Open Operating Grant Program (OOGP) – ResearchNet “Application” Phase Instructions

How to Apply

To make sure you have access and permissions to the research application tools you'll need to apply with, refer to "Before you begin" below.

To understand the general application process for the Open Operating Grants program, refer to "General Application Process" below.

To list the components that make up a complete application that are specific to this program, refer to "A complete application consists of the following" below. 

To get ResearchNet-specific information on a task-by-task basis, refer to "Task Tips" below.

Before you begin

You must have gone through the Registration stage before preparing the submission of your application.

Make sure you have read the specific Funding Opportunity Details.

Make sure you have the following or click the links to register:

Note: You need your CIHR PIN to validate your Common CV for CIHR, however, your CIHR PIN cannot be used to logon to Common CV, which is an external site.

You need a Common CV account to prepare a CV to upload into ResearchNet during the e-Submission process. An Application Common CV (validated for CIHR) includes data required by all agencies (on the first screen of each section) and additional CIHR-specific data. If you have already registered with the Common CV, do not re-register. See Common CV for Applications to all CIHR Programs.

You should only have one ResearchNet account. If you have already accessed ResearchNet, do not register for a new account.

General Application Process

  1. In ResearchNet, complete all tasks listed for your funding opportunity following the on-screen instructions in one of the official languages.
  2. Determine what signatures are needed for each part of your application. See the funding opportunity, and the Meaning of Signatures in the Grants and Awards Guide.
  3. Print the Signature pages, found in ResearchNet needed for the funding opportunity.
  4. Offline, obtain signatures for all signature pages, and for any other material needing signatures.
  5. Scan the signature pages.
  6. Upload the signed signature pages to ResearchNet as part of your submission before the application deadline date.
  7. Review the funding opportunity How to Apply section under the subsection entitled "Additional Information required for this Funding Opportunity", and provide the additional information requested.
  8. Preview the Full Application Package version of your application in ResearchNet using the "Preview Application Materials" task to ensure that your application is complete.
    Note: What you see previewed is exactly how your application will look when submitted to CIHR electronically.
  9. Indicate that you have verified the application for completeness on ResearchNet.
  10. Print the entire submission.
  11. Save a PDF version of the complete submission.
  12. Submit the completed electronic application to the Research Office of your Institution for e-Approval through ResearchNet by completing the "Consent and Submit Application" task on ResearchNet.
    Note: CIHR cannot legally accept your application until you complete this task.
  13. For technical help, call 613-941-9080 or e-mail support@researchnet-recherchenet.ca, and for more information email info@cihr-irsc.gc.ca. 

A complete application consists of the following 

  • Additional Information as stated in the How to Apply section under the subsection entitled "Additional Information required for this Funding Opportunity".

Task Tips

These Task Tips are not a comprehensive list of information required to ensure completeness. You should also read the Funding Opportunity Details and should also be familiar with CIHR funding policies.

Task 1: Identify Participants

This task collects information on all participants involved in your research application and the institution or organization that will receive funds if your application is successful. Consult the Individual Eligibility Requirements on the CIHR website for more information. The name of the Nominated Principal Applicant must remain unchanged between registration and application.

Task 2: Attach CVs and Supporting Documents

All attachments must adhere to the guidelines for attachments on the Acceptable Application Formats and Attachments. Before preparing your proposal, please carefully review these instructions.

An Application CV validated for all CIHR participants, with the exception of collaborators, must be uploaded. All documents must be in PDF format.

Manage Files
The following are CV format is accepted by CIHR on ResearchNet. See the "Eligibility" and the "How to Apply" sections of this funding opportunity to determine the CV requirements for each participant. To create a

Common CV:

  1. Log in to the Common CV system.
  2. Complete a current Common CV validated for CIHR.
  3. Click Finalize and Submit to generate your Common CV validated for CIHR in PDF format.
    Note: Draft CVs are not accepted by CIHR. Click Preview/Print to generate a Draft CV for review purposes only.
  4. Return to ResearchNet.

Knowledge User CV:

  1. Log in to the Common CV system.
  2. Complete a current Knowledge User CV validated for CIHR.
  3. Click Finalize and Submit to generate your Knowledge User CV validated for CIHR in PDF format.
    Note: Draft CVs are not accepted by CIHR. Click Preview/Print to generate a Draft CV for review purposes only.
  4. Return to ResearchNet.

Uploading a CV

To upload a CV and related documents:

  1. Click Browse (to the right of the Curriculum Vitae field).
  2. Navigate to and select the appropriate CV file.
  3. Upload the Contributions Details attachments, if applicable.
  4. Click "Attach" to upload the documents.

To upload a CV for other project participants:

  1. Refer to the Funding Opportunity to determine the CV requirements for other participants.
  2. Attach the Common CV file or other CVs (if allowed) for other types of applicants.
  3. Click "Attach" to upload the documents that you have specified.

All documents must be in PDF format. The total size of the attached document(s) cannot exceed 30 MB.

Contributions Details - Most Significant Contributions (with a Common CV, limit to one page; with a Knowledge User CV, limit to 6 pages)

Warning - Trainees
This "Most significant contributions" section applies to researchers only and is not required for trainees.

Identify a maximum of five (5) contributions, with a maximum length of one page, that best highlight your contribution or activities in the field of research, defining the impact and relevance of each. A contribution is understood to be a publication, literary or artistic work, conference, patent or intellectual property right, contract or creative activity, commission, etc. Your complete description may include the organization, position or activity type and description, from and to dates, and the basis on which this contribution is significant (i.e. relevance, target community and impact).

Contributions Details - Activities and Contributions (limit to one page)

The activities and contributions defined in this section should include both academic and non-academic achievements, and their impacts.

Examples of entries follow. This is not necessarily a complete list, and is intended to provide guidance only.

  • Committee membership
  • For peer review committees, specify the year(s), the subject(s), and the funding organization
  • For thesis examination committees, indicate the author, title of thesis, and university
  • Consulting/contract activities
  • Research development
  • Research or technical reports
  • Supervisory experience (e.g. training of students)
  • Technology transfers (specify the nature of the activity and the target audience)
  • Involvement in public, private, or non-profit sector activities
  • Policy papers
  • Presentations as guest speaker (public or invited lectures)
  • Editorships (specify if editor-in-chief or member of the editorial team)
  • Evaluation of articles for scientific, literary or artistic journals (specify title of journal and the number of articles evaluated)
  • Knowledge translation/Dissemination activities
  • Trainees might also mention development of a graduate seminar program, journal club or similar activity

If some of these completed works do not seem to support the research theme of the team or centre to which you belong, provide the necessary explanations.

Contributions Details - Interruptions and Delays (limit to one page)

Identify any administrative responsibilities, family or health reasons, or any other factors that might have delayed or interrupted any of the following: academia, career, scientific research, other research, dissemination of results, training, etc. Common examples of an interruption/delay might be a bereavement period following the death of a loved one, maternity/parental leave, or relocation of your research environment.

Descriptions might include the start and end dates, the impact areas, and the reason(s) or a brief explanation of the absence.

Contributions Details - Patents and Intellectual Property Rights (limit to one page)

This section should include details for patents and intellectual property rights for technology transfer, products, and services. Do not include publications in this section.

Descriptions might include the title, patents or intellectual property rights number and date, country(ies) of issue, the name of the inventors, as well as relevance or impact of the stated item.

Contributions Details - Publications List (no page limit)

List your most important publications and other research contributions over the past five years, according to the categories below. This is not necessarily a complete list, and is only intended to provide guidance. Categories can be added as needed. Use only items pertinent to the application. There is no limit to the number of pages you can use.

Categories

Use each applicable category as a different sub-title; maintain the same presentation order as shown below. In all instances, use the reference format for complete bibliographical notes of each original publication. Indicate the source of funding, if applicable.

  • Published refereed papers (original articles published in journals with editorial review)
  • Accepted or in press refereed papers (attach acceptance letters)
  • Submitted refereed papers
  • Published books and monographs (as author or editor)
  • Accepted or in press books and monographs
  • Submitted books and monographs
  • Published contributions to a collective work and book chapters (including chapters written on invitation or collective works derived from conferences or symposiums)
  • Accepted or in press contributions to a collective work and book chapters (including chapters written on invitation or collective works derived from conferences or symposiums)
  • Presentations as guest speaker (including conferences, presentations, demonstrations, workshops intended for a non-academic audience, according to the type of audience)
  • Published abstracts/number of notes (including name of journal, title of article, and date submitted)
  • Accepted or in press abstracts/number of notes (including name of journal, title of article, and date submitted)
  • Submitted abstracts (including name of journal, title of article, and date submitted)
  • Works including individual or collective literary or artistic works (e.g. novels, short stories, poetry, film, video, visual arts work, booklet, record, sound creation, book of artists, collection, exhibition catalogue, etc.)
  • Research reports or reports produced for the government
  • Articles in professional or cultural journals without review committee (including popularized texts)

Task 3: Enter Project Information and Supporting Documents

This task collects information related to your research project.

Project Title

Your Project Title is the way that CIHR identifies your research project. For this reason you cannot edit your Project Title.

Lay Title

Provide a title for your project that is in a language clear to members of the general public. Lay titles are used by CIHR to inform the public and Parliament about the valuable research supported through public funds.

Lay Abstract

Describe your project in a way that is accessible to a lay audience. Be sure to indicate how your proposed research can improve personal health, the health of populations and/or the health delivery system. This information is used by CIHR to inform the public and Parliament about the valuable research supported through public funds.

Institution Paid

Institution that will administer the funds for your project. Consult the Institutional Eligibility Requirements on the CIHR website for more information.

Certification Requirements

If you are awarded a grant, the necessary certification requirements must be met in accordance with policies on ethical conduct of research. Relevant policies:

Note: Not all funding opportunities include or allow trials. The Clinical Trial and Randomized Controlled Trial questions below may or may not appear on your application - consult the funding opportunity for information regarding these questions.  For further information on the trials policy, refer to the TCPS 2—2nd edition of Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans.

Is this a clinical trial?
Indicate if this application includes a clinical trial. For more information regarding clinical trials, please refer to the policy on trials.

Does this Application Contain a Randomized Controlled Trial?
Indicate if this application includes a randomized controlled trial. Refer to the funding opportunity on specific requirements for randomized controlled trials for the program to which you are applying.

In order to carry out the proposed research in this application, is an exemption from Health Canada under Section 56 of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act required?  (Trainees are exempt and should answer No)
Indicate if your proposed research is such that an exemption from Health Canada under Section 56 of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) will be required. Consult the Department of Justice website for details regarding Section 56 of the CDSA and the Health Canada website for details regarding obtaining an exemption under Section 56 of the CDSA.

Does this application propose research involving Aboriginal people? 
Indicate if your application proposes research involving Aboriginal people. This information will be used for statistical purposes only. Any questions or comments may be sent to the Aboriginal Ethics Guidelines mailbox at aeg-lda@cihr-irsc.gc.ca.

Are sex (biological) considerations taken into account in this study?
Indicate if sex (biological) considerations are taken into account in this study. For a guide to sex and gender based analysis, please consult the CIHR website.

Are gender (socio-cultural) considerations taken into account in this study?
Indicate if gender (socio-cultural) considerations are taken into account in this study. For a guide to sex and gender based analysis, please consult the CIHR website.

Please describe how sex and/or gender considerations will be considered in your research proposal. If your study includes sex (biological) and/or gender (socio-cultural) considerations, then describe how they will be considered in your research proposal (limit of 2000 characters).

Aboriginal People

Applicants whose proposed research will involve Aboriginal People, please consult Ethics of Health Research Involving First Nations, Inuit and Métis People.

Containment Level

Definitions of Levels may be found in the PHAC laboratory biosafety guidelines.
Does any phase of the research described in this proposal take place outdoors, involve field work, an undertaking in relation to a physical work or have a negative impact on the environment?

Project Descriptors

Provide keywords to describe your research project, the techniques and the methodologies it will employ, and the areas of interest.

Areas of Research

Select the areas of research that best describe your proposal from the list provided.

Classification

Select the classifications that best describe your proposal from the list provided.

Themes

Select a primary theme classification. Indicate additional theme classifications only if the substance of the grant application significantly overlaps more than one theme. Consult the definition of the four CIHR Themes on the CIHR website for more information.

Suggested Institutes

Select a primary CIHR Institute whose research mandate is related to this application's research area(s) and objective(s). Additional Institutes should only be selected if the substance of this grant application significantly overlaps with the research mandate of more than one Institute.

Attachments

All attachments must adhere to the guidelines for attachments on the Acceptable Application Formats and Attachments.

Research Proposal (attachment)

Provide a clear, concise description of your proposed activitis in the Research Proposal attachment. A maximum of 11 pages may be attached in the case of one or two applicants. A maximum of 13 pages may be attached if there are three or more applicants. Page limits do not include appendices.

The Research Proposal attachment should stand alone (i.e., it should contain all the information required to support your research plan and should contain a self-contained complete description of your project).

The Research Proposal attachment should be text only and is limited to the number of pages as outlined above. Title pages and table of contents, at the beginning or elsewhere in the document, will count towards the total pages allowed. If figures, tables, etc. are nevertheless embedded in the Research Proposal document, they will  also count toward the page limit. Any pages beyond the limit will be removed by CIHR staff before the application is peer reviewed.

Please combine any references, tables, charts, figures and photographs together in the Research Proposal Appendix (separate attachment - see below). Be sure to label your figures.

In the Research Proposal you should explain:

  1. What you want to do (central hypothesis, research question, specific objectives)
  2. Why this is a reasonable thing to do (review of previous work done on the subject matter, rationale)
  3. Why this is important (new knowledge to be obtained, improvements to health which will result)
  4. How you are going to do it (work plan, timelines, detailed descriptions of methods, analysis and discussion/interpretation of results, pitfalls, ways around the pitfalls, alternatives)
  5. Why you should do it (relevant prior experience and skills, collaborators for technical gaps, preliminary data showing feasibility)
  6. What you and any other Principal Applicant(s) and/or Co-Applicant(s) will do (description of roles)

Legends should be succinct and should not contain detailed information pertaining to methods.

Randomized Controlled Trials

For applications for Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs): (1) researchers may suggest the most relevant discipline-based peer review committee or the RC peer review committee if the budget requested is less than $250,000 in every project year and in all cases CIHR will decide on the most appropriate peer review committee based on committee mandate and expertise required for the review; and (2) the application will be sent to the RC committee for review if the overall budget requested is greater than or equal to $250,000 in any project year. In all cases CIHR will decide on the most appropriate peer review committee based on expertise required for the review.

All applications reviewed by the RC committee, regardless of the level of funding requested, must follow the RCT headings provided under RCT Evaluation Criteria and Headings. If these headings are not used in the Research Proposal, the application will be withdrawn.

All applications for RCTs that are reviewed by discipline based committees are encouraged to use or adapt the RCT headings as appropriate to the proposal but are not required to do so. Use of the RCT headings can help better organize the information required and facilitate the RCT review.

Research Proposal Appendix

Appendices may include items such as, references, tables, charts, figures, photographs, questionnaires, RCT methods, and consent forms.

Note:  For the purpose of peer review, the research proposal should not depend on information in the Research Proposal appendix, other than references, tables, charts, figures and photographs, that are not included in the page limit of the research proposal. Reviewers are under no obligation to read the Research Proposal appendix other than to read references, tables, charts, figures and photographs.

Summary of Progress

The Summary of Progress should be text only and is limited to one page.

For renewal applicants, summarize progress under the current grant and, if applicable, identify the term of your current CIHR grant. New applicants are encouraged to summarize previous work relevant to this application.

New Investigator and Clinician Scientist candidates should describe the research undertaken as a trainee, and, if applicable, as an independent investigator. In addition, these candidates should address their research relationship with previous supervisor(s). For Industry-partnered Research Chair candidates describe the research you have been engaged in over the last five years and the results obtained.

Response to Previous Reviews

If you are resubmitting an application, you may respond to previous reviewer's comments. Your response should not require reference to any other document, because reviewers will not have access to previous application information. Maximum two pages.

Task 4: Complete Summary of Research Proposal

Summarize your research proposal. Note that your summary cannot exceed one page.

Task 5: Enter Budget Information and Supporting Documents

This task collects information on the budget for your research project.

Financial Assistance Requested

In the column entitled "No.", provide an estimate of the number of human resources (full-time equivalents) required for a full year for each human resources type listed. For part-time and/or shared resources, indicate fractions (e.g., 0.5). In the "Salary" and "Stipend" columns, provide the pro-rated salary/stipend amount for each human resources type.

  • The Salary + Benefits columns must equal the CIHR + Cash + In-Kind columns.
  • Amounts must be in Canadian funds.
  • If the operating base changes for subsequent years, provide estimates for each year accordingly.
  • Information on eligibility of expenses and employment under grants is found in the Tri-Agency (CIHR, NSERC & SSHRC) Financial Administration Guide, Use of Grant Funds.
  • Individuals paid from grants are not employees of CIHR.
  • Each budget item must include the applicable provincial and federal taxes and should be calculated using the after-rebate tax rates. After rebate tax rates are available on the Canada Revenue Agency website.

Budget Attachments

Financial Assistance Requested Details

Provide a full justification for all budget items relative to the proposed research.

If you include a need for research personnel and trainees, state their roles and explain why you require the level (in terms of qualifications and salary) that you are requesting.

Itemize the expendables and services; for example, number and cost of animals, nature and amounts of reagents, numbers of subjects, or number and cost of printing survey instruments. For travel requests, indicate the purpose of the trip(s), the people that will be traveling, and their destination(s).

For maintenance costs included in this operating budget, indicate:

  • the anticipated extent of utilization;
  • reasons for choice of specific type, model or service contract, in relation to alternatives; and
  • where applicable, the necessity for the service contract.

If you are requesting or hold start-up funds to equip a new laboratory, detail any funds you have received or have applied for from other sources for this purpose (e.g., institutional sources) and how you intend to use these funds.

Cost Quotations / Cost Support Letters

For single service contracts costing more than $10,000 and up to $25,000, attach at least one cost quotation.

For single service contracts costing more than $25,000, attach to the quote a letter from the Authorized Official at the Institution Paid attesting that the service contract is not currently available, plus at least two competitive quotes.

Note: No other information may be attached to this module. Any additional material will be removed from the application prior to being sent to reviewers.

Human Resources

Estimate the number of hours per week each applicant will be working on the research project.

Employment History

For personnel who will be paid on the grant, for example research assistants or technicians, list their position at the time of application, their current salary rate ($/annum, excluding benefits) and their current source of funding.

Task 6: Attach Other Application Materials

Upload any other application materials you wish to include with your application package. All documents must be in PDF format.

You may attach:

  • Letters from Collaborators who are expected to make a significant contribution, confirming their willingness to participate in the manner indicated.
  • Letters of support may be appended when specific incremental cash or in-kind contributions are being provided in support of the proposed research. Letters in general support for the research, the researcher or the research team should not be appended and may be removed.
  • Questionnaires and consent forms, if applicable.
  • Up to five publications from the past five years, relevant to this proposal.

For New Investigators and for applicants with pending appointment, you must attach:

  • letter at the time of application, signed by the responsible official of the Institution Paid, stating the institution's commitment to confer eligible status on the researcher and the expected start date of the academic or research appointment which must be no later than the announced funding start date of the OOGP competition (see funding opportunity details).

Task 7: Peer Review Administration

This task collects information used for the purpose of peer review administration.

Suggested External Reviewers

Suggest Canadian and/or foreign reviewers that you feel have the expertise to review your application. CIHR reserves the right to make the final selection of external reviewers. You should not suggest reviewers in conflict of interest. Consult the conflict of interest guidelines on the CIHR website for more information.

Reviewers to Exclude

Provide the names of individuals that you feel cannot provide an objective review of your application.

Future Committee Member Nominations

Nominate individuals that you feel would be appropriate as reviewers for a particular peer review committee.

Future Committee Member Nomination/Proposed Committee

For more information consult the Peer Review Committees and Mandates on the CIHR website.

Suggested Committees

Suggest up to two peer review committees that you feel could review your application. Suggested committees must remain unchanged between registration and application. Only one committee will be selected. CIHR  will consult with committee Chairs and Scientific Officers, as required, in assigning applications to specific committees. Note that CIHR will make the final decision on which peer review committee will review each application based on the summary of proposed research received during the registration phase. The final committee selected will not necessarily be your first or second choice.

Task 8: Apply to Priority Announcements / Funding Pools (if applicable)

Priority Announcements/Funding Pools

Priority Announcements/Funding Pools on CIHR's core competitions offer additional sources of funding for highly rated applications that are relevant to specific CIHR research priority areas or mandates.

Priority Announcements/Funding Pools for the OOGP are listed on the CIHR website in June and December of each year together with CIHR's other current funding opportunities. For requirements on individual Priority Announcements/Funding Pools, verify the "How To Apply" section of each Priority Announcement/Funding Pool on the Funding Opportunities page. This section will indicate if relevance information is required at the application stage.

Identify Priority Announcements/Funding Pools and Relevant Research Areas

To apply for funding through a Priority Announcement/Funding Pool, select the Priority Announcement/Funding Pool title from the list you see in ResearchNet and the Relevant Research Area(s) addressed by your proposal.

Priority Announcements/Funding Pools for research related to an Institute's mandate are not listed here.

When an Institute is offering a Priority Announcement/Funding Pool to fund research related to its mandate, your application will automatically be entered into the Priority Announcements/Funding Pools competition if you have selected the Institute as a primary (or, in some instances, secondary) Institute under "Suggested Institutes" on the Project Descriptors page.

Describe (in one half-page) how the research proposed will address the relevant research area (if applicable).

Task 9: Print, Scan and Upload Signature Pages

  1. Print the signature page PDF file which is found on ResearchNet.
  2. Obtain all required signatures.
  3. For applications that require partner signatures, signatures are captured in the Partnership Details PDF and should be uploaded in the Identify Application Partners task (Manage Attachments).
  4. Scan and upload the signed signature pages in the Print/Upload Signature Pages task in ResearchNet prior to submitting your application.
  5. All necessary signatures must be obtained and uploaded on ResearchNet prior to the Research Institution’s deadline date. You must submit your signature pages to the Research Office so that the Institution can approve and submit the application to CIHR through ResearchNet.
  6. When the Research Office electronically approves and forwards your application to CIHR, they are, in fact, confirming that all required signatures have been obtained.

Task 10: Preview Application Materials

Review your application and print a PDF copy. If a task is incomplete, you must provide the missing information to successfully submit your application.

Task 11: Consent and Submit Application

Submit Application

You must review the terms listed and respond to the questions regarding consent in order to submit your application.

You must click Submit to send your application to your institution's Research Office.

It is highly recommended that you submit your application well ahead of the CIHR deadline. If your research office returns the application to you with comments or questions and you cannot address these before the CIHR competition deadline, your application will not be accepted by CIHR. Many institutions have internal deadlines for receipt of applications ahead of the CIHR deadlines, please confirm with your institution.

After January 3, 2011 the CIHR deadline time for receipt of all applications will be 20:00 ET.