SHRF Awards Guide 2010: Section 7 - SHRF Partnership Programs

7. Partnership Programs

• 7.1 Saskatchewan Research Chairs
• 7.2 Saskatchewan - Canadian Institutes of Health Research Regional Partnership Program
• 7.3 Partnerships for Health System Improvement

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7.2 Saskatchewan Research Chairs

Purpose
The Saskatchewan Research Chairs Program is intended to attract, support and retain topquality research leaders who are working in a provincial priority area (see “Scope” below) and who contribute to capacity-building and knowledge sharing in those areas.

Scope
Research supported must be in a field of human health research, defined broadly as encompassing biomedical science, clinical research, health services and systems research, and research on the cultural, social and environmental determinants of population health, and must align with the research priority areas and themes of the provincial Health Research Strategy (see Section 2.3).

Focus Areas
For each Chair opportunity, SHRF works with one or more partner agencies to develop the focus of the Chair and any additional requirements identified. These are defined in a formal partnership agreement and summarized in a Request for Applications (RFA) promoting the opportunity.

The RFA’s for a given competition year will be posted on SHRF’s website at least three months before the competition deadline. Applicants will apply and compete for a particular chair opportunity, as defined in the relevant RFA. Please see SHRF’s website under Funding Programs for details on this program.

Important Dates
Application Deadline: October 1, 2010
Notice of Results by: December 15, 2010
Funding Start Date: July 1, 2011 (to be negotiated)

Funding
This program is offered annually, subject to availability of funding. The award will:

• normally provide $200,000 per year for up to 5 years, with up to $100,000 per year from SHRF and the remainder from partner agencies (the value may be higher for clinical researchers);
• be renewable once for 5 years, subject to funding availability, with the renewal submission due in the last year of the first term; and
• provide a contribution to the award holder’s salary, funds to carry out research, and support for trainees working with the Chair holder.

Allowable Expenses

• salary for the award holder;
• salaries for research technicians and assistants;
• stipends for graduate students and other trainees;
• materials, supplies and services;
• field travel; and
• costs of linkage and exchange with relevant communities of practice to enhance knowledge creation, sharing and application.

Eligibility
To be eligible, candidates must:

• hold a faculty appointment at or above the rank of Assistant Professor (or equivalent) at a Saskatchewan institution when the award commences;
• be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident when the award commences;
• hold, or have recently held, a major national multi-year peer-reviewed research operating grant as the principal investigator at the time of application;
• commit at least 75% of their time to the proposed research;
• be, or plan to be, part of an active, productive research group or unit in Saskatchewan;
• demonstrate the ability to lead and be innovative while also working collaboratively with other researchers, community partners, and research trainees;
• have written support and commitment from the appropriate Dean, Department Head and/or Director at the employing institution(s) for the required time and the infrastructure (e.g., space, furniture, office equipment and administrative support) to support the activities outlined in the proposal; and
• not hold any other major salary award simultaneously.

Review
Applications are evaluated in a competitive peer-review process that looks at excellence and relevance and considers the criteria listed below.

• strength and potential of the candidate, looking at: leadership potential, competitive funding success, publishing record, mentorship record, and linkages with relevant communities;
• quality and feasibility of the proposed research plan, looking at: importance and originality, clarity of goals and objectives; and appropriateness of proposed approach according to standards relevant to the field of study;
• fit with the purpose and requirements of the funding program and with the focus and additional requirements of the Chair opportunity being applied for, as defined in the relevant Chair RFA.
• suitability of the research facilities and environment, including support and commitment from the home institution;
• appropriateness of the budget to carry out the proposed plan;
• potential for knowledge translation;
• potential to build capacity in the focus area, looking at: opportunities to attract topquality students and trainees, work with relevant partners, and collaborate with other researchers from various disciplines.

Application
Complete the “SK Research Chair Application Form” available in the Funding Programs section of SHRF’s website under "Forms." Please consult with your host institution (Saskatchewan institutions only) before completing the form.

7.2 Saskatchewan – Canadian Institutes of Health Research Regional Partnership Program

The Saskatchewan – Canadian Institutes of Health Research Regional Partnership Program (RPP) is intended to increase the level of nationally funded health research in Saskatchewan. This is a CIHR program that is offered in six provinces; grants are funded by CIHR andprovincial funds on a 1:1 matching basis. CIHR supports RPP via its Priority Announcement system. Priority Announcements occur in June and December and indicate which programs are eligible. In Saskatchewan, eligible programs are: Open Operating Grants; New Investigator Salary Awards; Doctoral Student Awards; and Postdoctoral Fellowships.

Interested applicants should read the provincial RPP policies and the Strategic Plan developed by the Saskatchewan-CIHR RPP Advisory Committee and available on the SHRF website under Funding Programs. Applications go directly to CIHR for review, but must first go through internal review at the researcher’s home institution.

For University of Saskatchewan applicants with general RPP questions or questions aboutinternal peer-review review contact:

• Deborah Houston
  
• Office of the Associate Vice-President Research – Health, U of S
  
• deborah.houston@usask.ca or (306) 966-1733

For University of Saskatchewan applicants with questions related to administrative review or obtaining institutional signatures contact:

• Oksana Moshynska
  
• Research Services, University of Saskatchewan
  
• oksana.moshynska@usask.ca or (306) 966-2362

For University of Regina applicants, all RPP questions should be directed to:

• Sarah Savage
• Research Services, University of Regina
• sarah.savage@uregina.ca or (306) 337-2479

7.3 Partnerships for Health System Improvement

Applications go directly to CIHR for review, but, prior to submission, applicants are required to submit to SHRF information on the proposed research, budget, and requested funds using CIHR’s Partnership Module. Further details about this program, including SHRF-specific requirements, are available on CIHR’s website http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/34347.html.