, arthritis, Crohn's disease, and type-1 diabetes. Many of these diseases have incidence rates that are on the rise and afflict women at a disproportionately higher rate.
One of the Institute of Infection and Immunity (III) research themes in the area of autoimmune diseases is to promote interdisciplinary research programs that focus on understanding the common mechanisms that cause autoimmune diseases. For this reason, III sponsored a workshop entitled "Research Symposium on Integrating Discovery Platforms in Autoimmune Diseases" , in order to explore the current situation in autoimmune diseases, in particular basic mechanisms leading to, and commonalities among, these diseases; to identify strategic directions and potential research questions to be used. A full report of this workshop is available. Research community and stakeholders identified the challenges and priorities in the field of autoimmune diseases, and this request for application will hopefully be addressing some of these issues.
III and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have agreed to work together in the area of clinical research in autoimmune diseases. The two agencies have agreed that CIHR-funded researchers may collaborate with NIAID-sponsored clinical trial networks. Participation of CIHR researchers in such studies will be subject to the normal review and approval policies and procedures of the relevant NIAID-clinical immunology network (e.g., Immune Tolerance Network (ITN), Autoimmunity Centers of Excellence). Also, CIHR funded researchers will have access to the infrastructure and core facilities of NIAID-sponsored clinical research networks, such as the ITN, on a cost recovery basis. Such access will be contingent on demonstration of need and governed by the normal peer-review policies and procedures of the NIAID-sponsored network. In addition, NIAID funded researchers in Canada involved in clinical autoimmune diseases research may apply to CIHR through this RFA. CIHR and NIH may jointly fund Canadian research teams participating in studies of NIAID-funded networks such as the ITN.
By launching this NET program, III hopes to build research capacity and enhance research resources in the area of clinical autoimmunity. Successful teams based on productivity, networking with other national and international teams, and clinical outcomes would be encouraged to apply to the CIHR team grant program during the first three years of the NET program. The CIHR team grant is launched every June. For more information, please go to CIHR - Grant Funding Opportunities.
All NET grant detainees will submit a progress report to be submitted at year 3. Teams receiving positive reviews of their progress reports and that do not wish to apply for CIHR team grants, or are unsuccessful in the team grant competition, may chose to complete the full 5 year term of the new emerging team grant.
Partners
The Institute of Infection and Immunity is dedicated to identifying and developing collaborations with other CIHR institute(s), branch(es) or office(s), funding organizations and stakeholders to enhance the availability of funding for this strategic initiative, and to create, where appropriate, opportunities for knowledge exchange and translation related to the scope of this particular initiative. Applicants are invited to visit the Descriptions of Partners and Research Interests to find a list of partners and their respective mandates and/or strategic interests. This list will continue to evolve as new partners join in this initiative.
Objectives and Relevant Research Areas
The objective of this program is to promote development of either the growth of small existing teams or the formation of completely new competitive research teams undertaking collaborative multidisciplinary research in the area of clinical autoimmunity. The essence of NET grants is to provide support for new or existing groups who can demonstrate that they are committed to (1) engendering a trans-disciplinary research culture and (2) attracting, engaging and mentoring junior researchers (faculty and post-doctoral fellows not otherwise funded) or established researchers, within teams or networks working on autoimmunity research themes. The creation or the enhancement of teams likely to develop new, or refine existing, research methods or tools, is encouraged.
The goal of this RFA is to enhance our understanding of the immune mechanisms that are the basis of autoimmunity and autoimmune disease. It will also address the mechanisms and consequences of manipulation of the immune response in autoimmunity, as well as applying this information to the prevention of autoimmune diseases in humans. Increased understanding of the processes for containment of autoimmunity found in healthy individuals, novel strategies to control or prevent autoimmunity prior to the onset of clinical disease, and safe and rational application of these strategies to humans are needed. Since the onset of the autoimmune process may precede by years the diagnosis of disease, a further understanding of neonatal and pediatric immune homeostasis is needed, both in healthy and autoimmune prone individuals. Intervention at the earliest possible stage may be optimal for preventing these diseases.
The ultimate goal of this RFA is to develop the knowledge base necessary to design preventive interventions that could be administered efficiently and safely to at-risk individuals or to the general population. Applications that include projects related to more than one human autoimmune disease are particularly encouraged; however, applications may focus entirely on one disease alone such as type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, lupus, arthritis, etc.
In addition, the specific objectives of this New Emerging Teams grant program are to:
- Foster cross-theme research with an emphasis on a multidisciplinary approach;
- Create a team environment that favours the development of excellent and innovative research projects that will advance our understanding of the diseases of the autoimmune system;
This RFA will fund teams of researchers to undertake clinical research in autoimmune diseases with one or more of the following specific focus:
- Gene-environment interaction in the development of autoimmune diseases
- Identification of new biomarkers to monitor immune injury and their application to human autoimmune disease.
- Application of new or exiting tools and technologies to induce tolerance to prevent immunopathogenesis in autoimmunity.
- Determinants of health, epidemiological and cohort studies in autoimmune diseases
- Gender differences, access to care and health delivery in chronic autoimmune conditions
The research proposed must clearly state how it is linked to one or more of the above themes for III; or how it is linked to the research interest of the individual partner. Applicants are invited to visit the Descriptions of Partners and Research Interests.
The CIHR Institute of Infection and Immunity, in consultation with partnering Institutes and organizations will provide funding for applications that are relevant to (in alignment with) the objectives and research priority areas described above.
Prior to peer review, the Institute of Infection and Immunity, and partner representatives will have access to anonymized project titles and summaries to conduct relevance review. This review will take place in the absence of any knowledge about the outcome of peer review. If any applications are deemed irrelevant the principal applicant will be contacted by CIHR program delivery staff with advice as to the most appropriate next steps.
The following criteria will be used in conducting the relevance review.
- Integration of basic science with clinical expertise;
- Mechanistic studies with clinical goals. It is expected that applicants will be able to make the link between their work with clinical translation through partnership with other groups, pharma, etc.;
- Multi-centered (at least 2);
- Multidisciplinary (more than one department base);
- Partnership with groups funded by international networks (ITN, other NIH-sponsored initiatives) will be considered an asset.
Upon completion of peer review, the Institute of Infection and Immunity and partner representatives will receive the ranking list, merit scores (ratings) and recommendations of the peer review committee with regards to funding level and award term, for the submitted applications that fall in the fundable range and have been determined to be relevant to the specific research areas and objectives of the initiative. The list will be used for funding decision-making purposes and will remain anonymous.
The review of applications for relevance to the strategic initiative will have no impact on the peer review process.
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.
Randomized Controlled Trials will not be considered under this RFA.
Specific Eligibility Requirements
In addition to the standard CIHR eligibility requirements, the following special conditions apply:
- It is anticipated that New Emerging Teams will consist of 3 to 4 independent investigators, however the teams can be greater than four if required. The specific contribution of each team member must be described.
- At least two of the investigators must have an established research track record in areas related to the collaborative project(s) proposed. Ideally, the investigators should have complementary expertise in at least two of the four CIHR themes: 1) biomedical, 2) clinical 3) health systems and services 4) the health of populations, the societal and cultural dimensions of health and environmental influences on health.
- Capacity building may be in the form of training that is provided to doctoral students and post-doctoral fellows. However, teams may also want to recruit investigators who are new to the team's area of research.
- The members of the team may pursue other avenues of research in addition to their commitment to the team. However each individual investigator must contribute sufficient time to the team to ensure the achievement of its research objectives.
- Members of a Team may be located in one or more departments, faculties or institutions in Canada and internationally. Please note that CIHR funds may only be spent within Canada. Individual team members may be part of other research teams or groups, as long as there is minimal to no overlap in the research programs.
- The Team Leader must be a researcher with proven leadership capabilities.
- Partnership with groups, networks or consortia funded by international agencies (e.g., ITN, other NIH-sponsored consortia) will be considered an asset. Go to the Immune Tolerance Network for specific information and examples.
Allowable Costs
Applicants should review -A9">Use of Grant Funds and -A10">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.
In addition, the following expenditures will be considered eligible for funding received through this Request for Applications.
- Salaries for technicians and other research personnel;
- Equipment purchase, and maintenance contracts;
- Salaries of research trainees (graduate and postdoctoral) and other personnel whose participation will enhance the collaborative research productivity of the Team;
- Operating costs for the proposed new collaborative research project(s), which must be distinct from those for which team members currently receive funding. A New Emerging Team grant can NOT be used to support team members' currently funded research projects;
- Costs of data collection and maintenance of information holdings directly related to the Team research program;
- Costs of networking activities, including collaboration, planning, and research exchange activities directly related to the Team's research program, and extra travel funds required for members and trainees separated by a significant distance;
- Establishment funds and salary of new investigators joining the team;
- New investigators are within the first five years of their independent research careers. Salary contributions paid from a NET grant must not exceed the stipend paid to CIHR New Investigators. Those paid from NET grants cannot also hold a Canada Research Chair or other salary award;
- The salary of a professional coordinator and/or administrative assistant.
- A NET grant can NOT be used to purchase major equipment (over $20,000). If the application includes a request for equipment, it must be indicated as expenditure for the first year. The first instalment of the grant may then include a one-time payment of up to $20,000 for equipment.
Peer Review Process and Evaluation Criteria
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 Confidentiality, Conflict of Interest and Privacy Issues in Peer and Relevance Review (CCIP). For information on CIHR's peer review process in general, see Peer Review.
Peer review will be conducted in accordance with The CIHR Peer Review Process: Policies and Responsibilities of Grants Committee Members, including the standard evaluation criteria described under "Factors for Assessment" (section 6.2).
General NET Program Evaluation Criteria
General criteria for assessing applications are listed below. It is understood that referees and committees will weigh questions such as these differently from one application to another.
The Research Proposed
- How important 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 observations or knowledge? How well will the proposed experiments address the hypotheses or questions?
- How appropriate are the methods to be applied and the proposed analyses of data? How well will the applicant implement new methods that are to be introduced and/or explored?
- How well have the applicants anticipated difficulties in their approach and considered alternatives?
- How critically is the relevant literature appraised and evaluated?
The Applicant's Productivity, Experience and Training
- How appropriate to the research proposed is the training or track record of the applicant(s)?
- How important and original is the recent productivity of the applicant(s)?
- How much confidence do you have that the applicant can do the work proposed? (The proposed time commitment to the research may influence this judgment.)
Criteria for Peer Review
Each team 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 New Team brings added value, which would not be possible if the components were to be carried out in isolation as a series of separate operating grants.
In addition, the following evaluation criteria specific to this Request for Applications will apply. CIHR recognizes that applications will emphasize different approaches to research and to knowledge translation, therefore reviewers and committees are expected to weight criteria such as these differently from one application to another:
- Relevance. Applicants should describe the alignment of the proposed program with the objectives of this strategic initiative;
- Responsiveness to the NET program. Applicants must indicate how the proposed team meets the objectives and the eligibility criteria of the NET program.
- Value Added. Applicants should emphasize the ways in which the New Emerging Team research program adds value by bringing together researchers from different disciplines, institutions, and/or themes, in a meaningful collaboration that will advance our understanding of autoimmune diseases.
- Innovation/Advancement. The project should challenge current research thinking and paradigms and/or address unexplored areas. Applicants should also provide a plan for effective dissemination of research findings through linkages with the appropriate user communities.
- Approach. The application should describe the conceptual framework, methods, hypotheses, design and analyses for projects to be funded by this application. Brief descriptions of projects already funded, but which constitute part of complete research program should also be provided.
- Team Excellence. New Emerging Teams should consist of team members who have been productive, creative and original in their approach to research. Applications should describe how the team will recruit and provide training opportunities for graduate and post-doctoral trainees as well as investigators who are new to the team's area of research.
- Potential for growth into a team and for participation into national/international network
Upon completion of the review, the Institute of Infection and Immunity and its partners will receive the ranking lists, merit scores (ratings) and recommendation of the Committee, with regards to term and funding level, for the submitted applications. Based on the total funds available for the initiative, top-ranked applications will be funded. Applications receiving a score less than 3.5 will not be considered for funding.
General CIHR Guidelines
This Request for Applications will follow the -A">General Guidelines for All Research Funding Grants.
Conditions of Funding
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:
- The Team Leader has the obligation to inform CIHR in writing if a new Team member is added and the new member's salary is to be funded by the NET grant. A responsible official of the institution employing the new investigator must also confirm the terms of the appointment.
- Funding for the final 2 years of the program is contingent on the progress report review during the third year of funding. Awards co-funded by JDRF will require annual reports (see Description of Partners and Research Interests)
- Applicants will be provided with a standard performance evaluation form, which must be completed and submitted annually.
- Within six months after the end of the grant's term, the nominated principal applicant is required to submit a final performance report, summarizing the results and describing how the grant funds were used. A standard form will be provided by CIHR.
- Applicants who receive funding must acknowledge the CIHR-Institute of Infection and Immunity and its partners in any communication or publication related to the grant.
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 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 Request for Applications 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 Request for Applications will be collected, used and disclosed in compliance with the PIPEDA.
Communications Requirements
Grant / 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, 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:
- adhere to CIHR's reporting requirements and provide required information in a timely fashion. A -A7">Progress Report will be required in year 3 of five-year grants. Grantees are required to submit the "Progress Report for 5-year grant holder (Form 44)" 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;
- 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.
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.
All funded applicants will be expected to participate in the evaluation strategy, contributing advice, data and reports as required for assessment purposes.
| Objective | Outcome | Measure / Indicator |
| Foster cross-theme research in the area of clinical autoimmunity with an emphasis on a multidisciplinary approach; | Multidisciplinary and/or cross-theme research in clinical autoimmunity | Multidisciplinary and cross-theme nature of operating grant applications and subsequent publications Awardees opinion on the effectiveness of the program to foster multidisciplinary and cross-theme research |
| Create a team environment that favours the development of excellent and innovative research projects that will advance our understanding of diseases of the autoimmune system; | Increased networking and collaborations between researchers Growth and sustainability of the new team Increased quality and productivity of award recipients in area of clinical autoimmunity | Number of new teams, and of researchers in the new teams Successful applications to operating grants and infrastructure team funding Knowledge translation activities (publications, patents, colloquia,) |
| Train and establish new investigators capable of undertaking research relevant to understanding the diseases of the autoimmune system. | Increased number of trainees in the area of autoimmunity diseases Establishment of new investigators in the area of autoimmunity diseases | Number of trainees within the teams New investigators that are integrated in the teams |
How to Apply
The application process is comprised of two steps: 1) Letter of Intent (LOI), and 2) Full Application.
1. Letter of Intent (LOI)
In the first step of the application process the Nominated Principal Applicant is required to submit a Letter of Intent.
The Letter of Intent should include:
a) A cover page (maximum one page) indicating:
- the title of the Team program as it will appear in publicity and other announcements;
- the relevant 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 and their affiliations. (N.B. 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
- Signature page, Page 2a
To generate these printed pages, you must complete the following four sections of the Research Module Web form:
- Research Funding Program
- Nominated Principal Applicant / Candidate
- Project Applicants / Co-Applicants
d) Letter:
In a maximum of three pages, the letter should outline clearly each of the elements below:
- The objectives of the research program, its multi-disciplinary nature, and the relevancy to the identified focus;
- The nature and extent of the collaboration among investigators, with an explanation of the anticipated value added to the research program through the formation of the team;
- The individual research components that make up the program;
- The preliminary plan for the research program and schedule of work; and
- How the proposal addresses the evaluation criteria described under "Evaluation Process and Criteria."
e) Attachments:
- A brief curriculum vitae (maximum two pages) for each Principal Applicant. The CV must include information on current grants requested or held, relevant publications from the last five years, and 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 development grant budget;
- A short bibliography (one page) of any references cited in the Letter of Intent;
- A list of the areas of expertise of the team members.
Applicants are advised to follow the instructions on the Acceptable Application Module Formats which outline formatting requirements for attachments.
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.
Send the Letter of Intent by Courier to:
Submit one original and six copies of the Letter of Intent to the address below, by the deadline date indicated at the beginning of this Request for Applications.
RE: "New Emerging Team Grants - Clinical Autoimmunity"
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Room 97, 160 Elgin Street
Address locator: 4809A
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0W9
2. Full Application
Selected applicants will be invited to submit a full application by the deadline date. Details of the application procedure will be provided to those invited to apply. This will involve a full description of the individual components making up the team's research program, as well as the justification for supporting the collaborative aspects of the entire proposal. Teams invited to submit full proposals may be offered developmental grants of up to $10,000.
Contact Information
For questions on CIHR funding guidelines, how to apply, and the peer review process contact:
Lynne Côté
Program Delivery Officer
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Telephone: (613) 957- 6119
Fax: (613) 954-1800
Email: lcote@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
For questions about this initiative and research objectives contact:
Erik Blache
Project Manager/Analyst
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Telephone: (613) 941-4329
Fax: (613) 954-1800
Email: eblache@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
Description of Partners: CIHR Institutes and Partner Organizations
Note: Additional partners, including partners from industry and the private sector are expected to join this funding initiative over the coming year.
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
CIHR is Canada's major federal funding agency for health research. Its objective is to excel, according to internationally accepted standards of scientific excellence, in the creation of new knowledge and its translation into improved health for Canadians, more effective health services and products and a strengthened Canadian health care system.
CIHR - Institute of Aboriginal People's Health (IAPH)
CIHR-IAPH will support health research that respects aboriginal cultures, while generating new knowledge to improve the health and well being of aboriginal people. CIHR-IAPH will strive to improve the health of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people by supporting innovative research programs based on scientific excellence and aboriginal community collaboration.
The available funds for this initiative are yet to be determined.
CIHR - Institute of Gender and Health (IGH) supports research that addresses how sex (biological-genetic factors) and gender (social-cultural experiences) interact with other socio-cultural, bio-physical, and political-economic factors to influence health, and create conditions that differ with respect to risk factors or effective interventions for males and females throughout the lifespan.
The objectives of the Institute for Gender and Health are (1) to generate evidence regarding the impact of sex and gender on health status, health behaviour, and health services use throughout the life span; (2) to enhance understanding of how gender and sex interact with other health determinants; (3) to provide evidence to inform the design of programs, policies and practices; (4) to build the capacity of gender and health researchers in Canada; and (5) to advance the gender and health perspective nationally and internationally IGH encourages applications focused on any of these research priorities.
Autoimmunity, an underlying cause of more than 80 serious chronic conditions, is a major priority issue that demonstrates gender/sex differences: women are affected 75% of the time. Conditions include autoimmune thyroid diseases, diabetes mellitus, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, scleroderma, endometriosis, and chronic active hepatitis. Research reflecting multiple perspectives is a priority because these diseases cross different specialties (e.g., endocrinology, rheumatology, neurology, dermatology) and there has been limited focus on autoimmunity as the underlying cause.
The Institute of Gender and Health strongly encourages applicants to demonstrate the use of sex/gender-based or sex/gender-sensitive analysis (SGBA) in applications. SGBA is an approach to research and evaluation which systematically inquires about biological (sex-based) and sociocultural (gender-based) differences between women and men, boys and girls, without presuming that any such differences exist. The purpose of SGBA is to promote rigorous sex/gender-sensitive health research which expands understanding of health determination in both sexes, in order to provide knowledge which can result in improvements in health and health care.
The Institute of Gender and Health will support research that generates evidence regarding the impact of sex and gender on clinical autoimmunity:
- how gender and sex interact with other health determinants
- promoting health in the context of chronic and infectious conditions and disabilities; and
- health across the lifespan, including child and youth health, healthy aging, work, leisure and health, caregiving, reproductive and sexual health.
IGH commits to funding at least $100K per year for up to 5 years (dependant of available resources) for research that is relevant to IGH priorities.
CIHR - Institute of Infection and Immunity (III)
The CIHR Institute of Infection and Immunity (III) supports research and helps to build research capacity in the areas of infectious disease and the body's immune system. Through the Institute's programs, researchers address a wide range of health concerns related to infection and immunity including disease mechanisms, disease prevention and treatment, and health promotion through public policy. The Institute will support applications on any of the 5 themes listed in the area of 'Objectives and Relevant Research Areas'. The Institute also encourages applications in which researchers from different disciplines and disease populations collaborate to address common issues.
III will provide a total of $10,000,000 to this initiative over a five year period.
CIHR - Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis (IMHA)
The goal of the CIHR - Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis is to support research to sustain health and enhance quality of life by eradicating the pain, suffering and disability caused by arthritis, musculoskeletal, oral and skin conditions.
To achieve its vision, IMHA will focus on three research priorities:
- Physical Activity, Mobility and Health
- Tissue Injury, Repair and Replacement
- Pain, Disability and Chronic Diseases
Funding through this announcement is contingent upon the availability of funds.
CIHR - Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction (INMHA)
The vision of the Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction (INMHA) is that innovative research will provide new knowledge of the biological and socio-cultural processes underlying neurological, mental and addictive disorders. As such, the INMHA's mission is to foster excellence in innovative, ethically responsible research in Canada that aims to increase our knowledge of the functioning and disorders of the brain and the mind, the spinal cord, the sensory and motor systems, as well as mental health, mental illness and all forms of addiction. INMHA is interested in funding research in Multiple Sclerosis, Lupus, neurological aspects of autoimmune disease, and new evidence of neuro-immune components in brain disorders.
INMHA will commit a minimum of $100,000 per year for 5 years towards this initiative.
CIHR - Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes (INMD) supports research to enhance health in relation to diet, digestion, excretion, and metabolism; and to address causes, prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, support systems, and palliation for a wide range of conditions and problems associated with hormone, digestive system, kidney, and liver function.
INMD will commit a minimum of $100,000 per year for 5 years towards this initiative, additional funding is contingent on availability of funds.
Partners:
The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada (CCFC) is a voluntary not-for-profit organization whose Mission is to find the cure for inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis). The Foundation currently invests approximately five million dollars annually in a broad range of research programs, including Grants in Aid of Research, Group Grants, Research Scientist Awards and personnel awards. CCFC supports the objectives of this RFA specifically as they pertain to inflammatory bowel diseases. Programs in autoimmunity that focus on Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis may be considered for joint funding.
Funding through this announcement is contingent upon the availability of funds.
The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's (JDRF) mission is to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research. JDRF was founded in 1970 by parents of children with diabetes who were convinced that the disease and its complications could be cured through research. With chapters from coast to coast and affiliates around the world, JDRF gives more money to diabetes research than any other non-profit, non-governmental health agency in the world. In 2005, JDRF will award more than $100 million to diabetes research worldwide.
JDRF supports the objectives of this RFA specifically as they pertain to type 1diabetes. Programs in autoimmunity that focus on type 1 diabetes may be considered by JDRF for joint funding. Applications considered for joint funding will be subject to JDRF Lay Review, and review and approval by the JDRF Board of Directors for merit and relevance to JDRF's goals and mission. This JDRF review and approval process is necessary for JDRF funding to occur. JDRF will make an independent judgment on the level of its funding contribution and this will be agreed with CIHR prior to the issuing of a joint award letter. Renewal funding in year two and thereafter will be dependent on annual JDRF evaluations of progress and the availability of JDRF research funds. JDRF funds may be used to support international members of funded Teams.
