CANADIAN BLOOD SERVICES
TRAINEE
AWARDS GUIDE
2011
CANADIAN BLOOD SERVICES
1800 Alta Vista Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1G 4J5
Telephone (613) 739-2230 – Facsimile (613) 739-2201
Canadian Blood Services Trainee Awards Guide
CANADIAN BLOOD SERVICES
TRAINEE AWARDS GUIDE
FOREWORD
I.
GENERAL INFORMATION
1
TYPES OF CANADIAN BLOOD SERVICES FUNDING
1
III.
ELIGIBILITY
2
IV.
APPLICATION PROCESS
2
REVIEW PROCESS
4
FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION OF AWARD FUNDS
4
Disbursement of Stipend and/or Research Allowance
4
GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS
5
Supervisor Responsibility
Start-Date
Duration of Award
Stipend
Taxation
Benefits
Income from Other Sources
Transportation Allowance
Travel Allowance
Research Allowance
Revision to Research Plan and Renewals
Transfers
Reports
Publications
5
5
5
5
6
6
6
6
7
7
7
7
8
8
II.
V.
VI.
VII.
VIII. FORM COMPLETION
General Information
Application Completion
CANADIAN BLOOD SERVICES
Telephone (613) 739-2230 – Facsimile (613) 739-2201
8
8
9
Canadian Blood Services Trainee Awards Guide
FOREWORD
This guide describes the requirements for candidates who wish to apply for the Graduate
Fellowship Program (GFP) or the Post Doctoral Fellowship Award under the Canadian
Blood Services (Canadian Blood Services) Research & Development Program.
The Canadian Blood Services Trainee Awards terms and conditions may be altered
without notice.
Applicants and Supervisors should always refer to the latest edition of the Canadian
Blood Services Trainee Awards Guide.
Correspondence or enquiries should be addressed to:
Elaine Konecny, Program Assistant
Research & Development
Canadian Blood Services
1800 Alta Vista Drive
Ottawa, Ontario
K1G 4J5 Canada
Telephone: (613) 739-2230
Email: elaine.konecny@blood.ca
Website: www.blood.ca
CANADIAN BLOOD SERVICES
Telephone (613) 739-2230 – Facsimile (613) 739-2201
Canadian Blood Services Trainee Awards Guide
CANADIAN BLOOD SERVICES
GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP or
POST DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS
I.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Canadian Blood Services (Canadian Blood Services) was established in 1998 as the
operator of Canada’s blood system in all provinces and territories excluding Quebec.
The objective of the Research & Development Program is to help fulfill the Canadian
Blood Services Corporate Vision of providing a safe, secure, cost-effective and accessible
supply of blood, blood products and their alternatives. Graduate Fellowship Programs or
Post Doctoral Fellowships are offered to highly qualified candidates to initiate or continue
training in the field of blood transfusion science. Canadian Blood Services has identified
four priority areas on which it is focusing its research and development resources (in no
particular order):




Therapeutic Immunoglobulins: These plasma protein products
include IVIg, subcutaneous Ig, and anti-D. This priority includes
proposals related to their replacement, mechanism of action, or adverse
effects.
Pathogen Reduction/Inactivation: In this approach, blood or blood
components are treated proactively to eliminate infectious agents. This
priority area is not restricted to existing pathogen reduction technologies,
which currently have limitations.
Product Quality: This priority includes proposals related to the storage,
processing, or quality assurance of blood products, and to related aspects
of donor research.
Improved Cellular Products: This priority area encompasses not only
modified red cells and platelets, but also stem cells and cellular therapies.
Successful applicant will work on projects that fall within these four areas. Part of the
purpose of the Canadian Blood Services Graduate Fellowship and/or Post Doctoral
Fellowship programs is to encourage successful candidates to pursue a career in
research related to Transfusion Science in Canada upon completion of their award, but
this is not a condition of the award.
Since the number of awards made each year is limited by the availability of funds, they
are offered on a competitive basis.
II.
TYPES OF FUNDING
The Canadian Blood Services Research & Development Program provides four (4) types
of grants-in-aid of research:
 Operating Grants
 Requests for Proposals
 Major Equipment Grants
 Partnership Grants (with CIHR),
CANADIAN BLOOD SERVICES
Telephone (613) 739-2230 – Facsimile (613) 739-2201
1
Canadian Blood Services Trainee Awards Guide
and three (3) personnel awards for the direct support of highly qualified candidates who
are seeking training in research related to blood and blood products:



Post Doctoral Fellowships
Partnership Awards (with CIHR) (currently limited to New Investigator Awards)
Graduate Research Fellowships
III.
ELIGIBILITY
To be eligible, candidates must:

Not hold another award at the same time.
Graduate Fellowship Program:





Be engaged in full-time training in research in a Canadian graduate school leading to
a Ph.D., or combined health professional Ph.D. program.
Demonstrate acceptance into a Ph.D. program to receive continued support.
Students registering solely for a Master’s degree will not be considered.
Be in a training program which includes actual involvement in research, and not only
courses in research methods.
Meet the above criteria, if they possess a medical degree but are not licensed to
practice in Canada.
Engage in research projects falling within the scientific areas described in Section I of
these Guidelines.
Priority will be given to candidates at Canadian Blood Services Blood Centres and
Canadian Blood Services affiliated laboratories, under the supervision of Canadian Blood
Services medical and scientific staff holding academic appointments, but applications
from other researchers/institutions are encouraged.
Post Doctoral Fellowship:





IV.
Hold the relevant prerequisite degree (Ph.D., M.D., D.D.S., or D.V.M.) from a
recognized academic institution.
Usually be within five (5) years of completing their degree.
Select a project directly related to the goals of the Canadian Blood Services Research
& Development program and falling within the scientific areas described in Section I
of these Guidelines.
Select a Canadian Blood Services affiliate who agrees to supervise the project if
awarded.
Not hold the Canadian Blood Services Post Doctoral Fellowship with their Ph.D.
supervisor.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Applications for Canadian Blood Services Graduate Fellowship Program or Post Doctoral
Fellowship Training Awards must be submitted on form GPF-11 and RD40-11,
respectively.
2
CANADIAN BLOOD SERVICES
Telephone (613) 739-2230 – Facsimile (613) 739-2201
Canadian Blood Services Trainee Awards Guide

Post Doctoral Fellowships are tenable at any of the Canadian Blood Services-affiliated
laboratories or Centres across Canada. Candidates must select and contact a
Canadian Blood Services-affiliated Scientist to serve as the Canadian Blood Services
Post Doctoral Fellowship Supervisor. A list of all Canadian Blood Services-affiliated
Scientists is available. Further information is available on-line (www.blood.ca).

The duly received Research & Development Application constitutes an agreement to
adhere to the conditions governing the award.

Please include one (1) official university transcript(s) with your application. No
copies are required.

The original, signed application, including all attachments, must be submitted
with four (4) complete, collated copies and official, original transcript(s) to:
Manager, Research & Development
Canadian Blood Services, Head Office
1800 Alta Vista Drive
Ottawa, Ontario K1G 4J5
Applications and all supporting documents must be received by advertised program
deadlines. No applications or additional material will be accepted after these deadlines.
Applications are acknowledged upon receipt.





Applicants must provide the names of at least three (3) Referees. It is the
responsibility of the Applicant to ask their Referees to complete an evaluation form
(Appendix 1), which must be sent back to the Applicant for submission with the
complete application package. Confidential evaluations must be received by the
Applicant in an envelope signed across the seal. The Applicant should select
Referees under whom they have studied, or who have had a good opportunity to
assess their research potential. Do not include your proposed supervisor unless they
meet these criteria. In the case of candidates currently engaged in graduate or postdoctoral training, one of these references should be from their current supervisor.
The supervisor’s letter should describe any potential impact of the project on CBS
departments other than the one in which the candidate will work, an on any external
partners or stakeholders.
Candidates must also submit official post secondary school transcripts (one [1]
official, original) with their application package.
Candidates claiming equivalency to a graduate research degree must provide the
following documentation upon request: transcripts of relevant completed formal
course work, publications in scholarly journals, government reports, etc., that might
be reviewed as the equivalent to an academic thesis; and a statement by the
applicant’s former supervisor with respect to their performance in the context of the
program for which equivalency is claimed.
In order to permit a comprehensive assessment of their application, candidates must
provide in their applications all the information that is required in a lucid, concise and
complete manner and arrange for all transcripts, supporting letters and other
documents required.
3
CANADIAN BLOOD SERVICES
Telephone (613) 739-2230 – Facsimile (613) 739-2201
Canadian Blood Services Trainee Awards Guide
V.
REVIEW PROCESS
Applications are assessed for completeness and general conformity to the objectives of
the Research & Development Program by a review committee.
In assessing an application, the following points are considered:



A candidate’s academic qualifications, research experience and ability;
Relevance of the proposed project to the goals of Canadian Blood Services and
alignment to the priority areas listed in Section I of this document;
Merit of the proposed project and research environment.
Applicants successful at this stage are recommended to the Associate Director, Research
& Development, for approval, contingent on the availability of funds.
The Panel’s decision is conveyed to the applicant and supervisor within three (3) months
of the submission deadline.
VI.
FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION OF AWARD FUNDS
Financial administration of Canadian Blood Services Trainee Award funds will be through
the Canadian Blood Services Research & Development Department at Head Office.
Accountability of funds is the responsibility of the trainee’s Supervisor.
Disbursement of Stipend and/or Research Allowance
1.
Each Canadian Blood Services Trainee Award is assigned a unique number
representing the trust account maintained for it by the Canadian Blood Services
Research & Development Department. For financial reporting purposes, this
number is treated as a separate Cost Centre. The Head Office Accounting
Department transfers the approved funds as revenue to each Cost Centre, from
which salary and research allowance expenses are charged. Financial reports on
each Cost Centre are prepared by the Canadian Blood Services Research
&Development Department from data supplied by Canadian Blood Services
Accounting.
2.
Expenditures from each Trainee Award must be authorized by the recipient and
supervisor.
3.
In no case should the total disbursement exceed the funds available for each
Canadian Blood Services Trainee Award, i.e. the amount of the current year’s
grant (plus any remaining portion of a previous year’s grant). Expenditures
exceeding the award will be neither assumed nor reimbursed by Canadian Blood
Services.
4
CANADIAN BLOOD SERVICES
Telephone (613) 739-2230 – Facsimile (613) 739-2201
Canadian Blood Services Trainee Awards Guide
VII.
GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Supervisor Responsibility
The Canadian Blood Services Trainee Supervisor must agree to provide adequate
research facilities and to administer the award in accordance with the terms laid down
by Canadian Blood Services.
Start Date
The Canadian Blood Services Trainee should begin within six (6) months of the
notification of award.
Duration of Award
Graduate Fellowship Program:
Students may be supported for a maximum of four (4) years. The initial term is for two
(2) years, with the possibility of a two (2) year renewal.
Renewals must be requested by submitting a complete, renewal application for
consideration by the review committee, to be received at the normal application
deadline.
Post Doctoral Fellowship:
Fellowships are awarded for a minimum of one (1) year and a maximum of three (3)
years. However, support for the third year is conditional upon receipt of a satisfactory
progress report and by submitting a complete, renewal application for consideration by
the review committee, to be received at the normal application deadline.
Renewals are not automatic and a final decision on each renewal rests with the
Associate Director, Research & Development.
If a Canadian Blood Services Trainee Award is not held for the full-approved period of
support, the Research & Development Department, Canadian Blood Services must be
notified at once. The stipend and research allowances will, in such circumstances, be
prorated.
The Trainee Award recipient’s position may be terminated at any time, for good and
sufficient reason by Canadian Blood Services.
Stipend
The value of each trainee Award is related to the major degree held, licensure (where
applicable) and experience of the applicant. Stipends are valued in Canadian dollars,
and based on current Canadian Institutes of Health Research guidelines.
5
CANADIAN BLOOD SERVICES
Telephone (613) 739-2230 – Facsimile (613) 739-2201
Canadian Blood Services Trainee Awards Guide
Taxation
Graduate Fellowship Program:
Canadian Blood Services Trainee Award recipients are responsible for any and all taxes
and any other statutory payments or assessments that are payable. Award holders will
be issued T4A slips by Canadian Blood Services.
Post Doctoral Fellowship:
Canadian Blood Services Trainee Awards are subject to income tax. Deductions will be
made at source by Canadian Blood Services, for income tax purposes. Award holders
will be issued T4 slips by Canadian Blood Services.
Benefits
Canadian Blood Services offers a generous benefits package to Canadian Blood Services
Post Doctoral Fellowship recipients including health and dental care, insurance, paid
vacation and a pension plan after one (1) year of employment. The terms of
employment are set out in the Letter of Offer and in accordance with the applicable
Human Resources Bulletin.
Income from Other Sources
Trainee Award recipients are required to devote themselves full time to the objectives of
their award. They are not permitted to receive remuneration for any work other than
activities which contribute to their development as scientists and which are approved by
their Supervisor. Notwithstanding, such activities should not occupy more than 20% of
working time.
Transportation Allowance
Recipients of a Canadian Blood Services Post Doctoral Fellowship tenable in a city other
than the one in which they reside may be paid a transportation allowance in an amount
equivalent to one-way economy airfare. Such costs may also be paid for their spouse
and dependent children, provided they accompany the candidate for the full tenure of
the award.
No allowance is provided for transporting personal belongings.
6
CANADIAN BLOOD SERVICES
Telephone (613) 739-2230 – Facsimile (613) 739-2201
Canadian Blood Services Trainee Awards Guide
Travel Allowance
An annual Travel Allowance is available to each Canadian Blood Services Post Doctoral
Fellowship for the cost of attending one (1) scientific meeting during each year of
Canadian Blood Services Post Doctoral Fellowship tenure. These funds must be
requested by the Trainee in a letter, submitted to the Manager, Research &
Development, countersigned by the respective Supervisor, giving the date, location and
nature of the meeting concerned. Payment will be reimbursed upon submission of a
Canadian Blood Services travel expense claim form.
Research Allowance
Graduate Fellowship Program:
An annual travel award of $1,000, is provided to pay for research materials and
supplies, travel to scientific meetings and other costs directly related to research. These
funds are to be used in consultation with the supervisor, and are not to be used to pay
course fees.
Post Doctoral Fellowship:
Applicants are expected to develop new research activities. For this purpose a Research
Allowance of $10,000 is made available to each Canadian Blood Services Post Doctoral
Fellowship recipient during the first year of their award for development of a project
grant. This allowance may be used with the supervisor’s approval for the purchase of
materials, supplies and services required for the development of the Canadian Blood
Services Post Doctoral Fellowship’s research project. Please note, equipment purchased
using these funds, including computers, are not the personal property of the individual,
but belong to Canadian Blood Services and must be returned at the end of the
Fellowship.
Revision to Research Plan and Renewals
Any change in the research plans or in the location of tenure of Canadian Blood Services
Trainee Award recipient requires the prior approval of the Associate Director, Research &
Development, in writing.
Transfers
An awardee may request permission to transfer by writing to the Associate Director,
Research & Development, and by arranging to have the following submitted:
1.
a letter from the newly proposed supervisor indicating acceptance
- and -
2.
a letter from the supervisor under whom the award was originally tenable,
indicating that they have been informed of the proposed transfer.
7
CANADIAN BLOOD SERVICES
Telephone (613) 739-2230 – Facsimile (613) 739-2201
Canadian Blood Services Trainee Awards Guide
Reports
Progress Reports
A Progress Report (two [2] pages excluding figures and references) must be submitted
to the Manager, Research & Development at Head Office one (1) month prior to the end
of the first and second year of tenure, unless a renewal application is being submitted.
Each report must be countersigned by the Trainee’s Supervisor.
Final Reports
The Canadian Blood Services Trainee Award recipient is required to submit to the
Manager, Research & Development a Final Report (three (3) pages excluding figures and
references) within two (2) months of completion of their Canadian Blood Services
Trainee Award, describing the results of their research as well as giving an outline of
future career plans. This Final Report must be countersigned by the Trainee’s
Supervisor and takes the place of a progress report where applicable.
Publications
Award holders are encouraged to publish the results of work carried out during the
tenure of their award, but must be compliant with the Canadian Blood Services Policy on
intellectual property and non-disclosure. Any publications, reports or public
presentations resulting from work conducted during the tenure of a Canadian Blood
Services Trainee Award must acknowledge the support of Canadian Blood Services and
Health Canada as the source of funding. The following statement must be included on
any material developed for public distribution: “The views expressed herein do not
necessarily represent the view of the federal government”. Three (3) copies of each
publication must be submitted with particulars of publication (e.g. journal title, volume,
and date) to the Manager, Research & Development.
VIII. FORM COMPLETION
General Information




Applicants are strongly encouraged to make use of electronic forms provided by the
Canadian Blood Services, Research & Development office.
Original applications (or progress/final reports) must be typed in black, using singlespacing, 12-point font and 1 inch margins. The application may be completed in
English or French.
All information required for the evaluation of the application should be contained on
the form. Manuscript or abstracts (if applicable), official transcripts and completed
Referees’ confidential form must be appended.
It is the applicant’s sole responsibility to secure, complete and submit all the
necessary documents to meet established deadlines.
8
CANADIAN BLOOD SERVICES
Telephone (613) 739-2230 – Facsimile (613) 739-2201
Canadian Blood Services Trainee Awards Guide
Application Completion
Carefully follow instructions on the Form.
Applicant
The applicant is recognized as the author of the application submitted. The Manager,
Research & Development will correspond with the applicant. If needed, the applicant
must submit proof of legal entitlement to work in Canada.
Agreement
The applicant and Supervisor must agree to be bound by the terms respecting the
governing of an award. In the case of a Supervisor not being situated in a Canadian
Blood Services facility, it is their responsibility to obtain other approvals that may be
required.
Acknowledgement
Complete the mailing address portion at the top of page two (2). Only one
acknowledgement will be sent per application.
Applicant Information
Submit abstracts presented or manuscripts published, accepted or submitted. The
applicant must arrange to obtain official transcripts verifying their academic degrees and
grades, which must be included in the complete application package.
Outline of Proposed Research
Provide a concise project summary including BACKGROUND/RATIONALE, OBJECTIVES
AND EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH. Graphics and references may be appended, but no
other attachments will be accepted. This section should be prepared with the
Supervisor.
Referees
Provide a complete address for each Referee, who will be contacted and provided with a
review form by the Applicant. The completed and confidential review form must be sent
back to the Applicant by the Referee in an envelope signed across the seal and
submitted with the application package.
Relevance
Explain the relevance of this proposal to the Canadian Blood Services Corporate Vision of
providing safe, secure, cost-effective and accessible supply of blood, blood products, and
their alternatives. Refer to high priority areas of research identified by the Canadian
Blood Services Research & Development Advisory Committee (see Section I of this
document) and foci of the research centre where the Canadian Blood Services Trainee
Award will be held.
Supervisor Information
Supervisor must complete pages 8, 9 and 10 OR complete page 8 and attach a current
Common CV Module.
9
CANADIAN BLOOD SERVICES
Telephone (613) 739-2230 – Facsimile (613) 739-2201
Canadian Blood Services Trainee Awards Guide
R:\RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT\MSWord\Programs\GFP\GFP Fall 2011\GFP Fall 2011 Bill edit\GFP to
Translation\Trainee Awards Guidelines GFP PDF Fall 2011.doc
CANADIAN BLOOD SERVICES
Telephone (613) 739-2230 – Facsimile (613) 739-2201