Project Grant Spring 2023

Eligibility

1. The Nominated Principal Applicant must be:
   1. an independent researcher or a knowledge user affiliated with a Canadian postsecondary institution and/or its affiliated institutions (including hospitals, research institutes and other non-profit organizations with a mandate for health research and/or knowledge translation) at the time of funding.
      • if the Nominated Principal Applicant is a knowledge user, there must be at least one Principal Applicant who is an independent researcher
      
      OR
   2. an individual affiliated with an Indigenous non-governmental organization in Canada with a research and/or knowledge translation mandate.
      OR
   3. an Indigenous non-governmental organization in Canada with a research and/or knowledge translation mandate.

2. The Nominated Principal Applicant must have their substantive role in Canada for the duration of the requested grant term.

3. The Institution Paid must be authorized to administer CIHR funds before the funds can be released (see Administration of Funds).

4. Principal Applicants must be independent researchers or knowledge users (inclusion of one or more Principal Applicants is optional).

5. Co-Applicants can be one of the following (inclusion of one or more is optional):
   1. independent researchers;
   2. knowledge users;
   3. trainees;
   4. other.

6. An individual or an organization cannot submit more than two Project Grant applications per competition as a Nominated Principal Applicant. If the Nominated Principal Applicant submits more than two applications, CIHR will automatically withdraw the last application(s) submitted based on time-stamp of submission.

7. Applicants must comply with CIHR’s Policy on Identical / Essentially Identical Applications (see Section 5.2 Application Administration Guide).

8. Individuals who hold a Foundation Grant in the role of Program Leader are eligible to apply to the Project Grant competition in the role of Nominated Principal Applicant or Principal Applicant only 18 months prior to their grant expiry date. Please contact CIHR if you have questions about your eligibility. 

Summary

The Project Grant program is designed to capture ideas with the greatest potential for important advances in fundamental or applied health-related knowledge, health care, health systems, and/or health outcomes by supporting projects of research proposed and conducted by individual researchers or groups of researchers in all areas of health. The best ideas may stem from new, incremental, innovative, and/or high-risk lines of inquiry or knowledge translation approaches.

Research Areas

The Project Grant program is open to applicants in all areas of health research that are aligned with the CIHR mandate: "To excel, according to internationally accepted standards of scientific excellence, in the creation of new knowledge and its translation into improved health for Canadians, more effective health services and products, and a strengthened Canadian health care system".

The Project Grant program is expected to:

• Support a diverse portfolio of health-related research and knowledge translation proposals at any stage, from discovery to application, including commercialization;
• Promote relevant collaborations across disciplines, professions, and sectors; and
• Contribute to the creation and use of health-related knowledge.

Application deadlines

RSO detailed review deadline

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.

Overhead N/A

As outlined in CIHR’s equity strategy, CIHR is committed to creating an equitable funding system by identifying and eliminating systematic biases towards any individual or group that would hinder access to CIHR funds.

CIHR is committed to ensuring that the proportion of grants funded is at least equal to the proportion of applications received related to Early Career Researchers and/or submitted in French and/or by female nominated principal applicants. More details on the equalization process for the Project Grant program can be found on the Project Grant program decision process page. While we will be collecting EDI data through the Self-Identification questionnaire, the equalization process will be completed using the data from the Canadian Common CV for this competition.

Early Career Researchers (ECRs)

Inclusion within this cohort is based on the ECR eligibility status of the Nominated Principal Applicant, at the application deadline.

All time spent in full-time independent research appointments/positions will be taken into consideration when determining eligibility irrespective of time spent in a clinical component or other duties (i.e., administrative, academic, etc.). Should an applicant hold or have held a part-time appointment/position, CIHR will count that time as 50% (e.g., a one-year part-time appointment/position will count for 6 months towards the maximum).

Leaves of absence will be considered in the calculation of eligibility (i.e., will not count towards the maximum) and should be included in the Employment section under Leaves of Absence in the Common CV.

Priority Announcements (PAs) offer additional sources of funding for highly rated applications that are relevant to specific research areas. Refer to the Project Grant: Fall 2022 Priority Announcements (Specific Research Areas) for further details.

Webinar

CIHR will be hosting the following webinars to support participants with the requirements of the funding opportunity "Project Grant – Spring 2023 Applicant Webinar" and to answer questions on how to apply.

English Sessions
Duration: 60 minutes
When: Wednesday, January 25, 2023 at 9:00 AM MT | Join
When: Thursday, February 9, 2023 at 11:00 AM MT | Join

Submission Process:

Registration

Complete Registration through ResearchNet by 6:00PM (Calgary time) Wednesday, February 8, 2023. Once the registration has been submitted, applicants will have the ability to complete the full application. No submission through RMS is required at registration stage. 

Full Application

1. Complete your application in the CIHR ResearchNet portal. Once the application is complete (including required attachments and your CCV), verify each section, and then press "Submit". Your application will be sent to the Research Services Office. Please ensure your application is final and complete; Research Services will not review drafts, and, once received, your application may be submitted to CIHR without further notice. The final internal deadline for submission is 9:00 am on Monday, March 6, 2023.
2. Complete the Pre-Award record in RMS and attach the complete PDF Preview of your RNet application. Select “Submit for academic approvals” (Under Save & Progress) in good time to allow for approvals from your Department Head and/or ADR prior to the Research Services deadline. Consult your department and faculty for more information on their approval processes and timelines. Ensure you receive all required approvals in advance of 9:00 am on Monday, March 6, 2023. 
3. Research Services Office submits the application through ResearchNet by the agency deadline of 6:00pm (Calgary time) on Wednesday, March 8, 2023. 

• Your application will not be considered submitted and will not be reviewed until both the application is submitted in the ResearchNet and the RMS Approvals have been received.
• The final deadline of 9:00 am on Monday, March 6 is a hard deadline. The three-day deadline ensures that RSO is able to complete a basic review of the application and secure institutional signature in a timely fashion.

As an optional service, if you would like a detailed review, RSO must receive your complete RMS approvals record and CIHR ResearchNet application by 4pm on February 22, 2023.

• The detailed review includes a detailed review of the application, checking for eligibility and UofC commitments and risk, compliance with program guidelines, completeness of application, and the opportunity for feedback to improve the application.
• The basic administrative review involves a minimal check of the application for eligibility and any UofC commitment or risk.

Resources

• CIHR_Project_Grant_Application_Checklist_Spring_2023.pdf
• CIHR_Project_Grant_CCV_Checklist_Spring_2023.pdf
• CIHR Q&A Slide Deck
• Project Grant – Registration Instructions
• Project Grant – Application Instructions
• CIHR Project Biosketch – Quick Reference Guide
• Peer Review Manual – Project
• Learning for Applicants
• Sex, Gender and Health Research