ResearchNet - RechercheNet

Table of Contents

• Description
• Objectives
• Eligibility
• Guidelines
• Review Process and Evaluation
• How to Apply
• Contact Information
• Sponsor Description
• Additional Information

Description

Background

Canada is facing substantial health workforce challenges that threaten the ability of the system to provide timely, equitable, accessible, quality services and care to Canadians. These workforce challenges have been longstanding and stem from an outdated health system that is fragmented, siloed, lacking in accountability, and poorly organized to meet today's population and health workforce needs.

The health workforce challenges reflect a combination of factors characteristic of an unorganized and fragmented system. These challenges include supply shortages, sub-optimal capacity planning, inequitable workforce utilization and distribution, governance and funding models that do not support care coordination or interprofessional team-based care, lack of system support to respond to provider distress and burnout, and lack of interoperable data standards and systems.

The COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated such factors with certain regions, populations, and communities experiencing disproportionate impacts. Resulting consequences include recruitment and retention challenges, increasingly unsafe work conditions affecting the physical and mental health of the workforce, lack of access to primary care, overcrowded emergency departments, inequitable access to care, and suboptimal health system performance and outcomes. COVID-19 further highlighted systemic challenges within the Canadian health system (e.g., structural racism, gender inequities, and issues with diversity and inclusion of equity-seeking groups within the workforce) and drew attention to the glaring inequities experienced by health workers and, interconnectedly, the populations receiving care. Additionally, Indigenous Peoples and health workers face unique challenges related to colonialism, social exclusion, and racism that have led to poorer care experiences and outcomes, lack of physical and cultural safety, and barriers for entry into the health workforce.

To address the current health workforce crisis, Health Canada commissioned the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (CAHS) to undertake an evidence-based assessment to provide policy and decision-makers with pathways to inform strategies to address the health workforce crisis. The Assessment on Health Human Resources Overview Report identified six prioritized areas for attention (hereon referred to as CAHS Themes):

• Indigenous Peoples and Communities (e.g., Indigenous-led design and implementation of health services and policies; increasing capacity of Indigenous learners and practitioners; disrupting racism; Indigenous data sovereignty).
• Rural and Remote Communities (e.g., encouraging retention through effective incentives and support; embedded practice-based learning; mobility of healthcare practitioners; responsive, context-specific models of care).
• Systemically Disadvantaged Populations (e.g., increasing the diversity and representativeness of those in training and leadership positions; integration of internationally educated healthcare practitioners; safe, anti-racist work environments; culturally and linguistically safe care; data collection and analysis for solutions aimed to increase diversity, address racism and discrimination, and improve cultural safety).
• Support and Retention (e.g., developing supportive leadership; creating healthy, just, equitable and safe working environments; enhancing autonomy; providing individual and group support to enhance the mental health, wellbeing and resiliency of the workforce; reducing administrative burden).
• Deployment and Service Delivery (e.g., optimized scopes of practice to meet community needs; team-based models of care; optimizing digital health technologies; aligning funding and remuneration models to enhance health outcomes).
• Planning and Development (e.g., ongoing health workforce planning; standardization of health workforce data; engaging partners in health workforce planning decisions; career development and education options that address supply and capacity challenges).

Within these six themes, CAHS identifies 26 solutions-focused pathways as critical to addressing the health workforce crisis within the next two to five years that, when addressed, are expected to lead to a strengthened workforce that can provide high quality care to all Canadians. Please refer to the Assessment on Health Human Resources Overview Report for more details.

True system transformation towards a healthy and resilient workforce requires collaborative, evidence-informed effort to address the needs of workforce members (i.e., the people who form the foundation of Canada's healthcare and public health systems). This effort should prioritize equity-focused solutions for the governance, accountability, and funding models that shape health delivery. Additionally, it should address the broad CAHS themes and include investment in research to ensure that solutions are informed by the best available evidence. Collaborative action is needed to generate evidence on which innovations and solutions work (and don't work), for whom, in what contexts, and how to equitably spread and scale successful innovations for maximum reach and benefit.

Overview of the Funding Opportunity

The goal of this funding opportunity is to support research that strengthens the health workforce, which is an essential component of advancing the Quadruple Aim and health equity for health system transformation.

This funding opportunity is composed of two types of grants:

• Implementation Science Teams (ISTs)
• Evidence Support and Knowledge Mobilization (ESKM) Hub

Implementation Science Teams

Implementation Science Teams (ISTs) will inform the implementation, evaluation and/or spread/scale (share) of an evidence-informed workforce solution(s) that addresses system level challenges (e.g., system organization, governance, accountability, remuneration, capacity building) and aligns with one or more CAHS Themes.

A solution (i.e., intervention) includes but is not limited to a health policy, model of care, resource distribution approach, remuneration model, funding and financing models, regulation and legislation, governance and accountability model, technology, and scope of practice. Note that solutions must be based on or adapted from promising innovations that have been used in Canada or internationally.

All ISTs are required to incorporate the following in their design and approach:

1. A focus on an innovative health workforce solution(s) that:
   1. Address and significantly integrate a system- or policy-level workforce challenge (e.g., on governance, legislation and regulation, remuneration models, licensure, capacity building).
   2. Is equity-focused in the implementation and analysis of the solution's impacts (i.e., assessing the potential for differential equity implications of the solution(s), such as on race, gender, geography, and socioeconomic status of the population and/or workforce). To ensure equity is integrated into every step of the research project, the IST must identify an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Champion.
2. A co-design model whereby the tripartite team is comprised of researchers and knowledge users (i.e., health providers and policy and/or decision makers) collaborating across all stages of the research.
3. Implementation Science methodologies and approaches must be used in the evaluation, implementation, and/or spread/scale (share) of the evidence-informed solutions.
4. Methods and strategies related to Learning Health Systems, complexity science, patient-oriented research, which should be used throughout the entirety of the research process, as appropriate.
5. Recognizing research and research outcomes matter to patients and should aim to improve health care and respond to the needs of Canadians, ISTs must develop a patient and community engagement plan that aligns with the Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR) Patient Engagement Framework and describes the mechanisms and related budget to support and enable patient/caregiver/family member/community engagement throughout the project.
6. A portion of the ISTs' time and capacity must be protected for rapid response research and engaging with the Evidence and Knowledge Mobilization Hub in order to meet urgent health workforce evidence needs identified by the ISTs' knowledge users. ISTs must be poised to conduct research and/or quickly mobilize evidence to address urgent, short-term health workforce priorities identified by their knowledge users as a means to enable and support decision making in response to the health workforce crisis.

This funding opportunity encourages research related to all aspects of the health workforce, including expanded and interprofessional scopes of practice (e.g., nurse practitioners, paramedics, social support workers, allied health professionals), professions (e.g., regulated and unregulated), paid and unpaid workers, composition and distribution of workforce supply (e.g., sociodemographic factors, geographic regions) and sectors (primary, home and community-based care, long-term care, hospital care, and public health). In the context of this funding opportunity, the primary focus of the solution (i.e., the intervention) must be health provider-, team- and/or role-focused, and not disease-specific care pathways.

IST Research Areas

This funding opportunity will support research on evidence-informed solution(s) that address system level challenges within one or more of the six CAHS Themes, that advance the funding opportunity objectives, and align with one or more of the following research area pools:

• IHSPR Health Workforce Pool: Applications must align with the IHSPR mandate.
• Indigenous Health Workforce Pool: Applications must be for Indigenous-led, meaningful, culturally safe, anti-racist health workforce solution(s) that align with the Indigenous Peoples and Communities CAHS Theme.
• Pediatric Workforce Pool: Applications must align with the IHDCYH and IHSPR mandates and focus on a solution(s) to strengthen and foster resilience and sustainability of the pediatric health workforce. The solution(s) should consider the unique skills and experience needed to deliver healthcare services to children and youth and the breadth of health professions that deliver those services.
• Public Health Workforce Pool: Applications must focus on building evidence related to the financing, governance, organization and/or delivery of the public health workforce in Canada that will result in a stronger and more resilient public health system.
• Rural and Remote Health Workforce Pool: Applications must align with the CRPPHE mandate and address the CAHS priority area of capacity development and support for rural and remote practice.
• Aging Workforce Pool: As the Canadian population continues to age, those working in the healthcare field are aging as well. Applications must address the topic of an aging workforce within the health care system. This pool will prioritize applications that include a focus on ageism towards older health care workers.
• Workforce that Cares for an Aging Population Pool: As the Canadian population continues to age, the number of older adults requiring care will also continue to rise. Applications must address the topic of caring for the aging population within the health care system and advance the funding opportunity objectives. This pool will prioritize applications that include a focus on the racialized workers within the health care workforce.
• Cancer Health Workforce Pool: Applications must align with the ICR mandate and focus on strategies to strengthen the cancer health workforce.
• Equitable, Diverse and Inclusive Health Workforce: Applications must incorporate social science and humanities methodologies to support a strengthened, healthy, resilient, equitable, diverse, and inclusive health workforce. Applications must include social science and humanities researchers on the team.

Evidence Support and Knowledge Mobilization (ESKM) Hub

To support the timely dissemination, exchange, and uptake of evidence into policy and practice, supplemental funding is available for one of the funded ISTs to build an Evidence Support and Knowledge Mobilization (ESKM) Hub. The ESKM Hub will support and amplify the knowledge mobilization (KM) strategies of the funded ISTs, ensure knowledge users' rapid access to evidence, and support knowledge exchange among funded ISTs (including the teams' researchers, decision-makers, and providers), and other relevant knowledge user communities.

Throughout the life cycle of the grants, the ESKM hub will:

• Serve as a health workforce evidence support system that complements the ISTs' KM strategies and activities and amplifies the reach, uptake and ultimate impact of the ISTs' research on policy and practice by means of innovative KM strategies. This will be achieved by accumulating, synthesizing, and disseminating timely evidence appropriately tailored to a wide-ranging audience.
• Use of innovative KM strategies (e.g., rapid evidence response; policy dialogues; inventories of workforce solutions; public engagement forums; support for contextualization of evidence to local context) to develop KM products (e.g., tools, briefs, webpages, online training modules, etc.) that synthesize the workforce challenges addressed, the solutions generated, and the key research findings and impacts (i.e., effectiveness, efficiency and impacts of the solution on strengthening the workforce as a component of the Quadruple Aim and health equity), for relevant knowledge user communities.
• Foster, support, and facilitate networking opportunities for exchange and collaboration between the funded ISTs and other relevant knowledge users (including federal, provincial, and territorial governments; Canada's Committee on Health Workforce; the newly announced Centre of Excellence in Health Workforce Data, pan-Canadian and provincial/territorial health professional associations and unions; clinical and research networks, the public, as appropriate).
• Rapidly mobilise and respond to evidence/impact needs related to health workforce challenges as they emerge at the federal, provincial, territorial, organizational and regional levels. This will be achieved by developing relationships with and engaging with appropriate decision-makers, policy-makers and other knowledges users.
• Coordinate and share rapid response knowledge products across interested funded ISTs and knowledge users, partners, and funders.

Role and Contributions of Applicant Partners: CIHR recognizes that a broad range of partners may be relevant to this opportunity and it is expected that applicant(s) describe the role of all applicant partners and how/if they will contribute to research and research related activities. Any consideration of risk and/or conflict of interest should also be explained, as appropriate.

Funds Available

CIHR and partner(s) financial contributions for this initiative are subject to availability of funds. Should CIHR or partner(s) funding levels not be available or are decreased due to unforeseen circumstances, CIHR and partner(s) reserve the right to reduce, defer or suspend financial contributions to grants received as a result of this funding opportunity.

• The total funds available from CIHR and SSHRC is $10,875,000, enough to fund fourteen (14) Implementation Science Team grants and one (1) Evidence Support and Knowledge Mobilization (ESKM) Hub. This amount may increase if additional funding partners participate.
• Of this $10,875,000:
  • $10,500,000 is available to fund Strengthening the Health Workforce for System Transformation Implementation Science Team grants. The maximum amount per grant is $250,000 per year for up to three (3) years, for a total of $750,000 per grant.
    • $3,000,000 is available to fund four (4) applications relevant to the IHSPR Health Workforce Pool from IHSPR.
    • $750,000 is available to fund one (1) application relevant to the Indigenous Health Workforce Pool from IHSPR.
    • $750,000 is available to fund one (1) application relevant to the Pediatric Workforce Pool from IHSPR and IHDCYH.
    • 1,500,000 is available to fund two (2) applications relevant to the Public Health Workforce Pool from CRPPHE and IPPH.
    • $750,000 is available to fund one (1) application relevant to the Rural and Remote Health Workforce Pool from CRPPHE.
    • $750,000 is available to fund one (1) application relevant to the Aging Workforce Pool from IA.
    • $750,000 is available to fund one (1) application relevant to the Workforce that Cares for an Aging Population Pool from IA.
    • $750,000 is available to fund one (1) application relevant to the Cancer Health Workforce Pool from ICR.
    • $1,500,000 is available to fund two (2) applications relevant to Equitable, Diverse and Inclusive Health Workforce Pool from SSHRC.
  • $375,000 is available from IHSPR to fund the Evidence Support and Knowledge Mobilization (ESKM) Hub.

Partnerships, either in-kind or in cash, to increase the budget available to projects and/or maximize the impact and reach are encouraged but are not mandatory.

Provincial Partner Funding for Implementation Science Team Grants

• Additionally, $375,000 is available from Michael Smith Health Research BC to co-fund relevant applications in any pool. Applications must have substantive involvement in British Columbia, defined as having, at minimum:
  • one Nominated Principal Applicant (NPA) based at a British Columbia based institution; and
  • at least one decision-maker in the Principal Knowledge User (PKU) or Knowledge User (KU) role from a health system organization in British Columbia.
• All of Health Research BC's funds must remain in the province of British Columbia to support the pursuit of the objectives of the funding opportunity.

For more information on the appropriate use of funds, refer to Allowable Costs.

Objectives

The specific objectives of this funding opportunity are:

• Produce evidence on the implementation, evaluation, spread and/or scale of promising equity-focused solutions that strengthen the health workforce as a key component of advancing the Quadruple Aim and health equity.
• Build capacity and catalyze strong, interdisciplinary, and interprofessional research teams working to support a healthy, resilient, diverse, and equitable, health workforce.
• Spark collaborations that build and/or strengthen co-design and partnerships between researchers, the health workforce, and policy and decision-makers with a shared goal in supporting evidence-informed workforce solutions.
• Foster knowledge mobilization to inform timely uptake and maximize impact of the research by identifying effective and sustainable solutions.

Eligibility

Eligibility to Apply

For an application to be eligible, all the requirements stated below must be met:

Implementation Science Team Grants

1. The Nominated Principal Applicant (NPA) must be one of the following:
   1. an independent researcher, affiliated with a Canadian postsecondary institution and/or its affiliated institutions (including hospitals, research institutes and other non-profit organizations with a mandate for health research and/or knowledge translation).
      OR
   2. an individual affiliated with an Indigenous non-governmental organization in Canada with a research and/or knowledge translation mandate.
      OR
   3. an Indigenous non-governmental organization in Canada with a research and/or knowledge translation mandate.
2. The NPA must have their substantive role in Canada for the duration of the requested grant term.
3. The Institution Paid must be authorized to administer CIHR funds before the funding can be released (see Administration of Funds).
4. The core leadership team must include each of the following among its NPA, Principal Knowledge User(s) (PKU), and Principal Applicant(s) (PA), who together will comprise the team's tripartite leadership responsible for co-leading the team:
   1. An Independent researcher who is a scientific lead with expertise in the health workforce.
   2. A Health system decision-maker with the authority to make decisions about the workforce (e.g., planning, development, deployment, retention, support, equity), policies, training, and/or the delivery of health services and is in a position to make significant changes to policy or practice. The individual may be a health-system manager, policy-maker, or clinician-leader who works at the local community, reserve, municipal, regional, provincial, or national level, including First Nations, Inuit, Métis and/or Urban Indigenous communities and governments.

   3. A Health worker who is currently active and practicing care delivery and with experience and/or expertise on the proposed solution(s) and/or relevant research area. The health worker can be of a regulated (e.g., physician, nurse, pharmacist, midwife, social worker, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, etc.) or non-regulated profession (e.g., a personal support worker, allied health professional, essential caregiver, navigator, case manager, health promotion specialist, outreach worker, etc.).

      Note: An individual can represent no more than one (1) role.

5. Each applicant team must include at least one (1) Early Career Researcher (ECR) (as a Principal Applicant or Co-Applicant).
6. Each applicant team must include an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Champion. This individual must have experience in fostering EDI in research and/or applied settings and/or experience in sex- and gender-based analysis (SGBA) or with gender diversity in the community.

7. The NPA* and the EDI Champion(s) must have successfully completed one of the sex- and gender-based analysis training modules available online through the CIHR Institute of Gender and Health and submit a Certificate of Completion. Select and complete the training module most applicable to your project. Applicants are encouraged to review the "How to integrate sex and gender in research" section on the CIHR website. See How to Apply for more details.

   *Organizations as NPAs: For organizations applying as the NPA, a representative of the organization must complete the training module on the organization's behalf.

8. For applications addressing an Indigenous health workforce solution(s), the team must include an NPA, PA(s) and PKU(s) who are Indigenous community-based groups or non-governmental organizations, or individuals who self-identify as Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit or Métis) and/or provide evidence of having meaningful and culturally safe involvement with Indigenous Peoples in order to:
   • Prioritize First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples and communities in leading their research agendas;
   • Promote cultural safety of and appropriate engagement by researchers working with Indigenous Peoples in meaningful ways to ensure that respectful relations are established; and
   • Add value to the research through the use of Indigenous culturally relevant theoretical and conceptual frameworks, and Indigenous culturally appropriate research protocols, including Indigenous methodologies.

Evidence Support and Knowledge Mobilization (ESKM) Hub

1. The NPA must be funded for an Implementation Science Team grant in any pool.

Guidelines

General CIHR Policies

Before submitting an application to this funding opportunity, applicants should review the relevant policies and guidelines on the CIHR Funding Policies page to ensure understanding of their responsibilities and expectations.

Allowable Costs

Applicants are advised to consult the Use of Grant Funds section of the Tri-Agency (CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC) Guide on Financial Administration (TAGFA) to determine if an expenditure is an appropriate use of grant funds.

To further clarify, the following expenses are examples of appropriate uses of grant funds, provided they satisfy the principles and pertinent directives of the TAGFA:

• Release Time Allowance is eligible to be paid from grant funds should it facilitate the participation of knowledge users.
• Cost related to compensation for patient partners (i.e., salary, stipend, honoraria), as outlined in Considerations for Paying Patient Partners in Research.
• Costs related to the translation and preparation of information/material intended for the public for the purposes of informing and engaging stakeholders.
• Expenditures that respect the culture and traditions of Indigenous Peoples, where needed for the meaningful conduct of research. See TCPS 2 - Chapter 9 Research Involving the First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples of Canada and TAGFA Directive on Gifts, Honoraria and Incentives. These include:
  • Costs related to community mobilization and engagement, including culturally relevant promotional items such as, tobacco, cloth, feasting and gift giving for honoring ceremonies, and cash reimbursements (in a method acceptable to the individual or community being reimbursed) to compensate community participation; and
  • Contracts and/or consultant fees for knowledge translation and communication activities for Indigenous Elders, community members, and Indigenous Knowledge Keepers involved in activities related to the Indigenous community.

The following are examples of expenses not eligible to be paid from grant funds, as per TAGFA requirements:

• CIHR funds cannot be used to fund the intervention or the implementation of the intervention.
  • CIHR grant funds should not be used for costs normally associated with the health system. As such, although CIHR funds can be used for the evaluation and context specific adaptation of interventions, they cannot be used for the implementation of existing interventions. This stipulation is designed not only to preserve CIHR dollars for research purposes, but also to encourage sustainability of these interventions once implemented.

Use of Personal Information

• Personal information submitted during the application process, including but not limited to information provided through applicant CVs, the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Self-identification Questionnaire and other application documents required by this FO, will be made available to CIHR personnel for the purposes of future program design and delivery, results measurement and reporting. For further information about the EDI self-identification questionnaire and the use of personal information, see the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Self-identification Questionnaire Frequently Asked Questions.
• The following information submitted to CIHR at the registration stage will be shared with the proposed institution paid for planning purposes: name of the NPA (and other applicants, if provided), application number, title of the proposal and requested budget.
• All reports may be shared with partners supporting the grant (See Conditions of Funding for report details).

Conditions of Funding

• Data related to research by and with First Nations, Inuit, Métis or Urban Indigenous communities whose traditional and ancestral territories are in Canada must be managed in accordance with data management principles developed and approved by those communities, and on the basis of free, prior and informed consent. This includes, but is not limited to, considerations of Indigenous data sovereignty, as well as data collection, ownership, protection, use, and sharing.
• The applicant must consent to the use and disclosure of full application and nominative information at the time of application, for purposes of relevance review and/or funding decisions by the relevant sponsors.
• The research team must plan to actively engage with the ESKM hub and must use a portion of their grant budget to support their engagement with the hub.
• All information intended for the public for the purposes of informing and engaging stakeholders must be provided in both official languages.
• Funded teams will be invited to participate in three virtual meetings hosted by CIHR: an orientation strengthening workshop, a mid-term sharing workshop, and a final knowledge mobilization workshop.
• The Nominated Principal Applicant will be required to submit a brief mid-term report to summarize the progress, emerging outcomes, and their use of funds to date. Requirements for this report will be provided by CIHR.
• The Nominated Principal Applicant will be required to submit a final brief Impact Report to CIHR at the end of the granting period. Requirements for this report will be provided by CIHR.
• The Nominated Principal Applicant will be required to submit an electronic Final Report. This online report will be made available to the Nominated Principal Applicant on ResearchNet at the beginning of the grant funding period and can be filled in as the research progresses.
• The Principal Applicants who are successful in this competition are strongly encouraged to actively participate in peer review, and as members of the CIHR College of Reviewers, when invited.

Review Process and Evaluation

Relevance Review Process

CIHR and sponsors will perform a relevance review to identify applications that are in alignment with the objectives and research area of this funding opportunity.

Applications that are not deemed to be relevant will be withdrawn from the competition.

Review Process

Peer review will be conducted in accordance with the Review guidelines for priority-driven initiatives.

For information on CIHR's peer review principles, see the Peer Review: Overview section of CIHR's website.

Evaluation Criteria

To support the strategic objectives of this funding opportunity, the following evaluation criteria will be used:

Implementation Science Team Grants

1. Research Approach
   1. Extent to which the proposal responds to the objectives and research area of the funding opportunity.
   2. Extent to which the research is original in its approach.
   3. Feasibility, strength and appropriateness of the research approach (design, implementation science methods/approach co-design and knowledge user engagement strategy) in relation to the proposed timeline and budget.
   4. Extent to which the knowledge user(s) is engaged and will be involved throughout the project.
   5. Anticipation of enablers and barriers/difficulties that may be encountered in the research and plans for risk management.
   6. Appropriateness of the applicants' proposed plan for how Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and Indigenous Rights (IR) will be incorporated into the research proposed. Refer to the Best practices in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Research and How to integrate sex and gender into research for additional guidance. This includes incorporation of biological variables (e.g. sex, age) and/or sociocultural identity factors (e.g., gender, race, ethnicity, language) into the research proposed, where applicable. It could also include a commitment to engaging a diverse research team.
   7. Quality and appropriateness of the proposed plan for patient and community engagement.
   8. For applications involving Indigenous Peoples, including those applying to the Indigenous Health Workforce Pool:
      1. Extent to which the proposed project recognizes the rights of Indigenous Peoples and self-determination and self-governance of Indigenous Peoples, such as following the First Nations Principles of OCAP®¹ (Ownership, Control, Access and Possession), or other principles of Indigenous self-determination, as appropriate.
      2. Strength of the plan for Indigenous knowledge translation of project outcomes.
      3. Demonstration of the extent to which the Nominated Principal Applicant will ensure that the research is conducted by, grounded in, or engaged with First Nations, Inuit and/or Métis communities, societies or individuals and their wisdom, cultures, experiences or knowledge systems, as expressed in their dynamic forms, past and present.
2. Research Team
   1. Experience of the applicant(s) in the proposed area of health workforce research, the relevant research areas and/or the proposed solution(s).
   2. Appropriateness of the team to carry out the proposed research in terms of complementarity of expertise and synergistic potential.
   3. Quality and appropriateness of the proposed research capacity building plan and mentoring environment for trainees
   4. Extent to which equity diversity inclusion is promoted within the team composition and capacity building plan.
   5. Relevance and value-add of collaborations and partnerships to the research objectives.
   6. For applications involving Indigenous Peoples, including those applying to the Indigenous Health Workforce Pool:
      1. Appropriateness of the team based on their overall scientific experience (Indigenous, non-Indigenous or both) and skills, as well as their Indigenous community-based research experience, track record, relevance of past experience, including expertise related to Indigenous living and care experience(s).
3. Environment for the Research
   1. Availability, suitability, and accessibility of the environment, personnel, facilities, and infrastructure required to conduct proposed activities.
   2. Extent to which the environment provides high quality, training, mentorship, and considers/advances equity, diversity, and inclusion of the research team (including research trainees, early career researchers, workforce personnel and decision-makers).
4. Impact of the Research
   1. Potential of the solution to strengthen the health workforce (individuals, networks, and/or infrastructure) and improve one or more of the Quadruple Aim goals and health equity in one or more research areas of this funding opportunity through the evaluation, implementation, uptake and/or scalability of a workforce solution(s).
   2. Potential to advance the field of health workforce research, including sparking/strengthening collaborations and partnerships in this field.
   3. Potential for the proposal to have sustained impact within and beyond the term of the funding opportunity. This includes potential for spread/scale (share) to reach new regions, populations and contexts, and/or the potential to improve the status quo of health care in Canada.
   4. Potential in advancing Learning Health Systems, complexity science, patient-oriented research, and/or knowledge mobilization (as appropriate).
   5. Potential for the team's rapid response research to meet the urgent health workforce evidence needs identified by the team's knowledge users (policy-makers, health workers, and/or patients).
   6. Extent of the role(s) and contribution(s) of all applicant partner(s) in advancing research objectives (if applicable).
   7. Proactive and meaningful consideration of partnership risks, including the extent of real and/or perceived conflict of interest and appropriateness of its management and mitigation (if applicable).

Evidence Support and Knowledge Mobilization (ESKM) Hub (if applicable)

A distinct review process will be conducted in parallel to evaluate the subset of teams applying to lead the Evidence Support and Knowledge Mobilization (ESKM) Hub, using the following criteria:

1. Potential of the proposal to achieve the objectives of the ESKM Hub.
2. Appropriateness, expertise, and experience of the applicant team to achieve the objectives of the ESKM Hub.
3. Appropriateness and strength of the team's plan to support and engage all workforce IST teams and their team members in the knowledge mobilization and rapid response research activities (as appropriate).
4. Quality and appropriateness of the proposed stakeholder engagement plan.
5. Extent to which the proposed ESKM Hub activities complements and/or builds on and adds value to the overall funding opportunity objectives.

Funding Decision

Implementation Science Team grant applications relevant to each pool will be funded from the top down in order of ranking.

The successful IST that receives the highest score for the ESKM Hub based on the distinct Evaluation Criteria will be funded.

The names of successfully funded applicants will be published on the CIHR website.

Partner and Internal Collaborator Participation

The opportunity to add new partners and internal collaborators to this funding opportunity may arise after publication. These partners and internal collaborators may not be listed; however, the principles that govern relevance review, including consent to share information and funding decisions, will still apply.

How to Apply

• The application process for this funding opportunity is comprised of two steps: Registration and Full Application. All requirements, unless otherwise specified, are for Implementation Science Team Grants. Applicants interested in applying for the ESKM Hub in addition to their team grant must self-identify their interest by completing the additional requirements.
• To complete your Registration and Full Application, follow the instructions in the Team Grants / Emerging Team Grants – ResearchNet "Application" Phase Instructions along with any additional instructions found below under "Specific Instructions". Note that a Registration must be submitted to be eligible to submit a full application.
• All application participants listed, with the exception of Collaborators, will:
  • Require a CIHR PIN;
  • Need to complete the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Self-identification Questionnaire.
• Organizations applying as Nominated Principal Applicants for the first time must contact CIHR's Contact Centre for guidance in creating a ResearchNet account and registering for a CIHR PIN.

Specific instructions to complete your ResearchNet Application

Step 1 – Registration

Task: Identify Participants

• List all known project participants in the "Identify Participants" task. The team's tripartite leadership must be identified in this task (see Eligibility section for details).
• The tripartite leadership should remain unchanged between Registration and Application. Other participants can be added, removed, or change roles between the two steps.
• CVs are not required at the registration stage.

Task: Enter Proposal

• This task collects information related to the research project. Complete the Overview, Details, and Descriptors sections.
• A Research Proposal is not required at this stage.

Task: Complete Summary of Research Proposal

• Summarize your research proposal (1 page). The summary must include a description of how your proposal aligns with the objectives of this funding opportunity and up to three (3) research areas. Additionally, the summary may be used to find reviewers with the expertise required to assess the proposal.
• ESKM Hub (mandatory): If you are interested in applying for the ESKM Hub, you must indicate this clearly. Note: A summary of the Hub is not required in this task.

Task: Complete Peer Review Administration Information

• This task collects information used for the purpose of peer review administration and aids CIHR in recruiting appropriate expertise.
• Suggest reviewers that you think have the expertise to review your application. CIHR reserves the right to make the final selection of reviewers. You should not suggest reviewers in conflict of interest. Consult the Conflict of Interest and Confidentiality Agreement for Peer Reviewers and Peer Review Observers on the CIHR website for more information.
• CIHR reserves the right to make the final selection of reviewers.

Task: Apply to Priority Announcements/Funding Pools

• Identify Research Area(s):
  • Select the funding opportunity title under the "Priority Announcement/Funding Pool Title" drop-down list, then select the Research Area under the "List of Relevant Research Areas" drop-down list.
  • Select up to three (3) Research Areas for your application.
  • It is not necessary to make a selection to be considered for the IHSPR Health Workforce Pool.
• Complete the Relevancy:
  • For each selection, describe (in a half-page) how the research proposed will address the relevant research area.

Task: Manage Access (optional)

Step 2 – Application

Task: Identify Participants

• List all participants in the "Identify Participants" task. Consult the Eligibility section and ensure that all requirements are met. All participants, including partners, must also be listed in the Participant Table under the task "Attach Other Application Materials" below.
• All participants are required to submit a CV (excluding Collaborators).
  • All Canadian academic applicants are required to submit a CIHR Biosketch CV;
  • Knowledge users, non-academics, Indigenous organizations, and international applicants are required to submit a CIHR Biosketch CV or an Applicant Profile CV (maximum three pages per applicant);
  • NPA categories with an Indigenous non-governmental organization as an eligibility requirement must include in their Applicant Profile CV a description of the organization and how it meets the eligibility requirement of being an Indigenous non-governmental organization with a research or knowledge translation mandate; and
  • Knowledge user(s) with relevant lived experience or expertise: Key participants that fall into this stakeholder group must include in their Applicant Profile CV a description of their relevant lived experiences in the context of the application.
• Submit Biosketch CVs using the Canadian Common CV (CCV) interface. Submit Applicant Profile CVs by uploading in the "Attachment" tab.

Task: Enter Proposal Information

• The Research Proposal must clearly outline each of the elements presented in the evaluation criteria and ensure relevance (see research areas) to the selected research area(s). Applicants are encouraged to use the evaluation criteria headings (e.g., Research Approach, Research Team, Environment for the Research, Impact of the Research) in their proposal.

  Note: the proposal must clearly describe the evidence-informed solution of focus for implementation and the existing evidence base supporting its effectiveness (i.e., this funding opportunity does not support the development of new or pilot interventions).

  • Research proposals written in French will be allowed to submit additional pages, in support of evidence demonstrating that French documents require approximately 20% more space than similar English documents. Therefore, to ensure equivalent space is given to Research proposals submitted in either official language, the following page limits will apply:

    • 10 pages for research proposals written in English;
    • 12 pages for research proposals written in French

    Note: Any content in excess of the page limit set for the language in which the application is written will be removed without further notice to the Nominated Principal Applicant.

• References, charts, tables, figures and photographs can be uploaded under "Attachments – Research Proposal Appendix".

Task: Complete Summary of Research Proposal

• Summarize your research proposal (1 page). The summary must include a description of how your proposal aligns with the objectives of this funding opportunity and up to three (3) research areas.
• Do not indicate your interest in the ESKM Hub here. At the Full Application stage, interest in the ESKM Hub is indicated in a separate document under Task: Attach Other Application Materials, below.

Task: Enter Budget Information

• Provide a detailed budget justification in relation to planned activities and clearly justify all budget items (including cash and cash equivalent contributions, if relevant).
• The budget must include funds to support their engagement with the ESKM hub (see Conditions of Funding).
• For release time allowance requests, you must include a letter (upload as "Other Supporting Documents" and label each as "Release Time Allowance – Recipient's Name") from the recipient's organization certifying that the individual for whom the release time allowance is requested:
  • Is a knowledge user on the grant whose primary responsibilities do not include an expectation to engage in research (i.e., as part of their regular employment);
  • Has their organization's approval for the research time on the project that would justify the allowance; and
  • Is engaged in the activities for which funds are being disbursed.

Task: Attach Other Application Materials

• Letters of support – label each as "Letter of Support – Name" and upload individually (mandatory):
  • Provide signed letters from each of the tripartite leadership team and all primary knowledge users. All letters must be uploaded individually.
  • Please refer to the CIHR examples of details to be provided in letters of support.
• Other – attach the following under "Other":
  • Label as "SGBA Certificate – Name/Organization" (mandatory):
    • The NPA and the EDI Champion(s) must each provide a Certificate of Completion for one of the sex- and gender- based analysis training modules.
    • Download the PDF Certificate and upload the PDF (or Print Screen jpg) here for each team member and upload individually.
  • Label as "Patient Engagement Plan" (mandatory):
    • The plan must align with the Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR) Patient Engagement Framework and describe the mechanisms and related budget to support and enable patient/caregiver/family member/community engagement throughout the project.
  • Label as "Capacity-Building Plan" (mandatory):
    • Teams must include a one (1) page recruitment plan describing how they will recruit and mentor trainees. The plan should also describe the team's commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) considerations and/or consider appropriate representation of groups historically underrepresented in science (including but not limited to those marginalized by gender, Indigenous Peoples, communities impacted by racism, persons with disabilities, and members of LGBTQ2S+ communities, rural and remote regions), and a diversity of experiences, within the research team.
  • Label as "Data Management Plan" (Mandatory):
    • The data management plan (DMP) should describe how the team will manage research data generated as part of its activities.
    • DMPs should describe what data are expected to be collected, created, linked to, acquired or recorded; how data will be documented, formatted, protected, and preserved; where data will be deposited, who will be responsible for managing the data, whether and how data will be shared within and outside of the funded team/project; and any ethical, legal and commercial constraints the data are subject to (if applicable).
    • Applicants are encouraged to use DMP Assistant to create their DMPs.
    • There is no prescribed length for DMPs – however, applicants are encouraged to keep them succinct and focused, ideally within two pages if possible. Important note: see Additional Information for more details on DMPs.
  • Label as "Conflict of Interest Considerations" (mandatory):
    • To support the proposal, upload a one (1) page document outlining applicant and participant conflict of interest considerations (both real and perceived) with the proposed Health Workforce for System Transformation Team Grant for peer review consideration. This should include current or previous relationships with private or public organization(s) that have the potential to impact the team and proposed mitigation approaches as appropriate.
  • Label as "Applicant Partner COI Document" (required if applicable): Describe the role of all applicant partners, how/if they will contribute to research and research related activities, and any consideration of risk and/or conflict of interest as appropriate (Maximum 1-page).
  • Label as "Indigenous Experience – Name/Organization" (mandatory if applicable):
    • For any research applications involving Indigenous Peoples (First Nations, Inuit and/or Métis), this funding opportunity seeks applicants who self-identify as Indigenous and/or demonstrates a track record of meaningful and culturally safe involvement with Indigenous Peoples. Attach a one (1) page "Other" attachment describing how they meet this requirement.
  • ESKM Hub (mandatory): Label as "ESKM Hub":
    • Teams interested in taking on the ESKM Hub should provide a two-page document describing their project. See the ESKM Hub evaluation criteria for more details.
    • Teams must include a description of how they will support and amplify the knowledge mobilization (KM) strategies of the funded teams, the additional innovative KM strategies that will be used, the KM products that will be developed, and how they will rapidly mobilize evidence needs from the federal, provincial, territorial, and organizational levels to ensure timely dissemination, exchange, and uptake of evidence into policy and practice.
    • Teams must include a stakeholder engagement plan describing how the team will support and facilitate networking opportunities for exchange and collaboration between the funded research teams and other relevant knowledge users.
• Participant Table (mandatory):
  • This table will be used for eligibility assessment. In a table format with column headers matching the bolded titles below, provide the following information about all applicant team members:
    • Participant first and last name or name of the organization (as applicable);
    • Role of participant on the application (e.g., NPA, Principal Applicant, Principal Knowledge User, Co-Applicant, Knowledge User, Collaborator);
    • Participant type(s) (e.g., researcher [Early-, Mid-, or Senior Career Researcher, trainee], decision maker, provider, PWLE, knowledge user, participant who self-identifies as Indigenous (First Nations, Métis or Inuit) or provides evidence of having meaningful and culturally safe involvement with Indigenous communities, participant affiliated with a First Nations, Inuit or Métis and/or Urban Indigenous communities or organization, Indigenous organization, Indigenous Elder or Knowledge Keeper);
      • Clearly identify the tripartite leadership team:
        • Researcher:
        • Decision maker or Policy maker; and
        • Health care provider.
      • Clearly identify the EDI champion.
    • Primary affiliation, host institution/organization, where appropriate; and
    • Expertise and credentials each brings to the project, particularly in relation to the funding opportunity objectives and core IST design elements.
• Letters of collaboration – label each as "Letter of Collaboration – Name" and upload individually (optional):
  • Provide any letters from all Collaborators who are expected to make a significant contribution, confirming their commitment to participate in the manner indicated.

Reminder: reviewers are under no obligation to read the attached materials that are not mandatory attachments. Should reviewers decide to consult the attachments, they must declare it in their reviews and at the committee meeting. This allows both the applicant and other peer reviewers to be aware that the information contained in the optional attachments contributed to the evaluation of the application.

Task: Identify Application Partners (optional) – Upload Partner Information

• A "Partnership Details" form must be submitted for each partner providing cash and/or cash equivalent contributions.
• For each partner, upload a signed "Partner Letter" describing their role, activities, authorities, accountabilities and contributions (including intellectual, financial [cash or cash equivalent] and other resources).

Task: Peer Review Administration Information (optional)

• This task collects information used for the purpose of peer review administration and aids CIHR in recruiting appropriate expertise.
• Suggest reviewers that you think have the expertise to review your application. CIHR reserves the right to make the final selection of reviewers. You should not suggest reviewers in conflict of interest. Consult the Conflict of Interest and Confidentiality Agreement for Peer Reviewers and Peer Review Observers on the CIHR website for more information.
• CIHR reserves the right to make the final selection of reviewers.

Task: Apply to Priority Announcements/Funding Pools

• Identify Research Area(s):
  • Select the funding opportunity title under the "Priority Announcement/Funding Pool Title" drop-down list, then select the Research Area under the "List of Relevant Research Areas" drop-down list.
  • Select up to three (3) Research Areas for your application.
  • It is not necessary to make a selection to be considered for the IHSPR Health Workforce Pool.
• Complete the Relevancy:
  • For each selection, describe (in a half-page) how the research proposed will address the relevant research area.

Task: Manage Access (optional)

Task: Print Signature Pages

• Signature Requirements:
  • Signature of the Nominated Principal Applicant is not required for applications submitted through ResearchNet.
  • Signatures must be included for all other applicants (except Collaborators), and individual(s) with signing authority from the Institution Paid.
  • Original signatures are not required. The scanned signed signature pages and the Routing Slip must be uploaded in the Print/Upload Signature Pages task in ResearchNet prior to submitting your application.

Contact Information

For all inquiries, please contact:

CIHR Contact Centre
Telephone: 613-954-1968
Toll Free: 1-888-603-4178
Email: support-soutien@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

For service hours, please consult our Contact us page.

Sponsor Description

Note: Additional partners/internal collaborators, including from industry and the private sector, may join this funding initiative over the coming year.

Partners

Michael Smith Health Research BC
Michael Smith Health Research BC is British Columbia's health research agency. We are working towards a future where BC is recognized worldwide for its vibrant, coherent, inclusive, and globally competitive health research system, which improves the health of British Columbians, the health system, and the economy.

Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)
The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) is the federal research funding agency that promotes and supports research and training in the humanities and social sciences.

Internal Collaborators

Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
At the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), we know that research has the power to change lives. As Canada's health research investment agency, we collaborate with partners and researchers to support the discoveries and innovations that improve our health and strengthen our health care system.

CIHR – Institute of Aging (IA)
The Institute of Aging's mandate is the aging person in an aging society, and the effects of different diseases and conditions on aging. Its goal is to improve the quality of life and health of older Canadians by understanding and addressing or preventing the consequences of a wide range of factors associated with aging.

CIHR – Institute of Cancer Research (ICR)
ICR is dedicated to supporting research that reduces the burden of cancer on individuals and families through prevention strategies, screening, diagnosis, effective treatment, psycho-social support systems, and palliation.

CIHR – Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health (IHDCYH)
The Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health (IHDCYH) supports research that ensures the best start in life for all Canadians and the achievement of their potential for optimal growth and development.

CIHR – Institute of Health Services and Policy Research (IHSPR)
The Institute of Health Services and Policy Research (IHSPR) is dedicated to supporting innovative research, capacity-building and knowledge translation initiatives designed to improve the way health care services are organized, regulated, managed, financed, paid for, used and delivered, in the interest of improving the health and quality of life of all Canadians.

CIHR – Institute of Population and Public Health (IPPH)
The mandate of the Institute of Population and Public Health (IPPH) is to support research into the complex biological, social, cultural and environmental interactions that determine the health of individuals, communities and global populations; and to apply knowledge to improve the health of individuals and populations through strategic partnerships with population and public health stakeholders and innovative research funding programs. IPPH's mission aims to improve the health of populations and promote health equity in Canada and globally through research and its application to policies, programs, and practice in public health and other sectors.

Centre for Research on Pandemic Preparedness and Health Emergencies (CRPPHE)
The mission of the Centre for Research on Pandemic Preparedness and Health Emergencies (CRPPHE) is to protect the health of all Canadians by developing and mobilizing research for pandemic and health emergency preparedness, prevention, response, and recovery that contributes meaningfully to timely, equitable and effective responses and recovery.

Additional Information

Administration of Funds
Funds will only be released to the institution or organization identified as the Institution Paid. If the Institution Paid is not already authorized to administer CIHR funds, for the duration of the grant term, it may be required to undergo a financial and eligibility review and sign a funding agreement, or the successful applicant may choose to have their funds administered by a CIHR eligible institution. Please contact the Contact Centre to enquire about the process.

Quadruple Aim

The Quadruple Aim is a framework to guide the redesign of health care systems and the transition to population health that is centered on four overarching goals: improved population health outcomes, improved care and patient experience, improved provider satisfaction, and lower costs / better value.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Champion

The champion can take on roles as an educator, mentor, consultant, facilitator, advocate, co-investigator or principal applicant. In each role, champions are responsible for promoting and integrating EDI considerations throughout the duration of the research project.

The list below provides examples of the types of activities champions may engage in. This list is not exhaustive or prescriptive; rather, it is intended to provide guidance for the inclusion of champions.

• Promote the value of EDI, especially as it relates to fostering and strengthening training environments;
• Provide advice and guidance to the team on how best to take EDI into account in planning and procedures;
• Facilitate discussion of EDI, including providing resources on historical EDI issues and sharing new findings and innovations;
• Ensure there is education and outreach to promote and sustain an inclusive and diverse research environment within the team;
• Provide EDI resources (such as a toolbox of strategies for advancing EDI and for responding to resistance to EDI considerations);
• Identify resources and EDI training opportunities for the team to better understand the needs and realities of members of underrepresented groups; and
• Lead/support the development of an approach for considerations of EDI in research activities.

Implementation Science

Implementation Science (IS) is defined as the scientific study of the methods and strategies used to implement evidence-informed policies and interventions into routine health care in clinical, organizational, or policy contexts. One of the biggest challenges in applied health services and policy research is implementing evidence-informed interventions into policy and practice, particularly when the contexts and settings for implementation differ. IS learns from real-world experience and generates insight on how best to adapt an intervention for successful implementation in different regions, conditions, populations and/or contexts. Essentially, IS seeks to answer the question using rigorous and pragmatic scientific methods: 'what works for whom, under which circumstances, and why does it succeed or fail²?'

Knowledge Keeper

A Knowledge Keeper (also known as a Knowledge Holder or Knowledge Guardian) is an Indigenous person, regardless of age, who possesses the Indigenous cultural knowledge necessary for the proposed research project or activities, as recognized, validated, and authenticated by the Indigenous community.

Learning Health Systems

Often used as a key strategy to improve value-based health care, learning health systems aim to leverage advancements in science, technology and practice to improve health system performance at a reduced cost³.

Patient-Oriented Research

Patient-oriented research (POR) is foundational to evidence-informed health care, refers to a continuum of research that engages patients as partners, focusses on patient-identified priorities and improves patient outcomes. This research, conducted by multidisciplinary teams in partnership with relevant stakeholders, aims to apply the knowledge generated to improve healthcare systems and practices.

Data Management Plan

A data management plan (DMP) is a formal document that details the strategies and tools you will implement to effectively manage your data both during your research project and after its completion. DMPs contribute to:

• Efficiency - identify strategies and potential challenges in advance; develop sound data practices for your research team; prepare data for effective use during your project.
• Research Quality - ensure reliability and accuracy of data through careful documentation of your data collection, handling and stewardship practices.
• Reusability and Impact - improve discoverability, accessibility, and reusability of your data by planning for sharing in a repository; and increase the potential impact of your research.

For more information on research data management and DMPs, visit the Frequently Asked Questions of the Tri-Agency Research Data Management Policy, and the Training Resources page of the Digital Research Alliance of Canada.

DMP Assistant is a national, online, bilingual data management planning tool developed by the Digital Research Alliance of Canada in collaboration with host institution University of Alberta to assist researchers in preparing DMPs. This tool is freely available to all researchers, and develops a DMP through a series of key data management questions, supported by best-practice guidance and examples.

If using DMP Assistant to create their DMPs, when asked to choose a template applicants should select "Portage Template" or, if applicable, their institution's customized version of the Portage Template. There is no prescribed length for DMPs – however, applicants are encouraged to keep them succinct and focused, ideally within two pages if possible. Questions about using DMP Assistant should be directed to the DMP Assistant support.

Should you have any questions or concerns about this pilot activity, please contact our Research Data Management team.

References

1. OCAP® is a registered trademark of the First Nations Information Governance Centre (FNIGC).
2. M. S. Bauer, L. Damschroder, H. Hagedorn, J. Smith and A. M. Kilbourne, "An introduction to implementation science for the non-specialist," BMC Psychology, vol. 3, no. 1, 2015. Accessed March 26, 2023.
3. M. Menear, M.-A. Blanchette, O. Demers-Payette and D. Roy, "A framework for value-creating learning health systems," BMC Health Research Policy and Systems, vol. 17, no. 79, 2019.