Grantscrafting Session for CIHR
Frederick Banting and Charles Best
Canada Graduate Scholarship (CGS)
Doctoral Program
2015
Dr. Patricia MacKenzie
School of Social Work
patmack@uvic.ca
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Today I will talk about…
What is CIHR?
CIHR Funding Opportunities
Application Process
Tips for Grants crafting
Question/answer time
What is CIHR?
CIHR promotes a solutions-focused, multidisciplinary and collaborative
approach to health research that is underpinned by high ethical standards. Its
unique structure comprising 13 virtual Institutes brings together researchers
and knowledge users from across disciplines, professions, sectors and
geographic borders.
CIHR currently supports the health research and knowledge translation
activities of over 13,700 health researchers and trainees in universities,
teaching hospitals and other health organizations and research centres across
the country. Investment decisions are guided by a rigorous and transparent
peer review process that selects for and meets the highest international
standards of excellence.
CIHR’s new strategic plan for 2014/15 – 2018/19 is called Health Research
Roadmap II: Capturing Innovation to Produce Better Health and Health Care
(Roadmap II)
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CIHR Research Themes
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Biomedical
Clinical
Health systems services
Social, cultural, environmental and
population health
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CIHR Institutes
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CIHR Institute of Aboriginal Peoples’ Health
CIHR Institute of Aging
CIHR Institute of Cancer Research
CIHR Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health
CIHR Institute of Gender and Health
CIHR Institute of Genetics
CIHR Institute of Health Services and Policy Research
CIHR Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health
CIHR Institute of Infection and Immunity
CIHR Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis
CIHR Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction
CIHR Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes
CIHR Institute of Population and Public Health
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CIHR’s health and health system research priorities
for 2014-15 to 2018-19
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Research Priority A: Enhanced patient experiences and outcomes through
health innovation This research priority focuses on accelerating the discovery,
development, evaluation and integration of health innovations into practice so that
patients receive the right treatments at the right time.
Research Priority B: Health and wellness for Aboriginal peoples This research
priority focuses on supporting the health and wellness goals of Aboriginal peoples
through shared research leadership and the establishment of culturally sensitive
policies and interventions.
Research Priority C: A healthier future through preventive action This research
priority focuses on a proactive approach to understanding and addressing the causes
of ill health, and on supporting physical and mental wellness at the individual,
population and system levels.
Research Priority D: Improved quality of life for persons living with chronic
conditions This research priority focuses on understanding multiple, co-existing
chronic conditions, and on supporting integrated solutions that enable Canadians to
continue to participate actively in society.
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Examples of research areas and knowledge translation activities for
Research Priority A: Enhanced patient experiences and outcomes
through health innovation
Health innovations
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Discovery and development
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New targets and technologies for improved diagnostics, therapeutics and therapies
Improved practice guidelines
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New technologies that support providers and patients
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New models of financing, funding and delivering health care
Evaluation
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Patient experience and satisfaction research
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Patient outcomes research
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Health policy and systems research
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Economic evaluation and technology assessment
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Comparative effectiveness research
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Clinical research
Implementation and scale-up
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Commercialization and uptake of predictive, preventive and precision clinical innovations
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Integration of e-enabled health care models
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Validation of health care financing, funding and delivery models
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Examples of research areas and knowledge translation activities
for Research Priority B: Health and wellness for Aboriginal
peoples
Aboriginal peoples’ health
Shared leadership
•Aboriginal people's research leadership capacity and development
•Understanding of indigenous ways of knowing and knowledge translation
Culturally sensitive policies and interventions
•Factors influencing conditions of vulnerability and health equity
•Design, implementation and evaluation of policies and interventions
•Adoption and use of intervention programs, tools and services
Sharing knowledge across jurisdictions and populations
•International linkages and comparisons
•Shared innovations
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Examples of research areas and knowledge translation activities
for Research Priority C: Promoting a healthier future through
preventive action
Health promotion and prevention
Discovery and understanding
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Environmental, social, economic and cultural determinants of health
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Psychological and behavioural influences on health
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Biological action and disease mechanisms
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Interplay of biopsychosocial risk factors
Health promotion
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Healthy lifestyle strategies across the life course
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Health literacy and education strategies
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Policy and other interventions in health and other sectors
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Healthy environments, food security and safety
Disease prevention
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Surveillance and screening for early detection and prevention
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Novel vaccines and other therapeutics
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Improved containment strategies for health threats (pathogens, contaminants, toxins)
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System coordination across health and other sectors
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Examples of research areas and knowledge translation activities
for Research Priority D: Improved quality of life for persons living
with chronic conditions
Management and treatment of chronic conditions
Discovery and understanding
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Comorbidities, common disease pathways and interactions
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Factors influencing chronicity
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Complexities of diagnosis, treatment and care across the life course
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Promoters and barriers to self-management
Primary and acute health care
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Integrated health care delivery models, including team-based models of care
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Innovative policies, strategies and programs
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Rehabilitation therapies and medical devices
Long-term management
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Self-care and self-management strategies
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Community-based care models
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Support for caregivers and family
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Workplace accommodation
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Organizing and financing of institutional care
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What are the Funding Opportunities ?
The CIHR Doctoral Research Awards consist of two programs administered through a single
application:
1.The Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarships Doctoral Awards
(CGS-D) program provides special recognition and support to students who are pursuing a doctoral
degree in a health-related field in Canada.
1.Some Canada Graduate Scholarship recipients may be considered for the honour of having their
scholarship named a “Canada Graduate Scholarship to Honour Nelson Mandela”, should CIHR deem
their application to be aligned with at least one of five themes championed by Mandela: national unity;
democracy; freedom and human rights; leadership; children’s participation in society; and children’s
health.
1.The Doctoral Foreign Study Award (DFSA) provides special recognition and support to students
who are pursuing a doctoral degree in a health-related field abroad. Applicants apply to the CIHR
Doctoral Research Awards competition and top-ranked applicants are awarded a CGS-D or DFSA
depending on the proposed location where the doctoral degree will be pursued and granted. Note:
Changes from proposed location from Canada to abroad or the opposite will not be considered by
CIHR.
All applicants are expected to have an exceptionally high potential for future research achievement
and productivity.
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THE CIHR DOCTORAL FUNDING APPLICATION DEADLINE IS OCTOBER
1, 2015.
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You will apply online and submit your electronic application directly to CIHR for an
opportunity to be funded with a Doctoral Research Award (DRA)
There is no university pre-selection process
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CIHR HAS JUST RECENTLY PROVIDED US WITH UPDATED INSTRUCTIONS
REGARDING THE SIGNATURE PAGES:
• Candidates must:
• print the signature pages and get their supervisor(s) signatures only
• scan the duly completed signature pages and upload them to their application (NI
candidates must scan and upload the blank signature pages);
• submit electronically their completed application to the ” institution paid” that they
indicated in their application.
Once you have completed your application, the UVic Scholarship Officers now e-approve
your application in ResearchNet in lieu of the of institutional signatures, before it goes
to CIHR.
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How much and How many?
For this competition, applications will be accepted in all areas of health research,
including biomedical, clinical, health services and social, cultural, environmental and
population health.
• It is anticipated that approximately $14 million over three years will be available for
the CGS-D competition, enough to fund approximately 133 awards.
• It is anticipated that approximately $1.05 million over three years will be available for
the DFSA competition, enough to fund approximately 10 awards.
Trainee stipend: $30,000 per annum plus a Research allowance: $5,000 per annum.
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….also available… CIHR Priority
Announcement 2015
….offer additional sources of funding for highly rated applications that are relevant to
specific CIHR research priority areas or mandates. Applications are submitted through
the "201510MDR" competition of the Doctoral Research Award: 2015-2016 funding
opportunity.
CIHR Research Priority Areas
•Aboriginal Research Methodologies
•Infection and Immunity
•Research in First Nations, Métis and/or Inuit Health
The total amount available for these funding opportunity is enough to fund three (3)
awards for each priority area. This amount may increase if additional funding partners or
internal collaborators decide to participate.
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Eligibility
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The Nominated Principal Applicant must be a trainee.
A primary supervisor must be identified on the application. An additional supervisor may be identified.
The program is open to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada at the time of application.
Only students engaged in a full-time doctoral program that has a significant research component are eligible
to apply. An eligible program of study must require that 75% of the students' time be devoted to research
training. The research component must be a requirement for completion of the program, such as the completion of
a thesis, a major research project, a dissertation, a scholarly publication, a presentation and/or an exhibit that is
merit/expert reviewed at the institutional level. Doctoral programs that are based only on course work are not
eligible. Joint doctoral programs with a professional degree (e.g. MD/PhD, MBA/PhD, DVM/PhD, etc.) and
clinically-oriented doctoral programs (e.g. PhD in Clinical Psychology) are eligible if they have a significant
research component as described above. For the purposes of eligibility assessment, the health professional
degree portion of the combined degree program will not be counted as graduate study.
The maximum duration of award funding from all federal sources to undertake graduate studies is four years,
including at the Master's level.
Individuals who hold or have held a doctoral award from a federal source for a term of three years are not eligible to
apply.
Applicants may submit only one training or salary award application per year (September 1 to August 31) for
funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), the Canadian Institutes
of Health Research (CIHR) or the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC).
However, individuals eligible to apply to the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships program or the Banting
Postdoctoral Fellowships program may also submit an application to the CIHR Doctoral Research Award program
(this is the only exception where an individual may submit two applications in the same year).
As of the application deadline, all candidates must have completed a minimum of 12 months of graduate study
at the Master's or doctoral level. In addition, there are also maximum amounts of time* a candidate can be
registered as a full-time student in a doctoral program (as of the application deadline), in order to be eligible to
apply.
*…range from 22 to 34 months
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The Application Process
http://www.cihrirsc.gc.ca/e/38887.html#A
So, before you begin
Applicants and their supervisor(s) must make sure they
have the following (if not, click on the following links to
register):
• a ResearchNet account
• a CIHR PIN in ResearchNet
• a Common CV account
Applicants and their supervisor(s) should each only have
one ResearchNet account. If you have already accessed
ResearchNet, do not register for a new account.
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Summary: tasks required for completing a Doctoral
Research Award application
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Complete the Common CV
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Complete the Doctoral Research Award ResearchNet application
a) Identify Participants
b )Identify Sponsors (3)
c) Enter Degree Information
d) Enter Proposal Information
e) Enter Space, Facilities and Personnel Support Information
f) Attach Other Application Materials
Apply to Priority Announcements / Funding Pools (Optional)
g) Print/Upload Signature Pages
h) Preview
i) Consent and Submit
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Summary of the Application Process
• Award programs use an automated application
process through the use of ResearchNet (with a few
exceptions).
• Review the ‘How to Apply’ section and the
Application Phase Instructions (if applicable) of the
Funding Opportunity to which you are applying.
• Review the “Guide for Reviewers” section of the
Funding Opportunity for tips on how to strengthen
your application.
• Review the “Grants and Awards” Guide for policies
related to the administration of applications.
Pay attention to the details
 follow instructions exactly
 adhere to format guidelines (e.g., font, page
limits)
 applications MUST be completed using the
media specified in the funding opportunity
 use the full page allowances
 familiarize yourself with the Guide for
Reviewers
 start several weeks before the deadline –
right now!
Preview - Criteria Used by Reviewers for
Doctoral Awards
Criterion
Weights for each criterion
Achievements and Activities of the Candidate
Publication Activity
10 %
Other Research Activity
10 %
35 %
Academic Performance
15 %
Characteristics and Abilities of the Candidate
Critical thinking
Independence
Perseverance
Originality
40 %
40 %
Organizational skills
Interest in discovery
Research Ability
Leadership
The Research Training Environment
Training program for the
10 %
candidate
Scientific Activity
5%
25 %
Research resources
5%
Training record
5%
100%
100%
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Working with your grantscrafter
• Seek advice early
• Role is provide positive criticism
• Not a guarantee that you will receive the
award
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Planning for Success
 Grades matter!
 Reference/Sponsor Letters are very, very
important – choose wisely
 Emphasize publications, research
experience, professional experience
 A strong training environment where you
will get exposure to research and have
research networking and mentoring
opportunities is essential
Context and Support Matters!
 work on the research proposal and the full application in
collaboration with your supervisor/mentor
 proofread your application … carefully!
 show the complete application to their supervisor/mentor, peers
and other researchers for feedback
 Be prepared to produce multiple drafts
 If you can, set up an internal review system – other students
who have been successful, other applicants, profs, etc.
 Even if not successful you will produce a draft of your thesis
proposal so think positive
 Do not wait to submit until the last minute
CIHR Sponsor’s Assessments
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 Candidates should choose sponsors that know them
well enough to be able to assess their potential and to
provide specific examples of their behaviour with
respect to each characteristic on the sponsor
assessment form.
 You should help your sponsor prepare their letter by
providing examples that match the evaluation criteria
(excellence, productivity, etc.)
 An automatic e-mail will be sent through ResearchNet to
the chosen sponsors. After all three sponsors have
submitted their assessments, this task will be marked as
Complete in the ResearchNet Application Task List.
 Sponsors must submit their assessments by the
deadline date. You need to make sure this happens!
The “Narrative”
• A well-laid out proposal says to a committee
“this person knows what they are talking
about and they have taken as much care with
their proposal as we are now doing.”
• Reviewers are busy people and have many
proposals to read. Make yours one they will
want to read!
• Ensure you convey what you are proposing is
relevant, unique, and will benefit the health of
Canadians
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Think about the ‘audience’
• Assessors may have the kind of specialized
knowledge you need, but a committee will
not.
• Provide a rapid introduction for intelligent
non-specialists.
• Provide appropriate (and recent!) references.
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Provide Information Clearly
• Committees are not only not infallible and
tired, they are also starting with imperfect
information about you and your institution.
• Give them the information you know is
essential to your case, straightforwardly and
succinctly.
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Logical and Connected Proposal
• Present research plans coherently, as a set
of problems.
• In a logical and connected order.
• Always state the central problem of your work
and why it is important.
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Critiques
• If you are critiquing existing models or
approaches in the literature,
• do so lucidly, without partisanship, and
• demonstrate clearly why your approach is
better.
• Be precise.
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Who is the Audience? Adjudication
Committees
• Most of these committees are
interdisciplinary; some are not; some have
non-academics on them. They are your
audience – write to them.
• Committees get tired and impatient with
complex obscure language, typos, poorly
laid-out proposals with grammar and
spelling errors, and incomplete information.
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Peer Review Committees and Mandates –
Doctoral Research Award
The applications are assigned to a specific committee based on the
theme of the proposed research activities.
•The evaluation of Doctoral Research Award applications focuses on
the applicant's track record, characteristics and abilities as well as the
research proposal and environment/support.
•Doctoral Research Award – A (DRA)
•Reviews Doctoral Research Award applications to assess the
candidate’s potential of attaining competence as a prospective
researcher in biomedical and/or clinical research.
•Doctoral Research Award – B (DRB)
•Reviews Doctoral Research Award application’s to assess the
candidate’s potential of attaining competence as a prospective
researcher health services research and/or social, cultural,
environmental and population health research.
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Editing
• Ask a friend who is not overly familiar with
your research to read your proposal some
day/evening when he/she is tired and see if
it makes sense.
• Then ask your friend to tell you which bits
are confusing, or that had to be read twice.
• Then sit down again and work on getting rid
of the jargon, or the long sentences, or . . .
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Additional Information: Facilitated Online Sessions
- Webinars
CIHR holds several short, web-based, facilitated online sessions (also called
"webinars"), which include seminars, presentations, lectures, workshops and
conferences that are transmitted over the web. They are free but you must
register. Next dates are Sept 8th and 10th at 11AM ET.
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Final Observations
• Grant competitions are still going to be, on
occasion, unfair.
• After one rejection, do not despair. . . or at
least, not for long.
• There will be comments that come with the
decision.
• Take the advice that makes sense to you;
ponder the rest, and then accept or reject it.
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Thank You
Questions?
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Contact Info
Dr. Patricia MacKenzie
patmack@uvic.ca
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