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Archived Request for Applications

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A funding initiative of the Tripartite Cooperation Agreement between Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Health Research Council of New Zealand (HRC NZ) and the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (NHMRC).

Background

Tripartite Agreement

In 2002, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (NHMRC) and the Health Research Council of New Zealand (HRC NZ), entered into a trilateral partnership to support research in the area of Indigenous peoples' health with the goal of improving the health of Indigenous peoples in each of the three countries.

This partnership will build upon existing networks of researchers to further develop research of Indigenous peoples' health in areas of mutually shared priorities. The Tripartite Agreement is a five-year agreement which can be viewed at the following websites:

• CIHR
• NHMRC (new window) [ Help ]
• HRC NZ [ External PDF (27 KB) | Help ]

It is under this innovative agreement that Canada, Australia and New Zealand have agreed that the International Collaborative Indigenous Health Research Partnership (ICIHRP) will build on existing knowledge to bridge the gaps between Indigenous peoples' health and that of the general population.

ICIHRP

The ICIHRP grant on Resilience aims to recognise and address the disparity between the health of Indigenous peoples and the health of the general population.

"Despite the health challenges facing aboriginal communities in Canada over the past several decades, aboriginal people have demonstrated incredible strength, determination and resiliency to survive, thrive and prosper."

CIHR - Institute of Aboriginal Peoples' Health Five-Year Strategic Plan: 2002 to 2007

The ICIHRP will:

• Build on existing networks of researchers, and further develop research of Indigenous peoples' health in a particular health area; and
• improve health for Indigenous peoples through cross-country, multi disciplinary and multi-sectoral research focused on the factors and processes that promote resilience.

The main focus of the ICIHRP is "resiliency". Resiliency was chosen as a broad theme as it covers all spheres of the life cycle from child and maternal health, adolescence to healthy ageing. Resiliency can be applied to identify intervention points at various stages of life and/or specific health issues to Indigenous peoples. The research should take into consideration what forms a basis for good health throughout the life span of Indigenous peoples.

"Identifying factors which promote resilience and lay the foundations for good health throughout life are critical areas for improving better health for Indigenous peoples. Understanding and disseminating positive examples of resilience and strength in adversity can be gleaned from Indigenous communities and sharing the international experience.

"Doing well" in an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander context may mean something different than in the wider community and needs to be understood.

In considering resilience across the life span, it is important to identify the key transition points in peoples' lives, whether these be age, life or community events and the interventions that have proven most effective at different transition points. Some transitions will present clearer opportunities for life changes than others. There needs to be a clearer understanding of the risk factors at different transition points, how to minimise risks or intervene to address negative impacts."

NHMRC Road Map: A strategic framework for improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health through research, 2002

The ICIHRP, through sharing in research methodology, ethical conduct of research, community engagement, transfer of research outcomes and research capacity, as well as encouraging direct links between researchers and organisations, will assist in the development of collaborative Indigenous health research.

Expressions of Interest will be assessed by a joint review panel comprised of senior researchers from Canada, Australia and New Zealand with expertise in Indigenous health.

Each funded ICIHRP will have three individual contracts/grant. Each will be signed by the Administering Institution that will be responsible for managing that country's component of the Partnership.

One the three Administering Institutions will be designated as the Lead Administering Institution and will be responsible for the overall management of the Partnership.

Expression of Interest Guidelines

Name of Program
Insert application title.

Synopsis
Provide a brief summary of the research project. Maximum of 20 lines at 12 point font, single spaced.

Name of Program Lead Investigator
Provide the name and contact details, including phone number, email address and postal address for the Program Lead Investigator. The lead investigator is the person responsible for the project and the primary contact.

First Named Investigator, Second Named Investigator, Third Named Investigator
Add further details for each named Investigator. There is to be one named Investigator per country who will be responsible for the management of their country's component of the Partnership.

Investigators should indicate if they are involved in any other submissions that have been made to this application process.

Lead Administering Institution and Country
Insert the name of the Lead Administering Institution for the research proposal and country.
The Lead Administering Institution is responsible for the overall management of the Partnership.

Administering Institutions
Insert the name of the Administering Institution for each country. The Administering Institution is responsible for the management of that country's component of the Partnership.

Other Associated Institutions and Country
List the names of other associated Institutions and their country.

Part 1

This should be restricted to a maximum of five pages presented at 12 point font, single spaced on A4 paper.

1. Detailed outline of proposed research activities.

   Provide a brief outline of the proposed research activity

2. How will the proposed research program address the theme of the ICIHRP, "resiliency"?

   Detail how your application will address the theme of resiliency.

3. How will the ICIHRP uniquely contribute to existing research, and foster new research in Indigenous health?

   Briefly describe how the ICIHRP will add to research or new research in the field of Indigenous health.

   Applicants should address why this proposed research should be supported. The relevance and contributions to health and Indigenous peoples' health should be clearly outlined.

   Merit to science should be addressed, including science risks and methodology.

4. How will the research program lead to improved health outcomes for Indigenous peoples?

   Explain how the outcomes of this research project will lead to the improved health of Indigenous peoples.

   Explain what are the potential health benefits for Indigenous peoples from the successful completion of this research. How is the research program identifying a strategic issue of key importance for Indigenous peoples?

5. How will the ICIHRP identify and implement international collaborations?

   Explain how the research project will identify relevant international networks and implement collaborations.

   Outline the quality and nature of the connections and partnerships, identifying intra-country and inter-country research partner collaborations. General responsibilities and tasks assigned to each participating Institution should be stated along with the unique strengths and skills that the international collaborators bring to the project.

6. How will the ICIHRP foster training and encourage career development for Indigenous researchers and/or researchers with a specialisation in Indigenous health?

   Explain how the research project will contribute to research training and provide career development opportunities for Indigenous researchers and/or researchers with a specialisation in Indigenous health.

   Indicate how the research program will develop the skills of Indigenous researchers and/or the development of future Indigenous researchers and/or researchers specialising in Indigenous health.

7. How will you plan for the effective translation of research findings to Indigenous health outcomes?

   Explain how and in what form the research findings will be translated and the definition used for the concept of "knowledge translation."

   Explain how the research project will ensure that the outcomes are translated to policy and policy-makers for implementation in the Indigenous health outcomes sector?

   Identify how end users will make use of the new knowledge generated by the research proposed. Describe how the new knowledge will be translated into Indigenous specific policy development and practical implementation. Identify how the knowledge will be disseminated and transferred.

8. Indicative Budget.

   Provide a brief summary to justify the budget, not more than one page and attach to the Expression of Interest template.

   Provide a budget for personnel, working expenses and equipment for the period of the research program, entering amounts in the currency of the country that will administer the ICIHRP. Three tables are provided, to indicate funding requirements per country. Each country will fund research to take part in their respective country.

   Amounts should be entered in the currency for each country. Full Time Equivalents (FTE) should be included as a percentage as well as a cost for each staff member. Refer to each country's description of funding guidelines. Weblinks to these documents are at the end of the guidelines.

9. Proposal development grant.

   $15,000 per country (total of $45,000, per application) may be provided for international collaborations to shortlisted applicants. These funds may be provided to enhance their collaboration prior to submission of full applications.

   Provide a brief summary identifying relevant international partners expected to collaborate with and their research expertise and include justification for a proposal development grant.

Part 2

This should be a maximum of one A4 page per Named Investigator. Each Named Investigator should be included on a separate page.

Lead Investigator
Provide the name of the Named Investigator.

Institution, Country
Identify the Institution to receive funds and country that the Institution is based in.

New Zealand

Iwi/tribal affiliation
For New Zealand Named Investigators, provide details of your iwi/tribal affiliation.

How will this Investigator contribute to the ICIHRP?
Provide a brief description on how the Named Investigator will contribute to the research project and the ICIHRP.

Named Investigators will need to demonstrate experience in:

• relevant high quality research;
• fostering research training and career development; and
• translation of research findings into improved health outcome.

Five most relevant research outputs over the last five years
Indicate the five most relevant research outputs (may include publications) over the past five years.

Lead Administering Institution Declaration
The Lead Administering Institution is to provide certification that the details provided in the Expression of Interest are true and correct.

The original signature page is to be held by the Lead Administering Institution. This page should be made available on request.

Lodging an Expression of Interest
[ RTF (209 Kb) | Help ]
The Expressions of Interest Template should be completed and submitted electronically to the NHMRC via ATSI.research@nhmrc.gov.au.

All Expressions of Interest are due by Friday August 13, 2004.

Instructions on the length and type of information to be included under each criteria is provided in the Expressions of Interest Guidelines.

The Application Process

Lodging an Application:

[ RTF ( 3678 Kb ) | Help ]
The Application Guidelines can be viewed at: [ HTML | PDF( 250 Kb ) | Help ]
The Peer Review Guidelines can be viewed at: [ HTML | PDF( 274 Kb ) | Help ]

The Peer Review Process for 2005 ICIHRP funding will be structured in the following stages:

• The ICIHRP Committee will shortlist Expressions of Interest;
• Shortlisted applicants will be invited to submit full applications;
• Full applications will be peer reviewed by at least three referees from each country (minimum of nine);
• De-identified assessor reports will be returned to applicants for rebuttal;
• The ICIHRP Committee will consider applications, assessor reports, and applicant's responses;
• The ICIHRP Committee will provide a recommendation for grants to be awarded;
• Relevant approval processes will be followed by each country;
• The results of 2005 ICIHRP funding will be announced; and
• Funding for the ICIHRP will commence.

Timeline
15 June 04	Call for Expressions of Interest
13 August 04	Expressions of Interest due
30 Sept 04	Shortlist - Call for Full applications
28 Feb 05	Full applications due
4 April 05	Peer review completed
25 April 05	Funding recommendations made
2 May 05	Applicants advised of outcome and negotiation of contracts (one per country)
1 July 05	Grants commence

Applicants will need to note the following:

• funding of approved research proposals cannot commence until all required clearances are received;
• where proposals include provision of expertise or equipment by industry or another body, funding cannot commence until written agreement to provide these resources in a timely manner is received;
• detailed reporting will be required on an annual basis as outlined in the contract/grant;
• The ICIHRP Committee has the right to undertake site visits or other monitoring, and investigator(s) must be willing to participate in these visits, workshops, interviews or similar forums;
• The ICIHRP funding support should be acknowledged in relevant presentations and publications, along with funding agency names.
• Programs will be funded up to five years, and will be reviewed during the third year.

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Canada

Allowable costs

Applicants should review the "Eligibility of Expenses, Employment under Grants" section of the CIHR Research Grants Guidelines for a complete listing and description of allowable costs and activities.

General CIHR Guidelines and Conditions of Funding

All conditions, as specified in CIHR's General Grants and Awards Policies, shall apply to grants funded through this initiative. Conditions cover areas such as Applicant and Institutional Responsibilities, Ethics, Official Language Policy, Access to Information and Privacy Acts, and Acknowledgement of CIHR Support. Successful applicants will be informed of any special financial conditions prior to the release of funds or when they receive CIHR's Authorization for Funding (AFF) document.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility criteria for all CIHR research funding (grant) programs apply. The business office of the institution of an eligible Nominated Principal Applicant generally administers CIHR funds. Please refer to the General Guidelines for all Research Grants under CIHR's Grants and Awards Guides on the CIHR website, regarding the eligibility requirements for individuals and institutions.

Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) will not be accepted. 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.

New Zealand

Funding guidelines for New Zealand applicants [ External PDF (165 KB) | Help ].

Australia

NHMRC Deed of Agreement for Australian applicants (new window) [ Help ].

Further Information

All queries in relation to the ICIHRP should be directed to:

Canada

Laura Commanda
Assistant Director
Institute of Aboriginal Peoples' Health
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Telephone: (613) 946-6495
Fax: (613) 941-10410
Email: lcommanda@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

Suzette Dos Santos
A/Program Delivery Officer
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Telephone: (613) 941-0848
Fax: (613) 954-1800
Email: sdossantos@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

Australia

Grantnet Help on 1-800-500-983 or via e-mail to ATSI.research@nhmrc.gov.au

New Zealand

Aroha Haggie
Manager Maori Health Research
ahaggie@hrc.govt.nz