Funding, News and Announcements

Hi all,

Following are brief highlights from the April CIHR University Delegates teleconference:

CIHR Updates

A reminder that CIHR has launched the 2018 Institute Advisory Boards (IABs) membership renewal, with the deadline for applications April 9, 2018. More information is available on the CIHR website. CIHR has also launched new learning tools to assist researchers in integrating sex and gender into their research designs. (Please see the web page on these tools and links to online training modules). With respect to Project grants, CIHR has now made available a document describing in some detail how funding decisions are made.

In what has become a recurring statement, there is no word yet on who will be the next CIHR President, with CIHR now saying that this appointment is expected “in the coming weeks”.

Project Grant Update

As reported in the last update, CIHR has secured 57 Panels for this competition, reflecting a decrease in application pressure from the Fall 2017 competition. All of the Panel Chairs have been recruited, and CIHR is finalizing its roster of Scientific Officers (SOs) to meet the requirement of two per panel. Panel meetings will take place from mid-May to mid-June. Reviewer assignments are commencing April 9^th, with webinars for reviewers ongoing through April. CIHR did indicate that that they will be reviewing the topics and mandates for the current Panels with University Delegates at the face-to-face meeting later this month, with some adjustments anticipated for the Fall 2018 competition. As a point of interest, CIHR noted that women currently make up 37%, 52% and 37% of the Panel Chairs, SOs and reviewers for this Spring 2018 competition, respectively.

Foundation Grant Update

Not much to report here. To adjudicate the 163 applications remaining at Stage 2, CIHR has enlisted 19 Competition Chairs and 94 reviewers. Preliminary reviews were due this week, with final reviews expected by April 16^th following online discussions. Applicants will receive an email in early May notifying them as to whether their applicants will be moving on to (the final) Stage 3.

CIHR has now received and is currently preparing a response to a draft report submitted from a working group tasked with reviewing this program. A final report is expected to be available for discussion at the UD meeting in Ottawa at the end of the month.

Strategic Updates

CIHR provided a number of updates on several pending strategic program competitions, including initiatives involving the SPOR National Data Platform and Indigenous Health. Please review the latest Funding Opportunities link under ResearchNet. CIHR also provided an overview of results from the most recent (March 2018) strategic competitions.

Collaborative Health Research Project (CHRP) Grants

Apparently, applicants in the 2017 competition have been notified of the results (though institutions are still waiting to hear). Congratulations if you are one of the lucky ones! A pre-announcement for the 2018 CHRP competition is expected any day now, with timelines likely to be similar to the recently completed competition (so, LOIs due in early June, full applications due in early November).

As always, please do not hesitate 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