COMMON INFRASTRUCTURES
FRQS VISION HEALTH RESEARCH NETWORK
2014-2015 Competition
Goal
The goal of the Common Infrastructures Program is to provide resources and tools for researchers of the Vision Health
Research Network (VHRN) that they could not otherwise afford, in an effort to promote vision research in Quebec.
Impact of the program
The VHRN common infrastructures have become essential to several laboratories of the Network. Their impact is
undeniable in terms of numbers and quality of scientific articles published in peer reviewed journals, presentations at
provincial, national and international conferences, and research funds. Research based on the use of these
infrastructures has, on several occasions, strategically influenced knowledge transfer and implementation of new
practices. For instance, the VHRN Database Visual Impairment & Rehabilitation has notably influenced the distribution
policy for low vision care in Quebec. The Common Infrastructures program is by far considered as being the most
useful and most efficient of the VHRN programs and we intend it to remain so.
Eligible infrastructures
The types of infrastructures currently allowed are listed below. For funding of other types of infrastructure, please
consult with the executive committee of the Network.
 Clinical databases
 Genetic databases
 Registers
 Tissue banks. A lump sum could be allocated to an organization like the National Eye Bank (Quebec) or the Eye
Bank of Quebec (Montreal) to ensure the supply of ocular tissues to all researchers in the Network during a given
period. This supply would of course depend on the availability of tissues. The contract agreement with the eye
banks concerned should be submitted with the application. It is expected that costs other than the maintenance of
tissues, such as transportation, would remain the responsibility of the researcher.
 Common technical platforms
The equipments are not typically the type of infrastructure supported by the Network. An exception could be made for
the maintenance and/or development of an apparatus to be used by a very large number of researchers members of
the Network. The purchase of an equipment and user fees are not supported by this program.
The Network will not fund an infrastructure that will benefit only a small group of researchers or a single team. A
common infrastructure of any kind, to be financed by the Network, must benefit several researchers from several
teams, and ideally of several institutions. The common infrastructure of the Network must be readily available to all
Network members upon request.
Ethics
In the case of a clinical registry, a clinical database, or a genetic material or tissue bank, the endorsement by the Ethics
committee of the institution responsible for the bank or the registry is a mandatory prerequisite to any access and/or
any use of this data bank or registry.
Evaluation Criteria
Applications for funding for maintenance of common facilities will be evaluated according to relevance, the strategic
nature and impact of this infrastructure on the performance of the Network. The performance criteria set by the FRQS
to fund those kinds of resources are the following:
 Leverage (joint grants, public or private investment, partnerships with the biopharmaceutical industry, etc.). Detail
and specify the amounts.
 Achievements (development of initiatives at the national level and/or international level, implementation of new
practices or new policies, etc.)
FRQS Vision Research Network – Common Infrastructures
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Added value to the scientific community
Role in training the next generation
Amount and duration of grants
The financial support of a common infrastructure is granted for one year.
The maximum budget for an infrastructure must not exceed $ 20,000. Occasionally, on demonstration of a particularly
high performance, the amount may rise to $ 25,000. In all cases, the amount of subsidy will depend on the availability
of funds. Funding is renewable upon completion of an annual report and a duly completed renewal application.
Documents to submit
1) Application form for “the support of a Common Infrastructure dully completed”
2) In case of renewal, the application must be accompanied by a ”Scientific Report” form (completed by the same
name).
3) Common CVs of principal investigators (FRQS, CIHR, NSERC format).
4) Letters of support when applicable (certificate of partnership)
Commitment
1) It is mandatory to mention support from the FRQS Vision Health Research Network in any publication or
presentation resulting from the use of an infrastructure funded by the Network. The manager of an infrastructure
funded by the Network (i.e. who endorses the application) and each co-signatory of this application are responsible
to ensure compliance of this rule by each of the users of that infrastructure. Acknowledge the VHRN doesn’t
cost anything and it is a useful tool to demonstrate the impact of the VHRN.
2) Research resulting from the use of this infrastructure must be presented at the annual meeting.
Report
For all subsidized common infrastructures, a status report form must be completed at the end of the grant. Please use
the Scientific Report form. As these reports will be used in the Network’s annual report and renewal application,
it is important to submit the report to the Secretariat as soon as possible after the grant.
Deadline for application submission: August 15th, 2014
Please submit an electronic version of your application to:
FRQS Vision Health Research Network Secretariat
reseau.vision.hmr@ssss.gouv.qc.ca
For additional information, please contact:
FRQS Vision Health Research Network Secretariat
Telephone: 514-252-3400 #1568
Email: reseau.vision.hmr@ssss.gouv.qc.ca
Website: www.visionnetwork.ca/
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Common Infrastructure Application Form
FRQS Vision Health Research Network
Grant Year 2014-2015
TITLE OF THE COMMON INFRASTRUCTURE (English and French):
SHORT TITLE OF THE COMMON INFRASTRUCTURE (maximum 35 characters, for administrative purposes):
☐ First Application
☐ Renewal
Name and contact information of the person responsible of the infrastructure:
In the case of a clinical registry, a clinical database, or a genetic material or tissue bank, the principal investigator(s)
understand that endorsement by the Ethics Committee of the institution responsible for the bank or the registry is a
mandatory prerequisite to any access and/or use of this data bank or registry.
Names and signatures of Principal Investigators (signatures by fax accepted)
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Name
Signature
date
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Name
Signature
date
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Name
Signature
date
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Name
Signature
date
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USERS (add the required amount of pages)
Identify (name, title and institution) the expected changes in the users and/or providers of this infrastructure for the
upcoming year (past or new collaborations and users), .
In the case of a renewal, do not repeat the content of your scientific report.
1)
Researchers (basic science)
— (…)
—
2)
Researchers and clinicians (clinical research)
_
3)
National collaborators
_
4)
International collaborator
_
5)
Undergraduate students
_
6)
MSc. Students
_
7)
PhD students
_
8)
Post-doctoral fellows
_
9)
Research Assistant
_
10) Other (governmental agency, industry, etc)
_
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DESCRIPTION OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE (maximum 1 page)
Describe the infrastructure: nature of the infrastructure, type of data or biological material, type of studied
parameters, number of patients, etc. Describe the management of this infrastructure and its accessibility to the
members of the Network
In case of a renewal, do not repeat the content of your attached scientific report.
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SCIENTIFIC PROGRAMMING (maximum 2 pages)
Describe the projects that will be generated due to the use of this infrastructure over the next year.
In case of a renewal, do not repeat the content of your attached scientific report.
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RELEVANCE OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE (maximum 2 pages)
Describe the strategic nature of the infrastructure for the upcoming year. Attention should be given to the criteria
required by the FRQS for the financing of this type of common resources.
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
Leverage effect (joint grants, public or private investments, partnerships with the biopharmaceutical industry,
other partnerships, including “in kind” participation, etc.)
Expected achievements (development of strategic initiatives at the national and/or international level,
implementation of new practices or new policies, etc.).
Added value of this infrastructure for the performance of the VHRN and for the scientific community (not without
the VHRN)
Training of the next generation
Promotion of clinical research.
These parameters will serve as indicators of goal achievement in case of a renewal application.
In case of a renewal, do not repeat the content of your scientific report.
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BUDGET AND JUSTIFICATION (maximum 1 page)
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Indicate the amount requested from the Network.
Detail and justify.
Detail, if appropriate, the types and amounts of support to be obtained from sources other than the Network
(partnerships) for the funding the infrastructure over the next year. Partnerships are strongly encouraged, since
they help the VHRN justify their funding.
Letters of support and partnership certificates may be attached (optional)
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