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Hi everyone,

Following are highlights from a later than usual February CIHR University Delegates teleconference:

Project Scheme 2016 Pilot Update
Over 4,300 registrations were received for this competition, of which approximately 3200 are 鈥渦nique鈥� applicants. This is certainly a higher number than what CIHR anticipated (and despite repeated attempts to discourage multiple applications), prompting a number of questions regarding potential changes to the review process and timelines. For the time being CIHR is committed to delivering this Pilot as planned (5 reviewers / application; notification dates; etc.) but will wait for the March 1 submission date and the final numbers before making any further decisions. At this stage, reviewer recruitment is 鈥済oing well鈥�.聽 CIHR emphasized that no special steps were being taken to address adjudication of multiple applications; reviewer assignments will be based on expertise only, so it is possible that one reviewer could see all the applications from one researcher. CIHR did note that changes to the review process (eg, enhanced online discussion) introduced in the second Foundation Pilot would be carried over into this first Project scheme Pilot.

Concerns 鈥� and some confusion 鈥� remain for some aspects of this application, including the limited 2-page appendix allowed for 鈥渇igures鈥� (but not tables). At this stage, CIHR is asking for researchers to be 鈥渞easonable鈥� in how they utilize this section. The issue of space restrictions for providing project details (significantly curtailed compared to the former OOGP) was also raised. Emphasizing that this is still a 鈥淧ilot鈥�, CIHR re-iterated that they will undertake an evaluation of this application process and all of its components following the completion of this competition and encouraged researchers to provide feedback through the surveys being conducted alongside this process.

Budget was raised again, specifically whether there will be consideration to moving funds from the Foundation allotment to the Project Scheme given the apparent monetary pressure brought on by the high number of registrations. Predictably, CIHR is making no commitments on this front, reiterating instead the desire to ensure a balance between the two programs (captured in the 45/55 Foundation/Project split envisioned).

As for process, several UDs voiced concerns regarding the lack of information currently available around 鈥渟tage 2鈥� of the review process for this Project Scheme, including the composition and selection of reviewers for this stage, and the criteria this group will use to 鈥渞eview鈥� the Stage 1 reviews and make their recommendations. CIHR has promised a more fulsome explanation of this Stage 2 review process.

CIHR Foundation Scheme 2015 Updates
In total 260 applications were received by the Stage 2 deadline (of the 265 applications permitted to proceed to this stage). A little less than a third were from early career researchers (ECR), prompting the question whether this higher proportion of ECRs would be reflected in the final awards that are made. CIHR suggested that it is not likely this higher proportionality will be maintained, though they are still committed to a awarding a minimum of 15% of these Foundation grants to ECRs.

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The College is in a bit of a holding pattern while CIHR works out some remaining kinks with their online registration tools. They hope to restart their efforts to actively recruit shortly. CIHR has issued a call for Expressions of Interest to fill up to 14 College Chair positions; these are viewed as 鈥渓eadership鈥� positions, providing strategic guidance and overseeing College recruitment strategies and implementation plans. . Note that applications are due by March 7.

CIHR Contact Center
Since July 2015 CIHR has been phasing in its new Contact Center, with transitioning to be completed by October of this year; this Contact Center is intended to be central point of contact for stakeholders with respect to information and overall service delivery. All queries should be directed to:

support@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
613-954-1968 / 888-603-4178

Note that the current 鈥淩oadmap鈥� email is still active but is being re-directed through the Contact Center. With the transitioning has come some inevitable backlogs for inquiries; this situation was exacerbated by the recent crash of the CCV. CIHR is actively working to improve its response time and 鈥渁ppreciates鈥� our patience during this transition process.

CHRP
A scheduled update regarding Collaborative Health Research Projects (CHRP) was deferred until the March meeting. Negotiations are ongoing between CIHR and NSERC, the funding partner for this opportunity; CIHR will be able to provide more details in the coming weeks. There is concern among the research community that this important program will be scrapped.

As always, please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

Regards,
Mark Filiaggi
CIHR University Delegate
Associate Vice-President Research
filiaggi@dal.ca
(902) 494-7102