Description

The Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR) is a national coalition of federal, provincial and territorial partners (patients and informal caregivers, provincial health authorities, academic health centres, charities, philanthropic organizations, private sector, etc.) dedicated to the integration of research into care.

Patient-oriented research refers to a continuum of research that engages patients as partners, focusses on patient-identified priorities and improves patient outcomes. This research, conducted by multidisciplinary teams in partnership with relevant stakeholders, aims to apply the knowledge generated to improve healthcare systems and practices.

Clinical trials are one of the elements of SPOR that responds to its goals to strengthen organizational, regulatory and financial support for clinical studies in Canada, and enhance patient and clinician engagement in research.  Under this element, the Innovative Clinical Trials (iCT) initiative aims to build capacity and increase the intensity of iCT research. iCTs use designs that are alternative to traditional Randomized Controlled Trials (RCT) with application in areas ranging from product development to health system improvement. iCT methods can reduce the cost of conducting trials, reduce the amount of time needed to answer research questions, and increase the relevance of research findings to patients, health care providers and/or policy makers. Adopting these alternative designs can maximize the use of existing knowledge and data.

Research Areas

CIHR will provide funding for innovative clinical trials that have a primary focus in the areas of:

• comparative effectiveness research; and/or
• implementation science research.

Comparative effectiveness research compares two or more healthcare options already shown to be efficacious. The healthcare options could include diagnostics, drugs, medical devices, surgeries, complementary medicine, self-care or ways to deliver health care. The findings should be able to inform health-care decisions by providing evidence on the effectiveness, benefits, and harms of different health care options and other type of interventions.

Implementation science research examines interventions that are already shown to work under certain conditions and within certain contexts, which could be defined by demographic, biological, clinical, social, economic, geographic, or other factors. The interventions could include diagnostics, drugs, medical devices, surgeries, complementary medicine, self-care or ways to deliver health care. Implementation science aims to determine if these interventions can be adapted to other contexts, how should they be adapted and what are the longer term effects. In other words, implementation science research seeks to understand what interventions work for whom and under what circumstances. It studies the factors that influence the full and effective use of interventions in practice, which could include affordability, adaptability, scalability and sustainability.

The current catalyst grant funding opportunity aims to support the development of iCT research proposals in preparation for application to the multi-year iCT funding opportunities under the same initiative.

Working with other SPOR-funded entities

Applicants are encouraged to engage with other SPOR-funded entities to strengthen collaboration and maximize usage of available resources.

Funds Available

CIHR and partner(s) financial contributions for this initiative are subject to availability of funds. Should CIHR or partner(s) funding levels not be available or are decreased due to 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 $1,000,000, enough to fund approximately ten (10) grants. The maximum amount per grant is $100,000 for up to one year.
• This funding opportunity does NOT require 1:1 matching of CIHR funds.

Objectives

The specific objective of this funding opportunity is to mobilize research communities to explore methodologies to advance research in innovative clinical trials research.

Examples of activities that might be conducted under this funding opportunity (but are not restricted to) are:

• Planning and execution of pilot projects or feasibility studies to demonstrate proof of concept and/or generate preliminary data;
• Development and/or validation of new tools, methodologies and/or protocols.

Eligibility

Eligibility to Apply

For your application to be eligible:

1. The Nominated Principal Applicant (NPA) must be:
   • An independent researcher
   • Appointed at an eligible institution (See Institutional Eligibility Requirements for eligibility process and associated timelines) at the time of application.
2. There must be at least four applicants listed as either Principal Applicants or Principal Knowledge Users, covering each of the following categories (the NPA can count as one of these applicants):
   • Researchers
   • Health care professionals
   • Policy makers who have the ability to influence health policy or the delivery of health services
   • Patients

In the context of SPOR, patient is "an overarching term inclusive of individuals with personal experience of a health issue and informal caregivers, including family and friends." Please refer to the SPOR Patient Engagement Framework for further information.

For additional eligibility requirements for individuals, refer to the Individual Eligibility Requirements.

Guidelines

General CIHR Policies

Successful applicants funded through this opportunity and any other persons working on the project must fully comply with the applicable CIHR Funding Policies.

Allowable Costs

Applicants 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.

Conditions of Funding

• At the time of application, the Nominated Principal Applicant (NPA) must consent to the use and disclosure of the full application and nominative information of the applicant team for relevance review and for funding decisions.
• The NPA will be required to submit a final report. Requirements for this report will be provided by CIHR.
• Principal Applicants who are successful in this competition are strongly encouraged to actively participate in peer review, and as members of the CIHR College of Reviewers, when invited.
• Upon reasonable notice by CIHR, the NPI or appropriate representative of the NPI shall attend and participate in SPOR-related meetings and workshops.

Review Process and Evaluation

Relevance Review Process

A comprehensive relevance review will be conducted to identify applications that are in alignment with the objectives and research areas of this funding opportunity.

Applications that are not deemed to be relevant will be withdrawn from the competition.

Review Process

A CIHR review committee will evaluate the full applications. The multi-disciplinary international committee will include patient engagement experts, patients, health care professionals, policy makers and researchers with expertise in comparative effectiveness research, implementation science research and iCT methods.

For information on CIHR's peer review principles, see the Peer Review: Overview section of CIHR's website.

Evaluation Criteria

To support the strategic objectives of this funding opportunity, the following evaluation criteria will be used.

1. Research Approach
   1. Extent to which the application responds to the objectives and relevant research areas of the funding opportunity.
   2. Originality of the proposed research, in terms of the hypotheses/research questions addressed, novel technology/methodology, and/or novel applications of current technology/methodology.
   3. Feasibility and appropriateness to apply the proposed design in answering the research question(s).
   4. Appropriateness of the proposed strategies to address challenges and benefits associated with adopting non-traditional methods.
   5. Strength, appropriateness and collective track record and expertise of the team to conduct the proposed project.
   6. Appropriateness and feasibility of the approach and planned activities relative to the proposed budget.
2. Potential Impact
   1. Potential impact on building patient-oriented research capacity.
   2. Potential for the creation of new knowledge.
   3. Quality of partnership building activities and potential to lead to sustainable relationships.
   4. Degree of meaningful inclusion of patients, health care professionals and policy makers and its appropriateness in relation to the goals of the proposal.

Funding Decision

Applications will be funded from the top down in order of ranking.

How to Apply

• The application process for this funding opportunity is comprised of one step: Full Application.
• To complete your Full Application, follow the instructions in the Grants - ResearchNet "Application" Phase Instructions along with any additional instructions found below under "Specific Instructions".
• All application participants, with the exception of Collaborators, will require:
  • A CIHR PIN;
  • To complete the Equity and Diversity Questionnaire.

Specific instructions to complete your ResearchNet application

Task: Identify Participants

• Add all participants in this task.
  • For the Nominated Principal Applicant, provide an Academic Common CV.
  • Provide a BioSketch for all Principal Applicants and Principal Knowledge Users with the exception of patients.
  • Provide a BioSketch for all Co-Applicants and Knowledge Users with the exception of patients.
  • For Principal Knowledge User(s) and Knowledge User(s) who are patients, provide a written statement and upload in Task: Attach Other Application Materials as described below.
    • All patients will also require a CIHR PIN. Identifying patient applicants in this manner supports SPOR's principle of patient engagement and provides formal recognition of patient applicants (e.g. acknowledgement in CIHR's funding decisions notifications) as active participants in the project.
  • Collaborators are not required to submit a CV or written statement.

Task: Enter Proposal Information

• In the "Project Descriptors", you must specify if your research has a primary focus in the areas of:
  • Comparative Effectiveness or/and;
  • Implementation Science
• The research proposal can be up to a maximum of ten (10) pages, not including references, and must address the evaluation criteria above.

Task: Enter Budget Information

• Provide a detailed budget justification in relation to planned activities and clearly justify all budget items.

Task: Attach Other Application Materials

• Upload the following document as "Other"
  • Patient written statement:
    • Key participants that fall in the patient/family representatives/informal care providers stakeholder group are required to provide signed written statements (maximum two (2) pages each) describing their relevant lived experiences that validates their fit for this role in the context of the application.
• Upload the following document as "Participant Table"
  • In a table format, list all participants including:
    • The type of participant (e.g., Principal applicant, knowledge user, collaborators, etc.).
    • Their primary host institute/organization;
    • The primary category that they cover (clinician, researcher, decision maker or patient) and;
    • Descriptions of what each brings to the team and gains from participating on the team.

Task: Print/Upload Signature Pages

• Required signatures:
  • Signatures must be included for all applicants (except collaborators), and individual(s) with signing authority from the Institution Paid.
  • Original signatures are not required. The scanned signed signature pages and the Routing Slip must be uploaded in the Print/Upload Signature Pages task in ResearchNet prior to submitting your application.

Consult the SPOR Innovative Clinical Trials Initiative - Frequently Asked Questions

Contact Information

For all inquiries please contact:

CIHR Contact Centre
Telephone: 613-954-1968
Toll Free: 1-888-603-4178
Email: support@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

For service hours, please consult our Contact us page.

Sponsor Description

Internal Collaborators

Canadian Institutes of Health Research
At the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), we know that research has the power to change lives. As Canada's health research investment agency, we collaborate with partners and researchers to support the discoveries and innovations that improve our health and strengthen our health care system.

Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research
CIHR is a partner in Canada's Strategy for Patient Oriented Research (SPOR). SPOR is a national coalition of federal, provincial and territorial partners (patient advocates, provincial health authorities, academic health centres, charities, philanthropic organizations, pharmaceutical sector, etc.) dedicated to the integration of research into care – the right patient receives the right treatment at the right time.

Patient-oriented research focuses on patient-identified priorities. It produces information for decision makers and health care providers that will improve health care practices, therapies, and policies. And it ensures that new and innovative diagnostic and therapeutic approaches are applied when and where needed.