CIHR Summer Program in Aging (SPA) 2023

Eligibility

For an application to be eligible:

1. The Nominated Principal Applicant must be a trainee. Specifically, applicants must be enrolled full-time or part-time in a Master's or PhD program, or be granted a postdoctoral fellowship at a Canadian University, or follow post-graduate clinical training that includes a program of research.
2. An academic supervisor must be identified. The Nominated Principal Applicant must have a commitment from their academic supervisor to cover the $500 SPA 2023 Training Program registration fee.
3. The trainee must be committed to attend the entire CIHR-IA SPA 2023 Training Program, June 4-9 2023.
4. The trainee must be participating in a CIHR-IA SPA Training Program for the first time.

Summary

The CIHR-IA Summer Program in Aging (SPA) is an intensive 5-day capacity-building program with the aim of providing graduate trainees with advanced training that crosses disciplines, offers networking opportunities, and disseminates best practices in research. SPA has been held yearly across Canada since 2006 on a different strategic theme each year. The program brings together up to 40 research trainees and numerous academic mentors to participate in interactive learning sessions over the course of one week. The strategic theme for SPA 2023 will be Longer-living older adults: Multidisciplinary approaches to a growing area of research on aging.

Globally we are seeing increases in life expectancy across all regions. For most countries this is resulting in a greater number of older adults living into their 80s, 90s and even older. In Canada, the number of older adults who are 80+ years of age is projected to increase by 300-400 percent from 1.6 million in 2018 to between 4.7- 6.3 million by 2068 (Statistics Canada, 2019). While this demographic trend is a success story in terms of medical and social advancements, the correlation of advanced age with increased co-morbidity and, in particular, dementia will contribute to increased challenges for health services and social supports. SPA 2023 will shine a light on the experiences, realities, needs and challenges of this growing population living into advanced age. The program will provide trainees with a holistic understanding of this segment of our older population with considerations across the aging spectrum from biology, frailty, and function, to levels of dependency and solutions for complex challenges facing our health and social systems.

During SPA 2023, trainees will have an opportunity to:

1. Understand the heterogeneity and malleability of health trajectories of the older population living into advanced age with a focus on topics such as dementia, frailty, mental health, disability, multiple long-term conditions, health care utilization and quality of care and support.
2. Explore inclusion, diversity, equity and SGBA+ considerations for research about longer-living older adults.
3. Consider this population through Indigenous perspectives.
4. Explore a range of methodological approaches to researching longer-living older adults, including approaches that offer meaningful involvement of older adults.
5. Gain an understanding of COVID-related implications for research.
6. Understand potential research opportunities and availability of data sources.
7. Interact with leading researchers and academic mentors with expertise in longer-living older adults.
8. Become familiar with policies and practices that support longer-living older adults in both community and healthcare settings.
9. Understand ethical and social issues surrounding research involving longer-living older adults.
10. Gain an understanding of the studies and initiatives linked to the Institute of Aging's major initiatives: the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging and the Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging.
11. Develop skills in knowledge mobilization and knowledge translation for various audiences (general public, media, health professionals, decision makers).
12. Develop skills in grant writing and peer review.
13. Explore career options and skills for career development.
14. Build a professional multi-disciplinary network of researchers interested in research on longer-living older adults.

SPA 2023 will be held in Nova Scotia from June 4-9, 2023. The formal program is expected to take place over five days, with allotted time for networking with other SPA 2023 participants. Trainees are required to attend all program sessions and networking events, with some events occurring in the evening and/or early morning. A timetable will be provided to participants upon acceptance and prior to the training program.

Over the course of SPA 2023, trainees will have the opportunity to engage in lectures, discussion, and activities built around the core thematic area Longer-living older adults: Multidisciplinary approaches to a growing area of research on aging. Aside from lectures centred on the program area, trainees will explore fundamental topics such as research and professional skill building, grant writing, research communication, incorporating the perspective of those with lived experience in research, and the importance of knowledge mobilization. To further the interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary experience, trainees will have access to networking and mentoring opportunities with national and international mentors.

Note: All trainees interested in attending SPA 2023 MUST apply through this Funding Opportunity. Selection for the 2023 CIHR-IA Summer Program in Aging will take place through this competition.

Funds Available

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

• The total amount available for this funding opportunity is $50,000, enough to fund approximately 40 awards.

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

Submission Process

Required signatures: Signatures must be included for the applicant and individual(s) with signing authority from the Institution Paid. To obtain this signature, please submit a completed and signed Research Funding Application Approvals (RFAA) form to postdoc@ucalgary.ca by November 21, 2022, at 12:00 PM MT.

*All trainees who wish to attend SPA 2023 MUST apply through ResearchNet.

All application participants listed are required to:

• Have/obtain a CIHR PIN
• Complete the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Self-identification Questionnaire.

Specific instructions to complete your ResearchNet application

Task Identify Participants

• The trainee must be identified as the Nominated Principal Applicant (NPA)
• The NPA is required to submit a CIHR Biosketch CV.
• A Primary Supervisor must be identified:
  • Enter the supervisor's CIHR PIN (Mandatory).
  • The supervisor's CV is not required.
• A Secondary Supervisor may also be identified.
• No other applicants can be listed on the application.

Task: Identify Sponsor

• Sponsor assessment refers to the letter of support from a supervisor. This task allows the identified sponsor (supervisor) to complete and submit their letter of support via ResearchNet. The applicant does not see this letter; however, the applicant receives an e-mail notification when the sponsor has submitted the letter of support to CIHR via ResearchNet.
• The sponsor letter must include the academic supervisor's commitment to cover the $500 registration fee prior to the end of April 2023, from their research funds should the applicant be invited.

IMPORTANT: Once a sponsor is identified, the applicant will not be able to submit their application until the identified sponsor submits their sponsor assessment through ResearchNet. The deadline for sponsors to submit their assessment is 48 hours prior to the application deadline; this allows the applicant time to complete and submit their application.

Task: Enter Degree Information

• Include degrees completed and those in progress. No other information is required.

Task: Enter Proposal Information

• Attach your Research Proposal (pdf; 2 pages maximum, English or French), which must include:
  • A Statement of Interest to participate in the SPA 2023 Training Program. Detail your interest in the area of aging, as well as in the SPA 2023 theme (max. 400 words).
  • An overview of your proposed career path (max. 200 words).

Task: Enter Budget (Abbreviated)

Note: Applicants from the greater Halifax area must enter "$0" in Amount Requested section of this task.

• Provide a detailed budget breakdown in the budget module. The budget justification should include, as applicable:
  • Lowest price economy return airline, train, or bus ticket from the applicant's institution city to the SPA 2023 location.
  • Costs of ground transportation to and from the airport, train or bus station.
  • Per diem meal rates while in transit as dictated by the applicant's Institution.
  • Optional, if applicable: Other additional costs for applicants from remote areas, e.g. lodging while in transit.
• Do not include expenses that are not eligible for support as stated in the Guidelines section of this Funding Opportunity.
• All costs should be rounded to the nearest dollar.

Task: Print, Sign and Upload Signature Page Task

• Required signatures: Signatures must be included for the applicant and individual(s) with signing authority from the Institution Paid.
• Original signatures are not required. The scanned signed signature pages and the Routing Slip must be uploaded in the Print/Upload Signature Pages task in ResearchNet prior to submitting your application.

Resources

For all inquiries, please contact:

CIHR Contact Centre
Telephone: 613-954-1968
Toll Free: 1-888-603-4178
Email: support-soutien@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

For service hours, please consult our Contact us page.

Application deadlines

RSO final internal review deadline

Program application deadline

NOTE: Consult your Faculty Associate Dean (Research) (ADR) regarding Faculty-specific deadlines and submission processes.

Principal Investigators: Complete a Research Management System (RMS) record, including a copy of your complete application, and submit this for approvals in RMS.

Postdocs, students, and trainees: For fellowships and externally-sponsored research training awards or opportunities, you must complete the Research Funding Application Approval (RFAA) Trainee PDF form, and submit it, along with a complete copy of the application, to Research Services at rsotrainee@ucalgary.ca. Trainees should not use RMS at this time.

Approvals: The University of Calgary requires that all funding applications be approved prior to submission. Approval requires signatures via either RMS or the RFAA Trainee form, in the following order:

• Principal Investigator
• Department Head
• Faculty ADR/Dean
• Research Services (on behalf of the Vice-President Research)

Read the Meaning of Grant Signatures policy to understand what your approval means. Please see the agency guidelines for details about which signatures are required on your application, as it may differ from internal requirements.

Late submissions: Late submissions will only be accepted in cases of medical or family emergencies, or other exceptional circumstances. If you submit your RMS record to Research Services after the internal deadline has passed, you must secure additional approvals. Please read: Late Applications Process.

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 the Tri-Agency (CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC) Guide on Financial Administration (TAGFA) for requirements regarding allowable costs and activities.

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

Eligible costs for travel:

• Lowest price economy return airline ticket, bus transportation or taxi from the applicant's home town or academic institution to the SPA 2023 location, including ground transfers. The SPA 2023 host will be providing shuttle service between Halifax Stanfield International airport and the SPA 2023 venue. Do not include ground transportation from Halifax Stanfield International airport to the SPA 2023 venue or from the SPA 2023 venue to the airport in your budget request.
• Meals while in transit.
• Other related additional costs for hotel while in transit for applicants in remote areas as applicable.
• The maximum amount for a single award is $1,500, depending on the location where the recipient is based:
• Canadians studying abroad = $500- $1,500 CAD
• Residents of Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon = $500-$1500 CAD
• Residents of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan = $500-$1500 CAD
• Residents of Manitoba = $500 to $1500 CAD
• Residents of Eastern Canada (NB, PE, NL) = $500 to $1000 CAD
• (Residents of Halifax are not eligible for travel funds and should indicate a zero 'O' in their budget)
• Residents of Quebec = $500 to $1000 CAD
• Residents of Ontario = $500 to $1000 CAD

Conditions of Funding

• The applicant must consent to the use and disclosure of full application and nominative information at the time of application, for purposes of relevance review and/or funding decisions by the relevant sponsors.
• Data related to research by and with First Nations, Métis, or Inuit communities whose traditional and ancestral territories are in Canada must be managed in accordance with data management principles developed and approved by those communities, and on the basis of free, prior and informed consent. This includes, but is not limited to, considerations of Indigenous data sovereignty, as well as data collection, ownership, protection, use, and sharing;
• Successful applicants may be profiled in CIHR communications and may be asked to submit a photo and/or short biography to be used in CIHR newsletters, etc.
• For successful applicants, the SPA program registration fee will need to be paid in advance by the academic supervisor.
• The trainee must be committed to attend the entire SPA 2023 Training Program.
• Local COVID-19 protocols must be adhered to.
• The Nominated Principal Applicant will be required to contribute to the monitoring, review and evaluation of CIHR's programs, policies and processes by participating in evaluation studies, surveys, workshops, audits, and by providing data or reports as required for the purpose of collecting information to assess progress and results.

Review Process

Peer review will be conducted in accordance with the Review guidelines – Priority-driven initiatives.

For information on CIHR's peer review principles, see the Peer Review: Overview section of CIHR's website.

Evaluation Criteria

In order to select the candidates for this training program, the following criteria will be used:

1. Strength and relevance of the Statement of Interest
   1. Relevance of the applicant's interest in the area of longer-living older adults and attending SPA 2023.
2. Strength of the Applicant and Application
   1. Demonstrated strength of the applicant based on their proposed career path and on the letter of support from the sponsor (supervisor, institution).
   2. Clarity of the overall application and rationale for applying.

Funding Decision

Approximately forty applicants will be invited to attend SPA 2023 from top down in order of ranking.

The names of successfully funded applicants will be published on the CIHR website.