Funding, News and Announcements

University Delegates (UD) Meeting Minutes – February 1, 2024

1. CIHR Updates-Tri-Agency Open Access (OA) Policy Review

In July 2023, the tri-agency Presidents announced a review of the OA policy.  An online survey was opened for reactions between July 4 and September 15, 2023. A total of 1,431 responses were received. On December 4, 2023 the OA Survey Results Report was posted on science.gc.ca. The hosting will host virtual engagement sessions in February – March 2024 for University Delegates. Session themes include building a Culture of OA, Pathways to OA, Measuring OA (compliance).  The revised OA policy will be releases by end of 2025.

2. Refresh on the Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR)

The original strategy for SPOR included:

• Engagement of patients and other knowledge user to maximize the relevance of research.
• Partnered Funding to increase reach, buy-in and knowledge mobilization.
• Investment in capacity building to grow the skills, knowledge and relationships required to sustain patient-oriented research.
• Investment in infrastructure to enable patient-oriented research

Eleven SPOR Support units are found across Canada including MSSU in Atlantic Canada organized in six Networks, one Canadian Primary Care Research Networks with cross-cutting platforms that contribute $11.7M annually to Innovative Clinical Trials.

The program has been very successful leveraging $1.16 from partners for every $1 from CIHR. SPOR-funded research has been cited in policy documents at 2.7X the global average for similar programs. SPOR has supported 229 evidence synthesis requests completed by SPOR Evidence alliance; 100% of evidence synthesis requests were implemented in policy and practice decision-making. SPOR provides resources to smaller jurisdictions and builds capacity in partnership with Indigenous communities in the north.

The renewal process will build on successes and lessons learned while reflecting evolving patient, healthy system, community partner, and research priorities. This work supports CIHR’s Strategic Plan Priority E-Integrate Evidence in Health Decisions.  Locally, Dr. Gail Tomblin-Murphy NSH is on the SPOR Refresh Steering committee. A new name is being contemplated to reflect patients, partners, persons with lived experience and caregivers.

You are invited to share your insights until March 31, 2024, by:

• Joining or hosting a local conversation using our Engagement Toolkit (attached)
• Contributing to the public engagement platform
• Emailing: SPOR-SRAP@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
• Calling: 1-888-603-4178 (Option 6)

3. Project Grant Update on Appendices and Peer Review

Peer review committees have indicated that there needed to be a consistent approach to Appendices with Project Grants. Appendices are used inconsistently, can add significantly to applications, often are used to extend the research proposal, and contribute to inequity in peer review as reviewers are not obligated to read the appendices. Project Grant Chairs and Science Council strongly supported change to increase fairness in review and limit the length of proposals.

Appendices will be used for required administrative documents if applicable including:

1. The certificate of completion of sex-and gender-based analysis training modules for nominated principal applicant (NPA),
2. Letter of support if NPA has pending appointment,
3. Letter of community support of the proposal relates to Indigenous health research, and
4. Attestation from employer for any international researchers paid from the grant.

Appendices MAY include letters of collaboration to NPA which describer access to equipment, specific reagents, training in specialized techniques, statical analysis support, or access to patient population.

Any attachments that are NOT eligible, including publications, surveys, supplementary figures, charts, patient information sheets etc., will be removed from the application.

There will be targeted communication to applicants and reviewers regarding appendices and monitoring of peer review process.

Peer review training is evolving to increase the community’s awareness of principles of the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA)

CIHR continues to consider the quality of peer review, and pros and cons of in person versus virtual review. Spring 2024 peer review will be virtual.  CIHR is analyzing the Fall 2023 and will update the community soon.

4. Project Grant Competition Update Spring 2024 and Fall 2024 Application Deadline:                

Spring competition Registration                          February 7, 2024

Spring Application Deadline                                March 6, 2024

Anticipated Notice of Recommendation (NOR):   July 3, 2024

Anticipated Notice of Decision (NOD):                July 17, 2024

Funding Start Date:                                           October 1, 2024

Fall competition Registration                              Mid-August 2024

Reminder:  ResearchNet keeps a list of Current Funding Opportunities and Priority Announcements.  ResearchNet - RechercheNet