Notice Board

Overview
Duration: 6 months (October 1, 2016 to March 31, 2017)
Application deadline: September 15, 2016
Notice of Decision: September 30, 2016
Start Date: October 1, 2016
ORIS Contact: Penny D'Agnone (403-382-7198 or penny.dagnone@uleth.ca)

Description

The purpose of the AIHS Sustainability Fund is to offer bridge funding to support research operating grant applications submitted by Alberta health researchers to the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR) Open Operating Grant Program (OOGP), Foundation Scheme and Project Scheme competitions. The objective of these bridge grants is to ensure the maintenance of excellent research programs without loss of momentum, staff or trainees until the Principal Investigator has the opportunity to submit their research proposal.

The goals of the Sustainability Fund are to increase the competitiveness of Alberta’s health researchers in obtaining federal health research funding and help maintain the critical capacity of the wide spectrum of highly skilled people within the academic and clinical health research environments.

The objectives of the Sustainability Fund are:

• To provide interim support to productive independent investigators who experience a lapse in funding support from CIHR due to an unsuccessful operating grant application;

• To support health research activities and/or maintain support for people who directly contribute to maintaining the momentum of the research and facilitate a more competitive grant submission;

• To enable the Universities to bridge a greater number of operating grant applications, leading to a higher percentage of successful applications from Alberta; and,

• To address funding gaps resulting from the transition of CIHR from the OOGP to the Foundation and Project Scheme competitions.

It is not the intent of the Sustainability Fund:

• To supplement existing operating grants;

• To cover shortfalls in approved grant support; or

• To substitute for existing bridge activity available at the Universities.

Eligibility

1. The Principal Investigator must be using the funds to support research that is eligible for Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) funding support.  As the Government of Canada's health research investment agency, the CIHR supports excellence across all four pillars of health research: biomedical; clinical; health systems services; and population health.

2. The Principal Investigator must have a formal, primary affiliation with the University of Lethbridge.

3. The Principal Investigator must be eligible to hold CIHR funds at the University of Lethbridge.

4. According to the AIHS Sustainability Fund Guidelines on Use of Funds, funds can only be used to bridge applications to CIHR OOGP or Foundation and Project Scheme opportunities not earlier than March 2015. 

Use of Funds:

It is the responsibility of the applicant(s) to adequately justify the expenditures included in the application.  Funds requested must support research that is eligible for Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).  Funds must be spent prior to March 31, 2017.  This is a one-time, non-renewable opportunity and extensions are not available. 

How to Apply:

General Guidelines:

The total funding available for this program will be assessed on an annual basis.  This funding is distributed as a block grant to the University of Lethbridge. AIHS will assess the Sustainability Fund and the availability of AIHS funding to support the program on an annual basis.  For 2016-2017 fiscal year, the University of Lethbridge has approximately $200,000 to support health researchers applying to the Sustainability Fund.  Although no maximum size of grant is identified, applicants are advised to keep their budgets reasonable. 

Submissions for the current round are due by 4:00 p.m. on September 15, 2016. Late submissions will not be accepted and incomplete applications will be deemed ineligible.

Application Process:

Applicants interested in seeking support from the Sustainability Fund must:

1. Complete a Research Proposal Form via the Bridge.  Do not use the Internal Grant Application form. 

2. Attach a single pdf to the Research Proposal Form including the following information:

   1.  A brief description of the proposed research to be conducted using the Sustainability Fund (2 pages maximum including references);

   2. A Budget and justification for the funds (1 page maximum);

   3. Rationale for support through the Sustainability funds including any lapses in funding from CIHR due to unsuccessful applications; a list of previous CIHR applications and rankings from CIHR; how support from the Sustainability Fund will make a future application more competitive; and other financial support these activities receive including any overlaps in funding. 

Conditions of the Award:

1. Use of Funds: Expenditures may be made only for those cost elements identified in the application or as limited in the Request for New Fund form. Special conditions may include human subject research or animal welfare approval, expenditure limitations, etc.  Minor transfers of funds from one budget category to another may be permitted. Major transfers or the use of funds for a previously unspecified expense or a new budget item requires prior approval by ORIS. 

2. Term: Funds must be spent prior to March 31, 2017.  This fund is one time, non-renewable.  No extensions will be provided.

3. Reports: A final report on the work funded by the Sustainability Fund must be submitted by March 31, 2017.  The report must include a summary of the activities completed using the fund, the personnel supported using the funds, publications resulting from the support, grants submitted and/or received, and future plans for funding.  It is expected that a CIHR grant application is submitted within one year of the end date of the Sustainability Fund support.

4. Equipment & Library Acquisitions: Equipment or library materials acquired with grant funds remain as property of the UofL in accordance with university policy.

5. Personnel: Personnel employed with grant funds are not regular University employees and are not covered by the provisions of the collective agreement with support staff.

   Selection Process:

   According to the guidelines provided by AIHS, the Office of the Vice President (Research) will review applications and select the health researchers to be offered support under the Sustainability Fund Opportunity.  Applications will be evaluated by the university receiving a Sustainability Fund Opportunity allocation, not by AIHS.  The Vice President (Research) will be accountable for the use of the Sustainability Funds based on the defined terms and conditions.

   Applications that provide support to high-qualified individuals will be given priority.  Those applications able to demonstrate an urgent need for funds will also be given priority. 

    

   For the complete AIHS funding opportunity description as well as the AIHS Sustainability Fund Guidelines, visit the AIHS Website.  For more information regarding the Sustainability Fund at the University of Lethbridge, contact Penny D’Agnone at penny.dagnone@uleth.ca or 403-382-7198.