Joint Canada-Israel Health Research Program

Eligibility

Eligibility to Apply

For an application to be eligible, all the requirements stated below must be met:

1. For administrative purposes only, the Nominated Principal Applicant must be the Canadian investigator co-leading the team.
   1. The Nominated Principal Applicant (NPA) must be an independent researcher, 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 mobilization).
   2. The NPA must have their substantive role in Canada for the duration of the requested grant term.
2. One Principal Applicant must be identified as the Israeli investigator co-leading the team.
3. One Principal Applicant must be identified as the LMIC investigator co-leading the team.
4. For the Canadian arm of the team, applications involving First Nations, Inuit, Métis and/or Urban Indigenous populations must include at least one participant who self-identifies as First Nations, Inuit, or Métis and/or who can demonstrate their experience of meaningful and culturally safe involvement with Indigenous Peoples in an Indigenous Health Research environment on the research team. At least one participant meeting this criterion must submit an "Other" attachment describing their experience working in an Indigenous Health Research environment.
5. For the low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) arm of the team, if relevant, applications involving Indigenous communities from the LMIC must include at least one member who self-identifies as Indigenous or provide evidence of having meaningful and culturally safe involvement with Indigenous Peoples in an Indigenous Health research environment.
6. In your knowledge mobilization plan, as a minimum eligibility requirement, all proposals must support at least one of the following activities aimed at supporting capacity and scientific relationships:
   1. significant training opportunities such as scientific workshops, graduate training in low- and middle-income countries, Canada and Israel or summer schools benefiting researchers/trainees in eligible LMIC; and/or
   2. inclusion of trainees from LMIC, Canada and Israel in carrying out the research.

Notes:

• Each Canadian, Israeli, and LMIC investigator co-leading a team can only submit and/or participate in ONE application in the competition.
• Canadian, Israeli, and LMIC investigators co-leading a team are not eligible to hold a grant under this competition if they hold an active grant from Phase II of the JCIHRP at the funding start date for this funding opportunity.
• The Canadian, Israeli, and LMIC investigators co-leading a team are strongly encouraged to complete 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. Applicants should select and complete the training module most applicable to their research project. Applicants are encouraged to review the "How to integrate sex and gender in research" section of the CIHR website.

Applications that do not meet the eligibility criteria outlined above will be withdrawn from the competition.

Research Security

The Policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern (STRAC Policy) is applicable to this funding opportunity. Consult the Tri-agency guidance on the STRAC Policy for more information.

Summary

Phase II of the Joint Canada-Israel Health Research Program (the Program) seeks to support cutting-edge research in the biomedical sciences and global health. This third call for proposals under Phase II is directed toward applicants conducting research in the area of Human Developmental Biology while strengthening capacity in Canada, Israel and in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC).

The Program will support world-class research projects co-led by three principal investigators: one from Canada, one from Israel and one from an eligible LMIC (refer to Appendix A and IDRC website for the list of eligible countries). The teams will integrate researchers from all three geographies with the intention of strengthening scientific capacity, promoting collaboration, equitable partnerships, and scientific excellence in all its diversity. It is expected that the three principal investigators will work together on an integrated, and cohesive research project equitably contributing to and benefiting from their involvement in the project and the Program.

Research Areas

Understanding the biological mechanisms that shape human health from the earliest stages of life can inform prevention and treatment approaches for a range of health conditions. This third call for proposals under phase II of this Program will support research in Human Developmental Biology relevant to the overarching objectives of the funding opportunity, with a particular focus on investigating underlying biological mechanisms and impacts on global health.

Topics may include, but are not limited to, the following examples:

• Human Developmental Biology and its potential effects on human health across the lifespan
• Embryonic and physiological factors affecting development including in model systems
• Cell diversity and embryonic patterning
• Exploring the genetic and epigenetic factors affecting cognitive and behavioural development
• Developmental mechanisms of disease onset
• The molecular basis of cognitive development
• The influence of bacteria (including gut microbiota) and environmental factors on embryonic and child development
• The influence of infectious agents on human developmental biology including sexual differentiation
• Novel approaches to study human development and rare developmental syndromes
• Cellular transitions and plasticity
• Theory and modeling of human developmental biology

Exclusions

Studies, surveys, clinical trials, and work primarily aimed at informing public health policy are NOT eligible for funding through this opportunity. However, the use of randomization in basic biomedical research studies is accepted.

Considerations

• To support knowledge mobilization efforts, teams are required to establish a knowledge mobilization plan that includes:
  • at a minimum, an annual meeting/engagement of team members, partners, and other relevant stakeholders to share and mobilize knowledge in meaningful and culturally safe ways (e.g., virtual or face-to-face scientific workshop);
  • research capacity programs (e.g., student exchange, mentoring programs, joint teaching activities, summer school); and
  • activities promoting the use of research findings by decision makers and professionals in relevant scientific and government circles.
• Teams must include sex and gender considerations in their research design, including where relevant Sex- and Gender-Based Analysis (SGBA). SGBA is an analytical process that systematically examines sex-based (biological) and gender-based (socio-cultural) differences, to assess and understand how women, men, girls, boys and gender-diverse people are impacted by a given issue; ultimately, employing SGBA promotes rigorous science that has the potential to expand our understanding of health determinants for all people. It is strongly encouraged that an intersectional approach is taken, examining not just women, for example, but the diversity within this population group (e.g. racialized women, women with disabilities, Indigenous women, etc.). For guidance on how to integrate sex and gender in research studies, refer to: How to integrate sex and gender into research.
• Teams must consider equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in their proposed research design, consistent with CIHR's position on EDI, available in the Tri Agency Statement on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and IDRC's equality statement An EDI analysis identifies factors that should be included in research design and processes. It identifies areas where proactive consideration of EDI must be implemented to ensure maximum impact. Such impact could include ensuring that the research is reproducible and not based on biased assumptions, and that the research design is reflective of the communities/populations studied.
• The Canadian and LMIC arms of the research teams are expected to collect, standardize, use, share and manage research data aligning with the Tri-Agency Research Data Management Policy and IDRC's Open Data Statement of Principles Applicants are encouraged to include a plan for applying the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) to the data management strategy. To reflect and respect Indigenous data governance and data sovereignty, the CARE principles (Collective benefit, Authority to control, Responsibility and Ethics) for Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit and Métis) Data Governance¹, the First Nations Principles of OCAP® (Ownership, Control, Access and Possession)², or other relevant Indigenous data governance principles must be incorporated and are to take precedence over other data management policies or principles.

How to Apply

Note:

• The application process for this funding opportunity is comprised of an ISF administrative application and a CIHR application, each consisting of a registration and application stage.
  • The Canadian, Israeli and LMIC investigators co-leading the team will submit one joint application through CIHR ResearchNet. In addition, the Israeli investigator is responsible for submitting a separate, administrative application to ISF.
• See Important Dates and Notices for deadlines.

ISF Application Process

• The ISF administrative application process for this funding opportunity is comprised of two steps: Registration and Application.
• In addition to submitting the application to CIHR, the Israeli investigator co-leading the team must register with the ISF online system, as described in the ISF specific guidelines.
• Please refer to the Notices section for the deadlines for the ISF administrative application.
• ISF Budget:
  • The Israeli investigator will submit the final version of the "Budget details PDF" as was submitted in the administrative application to ISF. A copy of this must also be submitted in the CIHR ResearchNet application.

For further instructions regarding ISF requirements, see the ISF website.

CIHR Application Process

• To complete your CIHR Registration, follow the instructions in the Grants – Registration Guidelines along with any additional instructions found below under "Specific Instructions".
• To complete your Joint Application to CIHR, follow the instructions in the Grants – Application Guidelines along with any additional instructions found below under "Specific Instructions".
• All participants listed, with the exception of Collaborators are required to:
  • Have/obtain a CIHR PIN
  • Complete the Tri-Agency Self-identification Questionnaire.
• The Canadian, Israeli and LMIC investigators co-leading the team are required to create CVs through the Canadian Common CV (CCV) website for their CIHR (ResearchNet) submissions. For information on how to create the required CIHR Registration CV and CIHR Biosketch CV, please visit CCV Frequently Asked Questions.
• All other participants will be asked to submit an Applicant Profile CV. This is only necessary at the Application stage.

Overhead

Allowable Costs

Canadian and LMIC applicants are advised to consult the IDRC General Terms and Conditions for a Grant Agreement to determine if an expenditure is an appropriate use of grant funds for the Canadian and LMIC components of the team.

Israeli applicants are advised to consult the ISF website to determine if an expenditure is an appropriate use of grant funds for the Israeli component of the team.

Please review the appropriate granting policies for expenses considered eligible for funding received through this funding opportunity (please see Appendix B). For example, the Canadian and LMIC component of the team can request up to 13% of the ask in indirect costs whereas the Israeli component can request up to 17% in overhead costs (please refer to ISF guidelines).

Pre-application deadlines

Pre-application program deadline

Application deadlines

RSO detailed review deadline

RSO final internal review deadline

Program application deadline

Application deadlines

Israeli Investigator Registration to ISF

Israeli Investigator Application Submission to ISF

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.

RESOURCES

Reminder: The sooner the researcher engages with Research Services, the more help we can be!

Contact the following Research Service units for support with:

Projects Involving Indigenous Research:

Support with incorporating wise practices in Indigenous research, community engagement, and Indigenous data management is available through the Indigenous Research Support Team (IRST).

Applicants can reach out by email to IRST at IRST@ucalgary.ca in advance of the RSO internal deadline. For more information about IRST, please visit the IRST webpage.

Knowledge Mobilization, Research Impact Assessment, DORA:

Support for knowledge mobilization/engagement/translation, community partnerships, research impact, responsible research assessment (DORA), and open science, is available through the Knowledge to Impact team.

Applicants can reach out by email to the KI team at knowledge.impact@ucalgary.ca.

For more information and access to resource archives, please visit the KI team webpage.

Research Data Management:

For information on research data management plans, processes, or best practices for your research program, please contact research.data@ucalgary.ca.

EDI in Research:

RSO can provide resources and support to research teams on the integration of equitable and inclusive practices in research design and research practice.

Contact edi.rso@ucalgary.ca for more information.

Research Security:

The Research Security Division is available to ensure researchers adhere to research security guidelines and policies, including the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships (NSGRP) and the policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern (STRAC).

Visit the Research Security website to learn more or contact researchsecurity@ucalgary.ca.

Pre-Award Submissions:

RMS: Creating a Pre-Award LOI
RMS: Creating a Pre-Award Application