The top 10 tips for PHSI Success
Why use an integrated KT approach? Partnerships between researchers and knowledge users are the most effective way to get the right questions and to ensure uptake of the results into policy and/or practice.
Grant applications for integrated KT programs are different from traditional grants and awards applications and can therefore be challenging, at least initially.
To help researcher and decision maker applicants better navigate and improve their PHSI applications, PHSI merit reviewers (the researchers and decision makers who review your PHSI grant application) offer their "top 10" tips for success. Remember, good grantsmanship cannot save a bad idea BUT poor grantsmanship can sink a good idea. Read below to increase your likelihood of success!
Tip 1 – Remember PHSI's Emphasis on Applied Research
Remember that PHSI emphasizes applied research, meaning the research findings are expected to be of interest to and applicable to the issues and challenges facing the health care system. This means the research is neither purely theoretical, methodological, nor purely investigator driven. Applied research contributes to the creation of new research that has application in the real world and can inform health care decision-making.
Tip 2 – Integrated Knowledge Translation
Remember that PHSI is all about integrated KT, so reviewers are looking for demonstration that you will embed KT within your research from the start. This means work and involving your decision maker partners from the very beginning of the project – including the development of the research question – all the way through to the dissemination of results. Be strategic in building your team (every member should add value), and ask your decision maker partners to share results with their respective organisations. Partnerships can be an effective and efficient way to enhance KT.
Familiarize yourself with CIHR's definition of integrated KT, which can be found on the CIHR KT website. The Canadian Health Services Research Foundation's Insight & Action documents "A Handbook on Knowledge Sharing" and "From Research to Practice: A Knowledge Transfer Planning Guide" offer helpful KT strategies, recommendations and frameworks.
Tip 3 – Active Partnerships
PHSI reviewers look for strong evidence of active and productive partnerships between researchers and decision makers/knowledge users. A successful partnership requires commitment and effort from everyone involved. The potential for a meaningful partnership is evidenced by, among other things, plans for multiple meetings and discussions, commitment (material and intellectual), and strong letters (i.e., not cookie-cutter letters) of support authored by the partners. Partnerships should make sense – i.e., be appropriate and relevant to the proposed research.
The Canadian Health Services Research Foundation's document "How to be a good research partner" offers helpful tips.
Tip 4 – An Experienced and Well-Rounded Team
Health services and policy research often involves mixed methods (quantitative and qualitative analyses), it tends to include more than one disciplinary perspective, and its relevance and utility is ensured only through the participation of knowledge users/decision makers. Successful PHSI applications tend to have teams with the full range of skills (e.g., economic, qualitative, management, policy, etc.), expertise, and networks required to ensure that: the research question (and findings) are generalizable; the research is high quality and the approach is rigorous; and the findings are translated and applied into policy and/or practice.
Tip 5 – Policy-Relevant Research Questions
PHSI funding opportunity guidelines require that the research question being addressed is applied, policy-relevant and of importance to decision makers (both those participating on the PHSI team and others across the country). Work with your decision maker partners to refine the research question before submitting your application. When writing your proposal, clearly articulate the need for and the importance and originality of the research.
Tip 6 – Write with the Reviewers in Mind
It is very important that all parts of your proposal are written clearly. One reviewer notes, "There is no substitute for clear communication." Ensure the research question, rationale for the study (why are you focusing on this question?), objectives, methods, KT strategy and other components of your proposal are presented clearly and precisely and can be understood by both researchers and non-researchers. Remember that your application is reviewed by both a researcher and decision maker. Do not forget to demonstrate how the proposed research builds upon your past work and accomplishments.
Ensure that decision makers' skills, qualifications and rationale for partnering on the PHSI team are clearly described in the body of the research proposal. Similarly, clearly explain (in the body of the proposal) how the mandates of your partner organizations align with the PHSI research. Your proposal should demonstrate to reviewers why it is important that these decision makers and organisations partner with you on your PHSI team and what value-added they bring.
Overall, your application should be easy to read. Revise, revise, and revise again! Avoid making reviewers search for information (information is interpreted with greater ease and clarity if it is in the correct section), and stick to clear, precise language (i.e., avoid using jargon, acronyms and unusual abbreviations). Have others read your application before you submit it. Proof-read! Proof-read! Proof-read!
The Canadian Health Services Research Foundation offers some helpful documents on the use of clear and plain language.
Tip 7 – Aligning Goals and Objectives
The goals and objectives outlined should clearly align with the body of the proposal.
Tip 8 – A Theoretical Framework
Reviewers recommend grounding your research within a theoretical framework. Such a framework should drive the research question as well as the methodological approach (design, measurement and analysis) chosen to derive results and formulate conclusions.
Tip 9 – Randomization
CIHR guidelines require that PHSI applications containing Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) or RCT components are required to submit an application to both the PHSI Merit Review Committee and the RCT Review Committee. To be successful, the application must be approved for funding by both committees. A Full Application that includes an RCT or RCT component that was not approved by the RCT Review Committee is not eligible.
Tip 10 – Ensure your Application is Complete
Successful applications must be complete. This means ensuring your application contains all of the appropriate sections (including a KT plan!) and required signatures. Please note that as of September 2008 CIHR is enforcing its policy on complete applications. Applications that are incomplete (e.g., missing one signature) will not be reviewed. Read, re-read, and triple check your proposal against the PHSI funding opportunity guidelines to ensure it is complete before you submit it for review.
Also, do not hesitate to contact CIHR staff with questions regarding the program objectives, details, deadlines, eligibility requirements or other.
Good luck!
Other Helpful Grant Writing Resources
CIHR Guidebook for New Principal Investigators – this book contains helpful, generalizable advice about how to write great grants (don't miss the "top eight things to do to write great grants").
CIHR Grants and Awards Guidelines – this guide contains general CIHR policies and definitions, guidelines for grants and awards, and partnership guidelines. This version supersedes all previous statements on grant and award guidelines by CIHR
CIHR How to Apply for Funding – this webpage provides detailed steps on how to apply for CIHR funding and how to apply using ResearchNet
Understand Peer Review – this webpage provides an overview of CIHR's peer review process
