Funding, News and Announcements

Hi all,

This update will be brief, as our July CIHR University Delegates teleconference was postponed. As no doubt many of you are aware, there has been significant pressure brought to bear on CIHR around the implementation of the reforms, with considerable concern arising especially around the peer review process for the most recent Project Scheme competition currently concluding. This has prompted a statement from the Minister of Health, and a subsequent response from the President of CIHR. As you will note in the response, CIHR will be convening a working meeting to discuss the quality and integrity of CIHR's new peer review processes, and in particular the online system that was implemented to ensure an “unbiased and tailored” evaluation of each research proposal.  I understand that this meeting has been scheduled for July 13 in Ottawa, though it remains unclear as yet who will be invited to join this working group. I do know that 4 VPRs will be attending (organized by the U15), and CIHR is reaching out to HealthCareCan’s H10 group and the early career researcher group. Stay tuned!

As a result, there will be a delay in announcing the funding opportunities for CIHR’s investigator-initiated programs (originally scheduled for June 30) until after the working meeting has taken place. CIHR has committed to announcing a new date as quickly as possible; they also intend to maintain the original application deadlines and funding dates.

As always, please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

Regards,

Mark Filiaggi
CIHR University Delegate

Associate Vice-President Research
filiaggi@dal.ca
(902) 494-7102