ResearchNet - RechercheNet

Funding Organization
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Program Name
Operating Grant : COVID-19 Knowledge Synthesis Network ARCHIVED
(COVID-19 Knowledge Synthesis Network)
Program Launch Date
2020-10-29
Deadline Date
TBD

Important Dates

Competition Expression of Interest (via email)
CLOSED
Full Application (via ResearchNet) (202011CKS)
CLOSED
Application Deadline 2020-11-05 2020-11-19
Anticipated Notice of Decision N/A 2020-12-15
Funding Start Date N/A 2020-12-01

Notices

The content of this funding opportunity has been updated
Date updated: 2021-09-16
Section(s) updated: Guidelines

The content of this funding opportunity has been updated
Date updated: 2020-11-13
Section(s) updated: How to Apply

Applicants are required to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) by email to EHTRF-FRNMS@cihr-irsc.gc.ca no later than 8:00 p.m. (ET) on November 5, 2020, prior to beginning their full application. Note that this task is mandatory to be eligible to submit a full application. See How to Apply for more details.

Full Applications may be submitted starting November 6, 2020.

Partner Linkage Tool

CIHR is providing a linkage tool that is intended to facilitate connections and collaborations (domestically and internationally) should there be interest. This is not a mandatory tool. Information is provided on a volunteer basis and does not confer any advantages in the evaluation and funding of applications. Please note that potential applicants are not required to use the linkage tool or contact those who have submitted their information.

If you would like to use this tool, please complete a short form. The information you provide will appear on a public CIHR web page.

(Updated: 2020-11-02)

Table of Contents

Description


This funding opportunity is part of the Government of Canada's continued response to address the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. This funding will enable the coordination, prioritization, and development of rapid and timely knowledge syntheses and evidence-based products to ensure the Canadian and international response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to be informed by the best available science. 

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, many groups involved in both the production and coordination of knowledge syntheses have pivoted their focus to COVID-19. However some of these networks within the knowledge synthesis landscape have specialized scopes and most often, deliverables are evidence reviews with longer timelines.

There is a need to fill two critical gaps within the Canadian knowledge synthesis space in the response to COVID-19:

  1. The development of rigorous and rapid knowledge syntheses, on a broad scope of topics related to COVID-19, to address evidence needs of Canadian knowledge users, most notably decision-makers at the Federal, Provincial, and/or Territorial levels; and
  2. Strengthened and deliberate national and international coordination across knowledge synthesis bodies as a means to promote best practices, disseminate Canadian products, and improve efficiencies in the production of reviews in the context of COVID-19.

Please note, the collection of primary data or activities related to primary research are not meant to be supported through this funding opportunity.

Funds Available

CIHR's financial contributions for this initiative are subject to availability of funds. Should CIHR funding levels not be available or are decreased due to unforeseen circumstances, CIHR reserves the right to reduce, defer or suspend financial contributions to the grant received as a result of this funding opportunity.

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


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Objectives


The objective of this funding opportunity is to support a knowledge synthesis network designed to collaborate and rapidly respond to the need for synthesized evidence across the full breadth of Canada's COVID-19 pandemic response (including public-health measures, clinical management, health-system arrangements, and economic and social impacts). Through a highly collaborative approach, the knowledge synthesis network is expected to:

These objectives will be achieved through the following actions:  

CIHR requires the applicant team to describe the extent to which sex-and gender-based analysis (SGBA+) has been appropriately considered in publications included in their syntheses, including any potential limitations there may be in this regard. SGBA+ refers to the consideration and examination of sex, gender and other identity factors (e.g., age, race, ethnicity, culture, religion, geography, education, disability, income and sexual orientation) at all stages of the research process. Applying an SGBA+ lens is important to help formulate health research, policies and programs that are relevant to the diversity of the Canadian population.


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Eligibility


Eligibility to Apply

For an application to be eligible:

  1. The Nominated Principal Applicant must be an independent researcher.
  2. The Nominated Principal Applicant must be appointed at a CIHR eligible institution at the time of application (see the CIHR Application Administration Guide – Part 4).
  3. The Nominated Principal Applicant 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. Select and complete the training module most applicable to your project. Applicants are encouraged to review the "How to integrate sex and gender in research" section on the CIHR website. See How to Apply for more details.
  4. An applicant can only submit one application as a Nominated Principal Applicant.

CIHR is committed to promoting the inclusion and advancement of groups underrepresented in science as one of the means to enhance excellence in research, training and knowledge translation. CIHR's position on equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) is available in the Tri Agency Statement on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.

In this competition, applicants are required to consider an appropriate representation of groups underrepresented in science, and a diversity of experiences, within the network. Applications must clearly describe the team's commitment to engaging a diversity of members, in particular related to how they will address team composition and recruitment processes; environment; training activities; and/or knowledge translation activities, as applicable. Additional guidance can be found on the Best practices in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Research webpage.


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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 should review the Use of Grant Funds section of Tri-Agency Guide on Financial Administration for requirements regarding allowable costs and activities.

The following expenses will be considered eligible for funding received through this funding opportunity:

Conditions of Funding


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Review Process and Evaluation


Relevance Review Process

CIHR will perform a relevance review to identify applications that are in alignment with the objectives of this funding opportunity. Applications that are not deemed to be relevant will be withdrawn from the competition and not proceed to peer review.

Review Process

Peer review will be conducted in accordance with CIHR peer review principles. For information, see the Peer Review: Overview section of CIHR's website.

Iterative review may be incorporated in the review of the applications. As a result, the applicants may have the opportunity to present their application and/or respond to the question(s) of clarification in regards to the application posed by the evaluation committee. The final funding recommendation will take into consideration the answers supplied by the applicants.

Evaluation Criteria

Full Applications will be assessed using the following criteria:

  1. Science
    • Quality of proposal:
      1. Extent to which the application responds and aligns to each the funding opportunity objectives;
      2. Addresses the feasibility and methodology that the applicant team will utilize to produce rapid knowledge syntheses;
      3. Appropriateness of the proposed approach including the plan for coordination among key stakeholders;
      4. Quality of the plan for prioritization of requests for knowledge syntheses across multiple knowledge users;
      5. Quality of the plan for mobilizing the knowledge syntheses and evidence-based products produced by the network, most notably to reach F/P/T decision-makers;
      6. Considers the quality and appropriateness of the sex- and gender-based analysis+ (SGBA+) undertaken in each study and/or publication under review for inclusion in the knowledge syntheses, when applicable;
      7. Considers an appropriate representation of groups underrepresented in science and a diversity of experiences including in team composition and recruitment process, environment, training activities, and/or knowledge translation activities; and
      8. The proposed knowledge synthesis approaches and methods respect Indigenous values and ways of knowing and sharing, and abide by the Tri-Council Policy Statement Chapter 9: Research Involving the First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples of Canada.
    • Quality of Applicants:
      1. Strength, diversity, and track record and ability of team members to carry out proposed knowledge syntheses and related knowledge translation;
      2. Appropriateness of the governance plan, including structure and functioning to achieve defined goals and enable knowledge synthesis coordination and priority-setting within and beyond Canada; and
      3. Relevance and value-add of collaborations and partnerships to the objectives, including the quality of the engagement plan to mobilize decision-makers and knowledge users in the network.
  2. Impact
    • Impact of the Network:
      1. Clear justification for rapid response nature of proposal including the use of funding to achieve timely impacts and maximize health benefits through knowledge synthesis activities;
      2. Likelihood of the proposed approach to accelerate availability of high quality, real-time knowledge syntheses for translation of research into policy, practice, and/or clinical guidelines to address the immediate response to the COVID-19 pandemic;
      3. Addresses clear knowledge translation gap/need, rigour, relevance, and feasibility; and
      4. Appropriateness of the proposed process for priority-setting and demonstrating responsiveness to needs of Canadian knowledge users, including decision-makers at F/P/T levels.
  3. Budget:
      1. Appropriateness of the budget and justification for amount requested.

Funding Decision

The names of successfully funded applicants as well as project details will be published on the CIHR website.

The top-rated application (in the fundable range) will be funded.


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How to Apply


Specific instructions to complete your ResearchNet application

Step 1 – Expression of Interest (EOI)

Step 2 – Full Application

Task: Identify Participants (Updated: 2020-11-13)

Task: Enter Proposal Information

Task: Complete Summary of the Research Proposal

Task: Enter Budget Information

Task: Attach Other Application Materials

Note

Task: Complete Peer Review Administration Information

Task: Print, Scan and Upload Signature Pages


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Contact Information


For all inquiries, please contact:

Email: EHTRF-FRNMS@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

For service hours, please consult our Contact us page.


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Sponsor Description


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.


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Additional Information



References

  1. OCAP® is a registered trademark of the First Nations Information Governance Centre (FNIGC).

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Date Modified: