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Fellowship: CANADA-HOPE Scholarship Program












Program Name Fellowship: CANADA-HOPE Scholarship Program (2010-2011)
Program Launch Date 2010-12-15











Important Dates






















Competition201103CH1
Application Deadline2011-03-31
Anticipated Notice of Decision2011-06-30
Funding Start Date2011-07-01









Description


The primary goal of the CANADA-HOPE Scholarship Program is to further develop international collaborative efforts between researchers. The short term goal is to enable promising individuals to be mentored by prominent Canadian researchers. The long term objective of the Program is to enable promising scientists and clinicians from Low and Middle Income Countries (LMIC), as identified by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the United Nations (UN), to be exposed to some of the best science, laboratories and training environments in Canada. This round will focus on sub continental South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Funds Available

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

  • The total amount available for this funding opportunity is $870,000.

  • The maximum amount awarded for a single award is $174,000 for up to four years:

    • Trainee stipend: $40,000 or $50,000 per annum. The stipend level is related to the major degree, licensure (where applicable) and experience of the applicant. Stipends are valued in Canadian dollars and are taxable.

    • This award is non-renewable.




A minimum of 5 awards will be allocated as indicated in the table below. Any award not allocated in one geographic location will be added to the quota of the other location.

















RoundsQuotaSouth Asia1Sub-Saharan Africa
Round 2*5 awards32

*Round 1 was launched December 2009, that competition is now closed.

Scholars will receive funding in Canadian dollars based on the following table:








































YearStipend (max.)Research AllowanceMentor (Operating Grant)Total
1$40,000 or $50,000$6,000$16,000$72,000
2$40,000 or $50,000$6,000$16,000$72,000
3$10,000$5,000$15,000
4$10,000$5,000$15,000

Scholar Stipends

The annual stipend level for those with a PhD degree (or equivalent) is $40,000 per annum. The following stipend levels apply to health professionals who hold licensure in Canada or hold an educational license at the time of taking up the award. The stipend level is dependent upon the number of years of research or clinical training completed since obtaining the health professional degree.

  • If the awardee has less than two years of research and clinical training experience, the stipend level is $40,000. Upon completion of two years of postgraduate research training during the tenure of the award, the awardee may be eligible to receive a stipend increase to a higher level of $50,000.

  • The stipend for health professionals who do not hold licensure in Canada is $40,000 per annum.


If the initial period of the award is for less than two years, the amount of the award will be pro-rated.

The research allowance and the operating grant in years 3 and 4 will allow the continuation of the collaboration/support between the scholar and the mentors at both sponsoring institutions.

Partner Participation

The CANADA-HOPE Scholarship Program, founded in 2004, is dedicated to improving the health of people in developing countries. This Program was made possible by a grant from Sanofi-aventis, as a consequence of the successful HOPE clinical trial led by Dr. Salim Yusuf and other Canadian investigators. This donation of approximately $1.7 Million was matched by CIHR to create the CANADA-HOPE Scholarship Program.

CIHR is dedicated to identifying and developing collaborations with other funding organizations and stakeholders to enhance the availability of funding for this strategic initiative, and to create, where appropriate, opportunities for knowledge exchange and translation related to the scope of this particular initiative. Applicants are invited to visit the Partner Description section to find a list of partners and their respective mandates and/or strategic interests. This list will continue to evolve as new partners join in this initiative. The specific research foci and requirements for each partner are outlined in the "Objectives" section.

Objectives


The goals of the Program are to encourage a broad spectrum of foreign post-doctoral scholars (PhDs, MDs or health professionals) to train in health and health related areas which in the long term, would lead to the development of sustainable programs to help people in developing countries.

Relevant Research Areas

Eligible research areas include clinical epidemiology, population health, clinical trials, the health sciences, global health and areas which can have an impact on the health of people in LMIC.

Eligibility


Eligibility criteria for all CIHR research funding programs apply. The business office of the institution of an eligible Nominated Principal Applicant generally administers CIHR funds. Refer to the Individual Eligibility Requirements regarding the eligibility requirements for individuals and institutions.

Eligibility to Apply

For your application to be eligible:

  1. The Nominated Principal Applicant must be a Trainee

  2. At least one project participant, other than the Nominated Principal Applicant, must be a Supervisor

  3. Specific to CIHR training awards, please refer to the General Guidelines for Training Programs


Specific Eligibility Requirements

In order to be eligible for this award, the scholar must have a mentor in a related field at an eligible Canadian institution and the sponsorship of an eligible institution in sub-continental South Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan) or in Sub-Saharan Africa. The scholarships are intended for men and women of high intellectual promise who may be expected to make a significant contribution to their own countries following their return from study in Canada. Anyone who has obtained Canadian citizenship or who has applied for permanent residency in Canada shall not be eligible for the award. The mentor, scholar and sponsoring institution(s) must meet the following requirements:

  1. Mentor:

    • must be employed by a Canadian institution eligible to received funds from CIHR;



  2. Scholar:

    • must hold a PhD in a relevant field; or have a health professional degree in medicine, dentistry or veterinary medicine; or hold a professional degree in a regulated health profession such as optometry, chiropractic, nursing or rehabilitative science along with a graduate degree in a relevant field of study. Contact CIHR staff to determine if a particular health profession is eligible;

    • must have received academic training in clinical medicine, population health, health research and other health related areas which can have an impact on the health of people in LMIC;

    • must be in the early stage of their research career and have no more than ten years of research training experience;

    • must be a citizen of one the following countries: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan or a country in Sub-Saharan Africa;

    • must be employed by a sponsoring institution and is eligible for a study leave for two years;




Randomized Controlled Trials

Applications involving Randomized Controlled Trials (RCT) are accepted and encouraged where appropriate based on scientific and methodological grounds.

Guidelines


General CIHR Guidelines

This funding opportunity will comply fully with the policies and guidelines as outlined in the CIHR Grants and Awards Guide. Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate the use of Gender and Sex-Based Analysis in applications.

Allowable Costs

Recipients should review the Use of Grant Funds section of the Tri-Agency (CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC) Financial Administration Guide for a complete listing and description of allowable costs and activities for the research allowance and operating funds.

The awards consist of a stipend and a research allowance for the scholar and operating funds for the mentor.

The following allowable costs for the operating grant are specific to this funding opportunity:

  • The $10,000 of operating funds to the mentor in years 3 and 4 may be distributed with $5,000 of these funds being used as a research grant and $5,000 being used for travel, living or other expenses that relate to the award.


Global Health Research and International Collaborations

As outlined in the CIHR Grants and Awards Guide Global Health Research Section and the International Collaborations Section, applicants who are eligible for CIHR funding may apply to CIHR's funding opportunities for funds to support research to be carried out in, or in direct collaboration with researchers and/or knowledge users based in, other countries. CIHR contributes to, and supports international research projects and international collaborations to address a range of research areas, including but not limited to established priorities in global health research and contributes to the development of health-research capacity both internationally and at home.

Conditions of Funding

Successful applicants funded through this funding opportunity and any other persons working on the project must comply fully with the CIHR Funding Policies. Policies and guidelines cover areas such as Applicant Responsibilities, Official Languages policy, Access to Information and Privacy Acts, and Acknowledgement of CIHR's Support. Successful applicants will be informed of any special financial requirements prior to the release of funds or when they receive CIHR's Authorization for Funding (AFF) document.

In addition to CIHR standard guidelines and requirements, the following special requirements shall apply:

  • Successful scholars must commence the award within one year of their letter of offer.

  • The submission of an annual report to CIHR by the scholar and the mentor is required within three months of the end of each of the first three years of funding. The report (typically 2-4 pages) must be jointly signed by the scholar and the mentor and must include a copy of all publications and/or abstracts submitted as a result of this award. In the final two years of the award, the report must include a summary of training initiatives undertaken by the scholar to share learning with colleagues in their home sponsoring institution.

  • The scholars must present a paper at a relevant conference or seminar in the sub-continental South Asia or in Sub-Saharan Africa within 24-30 months from the start date of the award. The scholars must also make a formal presentation, at their home sponsoring institution, of the research project and the award.

  • The scholar will submit a final report to CIHR, three months after the fourth year of the program. The final report will summarize the results and describe how the funds were used. The required format for the report will follow end of project reporting requirements being introduced by CIHR.

  • The scholars must agree to participate in surveys and/or questionnaire(s), which will be used to contribute to annual and summative reporting requirements of the Program.


Access to Information Act and Privacy Act, and the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA)

All personal information collected by CIHR about applicants is used to review applications, to recruit reviewers, to administer and monitor grants and awards, to compile statistics, and to promote and support health research in Canada. Consistent with these purposes, applicants should also expect that information collected by CIHR may be shared as described in CIHR's Policy on Conflict of Interest and Confidentiality in the context of Merit, Relevance and Peer Review (CCIP).

CIHR as a federal entity is subject to the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act, therefore the requirements of these two statutes will apply to all information located in CIHR's premises including, without limitation, cost-sharing agreements related to this funding opportunity and all matters pertaining thereto.

While respecting the application of the Privacy Act to federal entities, all signing parties involved in a collaborative agreement will also be bound by the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA). All personal information (as identified by the PIPEDA) collected, used or disclosed in the course of any commercial activity under collaborative agreements related to the Funding opportunity will be collected, used and disclosed in compliance with the PIPEDA.

CIHR Guidelines for Health Research Involving Aboriginal People

The CIHR Guidelines for Health Research Involving Aboriginal People came into effect as policy for CIHR-funded research on July 1, 2008. Applicants whose proposed research will involve Aboriginal People are strongly encouraged to familiarise themselves with these guidelines and in particular with the section "Application of the Guidelines," which outlines the situations in which these guidelines apply.

Communication Requirements

Funding recipients are required to acknowledge CIHR, its institutes and partners in any communication or publication related to the project. See Communication of Competition Results for details on CIHR's communication requirements. The contributing institutes/partners will be identified on the Authorization for Funding (AFF) and decision letter.

Performance Measurement


CIHR is committed to collecting and disseminating information on the outputs and impacts of the research it funds. This information is an important part of CIHR accountability within the Federal Government and to Canadians:

  • The Nominated Principal Applicant must contribute to the monitoring, review and evaluation of CIHR's programs, policies and processes by participating in evaluation studies, surveys, workshops, audits and providing data or reports as required for the purpose of collecting information to assess progress and results;

  • The Nominated Principal Applicant must also encourage their associates, trainees and administration to participate in the monitoring, review and evaluation of CIHR's programs, policies and processes as required.


Review Process and Evaluation


Review Committee

A CIHR review committee will evaluate the full applications. The committee may be drawn from one of CIHR's pre-existing committees or may be created specifically for this funding opportunity. Committee members are selected based on suggestions from many sources including the institute(s)/ branch(es) and partner(s), following CIHR's Policy on Conflict of Interest and Confidentiality in the context of Merit, Relevance and Peer Review (CCIP).

For information on CIHR's peer review process in general, see the Understand Peer Review section of CIHR's website.

Evaluation Criteria

Fellowship Awards are reviewed in accordance with the Guide for Reviewers – CIHR Fellowships.

The following general criteria for evaluating training award applications will be used:

  • Achievements and Activities of the Candidate

  • Characteristics and Abilities of the Candidate

  • Research Training Environment

  • Impact of research area on the health of people in LMIC.

  • Scientific merit of the research proposed.


The research training and potential for a promising career in research, in a health related area which will help people in an LMIC, and the potential to develop linkages are the principal criteria on which applications will be judged. To support the strategic objectives of this funding opportunity, the mentor, the scholar and the sponsoring institutions must respectively demonstrate and/or address the following factors in addition to the standard set of evaluation criteria:

  1. Mentor

    • Proven 'track record' as a principal investigator;

    • Proven record of training postgraduate students;

    • Fertile environment for the scholar that is conducive to research training in the specific health research area of the scholar;

    • Continuation of his/her collaboration and mentoring with the scholar upon his/her return to the home sponsoring institution;

    • Suitability of the mentor and appropriateness of the scholar for the award and training plan presented.



  2. Scholar

    • Commitment to research in a health related area which will help people in a developing country;

    • Excellent track record;

    • Dedication to develop national/international collaborations in their area of research;

    • Commitment to returning to the home sponsoring institution for at least two years to apply the knowledge and experience gained through the Program and to sharing their learning with other colleagues in their home sponsoring institution;

    • Ability to function in the working language of the mentor;

    • Research training experience and research accomplishments to date including evidence of independence and originality of the scholar;

    • Publication record and contributions to the published work by the scholar;

    • Appropriateness of the proposed training research project to further the scholar's research career;

    • The first two years of this Program must be under the direction and supervision of a mentor at an eligible institution in Canada. Ideally the candidate should spend two years in Canada on study leave. In exceptional cases, when deemed important to the research project, and when recommended by his/her mentor, a scholar may start his/her research field work during the first two years of the award, during a period limited to six months. However, the scholar must spend at least 18 months in Canada during years 1 and 2. The first 11 months of year 1 and the final month of year 2 must be spent in Canada at the mentor's institution.



  3. Sponsoring Institutions

    • Active involvement in clinical medicine, health related research, global health and/or population health research;

    • Potential to develop functional linkages to collaborative projects at other institutions;

    • Ability of the sponsoring institutions to provide adequate infrastructure, physical space, research training environment and computer facilities for its trainees;

    • Guaranteed commitment to full-time re-employment of the scholar for a minimum of two years upon the scholar's return from training in Canada;

    • Ability of the sponsoring institutions to provide support for the scholar including 50% protected time for research during the final two years of the award in the sponsoring institution and support for the scholar to continue his/her research in the health area detailed in the research proposal;

    • Normally the home sponsoring institution is the institution where the candidate is currently employed. In exceptional circumstances, a sponsoring institution other than where the candidate is currently employed may be eligible if this institution meets all award requirements and provides a letter indicating plans to employ the applicant prior to completion of the scholarship.

    • If the sponsoring institution is unable to meet the above conditions, then it must provide supporting documents that they have similar contractual commitments or support from another national/state organization which would be able to absorb the scholar upon his/her return and fulfill the above conditions.




Funding Decision

Upon completion of peer review, the Global Health Research Initiative Strategic Lead will receive the ranking list, ratings and recommendations on funding level and award term for the applications that fall in the fundable range and have been determined to be relevant to the specific research areas and objectives of the initiative. The list will be used for funding decision-making purposes and will remain anonymous unless applicants have provided written consent to share nominative information.

Applications will be funded from the top down in order of ranking as far as budgets will allow.

Applications that receive a rating below 3.5 will not be funded.

How to Apply


Important: Please read all instructions to familiarize yourself with the application process before applying. For new applicants or for those wanting a reminder of the main application procedures, an overview of CIHR's application processes can be found under Apply for Funding. Note that these are general instructions only as the specific application instructions for this funding opportunity are located below.

  • The application process for this funding opportunity is comprised of one step: Application.

  • To complete your Application, follow the instructions in the Training Award - ResearchNet "Application" Phase Instruction Checklist along with any additional instructions found below under "Specific Instructions".

  • Reminder to applicants: Please ensure that your application is complete (includes all required signatures) and is submitted on time to CIHR.


Submission Requirements

  • Your Application will be submitted using ResearchNet. Scan and upload the signed signature pages including the routing slipin the Print/Upload Signature Pages task in ResearchNet prior to submitting your application.

  • Only the required official transcripts and sponsors assessments must be sent (courier stamped no later than the application deadline date) to:RE: Canada-Hope Scholarship Program
    Targeted Initiatives Branch
    Canadian Institutes of Health Research
    160 Elgin Street, Room 97 Address Locator 4809A
    Ottawa, ON, K1A 0W9
    Canada


Specific Instructions

In addition to the "Training Award – ResearchNet "Application" Phase Instruction Checklist Instructions above, the following criteria are mandatory for your Application to be accepted:

  • For "Task: Attach CVs and Supporting Documents": Common CV Modules (validated for CIHR) for both the candidate and the proposed Canadian supervisor(s) are required.

    • Letter of Support from Proposed Supervisor

      • A letter from the Mentor, outlining how the mentoring activity will fit into the overall research plan of the Mentor's department. The ability of the Mentor and the suitability of the research environment for the scholar during the mentoring period. Describing the nature of continued collaboration after the scholar returns to his/her home sponsoring institution, (maximum 3 pages).





  • For "Task: Enter Project Information and Supporting Documents":

    • Research Proposal

      • The Research Proposal must be completed by the scholar and the mentor. A maximum of 7 pages is allowed to describe the proposed research. Up to two of these pages may be dedicated to the proposed timeline for the scholar's training in years 1 and 2 and the continuation of the project, including collaborative linkages with the mentor, in years 3 and 4. The Research Proposal must also be signed by both the scholar and the mentor.





  • For "Task: Attach Other Application Materials", additional instructions on what must be attached under "other" are as follows:

    • Letter of Support from the home sponsoring institution

      • Letter(s) from the head(s) of the home sponsoring institution(s) detailing the guaranteed commitment for the third and fourth years of the award, and the required infrastructure and support available to the scholar when he/she returns to the sponsoring institution, from Canada (maximum 2 pages).

      • The following specific criteria must be addressed in the letter:

        • guaranteed commitment to full-time re-employment of the scholar for a minimum of two years upon the scholar's return from training in Canada;

        • protected time of at least 50% for the scholar to engage in research relevant to the training received in Canada;

        • adequacy of the infrastructure for the returning scholar;

        • if it is unable to meet the above conditions, then it must provide supporting documents that they have similar contractual commitments or support from another national/state organization which would be able to absorb the scholar upon his/her return and fulfill the above conditions;

        • if the home sponsoring institution is unable to meet the above requirements, a sponsoring institution other than where the candidate is currently employed may be eligible if this institution meets all award requirements and provides a letter indicating plans to employ the applicant prior to completion of the scholarship.





    • Letter of Support from the department of the Canadian sponsoring institution

      • A letter of support from the head of the department of the Canadian sponsoring institution, outlining how the research program and training plan fit the activities of the project for the scholar and how other researchers in the organization might be able to benefit from the learning of successful applicants, upon their return. If field work is proposed during a portion of year 1 and 2 at the sponsoring institution under the continued guidance of the mentor, please indicate the facilities and resources that would be available to the scholar in this letter of support (maximum 2 pages).



    • Letter of Support from the scholar

      • A letter from the scholar describing his/her commitment to the program, the relevancy of the research proposal to the Request for Application and the ability to function in the working language of the mentor's laboratory. Elaborate on the impact of the research area on the health of people in LMIC and a rationale for selecting of the mentor (maximum 4 pages).



    • Transcripts

      • Copies of official transcripts of the candidate's graduate and/or health professional training, including proof of any degrees completed are to be uploaded. Originals must follow by mail. CIHR will only accept an official student's copy of the transcript if submitted in the original sealed envelope from the institution. Certified true copies will only be accepted from institutions outside North America (translated in either English or French). A certified true copy is defined as a copy of the original document that has been certified to be a true copy of the original document by a commissioner of oath such as a notary or lawyer. The copy must bear the original signature and stamp of the official authority.





  • For "Task: Supplemental Application Information":

    • Canada-HOPE Nomination Form

      • Complete page 1 only of the "Canada-HOPE – Nomination Form" [ PDF (242 KB) | Help ] and upload electronically to ResearchNet in PDF format. Contact information for the head(s) of the home sponsoring institution(s) should be provided.





  • For "Task: Confirm Documents Sent": The following documents must be sent to CIHR courier stamped by the deadline date:

    • Transcripts

      • Official transcripts of the candidate's graduate and/or health professional training, including proof of any degrees completed, in the original sealed envelope. CIHR will only accept an official student's copy of the transcript if submitted in the original sealed envelope from the institution. Certified true copies will only be accepted from institutions outside North America (translated in either English or French). A certified true copy is defined as a copy of the original document that has been certified to be a true copy of the original document by a commissioner of oath such as a notary or lawyer. The copy must bear the original signature and stamp of the official authority.



    • Sponsor's Assessment of a Candidate for a Fellowship

      • Sponsor Asssesment of a Candidate forms [ PDF | Help ] are required to from three people under whom the candidate has trained and who have had a good opportunity to assess the candidate's potential for research. Assessments should be provided by the candidate's PhD supervisor and postdoctoral supervisor(s) (if applicable);






Please note:

  • Scholars may choose to enrol in a Master's graduate program during their period of study in Canada. Scholars who are considering this option, should apply directly to the graduate school of their choice. They should discuss options for graduate studies with their proposed mentor before submitting their application for graduate studies. This will help ensure that the proposed graduate training program is consistent with the planned focus for training. Applications for graduate studies should be made when an application for a Canada-HOPE scholarship is submitted, to ensure that timing of graduate studies would coincide with the timing of the award.


Contact Information


For questions about this initiative and research objectives, on CIHR funding guidelines, how to apply, and the peer review process contact: (Updated: 2011-01-31)

Stéphanie Chenard
Program Delivery Coordinator
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Telephone: 613-941-0848
Fax: 613-954-1800
Email: stephanie.chenard@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

Partner/Collaborator Description


Note: Additional partners/collaborators, including partners/collaborators from industry and the private sector are expected to join this funding initiative over the coming year.

Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
For the past 10 years, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) has supported better health and health care for Canadians. As the Government of Canada's health research investment agency, CIHR enables the creation of evidence-based knowledge and its transformation into improved treatments, prevention and diagnoses, new products and services, and a stronger, patient-oriented health-care system. Composed of 13 internationally recognized Institutes, CIHR supports more than 13,600 health researchers and trainees across Canada.

Partners

Sanofi-aventis
Sanofi-aventis, with global headquarters in Paris, France, is one of the leading pharmaceutical companies in Canada. We are dedicated to protecting health and combating disease by working to make innovative, effective and safe medicines available to physicians and patients throughout the world. To accomplish our goal, we rely on our strong research focus and place the patient at the heart of our efforts. For more information on sanofi-aventis, visit our web site.

Additional Information


1. Eligible countries in South Asia include: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan. All countries in Sub-Saharan Africa are eligible (list of Sub-Saharan countries in Africa).


Source:http://www.researchnet-recherchenet.ca