Grants and Contributions

The specific objectives of this funding opportunity are:

• Identify wise programs, policies or actions, and/or address critical knowledge gaps, including data, related to further understanding of the immediate impacts and/or future consequences of COVID-19 among First Nations, Inuit, Métis and/or Urban Indigenous populations, communities and/or individuals;
• Identify, implement and evaluate culturally safe, and community-led solutions to address the COVID-19 pandemic and its immediate and/or future consequences among First Nations, Inuit, Métis and/or Urban Indigenous communities;
• Accelerate First Nations, Inuit, Métis and/or Urban Indigenous community-led knowledge translation and knowledge mobilization activities related to COVID-19 within the context of Indigenous health; and
• Inform and contribute to relevant research capacity and infrastructure, or adapt existing programs and infrastructure, in First Nations, Inuit, Métis and/or Urban Indigenous communities to enable Indigenous communities to design, lead, and meaningfully participate in culturally safe responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The objective of Stream 2 is to:
•Establish interdisciplinary networks that contribute to the rapid response, understanding, and coordination of SARS-CoV-2 variants research.

Stream 2 applicants are strongly encouraged to consider maximizing impact by ensuring that the networks are inclusive of research from across pillars/research areas. Applicants are also expected to ensure that the network has appropriate and diverse representation within the team (see equity, diversity, and inclusion expectations below).

The networks formed through Stream 2 are expected to build the foundation of the CIHR Network for Emerging Variants Research.

Please note that Stream 2 NPAs interested in forming a network are strongly encouraged to indicate their intent to do so and area(s) of focus through CIHR’s linkage tool. Stream 2 NPA’s are also encouraged to use the linkage tool to collaborate with researchers interested in participating in networks (including those not funded through CIHR COVID-19 competitions).

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. Stream 2 applications must clearly describe the research team’s commitment to engaging a diversity of members, in particular related to how they will address team composition and recruitment processes; research 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.

When completing the application, applicants must protect the privacy and confidentiality of all team members. How an individual self-identifies is personal and confidential information, which should not be disclosed without consent.

Note: Successful Stream 1 and Stream 2 applicants will be connected to a surveillance network that will coordinate access to the repository of variants as available and as required.

Canada’s Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR) is a national coalition of federal, provincial and territorial partners (patients and informal caregivers, provincial health authorities, health centres, charities, philanthropic organizations, private sector, etc.) dedicated to the integration of research into care. Its vision is that by 2025, Canada will have demonstrably improved health outcomes and enhanced the health care experience for patients through the integration of evidence at all levels of the health care system.

As outlined in the SPOR Patient Engagement Framework, patient-oriented research refers to a continuum of research that engages patients as partners, focusses on patient-identified priorities and improves patient outcomes. This research, conducted by multidisciplinary teams in partnership with relevant stakeholders, aims to apply the knowledge generated to improve healthcare systems and practices.
As a partner in SPOR, CIHR will provide bridge funding for fundable applications that are below the competition funding cut-off and aligned with the SPOR vision and the SPOR Patient Engagement Framework. Categories are described in the Funds Available section.

The objective of Stream 2 is to:
•Establish interdisciplinary networks that contribute to the rapid response, understanding, and coordination of SARS-CoV-2 variants research.

Stream 2 applicants are strongly encouraged to consider maximizing impact by ensuring that the networks are inclusive of research from across pillars/research areas. Applicants are also expected to ensure that the network has appropriate and diverse representation within the team (see equity, diversity, and inclusion expectations below).

The networks formed through Stream 2 are expected to build the foundation of the CIHR Network for Emerging Variants Research.

Please note that Stream 2 NPAs interested in forming a network are strongly encouraged to indicate their intent to do so and area(s) of focus through CIHR’s linkage tool. Stream 2 NPA’s are also encouraged to use the linkage tool to collaborate with researchers interested in participating in networks (including those not funded through CIHR COVID-19 competitions).

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. Stream 2 applications must clearly describe the research team’s commitment to engaging a diversity of members, in particular related to how they will address team composition and recruitment processes; research 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.

When completing the application, applicants must protect the privacy and confidentiality of all team members. How an individual self-identifies is personal and confidential information, which should not be disclosed without consent.

Note: Successful Stream 1 and Stream 2 applicants will be connected to a surveillance network that will coordinate access to the repository of variants as available and as required.

The objectives of Stream 1 are:
•Accelerate rapid research on SARS-CoV-2 variants in Canada to contribute to the national and global efforts to address SARS-CoV-2 variants; and
•Generate timely evidence on SARS-CoV-2 variants that will show impact within 3-6 months and is relevant to biological, clinical, health system, and public health strategies.

Stream 1 applicants are strongly encouraged to consider maximizing impact by outlining how they intend to participate in:
1.The formation of a network (Stream 2) or participating in a network formed by another NPA (Stream 2); and,
2.The CIHR Network for Emerging Variants Research once established.

The objective is to invest in targeted COVID priority research areas from the Fall 2020 Project Grant competition such as vaccine hesitancy, pregnant women and children, racialized populations, Indigenous, confidence in science and SARS-CoV-2 variants.

The objectives of Stream 1 are:
•Accelerate rapid research on SARS-CoV-2 variants in Canada to contribute to the national and global efforts to address SARS-CoV-2 variants; and
•Generate timely evidence on SARS-CoV-2 variants that will show impact within 3-6 months and is relevant to biological, clinical, health system, and public health strategies.

Stream 1 applicants are strongly encouraged to consider maximizing impact by outlining how they intend to participate in:
1.The formation of a network (Stream 2) or participating in a network formed by another NPA (Stream 2); and,
2.The CIHR Network for Emerging Variants Research once established.

• The CIHR Institute of Aging (CIHR-IA) will fund applications that are relevant to one of the Institute of Aging’s Strategic Directions as described below:
o Strategic Direction 1: Health and Wellness over the Trajectory of Aging
Priority Areas:
¿ Life trajectory as a determinant of healthy and satisfying aging
¿ Added life to the later years
o Strategic Direction 2: Facing the Complex Health Challenges of an Older Population
Priority Areas:
¿ Understanding, preventing and addressing multiple chronic conditions
¿ Facing the challenge of dementia
¿ Recognizing new emerging aging populations
¿ Ensuring the adaptation of healthcare and services to an aging population
¿ Informing late-life care and decisions

The objectives of Stream 1 are:
•Accelerate rapid research on SARS-CoV-2 variants in Canada to contribute to the national and global efforts to address SARS-CoV-2 variants; and
•Generate timely evidence on SARS-CoV-2 variants that will show impact within 3-6 months and is relevant to biological, clinical, health system, and public health strategies.

Stream 1 applicants are strongly encouraged to consider maximizing impact by outlining how they intend to participate in:
1.The formation of a network (Stream 2) or participating in a network formed by another NPA (Stream 2); and,
2.The CIHR Network for Emerging Variants Research once established.

• Funding will be provided for applications that specifically align with IHSPR’s mandate and one or more of the following priority areas:

o Virtual care1 approaches and their implications on access, continuity, experience, equity, cost and/or outcomes of care.
o Cross-jurisdictional healthcare policy/systems/services analysis that utilizes the Canadian Data Platform, with linkages to additional novel data sources (e.g., EMRs, hospital administrative data, patient-reported experience measures (PREMS) and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMS)).
o Models of care that optimize inter-professional collaboration and/or integration of services across sectors for the improvement of patient outcomes and timely access to high quality, appropriate care for all.
o Cross-jurisdictional comparative policy analysis of the COVID-19 response and outcomes (e.g., policies, processes and interventions implemented in response to the pandemic).
o System adaptation and organization of care and the healthcare workforce as it relates to the COVID-19 pandemic. Areas of focus include the primary, home and community care sectors (including long-term care).