ResearchNet - RechercheNet

Table of Contents

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

Description

Background

Over the past few decades there have been remarkable advances in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and management of Sexually Transmitted and Blood-Borne Infections (STBBI), including HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV), syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and human papilloma virus (HPV). By the end of 2020, Canada reported having met two of the three 90-90-90 global targets for HIV set by the United Nations, achieving an estimated 90% of cases diagnosed, 87% of diagnosed individuals receiving treatment and 95% of individuals on treatment having suppressed viral load¹. Importantly, gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM) in Canada, have met all 90-90-90 targets and this group is close to achieving the new commitments to 95-95-95 targets set for 2025², with data for this group reporting 98-96-94³. While the gbMSM community continues to report the largest proportion of cases of HIV and other STBBI and there remains a need to ensure continued progress for the gbMSM community, the strong and sustained advocacy and engagement with STBBI research from this community has proven successful for improving health outcomes.

Unfortunately, the same promising trends are not being observed across all key populations⁴ disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS and STBBI in Canada. The impacts of stigma, racism, sexism, and other systemic and structural barriers differ across demographics and this perpetuates disparities in availability of and access to appropriate prevention, diagnostic and care services. For example, women, people who use drugs and First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples are experiencing rapidly increasing rates of infections for HIV and other STBBI. These groups also have lower estimated rates of awareness of their HIV status, of treatment uptake and of viral suppression for HIV than the overall population⁵. For other key populations, such as African, Caribbean and Black communities, the availability of adequate provincially-collected data for federal reporting is lacking. Furthermore, the limited available data, including data collected by community-based research groups, suggests Black people represent the second greatest number of new HIV cases, and in 2019 Black women accounted for 42.1% of new cases amongst women.

To address these growing inequities across diverse communities in Canada and ensure research progress is shared with all people, the CIHR HIV/AIDS and STBBI Community-Based Research (CBR) Program is launching new funding opportunities to enable greater participation of key populations disproportionately affected by STBBI. The Team Grants: CBR for HIV/AIDS and STBBI represents the first phase of funding. A second funding opportunity for a CBR Coordinating Centre to support the teams is anticipated to be launched, pending internal approvals, once teams are established.

Purpose of the CBR Team Grants: CBR for HIV/AIDS and STBBI

The purpose of the Team Grants: CBR for HIV/AIDS and STBBI Funding Opportunity (referred to hereafter as CBR Team Grants) is to fund a diversity of CBR teams to build and strengthen capacity for CBR and knowledge mobilization (KM) activities that are centred in the self-determined priorities of the communities and will lead to improved health outcomes for key populations disproportionately affected by STBBI in Canada.

This funding opportunity is comprised of two stages:

• Letter of Intent (LOI) Stage: Development Grants
• Full Application Stage: CBR Team Grants

LOI Stage: Development Grants

Applications for the CBR Team Grants funding opportunity will require submission of a LOI, where funds will be made available as Development Grants to support building community-centred teams and developing full applications. The Development Grants are intended to provide the time and resources to enable distinction-based approaches, foster equity, diversity and inclusion within the CBR Teams, and facilitate bringing together groups from diverse communities to support intersectionality in applications for CBR Teams, where appropriate.

Examples of possible use of funds for Development Grants include, but are not limited to:

• Partnership development and community engagement events, including but not limited to: culturally appropriate ceremonies, feasts and other activities related to engagement of Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers and community members;
• Collaborative priority setting, consultation and planning activities; and/or
• Activities and personnel to provide grant writing support for communities.

Successful applicants at the LOI stage are required to participate in a strengthening workshop. The aims of this workshop are two-fold: 1) to help guide teams in developing full applications by providing information on application and evaluation processes; and 2) to support sharing and building connections amongst the teams to identify opportunities for collaboration, partnerships, and areas of intersectionality and collective impact.

Only successful applicants from the LOI stage will be invited to submit a Full Application for CBR Team Grants.

Full Application Stage: CBR Team Grants

Applications for the CBR Team Grants must advance a community-centred approach to research and KM with emphasis on capacity building within the community. Through the establishment of collaborative partnerships between community leaders and researchers, teams will support reciprocal knowledge sharing and must ensure leadership and engagement from community members, people with living and lived experience (PWLLE), and community organizations. CBR Team Grants will have flexibility to support teams in a range of research-focused activities.

Examples of activities supported by the CBR Team Grants include, but are not limited to:

• Expanding research literacy and education within communities;
• Training and mentoring for community members engaged in research, knowledge mobilization  and/or proposal development;
• Developing culturally safe and appropriate knowledge mobilization tools, products and events to ensure dissemination and uptake of research findings by community members, organizations and policy makers; and
• Conducting community-centred intervention research and implementation science studies.

Research Areas

This funding opportunity aligns with key research priorities identified in the CIHR HIV/AIDS and STBBI RI Strategic Plan 2022-2027, including:

• Reducing the impact of stigma, discrimination and systemically entrenched oppression of people living with and at risk of STBBI;
• Developing, testing and advancing culturally-safe and holistic models of care and evidence-based interventions for STBBI testing and prevention;
• Advancing knowledge of sexual and reproductive health, including enhancing understanding of the role of sex, gender, sexuality and systemic barriers in the experiences, risks and outcomes associated with STBBI; and
• Implementation science research that will maximize uptake and adoption of new and existing interventions for STBBI in different health, social and cultural settings.
  

Applications for the CBR Team Grants MUST focus on addressing the self-determined STBBI⁶ focused priorities of their community/ies and strengthen community capacity for research.

To improve health equity and capacity building across a diversity of communities, applications MUST identify a key population below of primary focus for the team:

• Gay, bisexual men and other MSM
• People who use drugs
• African, Caribbean and Black People
• Racialized people and migrants, particularly from regions with high HIV or HCV prevalence
• Sex workers and their clients
• People living in or recently released from correctional facilities
• Transgender and non-binary people
• Young women (~16-25 yrs)
• Youths
• Indigenous Peoples (including First Nations, Inuit and/or Métis People)

Although applications are sought with focus on specific populations, an intersectional lens across key populations may be considered within the project as community members affected may identify with more than one key population. See Evaluation Criteria for requirements on applying an intersectional lens.

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, knowledge mobilization, and other 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 $22,500,000. This amount may increase if additional funding partners participate.

LOI Stage: Development Grants

• Development grants of up to $100,000 per grant are available for successful applications at the LOI stage. The total amount available at the LOI stage is $2,500,000, enough to fund approximately 25 LOIs.
• Of this $2,500,000:
  • $1,600,000 is available to fund LOIs relevant to key populations as follows:
    • $100,000 is available to fund 1 LOI relevant to gay, bisexual men and other MSM;
    • $100,000 is available to fund 1 LOI relevant to people who use drugs;
    • $100,000 is available to fund 1 LOI relevant to African, Caribbean and Black People;
    • $100,000 is available to fund 1 LOI relevant to racialized people and migrants;
    • $100,000 is available to fund 1 LOI relevant to sex workers and their clients;
    • $100,000 is available to fund 1 LOI relevant to people living in or recently released from correctional facilities;
    • $100,000 is available to fund 1 LOI relevant to transgender and non-binary people;
    • $100,000 is available to fund 1 LOI relevant to young women (~16-25 yrs); and
    • $100,000 is available to fund 1 LOI relevant to youths.
    • $700,000 is available to fund 7 remaining LOIs that are deemed fundable and relevant to one of the key populations indicated above.
  • $900,000 is available to fund LOIs, relevant to Indigenous Peoples in the following pools:
    • $300,000 is available to fund 3 LOIs relevant to distinctions-based approaches for Indigenous Peoples (Distinctions-Based Indigenous Pool)
    • $300,000 is available to fund 3 LOIs relevant to Indigenous communities across Canada; including multi- or cross-cultural Indigenous approaches (General Indigenous Pool);
    • $300,000 is available to fund 3 remaining LOIs that are deemed fundable and relevant to either pool for Indigenous Peoples listed above.

If pools are undersubscribed or lack fundable LOIs funds may be transferred between these pools (See Funding Decision).

Full Application Stage: CBR Team Grants

• At the full application stage, $15,000,000 is available to fund approximately 15 grants at a maximum amount of $200,000 per year for up to 5 years, for a total of $1,000,000 per grant.
  • Of this $15,000,000:
    • $9,000,000 is available to fund applicants relevant to key populations as follows:
      • $1,000,000 is available to fund 1 application relevant to gay, bisexual men and other MSM;
      • $1,000,000 is available to fund 1 application relevant to people who use drugs;
      • $1,000,000 is available to fund 1 application relevant to African, Caribbean and Black People;
      • $1,000,000 is available to fund 1 application relevant to racialized people and migrants;
      • $1,000,000 is available to fund 1 application relevant to sex workers and their clients;
      • $1,000,000 is available to fund 1 application relevant to people living in or recently released from correctional facilities;
      • $1,000,000 is available to fund 1 application relevant to transgender and non-binary people;
      • $1,000,000 is available to fund 1 application relevant to young women; and
      • $1,000,000 is available to fund 1 application relevant to youths.
    • $6,000,000 is available to fund applications relevant to Indigenous Peoples as follows:
      • $3,000,000 is available to fund 3 applications relevant to distinction-based approaches for Indigenous Peoples (Distinctions-based Indigenous Pool);
      • $3,000,000 is available to fund 3 applications relevant to Indigenous communities across Canada, including multi or cross-cultural Indigenous approaches (General Indigenous Pool);

If pools are undersubscribed or lack fundable applications, funds may be transferred between these pools (See Funding Decision).

• An additional amount of $5,000,000 in supplementary funding is available to teams for:
  • projects where the primary research focus is in northern, remote and/or geographically isolated communities; or
  • implementation science or other large-scale intervention community-based research projects requiring additional operating funds; or
  • large teams with participating community organizations located across at least 5 provinces/territories.
• The maximum additional amount per grant is up to $200,000 per year for up to five years, for a total additional amount of $1M per grant.
• Applicants interested in applying for the supplement must ensure a research project is still viable without the supplementary funding.
• Please see Funding Decision for additional details on the allocation of funds.

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

Objectives

The specific objectives of this funding opportunity are to:

• Strengthen and build capacity within communities for CBR and KM that delivers impactful, useful, and timely results for populations at greatest risk of STBBI in Canada;
• Advance community-centred approaches to STBBI research by establishing meaningful partnerships between communities and researchers from academic or other research institutions; and
• Improve health equity by conducting, enabling and/or facilitating access to research that addresses structural, social, behavioural, and biomedical determinants of health for key populations affected by STBBI.

Eligibility

Eligibility to Apply

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

1. The Nominated Principal Applicant (NPA) must be one of the following:
   1. A knowledge user, specifically, one of the following:
      • A Community Leader from a Canadian non-governmental, not-for-profit organization (including community or charitable organizations) with a research or knowledge translation mandate.
      • A Canadian non-governmental organization (including Indigenous community-led organizations) with a research or knowledge translation mandate.
   2. 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).
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 team must involve at least one of each of the following as co-leads:
   1. A knowledge user, as NPA or a Principal Knowledge User, who is affiliated with a community or community organization. See 1.a) above for additional information.
   2. An independent researcher as either the NPA or a Principal Applicant.
5. If applying to the Indigenous Pools:
   1. The NPA or Principal Applicant must self-identify as Indigenous (First Nations, Métis or Inuit) and/or provide evidence of having meaningful and culturally safe involvement with Indigenous communities (see How to Apply).
   2. In addition, at least one knowledge user (listed as Principal Knowledge User or Knowledge User) must be affiliated with a First Nations, Inuit, Métis or Indigenous community or organization.

In addition to the requirements listed above, for an application to be eligible for the Full Application stage:

6. The team must include a minimum of one representative from each of the following categories below listed as a Principal Applicant, Co-Applicant, Principal Knowledge User or Knowledge User (see Definitions):
   1. A KM Champion;
   2. An EDI Champion;
   3. A Training and Mentoring (TM) Champion;
   4. A person with lived/living experience (PWLLE)
   Note: An individual may fulfill more than one role or champion more than one cause, however a minimum of two individuals are required to meet this requirement.
7. The NPA*, co-lead, KM,  EDI and TM Champions 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. Applicants are encouraged to review the page "How to integrate sex and gender in research" on the CIHR website. See How to Apply section 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.

Notes:

For the purposes of this Funding Opportunity:

• If not applying as the NPA, Community Leaders, community members and PWLLE are invited to identify themselves as Principal Knowledge Users or Knowledge Users, which are equivalent to Principal Applicants and Co-applicants respectively.
• Individuals may participate on an application in a Collaborator role without the need to secure a CIHR PIN. Follow the instructions in the How to Apply section that pertain to Collaborators, indicate their role in the participant table and explain their contributions to the proposed activities and their meaningful engagement in the research proposal to address the points outlined in the evaluation criteria. Please note, names of Collaborators do not appear in CIHR funding decision databases and documents.

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:

• Full time or part-time salaries paid to members of the grant team, as long as: a) they do not conduct research independently, as part of the terms and conditions of their employment (i.e. researchers in academia, hospitals and research institutes); or b) they are not themselves the recipient of an agency grant (i.e., the Nominated Principal Applicant or equivalent) or ; c) they are not receiving compensation from other sources for their time spent on the funded research/activities. For more information consult the Directive on Employment and Compensation Expenditures.
• Rental of space in non-academic institutions if it is justified as a direct cost of the research project. The cost must cover the rental of space required specifically for the research project, which would not otherwise be available to the institution.
• Release Time Allowance: Release time funding may be used to replace part of the salary of a knowledge user who meets TAGFA compensation requirements, to allow them to participate in the project.
• Expenditures that respect the culture and traditions of Indigenous Peoples, where needed for the meaningful conduct of research. See TCPS 2 (2022) - 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.
• Costs related to the translation and preparation of information/material intended for public consumption for the purposes of informing and engaging partners (e.g., website content, information pamphlets, guidelines, promotional and event-related material, etc.).

Use of Personal Information

• Personal information submitted during the application process, including but not limited to information provided through applicant CVs, the 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 self-identification questionnaire and the use of personal information, see the Self-identification Questionnaire Frequently Asked Questions.
• For this funding opportunity, personal information will also be used to determine eligibility of the applicants. Refer to Eligibility for details.
• All progress/final reports may be shared with partners supporting the grant (See Conditions of Funding for report details).

Conditions of Funding

• Data related to First Nations, Inuit or Métis 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.
• All information intended for public consumption, for the purposes of informing and engaging partners (e.g., website content, information pamphlets, guidelines, promotional and event-related material, etc.), must be provided in both official languages (English and French) and should be developed using plain language practices. See Allowable Costs for more details.
• 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.
• CIHR reserves the right to terminate or suspend funding if there is a determination of unacceptable national security risk by the Government of Canada.
• Applicants successful at the Letter of Intent stage are required to participate in a strengthening workshop planned in the Winter 2025, and must plan to have a minimum of 2 team members participate, one of whom must be the NPA. As needed, LOI recipients must set aside funds from their LOI grants to attend the strengthening workshop.

In addition to the conditions of funding for all grants described above, for the CBR Team Grants:

• The Nominated Principal Applicant will be required to submit a Progress Report for Long-Term Grant Holders (5 or more years) in the third year of funding in order to summarize the outcomes and describe how the grant funds have been used to date. Requirements for this report will be provided by CIHR.
• The NPA 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.

Review Process and Evaluation

Relevance Review Process

CIHR-III and CIHR-IIPH will perform a relevance review at both the LOI stage and the Full Application stage to identify applications that are in alignment with the objectives and research areas. The Summary of Research Proposal and Relevance Form will be used to determine relevance, including on any selected Funding Pool(s).

The following criteria MUST be addressed in the project summary and will be used in conducting the relevance review:

• Must include a description highlighting engagement from and relevance to the community representing the key population of primary focus. Where a secondary key population has been selected, a separate description will be required to demonstrate engagement with and relevance to the secondary selection.
• Must include issues related to STBBI as essential elements of the proposal and this must be well described in the project summary. With respect to diseases or conditions common in people living with STBBI, the focus of the project must be on the disease/condition within the context of STBBI. Likewise, if the project aims to study determinants of health or health systems that affect a wide range of health problems, the focus must be on STBBIs.
• For applications to be relevant to the Indigenous pools, applications must be focused on Indigenous Peoples (First Nations, Inuit, and/or Métis), and led by Indigenous organizations, communities, or individuals (see eligibility criteria for further information) and/or provide evidence of having meaningful and culturally safe involvement with Indigenous Peoples.

Applications that are not deemed to be relevant based on the criteria listed above will be withdrawn from the competition.

Requests for supplementary funds will be assessed for relevance at the full application stage and will be evaluated by the peer review committee if deemed eligible.

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.

Peer review will be conducted in accordance with the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA).

An iterative peer review process may be used for both the LOI and Full Application stages. Applicants may be requested to provide additional information to support the application.

Evaluation Criteria

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

Letter of intent (LOI) Stage:

1. Potential Impact
   1. Extent to which the application responds to the objectives and relevant research areas of the funding opportunity, including how the proposal will align with community-identified priorities.
   2. Likely impact of the potential partnerships and research to improve health equity for the involved community/ies.
   3. Extent to which the partnership element and involvement of the community as leaders and partners is meaningful and clearly described.
   4. Quality of the proposed engagement, planning and priority setting strategy, including a description of the intended engagement activities, the anticipated outcome(s) and benefit(s), and their alignment with community values.
   5. Extent of the role(s) and contribution(s) of all applicant partner(s) in advancing research objectives (if applicable).
   6. 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).
2. Scientific Merit
   1. Clarity and originality of the proposed project and objectives.
   2. Feasibility of the proposed project plan, including timelines and budget.
   3. For the projects involving First Nations, Inuit and/or Métis Peoples:
      • The extent to which the overall team has the necessary knowledge, expertise and experience in meaningful and culturally safe involvement in Indigenous health research, and complementarity of expertise and synergistic potential to conduct Indigenous health research.

Full Application Stage:

Evaluation Criteria for the Full Application - CBR Team Grants

IN ADDITION to the criteria listed for the evaluation of the LOIs above, the following evaluation criteria will be used at the Full Application Stage:

1. Potential Impact
   1. Inclusivity of the team and extent of the contributions of the team members, particularly community partners, in advancing the research and capacity building objectives.
   2. Quality of the proposed knowledge mobilization strategy, including a description of the intended knowledge mobilization activities, the anticipated outcome(s) and/or impact(s) of the proposed activities, and their alignment with community priorities.
   3. Quality of the KM plan to measure outcomes.
   4. Evidence of the team's ability to disseminate the research findings successfully and appropriately with the involved communities to improve health equity and outcomes.
   5. Extent to which the project will contribute to developing and building further CBR capacity in affected communities.
   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).
2. Scientific Merit
   1. Clarity and originality of the proposed project and objectives, relative to relevant prior research and existing literature.
   2. Appropriateness of the proposed CBR methods and data analysis plans.
   3. Feasibility of the project plan, including timelines and budget, and anticipation of difficulties that may be encountered in the research or capacity building efforts and plans for management.
   4. Appropriateness of the team based on their collective expertise and experience, relative to career stages, opportunities, diverse career paths, and leaves, including their specific community-based research experience and skills, track record, importance and relevance of past research, historical productivity, impact, etc.
   5. Evidence that the research training and mentoring environment will strengthen capacity for STBBI research and knowledge mobilization for communities and academic trainees and early career researchers.
   6. Appropriate and intersectional incorporation and justification of:
      • social determinants of health, such as gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, disability, sexual orientation, migration status, age and geography;
      • structural determinants of health, such as racism, sexism, homophobia and transphobia, historical trauma, discrimination, etc.; and,
      • biological variables, such as sex and age.
   7. Quality and appropriateness of the Data Management Plan.
   8. Extent to which ethical issues have been considered and addressed (i.e., data-related considerations, such as privacy/security of data being shared, etc.);
   9. For the research projects involving First Nations, Inuit and/or Métis Peoples:
      • Appropriateness of the research approach and methodologies for research with Indigenous communities, such as inclusion of Indigenous worldviews, Indigenous Knowledges and Indigenous ways of being.
      • The extent to which the overall research team has the necessary knowledge, expertise and experience in meaningful and culturally safe involvement in Indigenous health research, and complementarity of expertise and synergistic potential to conduct Indigenous health research.
      • Extent to which the rights of Indigenous Peoples to self-determination and self-governance (for example by applying the First Nations Principles of OCAP®⁷ (Ownership, Control, Access and Possession), the CARE Principles⁸ (Collective Benefit, Authority to Control, Responsibility, Ethics) for Indigenous Data Governance or other principles of Indigenous self-governance as appropriate) will be addressed.
      • Appropriate consideration of TCPS 2 (2022) – Chapter 9: Research Involving the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples of Canada and demonstration of meaningful and culturally safe practices, plans and activities throughout the research project.
      • Extent to which the proposed research and solutions respond to community priorities, and is conducted by, grounded in, or engaged with Indigenous (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.

Funding Decision

Applications at the LOI and Full Application stages must receive a minimum score of 3.5 in each of Scientific Merit and Potential Impact to be considered fundable.

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

Letter of Intent (LOI) Stage

Letters of Intent will be funded top down in order of ranking within each funding pool based on the primary funding pool selected. If funding for any given pool is not awarded based on primary pool selections, remaining LOIs that identified the pool as a secondary selection will be funded top down in order of ranking.

Any remaining LOIs that are deemed fundable and relevant to the following pools will be combined and funded in rank order: gay, bisexual men and other MSM; people who use drugs; African, Caribbean and Black People; racialized people and migrants; sex workers and their clients; people living in or recently released from correctional facilities; transgender and non-binary people; young women (~16-25 yrs) or youths.

Any remaining LOIs that are deemed fundable and relevant to the Distinctions-Based Indigenous pool and the General Indigenous pool will be combined and funded in rank order.

Successful letters of intent will be invited to apply to the full application stage. Unsuccessful letters of intent applicants and those who did not apply to the letter of intent stage will be automatically withdrawn if they submit a full application.

Full Application Stage

Applications will be funded from the top down in order of ranking within each funding pool based on the primary funding pool selected. If funding for any given pool is not awarded based on primary pool selections, remaining applications that identified the pool as a secondary selection will be funded top down in order of ranking.

Funds may be transferred between pools if any are undersubscribed or lack fundable applications. For Indigenous pools, funds will be transferred to other Indigenous pools prior to being transferred to pools relevant to other key populations.

Supplementary Funding

Budgets for supplementary fund requests must be justified in the full application. If recommended for funding by the peer review committee, funds will be awarded top down in order of full application ranking.

Note that an application requesting supplementary funds may be successful in receiving funding for the CBR Team Grants and not for the supplementary funds. Applicants should therefore consider the feasibility of the proposal in the event that supplementary funds are not awarded.

If supplementary funds remain available after all fundable applications to the Team Grants have been awarded, they may be transferred to increase the number of team grants awarded.

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: 1) Letter of Intent : Development Grant and 2) Full Application: CBR Team Grants.
• To complete your Letter of Intent, follow the "Specific Instructions" listed below. Note that a Letter of Intent must be submitted to be eligible to submit a full application.
• Note: all applications submitted at the full application stage must have been successful at the LOI stage; all other applications will be withdrawn from the competition and not sent to peer review.
• To complete your Full Application, follow the "Specific Instructions" listed below, and where applicable, consult the Grants – Application Guidelines.
• All participants listed, with the exception of Collaborators, are required to:
  • Have/obtain a CIHR PIN
  • Complete the Self-identification Questionnaire.

Specific instructions to complete your ResearchNet application

Notes:

• Please ensure that your application is complete (includes all required signatures) and is submitted on time to CIHR. Note: CIHR cannot legally accept an application until the "Consent and Submit" task is completed on ResearchNet.
• Applicants must adhere to requirements for formatting and attachments. Failure to comply with these requirements may negatively impact the evaluation of the application and can lead to withdrawal of an application.

Step 1 — Letter of Intent

Task: Identify Participants

• List all participants in the "Identify Participants' task. Consult the Eligibility section and ensure that all requirements are met. All participants and community organizations must also be listed in the Participant Table under the task "Attach Other Application Materials".
• 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 an Applicant Profile CV (maximum three pages per applicant).
    • Persons with lived/living experience (PWLLE), Indigenous Elders and/or Indigenous Knowledge Keepers must include in their Applicant Profile CV a description of their relevant lived/living experiences in the context of the application.
      • Indigenous Elders and/or Knowledge Keepers may be named as Collaborators on your application. This will allow these individuals to participate in the application without securing CIHR PINs. If named as a Collaborator, please see the Letters of Collaboration instructions below.
  • Each Applicant Profile CV must include 5-10 expertise keywords; and a summary of the applicant's education, current/past affiliations and employment/research experience with effective dates; and any other information pertinent to the participant's role on the application
  • NPA categories involving a non-governmental organization as an eligibility requirement must include in their Applicant Profile CV a description of the organization mandate and how it meets the eligibility requirement of being a non-governmental organization in Canada with a research and/or knowledge translation mandate.
  • 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 section for the LOI.
• 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:
  • 5 pages for Research proposals written in English
  • 6 pages for Research proposals written in French
  Note: For Research proposals submitted in English, any pages over the 5-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" (optional).

Task: Complete Summary of Research Proposal

• Summarize your proposal. Note that your summary cannot exceed one (1) page.
• The summary must include a description on how the work being proposed addresses the objectives of the funding opportunity and how the proposal aligns with the research area selected.
• If applicable, applicants should indicate their intent to apply for supplementary funding at the Full Application stage.

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).
• You may also include additional supporting documents (e.g., quotes) as part of your budget attachment.
• For release time allowance requests (upload under "Other Supporting Documents"), 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 Material

• Other – attach the following under "Other"
  • Indigenous self-identification or evidence of meaningful and culturally safe involvement with Indigenous Peoples statement (required, if applicable): label as "Indigenous Experience – Name/Organization"
    • If applying to the Indigenous Peoples pools, the NPA or Principal Applicant must self-identify as Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit or Métis) and/or provide evidence of having meaningful and culturally safe involvement with Indigenous Peoples.
    • Attach a one (1) page attachment describing how this requirement is met.
  • 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).
• Participant Table (Mandatory) – upload under "Participant Table":
  • Download this table which will be used for eligibility and peer review assessment. All participants should be listed in the Participant Table. Provide the following information about all applicant team members (including Collaborators): title, affiliations, region, and role on the application (NPA, PA, Co-Applicant, Principal Knowledge User, Knowledge User, Collaborator).
• Publications (optional) – Upload under "Publications":
  • Append a list of publications (maximum of one (1) page) relevant to the proposal.
• Letters of Collaboration (required, if applicable) – label as "Letter of Collaboration – Name":
  • Signed collaboration letters should clearly demonstrate the community involvement at every stage of the project including the identification of the research question, development, and implementation of the project.
• Letters of Support (optional) – label as "Letter of Support – Name":
  • Signed letters of support, although optional, are encouraged and will enhance the quality of the application during the review. For example, letters of support may include: a description of specific cash or other in-kind contributions from partners, as well as their role in proposed project.
  • Please review the Writing Letters of Support document for guidance.

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: Complete Peer Review Administration Information (optional)

• Applicants are encouraged to provide a list of potential reviewers.

Task: Apply to Priority Announcement/Funding Pools (Mandatory)

• Identify Key Population Funding pools:
  • Applicants must select the funding opportunity title under the "Priority Announcement/Funding Pool Title" drop-down list, then select the priority research area(s) under the "Priority Announcement/Funding Pool Title" drop-down list and then press save.
  • Select up to two (2) funding pools.
  • Complete the Relevancy form:
    • Applicants must explicitly identify (i) which of the selected funding pools should be considered as their first choice and (ii) describe how the nature of the community partnerships and proposed work relate to the population identified their application directly aligns with each of the funding pool(s) selected (half-page for each selection).
    • If you are applying to the Indigenous Peoples pools, ensure you address in your proposal the specificities outlined within the Description, Eligibility and Review Process and evaluation criteria sections of the funding opportunity.

Note:

• Applications to the Indigenous Peoples pools may select a non-Indigenous secondary pool.
• For applications selecting Indigenous Peoples Pools as a secondary selection, these applications must meet all criteria, including eligibility criteria, for the pool.
• Applicants may change primary or secondary selections at the Full application stage.

Task: Manage Access (optional)

• The Nominated Principal Applicant (NPA) can delegate access to a maximum of five individuals to support the completion of the application. Note: A delegate's access does not carry over from one stage of the competition to another (i.e., from the registration to the application stage). The NPA will need to delegate access at each stage of a competition. NPAs should revoke delegates' access prior to completing the Consent and Submit tasks if they do not want them to retain access to submitted applications via their Completed Activities tab. For more information, please see the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Task: Print/Upload 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.

Step 2 — Full 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 and community organizations must also be listed in the Participant Table under the task "Attach Other Application Materials".
• 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).
    • Persons with lived/living experience (PWLLE), Indigenous Elders and/or Indigenous Knowledge Keepers must include in their Applicant Profile CV a description of their relevant lived/living experiences in the context of the application.
      • Indigenous Elders and/or Knowledge Keepers may be named as Collaborators on your application. This will allow these individuals to participate in the application without securing CIHR PINs. If named as a Collaborator, please see the Letters of Collaboration instructions below.
    • Each Applicant Profile CV must include 5-10 expertise keywords; and a summary of the applicant's education, current/past affiliations and employment/research experience with effective dates; and any other information pertinent to the participant's role on the application.
    • NPA categories involving a non-governmental organization as an eligibility requirement must include in their Applicant Profile CV a description of the organization mandate and how it meets the eligibility requirement of being a non-governmental organization in Canada with a research and/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

• The Research Proposal must outline each of the elements presented in the evaluation criteria.
• 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:
  • 10 pages for Research Proposals written in English
  • 12 pages for Research Proposals written in French
  Note: For Research proposals written in English, any pages over the 10-page limit will be removed with no further notification to the Nominated Principal Applicant.
• Applicants must adhere to formatting requirements. Failure to comply with these requirements may negatively impact the evaluation of the application and can lead to withdrawal of an application.
• References, charts, tables, figures and photographs can be uploaded under "Attachments – Research Proposal Appendix".

Task: Complete Summary of Research Proposal

• Summarize your research proposal. Note that your summary cannot exceed one page.
• The relevance review will be conducted using Relevance Form and the Summary of Research Proposal exclusively. It is important to ensure that these documents clearly describe how the research being proposed addresses the objectives of the funding opportunity and how the proposal aligns with the research area selected.

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).
  • If applying for the supplementary funding amount, the justification must include a description highlighting the need for these additional funds.
• You may also include additional supporting documents (e.g., quotes) as part of your budget attachment.
• As appropriate, outline funding to support the hiring of students (undergraduate, graduate, etc.) as research trainees on the grant (please note that benefits for trainees are not an eligible expense and should not be included).
• For release time allowance requests (upload under "Other Supporting Documents"), 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 Material

• Other – attach the following under "Other":
  • Plans (mandatory)
    • To support the proposal, upload a plan for each of the following components. Upload each document using the titles below. The maximum length for each plan is three (3) pages in English and four (4) pages in French.
      • Data Management Plan (DMP)
        • The 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; considerations related to Indigenous data (if applicable); 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.
        • Important note: see Additional Information for more details on DMPs.
      • Knowledge Mobilization Plan
      • Supplementary funding plans (where applicable)
    Note: For plans submitted in English, any pages over the three-page limit will be removed with no further notification to the Nominated Principal Applicant.
  • Certificate of Completion for the sex- and gender-based analysis training modules for the NPA (mandatory for NPA, co-lead and Champions) – label as "SGBA Certificate – Name":
    • After completing the appropriate training module that applies to the research project, you will receive a Certificate of Completion that you will save and upload here. The training module should take approximately 40 minutes to complete.
    • N.B. The certificate is issued as a secured document; however, you must upload a copy of the certificate (e.g. print screen) as an unsecured PDF file in order to successfully append the document. Scan documents and photocopies are acceptable.
  • 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).
  • Indigenous self-identification or evidence of meaningful and culturally safe involvement with Indigenous Peoples statement (required, if applicable): label as "Indigenous Experience – Name/Organization" (maximum 3 pages)
    • Describe how the research project will address the rights of Indigenous Peoples and the self-determination and self-governance of Indigenous Peoples, such as following the First Nations Principles of OCAP®⁷, the FAIR Principles for scientific data management and stewardship and CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance, or other principles of Indigenous self-governance as appropriate (Maximum of two (2) pages).
    • This funding opportunity seeks applicants who self-identify as Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit or Métis) and/or applicants who can demonstrate their experience working in an Indigenous Health Research environment, which may include Indigenous living experience, addressing power imbalances and cultural safety. The NPA must therefore describe how they or a PA meets this requirement (maximum 1 page).
  • Ethics Certification (if applicable) – Upload as "Ethics Certificate":
    • Ethics certification can be appended if available at the time of submitting the application.
• Participant Table (mandatory) – Upload as "Participant Table".
  • Download this table which will be used for eligibility and peer review assessment. All participants should be listed in the Participant Table. Provide the following information about all applicant team members (including Collaborators):
    • Participant first and last name or name of organization (if NPA is an organization)
    • Role of participant in application (e.g., NPA, Principal Applicant, Principal Knowledge User, Co-Applicant, Knowledge User, Collaborator);
    • Participant type(s) (e.g., co-lead, independent researcher, knowledge user, trainee, community member, PWLLE, Canadian non-governmental organization, participant who self-identifies as First Nations, Métis or Inuit or provide evidence of having meaningful and culturally safe involvement with Indigenous communities; participant affiliated with a First Nations, Inuit and/or Métis community or organization; KM Champion, EDI Champion, TM Champion).
    • Primary affiliation/institution/organization/community of each participant, where appropriate;
    • Province/Territory of primary influence/work (only required for applicants to the large team supplement);
    • Expertise and Experience – include a brief description of what each participant brings to their role on the application.
• Publications (optional) – Upload under "Publications":
  • Append a list of publications (maximum of one (1) page) relevant to the proposal.
• Letters of Support (optional) – label as "Letter of Support – Name":
  • Signed letters of support, although optional, are encouraged and will enhance the quality of the application during the review. For example, letters of support may include: a description of specific cash or other in-kind contributions from partners, as well as their role in proposed project.
  • Please review the Writing Letters of Support document for guidance.
• Letters of Collaboration (required, if applicable) – label as "Letter of Collaboration – Name":
  • Signed collaboration letters should clearly demonstrate the community involvement at every stage of the project including the identification of the research question, development, and implementation of the project.

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: Complete Peer Review Administration Information (optional)

• Applicants are encouraged to provide a list of potential reviewers.

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

• Teams will be required to select amongst key population funding pools under the "Priority Announcement/Funding Pool Title" drop-down list, then select the funding pool under the "List of Relevant Research Areas" drop-down list, and then press "Save".
• Teams may select up to two (2) funding pools* for your application.
• Complete the Relevancy:
  • Applicants must explicitly identify (i) which of the selected funding pools should be considered as their first choice and (ii) describe how the nature of the community partnerships and proposed work relate to the population identified their application directly aligns with each of the funding pool(s) selected (half-page for each selection).
  • If you are applying to the Indigenous Peoples pools, ensure you address in your proposal the specificities outlined within the Description, Eligibility and Review Process and evaluation criteria sections of the funding opportunity.

Notes on funding pool selection:

• Applications to the Indigenous Peoples Pools may select a non-Indigenous secondary pool.
• For applications selecting Indigenous Peoples Pools as a secondary selection, these applications must meet all criteria, including eligibility criteria, for the pool.
• Applicants may change primary or secondary selections between the LOI and the Full application stages.

* Although applications are sought with focus on specific populations, an intersectional lens should be considered within the teams as community members affected may belong to more than one key population.

Additional Notes:

• No attachments outside the ones listed above will be considered by reviewers (i.e., they will be deleted from the application prior to being provided to the reviewers). Applicants will not be informed that attachments or pages have been removed.
• For all letter attachments: Original signatures are not required; a scanned signed letter or an email approval will be accepted in lieu.

Task: Manage Access (optional)

• The Nominated Principal Applicant (NPA) can delegate access to a maximum of five individuals to support the completion of the application. Note: A delegate's access does not carry over from one stage of the competition to another (i.e., from the registration to the application stage). The NPA will need to delegate access at each stage of a competition. NPAs should revoke delegates' access prior to completing the Consent and Submit tasks if they do not want them to retain access to submitted applications via their Completed Activities tab. For more information, please see the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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

Partners

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 – 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) 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.

CIHR – Institute of Infection and Immunity (III)
The institute of Infection and Immunity (III) supports research and helps to build research capacity in the areas of infectious disease and the body's immune system. Through the Institute's programs, researchers address a wide range of health concerns related to infection and immunity including disease mechanisms, disease prevention and treatment, and health promotion through public policy.

CIHR – Institute of Indigenous Peoples' Health (IIPH)
The Institute of Indigenous Peoples' Health (IIPH) fosters the advancement of a national health research agenda to improve and promote the health of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples in Canada, through research, knowledge translation and capacity building. The Institute's pursuit of research excellence is enhanced by respect for community research priorities and Indigenous Knowledges, values and cultures.

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.

Collaborative Opportunities for Research Involving Indigenous Peoples

To enhance collaboration and create multi-sectoral opportunities to build capacity for, and conduct STBBI related research that is relevant, meaningful and culturally safe for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis, including urban Indigenous communities, applicants are encouraged to connect with one of the 9 CIHR-funded Network Environments for Indigenous Health Research (NEIHR), and other CIHR initiatives involving Indigenous communities.

Data Management Plans

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. Questions about using DMP Assistant should be directed to the DMP Assistant support.

OCAP®⁷ and Distinctions-Based Approaches

The First Nations Principles of Ownership, Control, Access and Possession (OCAP®⁷) serve as one example of First Nations self-governance distinct to First Nations and not inclusive of Inuit or Métis Peoples, 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, Métis, communities, inclusive of urban populations, are acknowledged, affirmed, and implemented.

Definitions:

Distinctions-based approach: The Government of Canada recognizes First Nations, Inuit and the Métis Nation as the Indigenous peoples of Canada, consisting of distinct, rights-bearing communities with their own histories, including with the Crown. A distinctions-based approach ensures that the unique rights, interests and circumstances of First Nations, Inuit and Métis are acknowledged, affirmed and implemented.

Community-Centred Research: Requires meaningful engagement of community members and PWLLE throughout the research process to promote holistic and community-driven approaches in research and ensure relevant, applicable and timely solutions for the impacted communities.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Champion: For the purposes of this FO, the EDI Champion can take on roles such as an educator, mentor, facilitator, advocate, etc. The champion is responsible for promoting and integrating EDI considerations throughout all stages of the research. The EDI champion is not responsible for delivering the EDI components of research. Rather, their role is to support the NPA and research team with knowledge, skills or strategies as they address EDI considerations. The list below provides examples of the types of activities EDI 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 reflecting on, developing, advancing, sustaining and evaluating equitable and inclusive training, team and training environments, mentorship and funding of a diverse population of current and future scientists and community members;
• Provide advice and guidance and facilitate discussion with the team regarding how best to embed EDI considerations in research planning, procedures, approaches and practices;
• Provide EDI resources (such as a toolbox of strategies for advancing EDI and for responding to resistance to EDI considerations, as well as resources on historical EDI issues and current findings and innovations);
• Identify EDI training opportunities for the team to better understand and address the meaning, value, implementation and impacts of EDI.

Knowledge Mobilization (KM) Champion: For the purposes of this FO, the KM champion can take on roles such as a facilitator, advocate, etc. The champion is responsible for considering and promoting knowledge mobilization which emphasizes the co-creation of new knowledge between researchers and knowledge users, with meaningful, equitable, inclusive engagement of knowledge users throughout the entire research process, including the setting of research priorities and directions. Knowledge mobilization activities supported by the KM Champion should support holistic and person- and community-centred approaches to developing policy, practice and products and engage affected communities, decision and policy makers and practitioners at every stage of research, from designing questions to disseminating results such that knowledge generated leads to greater relevance, adoption and potential for spread in diverse contexts. The KM Champion will also serve a liaison to the future CBR Coordinating Centre to promote KM across the CBR Teams.

Racialized: In this funding opportunity, the term racialized is used as an alternative to "visible minorities," as used in the Employment Equity Act. This definition is consistent with CIHR and Tri-Agency flagship documents such as Dimensions and the NFRF Best Practices in EDI Research

Training and Mentoring (TM) Champion: In the context of this FO, the TM Champion will lead the development and implementation of equitable, inclusive, and meaningful training and mentorship opportunities for community-based and academic team members at a range of career stages and/or life experiences. Training and mentoring may include, but is not limited to, opportunities for experiential learning and/or formal training in research methodologies, proposal writing and KM production. The TM Champion will also serve a liaison to the future CBR Coordinating Centre to coordinate larger training and mentoring activities across the CBR Teams.

People With Lived/Living Experience (PWLLE): In the context of this FO, this includes individuals with personal experience of a health issue (patients) or formal and informal caregivers, including family and friends, and organizations representing PWLLE.

Important Resources:

Tips on building a successful CBR application

References/Footnotes

1. Public Health Agency of Canada (2022), Estimates of HIV incidence, prevalence and Canada's progress on meeting the 90-90-90 HIV targets, 2020
2. Canada takes action by endorsing global declaration on Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U)
3. Canada takes action by endorsing global declaration on Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U)
4. Key populations disproportionately affected by STBBI in Canada include: gay, bisexual men and other MSM; people who use drugs; First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples; racialized people (including African, Caribbean and Black communities) and migrants, particularly from regions with high STBBI prevalence; sex workers and their clients; people living in or recently released from correctional facilities; transgender and non-binary people; people living with STBBI; young women (16-25 years old); youth
5. Public Health Agency of Canada (2022), Estimates of HIV incidence, prevalence and Canada's progress on meeting the 90-90-90 HIV targets, 2020
6. STBBI include but are not limited to HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B (HBV), Hepatitis C (HCV), syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and Human papilloma virus (HPV)
7. OCAP® is a registered trademark of the First Nations Information Governance Centre (FNIGC)
8. S. R. Carroll, I. Garba, O. L. Figueroa-Rodríguez, J. Holbrook, R. Lovett, S. Materechera et M. Hudson, (2020) The CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance, Data Science, pp. 19(1), 43