IMHA On The Move – February 2012

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Message from the Interim Scientific Director

Phillip Gardiner

On February 29, 2012, we look forward to hosting a Café Scientifique entitled A burning question: Inflammation in chronic disease. This Cafe is in partnership with the Cochrane Collaboration and will take place in Ottawa with support from CIHR's communications team. Our expert panel will include Dr. Marc Pouliot, Professor of Microbiology-Infectiology & Immunology at Laval University; Mrs. Anne Lyddiatt, Consumer Representative with the Cochrane Collaboration; and Dr. Peter Tugwell, Professor of Medicine at the University of Ottawa and Rheumatologist at the Ottawa Hospital. Moderated by yours truly, this cafe will address the important health issue of chronic inflammation, publicize the significant work being done by the Canadian Cochrane Network and Centre, and provide a forum for discussion around the CIHR Inflammation in Chronic Disease Signature Initiative.

In funding news, IMHA is supporting the Personalized Medicine Signature Initiative through a multi-year, $ 2.5M investment. This funding opportunity is a part of a $ 40M partnership between Genome Canada, CIHR and other Institutes. Please see page 3 for details on this partnership, and page 4 for other funding opportunities.

As arthritis is one of the 6 IMHA focus areas, here is a quick update from the Arthritis Alliance of Canada (AAC) whose goal is to improve the lives of Canadians with arthritis.

The AAC has been hard at work to create a National Framework that considers solutions for Canadians living with arthritis. One of the pillars of the National framework is research, which aims to prioritize investments in arthritis research, to advance knowledge and awareness around arthritis prevention and care. As a government affiliate of the Arthritis Alliance of Canada (AAC), IMHA is an active member of the AAC Research Working Committee which is expected to take responsibility in finalizing the research aspect of the National Framework that will facilitate how the recommendations are developed to approach government and other funding stakeholders for investments related to arthritis research. This National Framework will certainly play a role in determining priority areas in arthritis research and help us as we develop IMHA's next strategic plan.

Planning for the IMHA Young Investigator (YI) forum which will be held June 10-12, 2012 at the Kingbridge Conference Centre in Toronto is well underway. Participation in this meeting will be by-invitation-only, however, if you know an outstanding YI we would be happy to receive nominations which can be sent to Tanya Gallant at IMHA@cihr-irsc.gc.ca.

As always, IMHA welcomes your comments and questions. Please feel free to contact us at imha.iala.cihr.irsc@utoronto.ca.

Phillip Gardiner PhD,
Interim Scientific Director
Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis

Upcoming IMHA Events

YI Forum

IMHA will host a Young Investigators (YI) forum June 10-12, 2012 at the Kingbridge Conference Centre located just outside of Toronto. IMHA recognizes the value of bringing YIs together to network with one another and to take part in learning sessions. Several other Institutes hold regular YI meetings and have received positive feedback from their research communities. Our learning sessions will cover various topics including grant writing, giving effective presentations, and understanding the CIHR peer review process. Participation in this meeting will be by-invitation-only with expenses covered by IMHA. If you know an outstanding YI we would be happy to receive nominations which can be sent to Tanya Gallant at IMHA@cihr-irsc.gc.ca. For more information, please visit our forum website.

Cafe Scientifique

A burning question: inflammation in chronic disease

Wednesday, February 29, 2012, 5:00 pm
Events InStyle
107 Murray Street, Ottawa
RSVP: cafescientifique@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

Inflammation can be a life saver. When you are injured or you're fighting off an infection, this natural response helps contain the damage. The redness, swelling, pain and heat that are the hallmarks of inflammation may be unpleasant, but they are just part of getting better.

However, chronic inflammation has been linked to a number of diseases, from heart disease to rheumatoid arthritis. Why is too much inflammation a bad thing? What causes inflammation to run amok? How can you know when you're experiencing chronic inflammation? And what can we do to put out the fire?

Join us for a discussion about the connection between chronic inflammation and disease. This free event is hosted by the CIHR Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis and the Cochrane Collaboration. Hope to see you at this Café in Ottawa on February 29th!

Other News

IMHA Participation in Other Signature Initiatives

2012 Large-Scale Applied Research Project Competition
Genomics and Personalized Health

Genome Canada and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) are working together to advance the personalized health research agenda. The 2012 Large-Scale Applied Research Project Competition in Genomics and Personalized Health aims to support projects that will demonstrate how genomics-based research can contribute to a more evidence-based approach to health and improving the cost-effectiveness of the health-care system. CIHR Institutes participating in this exciting initiative include: CIHR Institute of Aging, CIHR Institute of Cancer Research, CIHR Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health, CIHR Institute of Genetics, CIHR Institute of Health Services and Policy Research, CIHR Institute of Infection and Immunity, CIHR Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis, and CIHR Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction.

CIHR's participation in this competition marks the launch of the CIHR Personalized Medicine Signature Initiative and represents the first in a series of funding opportunities to be launched under this initiative.

For more information about the competition, including the CIHR Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis targeted areas of interest, please visit our website.

Did You Know?

IMHA recently developed the Micro Impact Survey (MIS) to gather information pertaining to outcomes of research projects supported by our strategic initiatives budget. It is a web-based survey instrument designated for the Nominated Principal Investigators (NPIs) or other leaders of research projects. The survey takes on average 5-10 minutes to complete, and was successfully deployed (with a high response rate) in 2010 for purposes of the international review. We plan on deploying the survey on an annual basis to rapidly assess the progress of recently funded programs. The information gathered will be used to inform decision-making and to help spread knowledge regarding the positive impacts of funding research in IMHA-relevant health areas.

Annual Recruitment of New Institute Advisory Board Members (IAB Renewal)

The 2012 cycle of recruitment of new institute advisory board (IAB) members for the CIHR Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis (IMHA) began January 31, 2012. The IAB is composed of accomplished and motivated volunteers from Canada and abroad selected from a wide range of research disciplines relevant to the Institute's mandated areas: arthritis, bone, skin, skeletal muscle, MSK rehabilitation and oral health. IMHA strives to cover all four CIHR themes - biomedical, applied clinical, health systems and services, and population and public health – as well as the knowledge translation, ethics, and consumer/patient domains.

Diversity of expertise and experience are key to the success of IABs. Their primary function is to provide advice on health research priorities. They also consider how best to shape and implement health research strategies in line with these priorities, and to accelerate the flow of knowledge into health benefits. The IMHA IAB meets, in person, three times a year. Members are reimbursed for travel and accommodation.

Applications will be accepted until April 1, 2012. New members will be invited to serve terms of three years beginning September 1, 2012. For more information on Institute Advisory Boards, please visit the IAB website.

Launch of CIHR Innovation Team Grants in Community-Based Primary Healthcare

CIHR will be launching Innovation Team Grants to fund research that improves the delivery of high-quality, Community-Based Primary Healthcare (CBPHC) across Canada this month.

CIHR is hosting an information webinar for interested applicants to learn more about the CBPHC Innovation Team Grant funding opportunity (e.g., objectives, eligibility, review process, etc.). We invite you to RSVP for the webinar, which will be held on February 9 at 2.30pm EST at this website.

Dr. Robyn Tamblyn, Scientific Director for the Institute of Health Services and Policy Research, and Dr. Nancy Edwards, Scientific Director for the Institute of Population and Public Health, will provide an overview of the Innovation Team Grant funding opportunity and will be available to answer questions from interested applicants. A copy of the presentation along with a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) document will available after the presentation.

For further details about the Initiative, please visit the CIHR CBPHC website or contact erik.landriault@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

Funding Opportunities

For information on current funding opportunities, please visit IMHA's Funding Opportunities.

IMHA Knowledge Translation Prize
The CIHR–IMHA Knowledge Translation Prize honours and supports the exemplary knowledge translation efforts and activities of an exceptional individual, team, or organization that has made an outstanding contribution to increasing the application of research findings, improving the health of individuals, improving health services and products, or strengthening the health-care system in IMHA relevant areas. The application deadline is February15, 2012 with funding to begin November 1, 2012.

Dissemination Event
The specific objective of this funding opportunity is to support events/activities that contribute to the dissemination, exchange and uptake of research evidence. The application deadline is February 15, 2012, with funding to begin June 1, 2012.

Operating Grant Priority Announcement - Musculoskeletal Health, Arthritis, Skin and Oral Health
Operating Grants provide operating funds to support research proposals in all areas of health research including randomized controlled trials. The application deadline is March 1, 2012, with funding to begin October 1, 2012.

Meetings of Interest

Advances in Skeletal Muscle Biology in Health & Disease Conference
February 22-24, 2012
Gainesville, FL.

GTA Rehab Network's Annual Best Practices Day
February 27, 2012
Toronto, ON.

Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association for Dental Research
March, 21-24, 2012
Tampa Bay, FL.

Canadian Rheumatology Association Conference
March 28-31, 2012
Victoria, BC.

The ASBMR 2012 Topical Meeting, Bone and Skeletal Muscle Interactions
July 17-18, 2012
Kansas City, MO.
ASBMR Topical Meetings present leading research on timely, top-of-mind scientific topics. Held regularly, the Topical Meetings disseminate and discuss specific, in-depth research on one scientific area of interest. Abstract submission will open on February 1, 2012.

Contact Us

CIHR - Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis
Department of Molecular Genetics
Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto
The Banting Institute
100 College St., Room 207B
Toronto, ON, M5G 1L5
Tel: 416-946-7243
Email: imha.iala.cihr.irsc@utoronto.ca

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