ResearchNet - RechercheNet

Table of Contents

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

Description

CIHR is launching this funding opportunity (FO) to support the development of knowledge syntheses, using an equity, diversity and inclusion lens, to assess the current state of knowledge and evidence base, and identify strengths and gaps in research areas related to the promotion of brain health and risk reduction for age-related cognitive impairment. This will include a specific focus on knowledge mobilization practices throughout the research process to increase the usefulness and uptake of findings to relevant stakeholders, including partners and knowledge users, as well as the creation of culturally appropriate, equitable and inclusive targeted knowledge mobilization (KM) products.

There are currently no disease-modifying therapeutics that delay the onset of cognitive impairment and dementia or that alter the disease course. In the absence of these treatments, pro-active interventions that reduce the risk of disease onset or delay its progression could have a profound effect on prevalence and severity of these disorders, with an enormous impact on public health.

In addition, higher rates of dementia for Indigenous Peoples compared to non-Indigenous Peoples have been reported¹. Recognizing that First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples lived/living experiences vary, relatively little is known about the distinctions-based impacts that dementia has in Indigenous populations and/or how to provide culturally appropriate care of those impacted.

Research Areas

This FO will support projects relevant to the objectives and any of the following research areas that include, but are not limited to:

• Protective and modifiable risk factors and the role of cognitive reserve in promoting brain health in aging, including factors that contribute across the life course.
• Mechanisms of resilience or cognitive reserve (see Additional Information) that can underlie healthy brain aging and/or mitigate risk for cognitive impairment.
• Risk reduction in factors that contribute to the development of cognitive impairment: modifiable risk factors and interventions that can delay the onset or slow disease progression. These can include common risk factors with metabolic disorders, cardiovascular disease, rare diseases, other co-morbidities, sleep disturbances or inflammaging.
• Differing pathophysiology underlying cognitive health, for example individuals with positive β-amyloid and/or tau biomarkers, but normal cognition, or individuals that revert from mild cognitive impairment to normal or near-normal cognitive function.
• Genetic and epigenetic risks factors underlying neurodegeneration and cognitive decline.

In addition, within this FO, there are eight (8) specific funding pools dedicated to funding projects relevant to:

• Lifestyle Approaches to reduce the risk of neurodegenerative diseases of aging (LAR): Focusing on specific lifestyle approaches to reduce the risk of neurodegenerative diseases of aging.
• Indigenous Health Research (IHR): Focusing on either:
  •  Intersection of increased health risk factors for dementia in Indigenous Peoples with responses to risk reduction paradigms; or,
  • Indigenous caregiving knowledge and applications for cognitive and mental health in aging.
• Historically Excluded Populations (HEP): Focusing on historically excluded populations, including but not limited to: those marginalized by gender, people who experience racism, people with disabilities, members of 2SLGBTQI+ communities and those at the intersection of multiple communities (refer to Additional Information for details).
• Sex and Gender Differences (SGD): Focusing on sex and gender differences including the intersection of multiple identity factors.
• Vascular Cognitive Impairment (VCI): Focusing on protective and/or modifiable risk factors related to vascular cognitive impairment.
• Dementia Genetic Factors (DGF): Focusing on rare forms of dementia linked to genetic factors.
• Sexually Transmitted and Blood Borne Infections (STBBI): Focusing on better understanding cognitive impairment in people with STBBI including HIV/AIDS. Applications focused on Key Populations identified in the CIHR HIV/AIDS Research Initiative: Strategic Plan (2022-2027) are encouraged.
• Caregivers and Care Providers and Aging with Neurodiversity (CAN): Focusing on either:
  • Caregiving as a social determinant of healthy brain aging;
  • Effects of caregiving on brain and mental health in preservation of autonomy, aging in place, and/or in long-term care;
  • Short and long-term health risks and benefits for caregivers of people with age-related dementia;
  • Novel caregiver-focused approaches and interventions that enable aging in place for people with and without pre-existing disabilities;
  • Defining the determinants of healthy brain aging for neurodivergent people; or,
  • Healthcare, community-based and/or caregiver interventions for cognitive and mental health for neurodivergent people, including prevention, diagnosis and risk management.

Knowledge syntheses may integrate results from qualitative, quantitative or mixed methods research.

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 amount available for this funding opportunity is $2.0M, enough to fund approximately twenty (20) grants. This amount may increase if additional funding partners participate. The maximum amount per grant is $100,000 per year, for one (1) year.
• Of this $2.0M:
  • $600,000 is available in any relevant research area to fund up to six (6) projects;
  • $300,000 is available from the Lifestyle Approaches to reduce risk pool to fund up to three (3) projects;
  • $200,000 is available from the Indigenous Health Research pool to fund up to two (2) projects;
  • $200,000 is available from the Historically Excluded Populations pool to fund up to two (2) projects;
  • $200,000 is available from Vascular Cognitive Impairment pool to fund up to two (2) projects;
  • $ 200,000 is available from the Caregivers and Care Providers and Aging with Neurodiversity pool to fund up to two (2) projects;
  • $100,000 is available from the Sex and Gender Differences pool to fund one (1) project;
  • $100,000 is available from the Dementia Genetic Factors pool to fund one (1) project; and,
  • $100,000 is available from the Sexually Transmitted and Blood Borne Infections (STBBI) pool to fund one (1) project.

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

Objectives

The goals of this funding opportunity are to summarize current evidence-based knowledge in Canada, to identify areas of research strengths and gaps and to mobilize this knowledge for dissemination to relevant stakeholders.

The objectives of this funding opportunity are to:

• Generate knowledge syntheses that will identify evidence-gaps and build evidence-based knowledge related to the promotion of brain health and reduction of risk for age-related cognitive impairment;
• Mobilize knowledge on the current state of science that is relevant, equitable and accessible (i.e., that identifies the current state of knowledge and gaps and is communicated effectively); and,
• Strengthen research excellence and ensure maximum research impact through consideration of diverse biological and/or socio-cultural identity factors in research design, including diverse, equitable and inclusive research methods, such as those based in Indigenous ways of knowing.

The specific objectives of the knowledge mobilization component are to:

• Enhance a common understanding between stakeholders on promotion of brain health and risk reduction for age-related cognitive impairment;
• Generate accessible KM products for dissemination that are tailored to relevant stakeholders based on the knowledge synthesis and includes equity, diversity and inclusion and Indigenous rights considerations, as appropriate;
• Foster collaboration and partnerships between stakeholders; and,
• Increase usefulness and relevant uptake of evidence/knowledge by stakeholders, including partners and knowledge users.

Knowledge Mobilization

Applications must include a plan for KM activities and products showcasing the main research results and will provide details on considerations such as EDI and Indigenous Rights within the KM approach, as applicable. Meaningful engagement with knowledge users (including people with lived/living experience [PWLE]), should inform approaches to KM and KM products to ensure culturally safe engagement and KM product development, as well as relevance of findings to end users.

Successful grantees will be expected to participate in a virtual CIHR-led KM Forum at the end of the grant that will bring together researchers, funding partners, knowledge users (including policy and decision makers) and any other key stakeholders, to share learnings from knowledge syntheses to support a dynamic learning health system on the promotion of brain health and reduction of risk for age-related cognitive impairment in aging.

KM Products

Successful grantees are expected to develop the following KM products based on their knowledge synthesis:

• An evidence summary of 1-2 pages within 9 months of funding; and,
• A minimum of one (1) knowledge product by the end of the grant term (e.g., infographics, toolkits, videos, policy briefs) that are tailored to their primary audience(s). Culturally safe and appropriate materials, as well as inclusion of Indigenous communities and other historically excluded groups should be considered within the KM plan and products, as applicable. The use of plain language and a format that is accessible to the target audience is encouraged.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)

This FO will promote and embrace equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in research design and practices (e.g., knowledge synthesis approaches), as appropriate, and in the research environment, including the composition of the research team, consistent with CIHR's position on EDI available in the Tri-Agency Statement on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. Refer to Additional Information for more details.

Indigenous Peoples Rights

CIHR recognizes that First Nations, Métis and Inuit are rights-holding as First Peoples of Canada and may not consider themselves to be part of equity-seeking groups (e.g., women, racialized minorities, persons with disabilities and members of 2SLGBTQI+ communities). This FO supports rights and distinctions-based approaches to Indigenous self-determination in research to reflect this position and to strengthen Indigenous health and well-being, such as data management principles. CIHR's commitment to supporting Indigenous self-determination in health research is available in the CIHR Strategic Plan 2021–2031 and the Action Plan: Building a healthier future for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples.

Eligibility

Eligibility to Apply

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

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 (individual) 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 (for more information see Administration of Funds).
4. The Research Team must include each of the following roles. Note that an individual can fulfill multiple roles.
   1. A Knowledge User (KU) as Principal Applicant, or Co-Applicant.
   2. A PWLE as Co-Applicant, or Collaborator.
5. Any research involving Indigenous Peoples, including those applying to the Indigenous Health Research pool must include at least one applicant (NPA or PA) who self-identifies as Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit or Métis) and/or provides evidence of the capacity and experience to work with Indigenous Peoples and communities in a meaningful and culturally safe way (see How to Apply for more details).
6. The NPA 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 have submitted a Certificate of Completion (see How to Apply).
   • Organizations as NPAs: For organizations applying as the NPA, a representative of the organization must complete the training module on the organization's behalf.
7. An applicant can only submit one application as an NPA but can participate in any number of applications in other applicant roles.

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:

• Patient partner compensation is an allowable cost. Patient partners (including patients/PWLE/families, caregivers and care providers) should be offered compensation for their time which helps make participation in research more equitable and diverse by removing barriers to participate. Please refer to these considerations when compensating patient partners in research.
• Costs associated with collaboration, planning, communication, and KM activities. This includes costs involved in linkage with and dissemination of research findings to those who use the results, including other researchers, knowledge users, government representatives, and relevant occupational/industrial sector players, as well as the development of KM products.
• 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.

For this funding opportunity only, the following statement(s) apply:

• Release Time Allowance: Up to $25,000 per knowledge user who meet TAGFA compensation requirements, per grant.

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 Nominated Principal Applicant may be required to sign a grant agreement if required by a sponsoring partner.
• The Nominated Principal Applicant will be required to submit an electronic Final Report to CIHR. 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.
• The NPA will be expected to attend a virtual CIHR-led KM Forum at the end of the grant term.

Review Process and Evaluation

Relevance Review Process

CIHR and its partners will perform a relevance review to identify applications that are in alignment with the objectives and research areas 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 priority-driven initiatives review guidelines.

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

1. Research Approach
   1. Extent to which the project responds to the objectives of the funding opportunity.
   2. Extent to which the approaches to knowledge syntheses are clear, appropriate and rigorous.
   3. Quality and appropriateness of Sex and Gender Based Analysis in the proposal and, if applicable, approaches to considerations of the role of the determinants of health, including social, cultural, environmental, structural, and biological determinants.
   4. Quality, appropriateness, and availability of data to be used, and rationale for its use.
   5. For research projects involving First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples:
      1. The extent to which the proposed project recognizes the rights of Indigenous Peoples and Indigenous self-determination and self-governance, of Indigenous Peoples, such as following the First Nations Principles of OCAP®² (Ownership, Control, Access and Possession), or other principles of Indigenous self-determination, as appropriate.
      2. Extent to which the application aligns with CIHR's definition of Indigenous Health Research and Meaningful and Culturally Safe Health Research and abides by the Tri-Council Policy Statement Chapter 9: Research Involving the First Nations, Inuit and Metis Peoples of Canada.
      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 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. Appropriateness of team members' expertise in knowledge synthesis and mobilization, including expertise in the content area covered by the analysis.
   2. For research projects involving First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples:
      1. The extent to which the overall research team has the necessary knowledge, expertise and experience in Indigenous health research, and complementarity of expertise and synergistic potential to conduct Indigenous health research.
      2. Evidence of the capacity and experience of the research team to work in Indigenous communities in a meaningful and culturally safe way.
3. Impact of the Research
   1. Potential of the project outcomes to inform and/or have a substantive and sustainable impact on policies, practices and/or programs.
   2. Clarity and appropriateness of the anticipated outcomes and impacts.
   3. Extent of the role(s) and contribution(s) of all applicant partner(s) in advancing research objectives (if applicable).
   4. 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).
4. Knowledge Mobilization
   1. Quality and appropriateness of the proposed KM plan, including evidence of meaningful engagement of participating KU(s) (including PWLE) throughout the research process.
   2. Quality and appropriateness of the proposed KM products.

Funding Decision

Applications relevant to each pool will be funded top down in order of ranking. Remaining applications in the competition will be pooled together and funded in rank order.

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.
• To complete your Registration and Full Application, follow the "Specific Instructions" listed below and where applicable, consult the Grants – Application Guidelines . Please note that not all of the tasks listed are required. Note that a Registration must be submitted to be eligible to submit a full application.
• All participants listed, with the exception of Collaborators, are required to:
  • Have/obtain a CIHR PIN
  • 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 Nominated Principal Applicant must remain unchanged between Registration and Application. Other participants can be added, removed, or change roles between Registration and Application.
• CVs are not required at registration stage.

Task: Enter Proposal Information

• 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). Please note that this document may be used for relevance review. Additionally, the summary may be used to find reviewers with the expertise required to assess the proposal.

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 Canadian and/or international 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.

Task: Apply to Priority Announcements/Funding Pools (optional)

• Selecting a funding pool is optional.
• Select the funding opportunity title under the "Priority Announcement/Funding Pool Title' drop-down list, then select the funding pool(s) under the "List of Relevant Research Areas" drop-down list.
• More than one funding pool can be selected (up to three).

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 are required to submit a CV (excluding collaborators).
  • All Canadian academic applicants are required to upload a CIHR Biosketch CV.
  • Knowledge users, non-academics, Indigenous organizations, and international applicants have the option to submit either a CIHR Biosketch CV or Applicant Profile CV (maximum three pages per applicant).
  • Indigenous non-governmental organizations and individuals affiliated with them applying as an NPA (see NPA types 1b and 1c) must include in their Applicant Profile CV, how it meets the eligibility requirement of being an Indigenous non-governmental organization with a research or knowledge translation mandate.
  • Submit Biosketch CVs using the Canadian Common CV (CCV) interface. Submit Applicant Profile CVs by uploading the completed document, in the "Attachment" tab.

Task: Enter Proposal Information

• Both the proposed knowledge synthesis and the plan for the knowledge mobilization activities and products should be included in the research proposal.
• 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 an equitable amount of space is provided, the following page limits will apply
  • 8 pages for Research Proposals written in English

  • 10 pages for Research Proposals written in French

    Note: For Research proposals submitted in English, any pages over the 8-page limit will be removed with no further notification 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). Please note that this document may be used for relevance review. Additionally, the summary may be used to find reviewers with the expertise required to assess the proposal.

Task: Enter Budget Information

• Financial Assistance Requested:
  • Complete the Budget Module in ResearchNet for the total requested budget.
• Budget Attachments:
  • Financial Assistance Requested Details:
    • Provide a justification how the budget requested is appropriate for the scope of the research proposed.
    • Participation of trainees on the applicant team should be accounted for in the budget requested.
  • Other Supporting Documents (as applicable): For release time allowance requests, you must include a letter 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

• Other – attach the following under "Other":
  • Certificate of Completion for the sex- and gender-based analysis training module (mandatory for the NPA) – Label as "SGBA certificate - Name/Organization":
    • Download the PDF Certificate and upload the PDF (or Print Screen jpg) here.
  • Applicant Partner COI Document (required if applicable) - Label as "COI document": 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).
  • Indigenous self-declaration and/or evidence of meaningful and culturally safe involvement with Indigenous communities' statement (mandatory, if applicable) - Label as "Indigenous Experience - Name/Organization".
    • For any research involving Indigenous Peoples, including those applying to the Indigenous Health Research Pool, teams including participants  who self-identify as Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit or Métis) and/or who can provide evidence of meaningful and culturally safe involvement with Indigenous communities. These participants are required to provide a maximum 1-page statement describing how the participant meets the criteria of self-identification and/or meaningful and culturally safe engagement.
• Participant table (mandatory)
  • In table format, list all applicants (including Collaborators) with their affiliations/organization/network (as applicable) and their role(s) (i.e. knowledge user, person with lived experience) within the team, and a short description of the expertise each brings to the proposal.
• Publications (optional) – Upload under "Publications"
  • Append a list of publications (maximum 1 page) relevant to the proposal.
• Letters of Collaboration (mandatory, if applicable):
  • A signed letter is required from all Collaborator(s) listed on the application that outlines their contribution to the project.

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 Canadian and/or international 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.

Task: Apply to Priority Announcements/Funding Pools (optional)

• Selecting a funding pool is optional.
• Select the funding opportunity title under the "Priority Announcement/Funding Pool Title' drop-down list, then select the funding pool(s) under the "List of Relevant Research Areas" drop-down list.
• More than one funding pool can be selected (up to three).
• Describe (in a half-page) how the research proposed will address the relevant research area(s).

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

Azrieli Foundation
The Azrieli Foundation (including the Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence – CCCE) is a federally registered Canadian foundation which funds institutions as well as operates programs in Canada and in Israel. The Foundation supports scientific and medical research, higher education, Holocaust education, youth empowerment and school perseverance, music and the arts, architecture and quality of life initiatives for neurodiverse people. (Updated: 2023-05-19)

Weston Family Foundation
Founded in late 1950s, the Weston Family Foundation invests in innovation and learning in Health and Landscapes to deliver measurable impacts to the well-being of Canadians. The Foundation has determined two focus areas: Healthy Aging and Healthy Ecosystems.

Internal Collaborators

Canadian Institutes of Health Research
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 – Brain Health Cognitive Impairment in Aging (BHCIA) Research Initiative
The Brain Health and Cognitive Impairment in Aging Research Initiative (the Initiative) supports research across the continuum from the healthy aging brain to cognitive impairment and care for those impacted by dementia, with a special focus on Indigenous Peoples and groups that have been historically excluded from research. The Initiative is supported by funding announced in Budget 2022, which provided $20 million over five years for CIHR to ramp up efforts to learn more about dementia and brain health in aging, to improve treatment and outcomes for persons living with dementia, and to evaluate and address mental health consequences for caregivers and different models of care.

CIHR – Institute of Aging (IA)
The CIHR Institute of Aging (CIHR-IA) mission is to support research, capacity building and knowledge mobilization to maintain and improve the health, resiliency and quality of life of older Canadians. This includes addressing the complex health challenges that can be more prevalent in older individuals. The CIHR-IA promotes the use of a lifecycle approach to support advances in prevention, diagnosis, treatment, care delivery, and social determinants of health.

The CIHR-IA is a national leader in addressing health research priorities for older adults. Institute initiatives not only link and support researchers located in universities and hospitals across the country, but also bring together different levels of government, practitioners, voluntary health organizations and older adults themselves.

CIHR – Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health (ICRH)
The Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health (ICRH) supports research into the causes, mechanisms, prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, support systems, and palliation for a wide range of conditions associated with the heart, lung, brain (stroke), blood, blood vessels, critical and intensive care, and sleep. The ICRH vision is to achieve international leadership by fostering an environment of openness, excitement, energy, commitment and excellence in highly ethical, partnered initiatives focused on research, research training, and research translation for the circulatory and respiratory sciences to improve the health and wellness of all Canadians.

CIHR – Institute of Gender and Health (IGH)
The Institute of Gender and Health (IGH)'s mission is to foster research excellence regarding the influence of sex and gender on health and to apply these findings to identify and address pressing health challenges facing men, women, girls, boys and gender-diverse people.

CIHR – Institute of Genetics (IG)
The Institute of Genetics (IG) supports research on the human and model genomes and on all aspects of genetics, basic biochemistry and cell biology related to health and disease, including the translation of knowledge into health policy and practice, and the societal implications of genetic discoveries.

CIHR – HIV/AIDS and STBBI Research Initiative
The CIHR HIV/AIDS and STBBI Research Initiative (RI), under the leadership of the CIHR Institute of Infection and Immunity (III), is responsible for the funding, management and oversight of research with a primary focus on HIV/AIDS and/or other STBBI. Information on the strategic directions of the CIHR HIV/AIDS and STBBI Research Initiative can be found in the CIHR HIV/AIDS Research Initiative: Strategic Plan (2022-2027). As outlined in the Pan-Canadian STBBI Framework (Reducing the Health Impact of Sexually Transmitted and Blood-Borne Infections in Canada by 2030: A Pan-Canadian STBBI Framework for Action) and Canada's Action Plan on STBBI (Accelerating our response: Government of Canada five-year action plan on STBBI), Canada has adopted an integrated approach to HIV and STBBI across the full continuum of prevention, testing, initiation of care and treatment and ongoing care and support.

Additional Information

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)

CIHR is committed to promoting the inclusion and advancement of groups historically excluded from science as one of the means to enhance excellence in research, training and knowledge mobilization. This means recognizing and reducing systemic barriers, mitigating biases, as well as including and benefiting from the full pool of talented researchers and trainees in the system. CIHR's position on EDI is available in the Tri-Agency Statement on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. Additional resources include the Best Practices in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Research for guidance and examples of systemic barriers and Section 2 of the NSERC guide on integrating equity, diversity and inclusion considerations in research. All applicants are also encouraged to complete the CIHR Bias in Peer Review Learning Module.

First Nations Principles of Ownership, Control, Access and Possession (OCAP®)

The First Nations Principles of Ownership, Control, Access and Possession (OCAP®) serve as an example of First Nations self-governance, but is distinct to First Nations and not distinct to Inuit, Métis, or Urban Indigenous communities, collectives and organizations. CIHR recognizes that a distinctions-based approach is needed to ensure that the unique rights, interests and circumstances of the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples, and Urban Indigenous communities are acknowledged, affirmed, and implemented. OCAP® is a registered trademark of the First Nations Information Governance Centre (FNIGC).

Indigenous Research and Multiple Ways of Knowing

CIHR recognizes that First Nations, Métis and Inuit are rights-holding as First Peoples of Canada and may not consider themselves to be part of equity-seeking groups (e.g., women, racialized minorities, persons with disabilities and members of 2SLGBTQI+ communities). Taking a rights- and distinctions-based approach to Indigenous self-determination in research is important to reflect this position and to strengthen Indigenous health and well-being. CIHR's commitment to supporting Indigenous self-determination in health research is available in the CIHR Strategic Plan 2021–2031 and the Action Plan: Building a healthier future for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples.

Intersectionality

Intersectionality is a theoretical framework rooted in the premise that human experience is jointly shaped by multiple social positions (e.g., race, gender), and cannot be adequately understood by considering social positions independently. All applicants are encouraged to consult the Meet the Methods Series: Questions to guide quantitative intersectional analyses.

Historically excluded populations

Including but not limited to those marginalized by gender inequities, communities impacted by racism, people with disabilities and members of 2SLGBTQI+ communities.

Person With Lived/Living Experience (PWLE)

In the context of this FO, this includes individuals with personal experience of a relevant health issue (patient), caregivers and care providers, including family and friends. Through an Indigenous context/lens, this could refer to community. Please refer to the Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research Patient Engagement Framework for additional information related to engaging PWLE in research.

Resilience, Resistance, Cognitive reserve

Resilience includes the ability to maintain cognitive abilities when brain changes and pathology that are normally associated with dementia are present, whereas resistance involves the ability to avoid the age-related development of brain pathology that is generally found with dementia. Cognitive reserve mechanisms allow compensation in the face of ongoing aging and neurodegenerative processes to maintain normal cognition.

SGBA+

Sex- and Gender-Based Analysis (SGBA) is an approach that systematically examines sex-based (biological) and gender-based (socio-cultural) differences between men, women, boys, girls and gender-diverse people. The purpose of SGBA is to promote rigorous science that considers sex and gender and therefore has the potential to expand our understanding of health determinants for all people. SGBA is meant to be applied within the context of a diversity framework that considers the ways in which determinants such as ethnicity, socioeconomic status, disability, sexual orientation, migration status, age and geography interact with sex and/or gender to contribute to exposures to various risk factors, disease courses and outcomes. Applying SGBA brings these considerations into focus and can help formulate health research, policies and programs that are relevant to the diversity of the Canadian population. Please visit How to integrate sex and gender into research and Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA+) for 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.

References:

1. Jacklin K, Walker J & Shawande M (2013) The emergence of dementia as a health concern among First Nations populations in Alberta, Canada. Canadian J Public Health 104(1), e39–e44. doi: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF03405652
2. OCAP® is a registered trademark of the First Nations Information Governance Centre (FNIGC).