Knowledge Synthesis Grant: Fall 2013 – ResearchNet "Application" Phase Instructions

How to Apply

To make sure you have access and permissions to the research application tools you'll need to apply with, refer to Before you begin.

To understand the general application process, refer to General Application Process.

To familiarize yourself with the Application and Review process, refer to Interactive Learning Lessons.

To list the components that make up a complete application that are specific to this program, refer to A complete application consists of the following.

To get ResearchNet-specific information on a task-by-task basis, refer to Task Tips.

Before you begin

Make sure you have the following or click the links to register:

Note 1: You should only have one ResearchNet account. If you have already accessed ResearchNet, do not register for a new account.

Note 2: It can take up to one full working day to process your CIHR PIN.

Note 3: This competition will be using the eApproval process. Check with your Institution to determine any internal deadline dates.

General Application Process

In ResearchNet, complete all tasks listed for your funding opportunity following the on-screen instructions in one of the official languages. On-screen support is available by simply clicking the green question mark.
Use a font size of 12 point, black type. Six lines per inch. No condensed type or spacing. The use of condensed type or font size smaller than 12 point may result in the withdrawal of the application.
Attachments must be uploaded in PDF format.
The size of the attached document(s) cannot exceed 30 MB per document.
For more information about converting documents to PDF, please refer to Help with Accessibility page.
For all CCV attachments, indicate your name, the project title and the section title (e.g., Most Significant Contributions) at the top of each page. Indicate the page number clearly at the bottom of each page. For CV attachments, only your name (i.e., does not have to be nominated principal applicant name) and the section title (e.g., Patents and Intellectual Property Rights) are required in the header.
Insert a margin of 2 cm (3/4 inch) - minimum - around the page.
Observe page limitations. Additional pages may not be added unless specified.
Use only letter size (21.25 X 27.5 cm / 8.5" X 11") white paper/background for all attachments.
Photo-reduce the supporting documents if the originals are larger than (21.25 X 27.5 cm / 8.5" X 11").
Determine what signatures are needed for each part of your application. See the funding opportunity, and the Meaning of Signatures in the Grants and Awards Guide.
Print the Signature pages, found in ResearchNet needed for the funding opportunity.
Offline, obtain signatures for all signature pages, and for any other material needing signatures. Scan the signature pages.
Upload the signed signature pages to ResearchNet as part of your submission before the application deadline date.
Preview all components of your application in ResearchNet using the "Preview Application Materials" task to ensure that your application is complete.
Submit the completed electronic application to CIHR through ResearchNet by completing the "Consent and Submit Application" task on ResearchNet.
Note: CIHR cannot legally accept your application until you complete this task.
For technical help, call 613-941-9080 or e-mail support@researchnet-recherchenet.ca, and for more information email info@cihr-irsc.gc.ca.

Interactive Learning Lessons

For information on the Fall 2013 Knowledge Synthesis Grant competition, please review the following training lesson:

A complete application consists of the following

Submitted ResearchNet Application

Task Tips

These Task Tips provide general instructions, but do not necessarily represent an exhaustive list of all information required to ensure completeness. You should also read the Funding Opportunity Details and be familiar with CIHR funding policies.

Task 1: Identify Participants

This task collects information on all participants involved in your application, including your supervisors, if applicable. Consult the Individual Eligibility Requirements on the CIHR website for more information.

Your application must include at least two Principal Applicants (including the Nominated Principal Applicant), one who is an independent researcher and one who is a knowledge user.
If the Nominated Principal Applicant is an independent researcher, you must identify at least one Principal Applicant who is a knowledge user. In ResearchNet, this individual must be identified by selecting the 'Principal Knowledge User' role.
If the Nominated Principal Applicant is a knowledge user, you must identify at least one Principal Applicant who is an independent researcher. In ResearchNet, this individual must be identified by selecting the 'Principal Applicant' role.
Your application can include co-applicants who are independent researchers, knowledge users and/or trainees. In ResearchNet, co-applicants who are independent researchers and trainees should be identified by selecting the 'co-applicant' role; co-applicants who are knowledge users should be identified by selecting the 'knowledge user' role.
There is no maximum number of applicants or collaborators who can participate on a grant.

Applicants will create either an Academic CV or a Knowledge User CV within the Canadian Common CV (CCV), depending on the following:

The roles that you select when identifying participants in ResearchNet (Task 1) will determine which CV type is required for each applicant.
Independent Researchers: An academic Common CV is required for the Nominated Principal Applicant (if he/she is an independent researcher), Principal Applicant, and Co-Applicant roles.
Knowledge-Users: A Knowledge-User Common CV is required for the Nominated Principal Applicant (if he/she has indicated a knowledge user role), Principal Knowledge-User, and Knowledge-User roles.
Collaborators are not required to submit a CV.

Once the applicants have created their CVs, they must provide their CCV confirmation number to the Nominated Principal Applicant who then enters the CCV confirmation numbers in the Identify Participants task of the application.

To produce an Academic CV or a Knowledge User CV:

Log in to the Canadian Common CV application.
On the CV menu, select Funding.
Select CIHR in the Funding Source box and click Next.
Select the appropriate CV type and click Next.
Enter the required data and click Done. The Canadian Common CV automatically validates your data against CIHR’s CV requirements and displays any errors.
Preview the PDF to review the CV data online.
When satisfied, record the CCV confirmation number that is displayed with the status message and at the top of the CV PDF. If you wish to make changes to your CV for a certain application, you must repeat the steps above and use the new CCV confirmation number.

Note 1: During peak periods, there can be a delay between the time that you submit the CV and when ResearchNet is able to validate it. It is highly recommended that you submit your CV well in advance of the competition deadline.

Note 2: Changes have been implemented to the Canadian Common CV (CCV). If you have previously completed your CCV template, please take the time to review/revise your template.

Task 2: Attach Participant Documents

The following instructions apply to all attachments (including those for the Academic or Knowledge User CV). For further information please refer to the following guidelines for attachments, Acceptable Application Formats and Attachments.

Contribution Details

The following attachments provide more information on various applicant contributions in the Common CV. “Contributions” of the research proposal is a separate concept and is described in the Interpretation Guidelines for the Fall 2013 Knowledge Synthesis Grant Competition Adjudication Criteria.

New: All of the data fields in the following attachments can now be found in the renewed Common CV.

CIHR is taking a phased in approach to the submission of Contribution Details: applicants may use the renewed Common CV to enter their contribution data or may continue to use the following attachments. Only Career Interruption and Delays must be submitted through the renewed Common CV, under the Leaves of Absence section.

Phasing in the use of the renewed Common CV for Contributions will provide more time for some of the more labor-intensive fields (e.g. Publications). Therefore, none of the Contributions fields in the renewed Common CV will be mandatory (with the exception noted above). However, CIHR strongly encourages the applicant to enter data into at least 5 of the Contribution fields in the renewed Common CV (where possible), to familiarize themselves with the system.

Contributions Details - Most Significant Contributions
(with a Common CV, limit to one page; with a Knowledge User CV, limit to 6 pages)

Identify contributions that best highlight your contribution or activities in the field of research, defining the impact and relevance of each. A contribution is understood to be a publication, literary or artistic work, conference, patent or intellectual property right, contract or creative activity, commission, etc. Your complete description may include the organization, position or activity type and description, from and to dates, and the basis on which this contribution is significant (i.e. relevance, target community and impact).

Contributions Details - Activities and Contributions (limit to one page)

The activities and contributions defined in this section should include both academic and non-academic achievements, and their impacts.

Examples of entries follow. This is not necessarily a complete list, and is intended to provide guidance only.

Committee membership
For peer review committees, specify the year(s), the subject(s), and the funding organization
For thesis examination committees, indicate the author, title of thesis, and university
Consulting/contract activities
Research development
Research or technical reports
Supervisory experience (e.g. training of students)
Technology transfers (specify the nature of the activity and the target audience)
Involvement in public, private, or non-profit sector activities
Policy papers
Presentations as guest speaker (public or invited lectures)
Editorships (specify if editor-in-chief or member of the editorial team)
Evaluation of articles for scientific, literary or artistic journals (specify title of journal and the number of articles evaluated)
Knowledge translation/Dissemination activities
Trainees might also mention development of a graduate seminar program, journal club or similar activity

If some of these completed works do not seem to support the research theme of the team or centre to which you belong, provide the necessary explanations.

Contributions Details - Publications List

List your most important publications and other research contributions over the past six years, according to the categories below. This is not necessarily a complete list, and is only intended to provide guidance. Categories can be added as needed. Use only items pertinent to the application. There is no limit to the number of pages you can use.

Task 3: Enter Project Information and Supporting Documents

Project Title

Your Project Title is the way that CIHR identifies your research project. For this reason you cannot edit your Project Title after submission. Indicate in your Title whether you are applying for a scoping grant or a knowledge synthesis grant.

Institution Paid

Institution that will administer the funds for your project. Consult the Institutional Eligibility Requirements on the CIHR web site for more information.

Certification Requirements

If you are awarded a grant, the necessary certification requirements must be met in accordance with policies on ethical conduct of research. Relevant policies:

In order to carry out the proposed research in this application, is an exemption from Health Canada under Section 56 of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act required? (Trainees are exempt and should answer No).
Indicate if your proposed research is such that an exemption from Health Canada under Section 56 of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) will be required. Consult the Department of Justice website for details regarding Section 56 of the CDSA and the Health Canada website for details regarding obtaining an exemption under Section 56 of the CDSA.

Does this application propose research involving Aboriginal people?
Indicate if your application proposes research involving Aboriginal people. This information will be used for statistical purposes only. Any questions or comments may be sent to the Aboriginal Ethics Guidelines mailbox at aeg-lda@cihr-irsc.gc.ca.

Are sex (biological) considerations taken into account in this study?
Indicate if sex (biological) considerations are taken into account in this study. For a guide to sex and gender based analysis, please consult the CIHR website.

Are gender (socio-cultural) considerations taken into account in this study?
Indicate if gender (socio-cultural) considerations are taken into account in this study. For a guide to sex and gender based analysis, please consult the CIHR website.

Please describe how sex and/or gender considerations will be considered in your research proposal.
If your study includes sex (biological) and/or gender (socio-cultural) considerations, then describe how they will be considered in your research proposal (limit of 2000 characters).

Aboriginal People

Applicants whose proposed research will involve Aboriginal People, please consult Ethics of Health Research Involving First Nations, Inuit and Métis People.

Containment Level

Definitions of Levels may be found in the PHAC laboratory biosafety guidelines.

Does any phase of the research described in this proposal take place outdoors, involve field work, an undertaking in relation to a physical work or have a negative impact on the environment?

Project Descriptors

Provide keywords to describe your research project, the techniques and the methodologies it will employ, and the areas of interest.

Areas of Research

Select the areas of research that best describe your proposal from the list provided.

Classification

Select the classifications that best describe your proposal from the list provided.

Themes

Select a primary theme classification. Indicate additional theme classifications only if the substance of the grant application significantly overlaps more than one theme. Consult the definition of the four CIHR Themes on the CIHR website for more information.

Suggested Institutes

Select a primary CIHR Institute whose research mandate is related to this application's research area(s) and objective(s). Additional Institutes should only be selected if the substance of this grant application significantly overlaps with the research mandate of more than one Institute.

Note: Supporting documents such as Response to Reviewers, Summary of Progress and the Research Proposal Appendix are not required for this competition.

Task 4: Complete Summary

Summarize your project in a way that is accessible to a lay audience. Be sure to indicate how your proposed research will address the following questions or issues and highlight all key facets of your proposal, including brief statements as to the following:

The question or issue to be addressed;
The nature of the core expertise being brought together to address the question or issue;
Any relevant approaches, methodologies, and/or techniques to be used; and
How will the expected results of the proposal advance knowledge, health research and/or the application of knowledge in the short term and in the long term, as appropriate.

This information is used by CIHR to inform the public and Parliament about the valuable research supported through public funds.

Note: Your completed summary cannot exceed 3,500 characters or approximately one page.

Task 5: Complete Application

Provide a clear and concise summary for each application criterion outlined below. These criteria must be completed using rich text in ResearchNet or alternatively, you may cut and paste into the text box. Each criterion section where text is required includes a character limit. Ensure that these requirements are not exceeded.

Provide an estimate on the number of hours per week (contribution) for each applicant that will be working on the research project in the Expertise, Experience and Resources page.

Additional instructional text to assist you with completing your application can be found in the Complete Application task in ResearchNet.

In addition, consult the document Interpretation Guidelines for the Fall 2013 Knowledge Synthesis Adjudication Guidelines to obtain additional information on how the application will be assessed during the CIHR peer review process.

Application Criterion and Text Character Limits:

The following questions are used by the reviewers to assess these criteria. Please address them in your application.

Criterion 1 - Assessment of Concept

Sub-criterion 1.1: Quality of the Idea (limit 3,500 characters)

Are the overall goal and objectives of the project well-defined and clear; with distinct outputs that support advances in health-related knowledge, health research, health care, health systems, and/or health outcomes?
Is the rationale of the project idea sound, logical and valid?

Sub-criterion 1.2: Importance of the Idea (limit 1,750 characters)

Is the proposed contribution(s) of the project well-defined, clear and significant with respect to advancing health-related knowledge, health research, health care, health systems and/or health outcomes?

Criterion 2 – Assessment of Feasibility

Sub-criterion 2.1: Approach (limit 15,750 characters)

Are the approaches and methods appropriate to deliver the proposed output(s) and achieve the proposed contribution(s)?
Are the timelines and related deliverables of the project realistic?
Does the proposal identify potential challenges and appropriate mitigation strategies?

Sub-criterion 2.2: Expertise, Experience and Resources (limit 3,500 characters)

Does the applicant(s) bring the appropriate expertise and experience to lead and deliver the proposed outputs and achieve the proposed contribution(s)?
Is there an appropriate level of engagement and/or commitment from the applicant(s)?
Is the environment (academic institution and/or other organization) appropriate to enable the conduct and success of the project?

Allowable Attachments:

All required attachments pertaining to participants and/or your research proposal must be included in the “Attachments Task” found under the Complete Application Task in ResearchNet. All attachments must adhere to the guidelines for attachments on the Acceptable Application Formats and Attachments.

References, figures, tables, if this is an application to undertake a Cochrane review, you must submit a letter from the Canadian Cochrane Centre (CCC), confirming that the proposed review is not one of the 30 reviews already funded by CIHR through its contribution to the CCC.
Letters from Collaborators who are expected to make a significant contribution, confirming their willingness to participate in the manner indicated.
Letters of support may be appended when specific incremental cash or in-kind contributions are being provided in support of the proposed research. Letters in general support for the research, the researcher or the research team should not be appended and may be removed.
- Each knowledge-user applicant (including the Nominated Principal Applicant, if a knowledge user) is strongly encouraged to submit a signed letter describing:
  - their role and their precise degree of involvement in the project;
  - amount of time committed to the project;
  - cash and/or in kind contribution; and
  - a description of how they intend to use the results of this research project.
- Please note: the review committee reads these letters carefully to assess the degree of commitment of the knowledge user applicant(s). Knowledge users are advised to personally write their letters, rather than sign a template letter. Applicants are also encouraged to refer to the "CIHR Guide to Writing Letters of Support" for additional guidance.

For applicants with pending appointment, you must attach:

Letter of support in the case of a pending appointment from the Dean of the Faculty indicating the date the appointment is expected to take effect.

Note 1: There are no page restrictions for the attachments but reviewers are not required to read excessive attachments. Be sure to label your figures. Legends should be succinct and should not contain detailed information pertaining to methods.

Note 2: For the purpose of peer review, the application should not depend on information in these attachments, other than references, figures and tables that are not included in the page limit of the application. Reviewers are under no obligation to read the application attachments other than those described above.

Task 6: Enter Budget Information and Supporting Documents

You must request a total amount for your project by using the pre-set incremental levels in the drop down list in ResearchNet. All amounts are in Canadian dollars. A precise valuation of all line items in the budget recommendation is not required. Provide written text (3500 characters or approximately one page) to justify your total budget amount requested from CIHR for your research project including any amounts related to release time allowance or equipment.

Information on eligibility of expenses and employment under grants is found in the Tri-Agency (CIHR, NSERC & SSHRC) Financial Administration Guide, Use of Grant Funds.

Note: No other information such as cost quotations or cost support letters of support may be attached to this module.

Task 7: Attach Other Application Materials

Applicants are asked not to attach additional application materials in this section. This task is completed by simply clicking on the task and then closing the task.

Task 8: Complete Peer Review Administration Information

This task collects information used for the purpose of peer review administration.

Suggested External Reviewers

Suggest Canadian and/or foreign reviewers that you feel have the expertise to review your application. CIHR reserves the right to make the final selection of external reviewers. You should not suggest reviewers in conflict of interest. Consult the conflict of interest guidelines on the CIHR web site for more information.

Reviewers to Exclude

Provide the names of individuals that you feel cannot provide an objective review of your application and you must provide a reason for their exclusion. CIHR reserves the right to make the final selection of reviewers.

Task 9: Print/Upload Signature Pages

Print the signature page PDF file from ResearchNet.
Obtain all required signatures.
- Verify the requirements for original signatures by consulting the sections titled "Required Signatures on Application Forms" and "Meaning of Signatures on Application Forms" in the CIHR Grants and Awards Guide.
Scan and upload the signed signature pages including the routing slip in the Print/Upload Signature Pages task in ResearchNet prior to submitting your application.

Task 10: Preview Application Materials

Review all components of your application. If a task is incomplete, you must provide the missing information to successfully submit your application. Prior to submitting your application to CIHR you will be able to preview your Full Application Package.

Task 11: Consent and Submit Application

You must review the terms listed and respond to the questions regarding consent in order to submit your application.

You must click Send to send your application to CIHR using the eApproval process. Once CIHR receives your application you will receive e-mail confirmation.