Frequently Asked Questions about Signatures on Applications for Funding
1. Is the Nominated Principal Applicant's signature still required?
Yes, if the Nominated Principal Applicant is submitting his/her application via ResearchNet, then hitting the "submit" button constitutes his/her signature and he/she does not need to affix his/her signature on the signature pages.
2. Are signatures from other applicants such as Principal Applicants and Co-Applicants still required?
Yes, CIHR requires a signature (original or copied) from other applicants such as Principal Applicants and Co-Applicants listed on the application.
3. Does the Nominated Principal Applicant (NPA) need to upload the signature pages on ResearchNet?
Yes, only the NPA can upload the signatures on ResearchNet. The NPA will not be able to submit the application unless the PDF of the signatures is uploaded.
4. Are signatures from Institutions or Organizations of other applicants such as Principal Applicant and Co-Applicant still required?
No, as of Dec 15, 2009, CIHR no longer requires signatures, on the "CIHR Signature Pages," from Institutions or Organizations of other applicants such as Principal Applicant and Co-Applicant unless the authorized official at the Institution Paid of the Nominated Principal Applicant is not able to abide to all obligations outlined in the "Meaning of Signatures in the Grants and Awards Guide".
5. Does CIHR require a signature from the Nominated Principal Applicant's Institution Paid?
Yes, CIHR requires a signature (original or copied) from the Institution Paid. However, if the Institution Paid is submitting the application through e-approval, then hitting the "submit" button constitutes their signature and they do not need to affix their signature on the signature pages. See below for the list of programs that are currently using the e-approval process.
- Operating Grant: 2009-2010
- Operating Grant: Winter 2010 Priority Announcement (Specific Research Areas)
- Master's Award: 2009-2010
- Master's Award: Winter 2010 Priority Announcement (Specific Research Areas)
- Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships
6. In the case of an application submitted via the e-approval process or directly to CIHR, what if the Authorized Official at the Institution Paid cannot abide by all conditions under the "Meaning of Signatures"?
Other authorized official(s) will be required to sign block 2 in the Institution Signature section of the application and these signatures are to be uploaded on ResearchNet by the Nominated Principal Applicant (or sent to CIHR if the program is not on ResearchNet).
7. Do signature pages need to be couriered to CIHR if the application is submitted via ResearchNet?
No, a single PDF of all signature pages containing all required signatures can be uploaded on ResearchNet. They do not need to be couriered to CIHR.
8. What institutional signatures are required when submitting a Training Award application?
Depending on the scenario a signature is required from the institution paid and/or the institution where the research is being conducted.
Scenario 1:
Research conducted within Canada: a signature is required from the Institution Paid and the Institution where the Research is being conducted.
Scenario 2:
Research conducted outside of Canada: a signature is required only from the Institution where the Research is being conducted.
9. Can a foreign researcher be a Principal Applicant on a grant?
Principal Applicants are no longer required to have an employment relationship or academic status with a CIHR-eligible Institution. Foreign researchers who do not have such status, but who share responsibility for the direction of the proposed activities, and who meet the eligibility requirements for Principal Applicant as outlined in the Funding Opportunity, may apply as Principal Applicant. Foreign researchers applying as Principal Applicants are not required to spend a minimum of six months per year at a Canadian institution. (Note that the requirement for "6 months per year in Canada" (Grants programs only) remains in place for Nominated Principal Applicants).
