Collaborative Health Research Projects Program

Program Description

About the Program

The Collaborative Health Research Projects (CHRP) program supports focused collaborative research projects involving any field of the natural sciences or engineering and the health sciences. If successful, the projects will be novel and lead to health benefits for Canadians, more effective health services, or economic development in health-related areas. The proposed project may range from fundamental knowledge creation to research on knowledge application relevant to industry or public policy. Typically, support will be for up to three years for defined projects (which are not existing research programs), with clear milestones and decision points.

Objectives

In the context of improved health for Canadians, the objectives of the Collaborative Health Research Projects (CHRP) program are to:

• Translate research results to end users and stakeholders;
• Encourage the NSERC and CIHR communities to collaborate and integrate their expertise in their novel research activities;
• Advance interdisciplinary research leading to knowledge and technologies useful for improving the health of Canadians; and
• Train highly qualified personnel in collaborative and interdisciplinary research of relevance to health.

Participants

The participation of two or more independent researchers with complementary expertise is required. Team composition must include expertise in the natural sciences or engineering and expertise in the health sciences. New and genuine collaborations between researchers in the natural sciences and engineering and medical researchers, clinicians, social scientists and researchers in the humanities are strongly encouraged. The onus is on the applicant to clearly demonstrate that the assembled research team, under the leadership of the principal investigator, collectively has the necessary expertise for successful execution of the project. Collaborators from other sectors (e.g., government and industry) and foreign researchers are welcome to participate but are expected to bring their own resources to the project. While the participation of partners from outside the academic sector is not required, applicants are strongly encouraged to form linkages with relevant users and stakeholders.

Eligibility

Both NSERC and CIHR criteria are used to determine eligibility for the CHRP program. For more information about NSERC and CIHR eligibility, please consult NSERC’s Eligibility Criteria and CIHR’s   Eligibility Requirements for Grants and Awards.

Applicant (Principal Investigator) Eligibility: The applicant must hold an eligible appointment at a Canadian university that is eligible to receive funds from NSERC.

This appointment must take effect no later than the date on which the funds are released; normally April 1 of the year following the year of application. 

Co-applicants Eligibility: The co-applicant(s) must hold an NSERC-eligible position at an NSERC-eligible institution or be eligible under CIHR’s regulations as they pertain to “ principal applicants”. 

Adjunct professors who meet NSERC’s eligibility criteria, but whose primary place of employment is not a university, may participate as co-applicants.

Postdoctoral Fellows are not eligible as applicants or co-applicants.

Review Procedures and Selection Criteria

Applicants must first submit a Notification of Intent (NOI) to NSERC. All NOIs are then reviewed by the CHRP panel and applicants whose projects best fit the CHRP program objectives are invited to submit complete applications by the deadline date.

All full applications will be evaluated by external reviewers and the CHRP selection panel. Applications will be evaluated on the following criteria (the onus is on the applicant to address these explicitly in the proposal):

• Knowledge translation – The impact and potential for the translation of the results into improved health for Canadians, more effective health services and economic development must be demonstrated. This includes the anticipated impact of the proposed research on the health of Canadians, the importance of the proposed health issue, demonstrated potential for translation of results and their significance to the health care sector, and a plan for translation to relevant target audiences, appropriate users, stakeholders and health care segments.
• Quality of the research project – This includes the novel aspects and originality of the project, clarity and scope of objectives, methodology (including experimental design) and feasibility.
• Appropriateness of the team and management, including the team’s leadership and the integration of team members – This includes the knowledge, expertise and experience of researchers; quality of, or potential for, contributions of the team members; complementarity, interdisciplinarity between the natural sciences or engineering and health sciences, and synergy of the expertise of the team members; appropriateness of the management of the project; co-ordination and integration of activities; contribution and time commitment of participants; and clarity of roles and responsibilities.
• Contributions to training of highly qualified personnel in interdisciplinary research and to providing trainees with an understanding of the impact of the collaborative research on human health – This includes the quality and extent of past and proposed contributions to collaborative training in the health context within the proposed project (e.g., opportunity for trainees to spend time in different laboratories or settings), and the training environment.

In addition, the committee will consider the appropriateness and justification for the proposed budget in its final recommendations.

Resubmission: An applicant who was unsuccessful in one competition may submit a revised application in a subsequent competition. The applicant must respond to any previous committee comments with the resubmission. The previous application may be used by the selection committee as a reference during the evaluation of the resubmitted application.

Previously successful applicants must describe to what extent this project is novel with respect to the team and goals, and how it is not a continuation of any projects previously funded by the CHRP program. Renewal requests will not be accepted.

Exceptions

No financial support will be granted to research projects that are a continuation of research being conducted on topics already studied within a previous CHRP project.

Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) will not be considered under this program. RCTs are defined as any study involving humans where at least two interventions are compared using random allocation, statistical methodologies and blinding techniques for the purpose of determining whether an innovative intervention leads to improved health.

However, RCT applications may be submitted to the CIHR’s regular RCT program. CIHR recommends that you familiarize yourself with the RCT specific guidelines and instructions, which are fully described in  CIHR Randomized Controlled Trials Program’s Guidelines for Completion. Potential applicants are strongly advised to consult with CIHR RCT staff listed in the  Contact Us section of the CIHR’s Web site.

Reporting

Awardees will be required to acknowledge the funding received from NSERC and CIHR in all communications and publications resulting from the project funded by the CHRP program.

All recipients of three-year grants in this program must submit a progress report during the second year. Payment of the final installment of the grant is contingent upon satisfactory progress.

All grantees will be advised of the requirements for and timing of such reports.

Application Process

Phase 1 – Complete Notification of Intent

About Notifications of Intent

A Notification of Intent is used to screen for fit with the objectives of the CHRP program and to set up the appropriate expertise on the peer review panel. The applicant must be designated to administer the grant. The applicant is responsible for completing and submitting the NOI on behalf of the group. The NOI application process is entirely performed on-line using NSERC’s on-line system.

NOI Application Process

NOI Submission

To apply to the CHRP program applicants must first complete a Notification of Intent application using Form 182, and submit the application through NSERC’s on-line system.

Form 182 includes:

• a cover page, including the title of the proposal, the name and contact information of the applicant, research subject code(s) and key word(s) that best describe the research proposal;
• a research summary and an estimate of the annual funding to be requested, maximum one page;
• an explicit description of how the proposed research would address the objectives of the program, maximum one page;
• a list of co-applicant(s) and the host institution(s);
• a list of collaborator(s), their department(s) and host institution(s); and
• a list of five suggested external referees.

Previously successful applicants must include an additional half-page describing to what extent this project is novel with respect to the team and goals, and how it is not a continuation of any previously funded projects by the CHRP program.

NOI Review Panel

NOIs are reviewed by CHRP Panel Members. All NOI applicants will be notified by the CHRP Program Staff, and selected applicants will be invited to complete their CHRP application (Phase 2).

Phase 2 – Complete CHRP Application

The full application must include:

• an NSERC Application for a Grant (Form 101). Requests for any equipment must be incorporated into the research proposal. Applicants must justify the need and urgency for the equipment to effectively conduct the research;
• an NSERC Personal Data Form (Form 100) for the applicant and, for each co-applicant, a Form 100 or a curriculum vitæ using the CIHR Common CV form is required.

For further details, read the instructions on how to complete Forms 100 and 101.

Resubmissions: An applicant who was unsuccessful in one competition may submit a revised application in a subsequent competition. The applicant must, however, include a one-page response to any previous committee comments with the resubmission. The previous application may be used by the selection committee as a reference during the evaluation of the resubmitted application. 

Previously successful applicants must include the additional half-page, submitted with the Notification of Intent, describing how this project is novel with respect to team and goals (in contrast to earlier projects). Renewal requests will not be accepted.