Pre-announcement: Café Scientifique Program

CIHR is pleased to announce the launch of a refreshed Café Scientifique Program. A previously successful CIHR Knowledge Mobilization (KM) program, it has been updated to reflect and support CIHR’s Strategic Plan 2021-2031 commitments to: 1) maximize results for Canadians by prioritizing the dissemination and implementation of existing knowledge to inform health practice and policy and enhance health equity; and 2) improve the health literacy of Canadians and empowering them to take charge of their own health.

We are providing preliminary information at this time to allow the research community time to prepare and, where appropriate, co-create proposals with knowledge users, Knowledge Keepers, patients and People with Lived and Living Experience (PWLLE).

Anticipated Timelines

Launch date: Fall 2022
Application Deadline: Winter 2023
Notice of Decision: Winter 2023
Funding Start Date: Winter 2023

Overview

Through the refreshed Café Scientifique funding opportunity, CIHR will provide funding to design and deliver events known as Cafés that enable knowledge sharing and open, respectful dialogues between the general public and health research experts on health-related issues of public interest.

Any researcher or Canadian resident affiliated with an organization or institution can lead or organize Cafes. We encourage knowledge users, Knowledge Keepers, patients, Person(s) With Lived/Living Experience (PWLLE), and trainees to apply. Cafés can be held in-person, in a hybrid format (mix of in-person and virtual), or virtually. Where possible, hybrid formats are encouraged to allow for both in-person interactions between health researchers and members of the public, while also facilitating wider outreach virtually. To facilitate accessibility and provide a conducive atmosphere for engagement and interaction, Cafés are to be held in appropriate and accessible public venues or online platforms. Admission to Cafés is always free, and the materials presented and discussed must be designed to be easily understood by a lay audience in at least one of the official languages.

The program structure of Cafés can vary and should be tailored to the needs of the community. As an example, a Café can begin with a moderated panel, followed by a question-and-answer discussion period with the audience. Alternative event formats are welcome to meet the needs of the community and the objectives of the Café.

Objectives

To be eligible for funding, applications must address all four (4) objectives:

1. Disseminate high-quality research evidence, including but not limited to CIHR-funded research, on a health research topic of public interest in an easily-understood and interesting format;
2. Promote the mobilization of knowledge between CIHR’s health research community and members of the Canadian public to increase the impact of health research;
3. Foster engagement between health researchers and knowledge users to encourage participatory approaches to knowledge mobilization in health research; and
4. Encourage Canadians to contribute their views on future research directions.

Research areas

CIHR will provide funding for applications deemed relevant to one of the research areas below.

• The General Pool will provide funding for applications that are focused on a health-research related issue.
• The Centre for Research on Pandemic Preparedness and Health Emergencies will provide funding for applications that are focused on prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery from existing and future pandemics or other health emergencies.
  • The successful grantees in this pool are encouraged to participate in an optional orientation session led by the Centre for Research on Pandemic Preparedness and Health Emergencies, where they will have the opportunity to further discuss their topic and event plans with Centre staff and other successful applicant teams to promote coordination and synergy.
• The Clinical Trials Fund will provide funding for applications that are determined to be relevant to one of the following research areas:
  • How clinical trials are funded, regulated, conducted and analyzed;
  • Models of clinical trials – how different trial approaches can be used for different study questions;
  • Recruitment and inclusion of diverse communities in clinical trials – how researchers are engaging different populations to build trust and make trials more representative and inclusive; and 
  • Examples of how key clinical trials have contributed to important health system questions.
• The CIHR Institute of Aging (CIHR-IA) supports research that promotes healthy aging and addresses the causes, prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, support systems and palliation for the complex health challenges of older adults. CIHR-IA will provide funding for applications that are determined to be relevant to one of the following strategic research areas:
  • Aging in the right place – Although aging in place is often considered to be best for many older adults, it needs to be the right place for the individual;
  • Technology and aging;
  • Optimizing the later years – Providing care, support systems and services to meet the needs of individuals late in life. This would include palliative and end of life care; and
  • Longer-living older adults – The over 85 demographic is the fastest growing age group in our population.
• The CIHR Institute of Cancer Research (CIHR-ICR) will provide funding for applications that are determined to be relevant to the general mandate and strategic research priorities of CIHR-ICR and those that support the development of the next generation of leaders within CIHR-ICR mandate area. ICR is dedicated to supporting research that reduces the burden of cancer on individuals and families through prevention strategies, screening, diagnosis, effective treatment, psycho-social support systems, and palliation. 
• The CIHR Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health (CIHR-ICRH) will provide funding for applications relevant to its mandate and aligned with the Institute Strategic Plan (2022-2025). More information on the mandate of CIHR-ICRH can be found on their website.
• The CIHR Institute of Gender and Health (CIHR-IGH) will provide funding for applications that are determined to be relevant to the Institute's mandate, including but not limited to:
  • Girls and women's health and wellness;
  • Boys, men and masculinities; and
  • Health and wellness for gender- and sexually-diverse people.
• The CIHR Institute of Genetics (CIHR-IG) will support applications that enable patients and the public to better understand and use genetics, genomics, and the numerous new ‘omics’ technologies that are increasingly used to deliver better health and healthcare outcomes at a better value. In alignment with CIHR-IG 2022-27 strategic plan priorities, these Cafés should aim to inform ethical, equitable, and effective implementation and increased impact of evidence-based health policy and practice of genomic technologies. Importantly, the Cafés should also include the lived experiences of patients and families, including patient partnerships.
• The CIHR Institute of Health Services and Policy Research (CIHR-IHSPR) supports research designed to improve the way health care services are organized, regulated, managed, financed, paid for, used and delivered, in the interest of improving the health and quality of life of all Canadians. IHSPR will support applications that are relevant to its mandate and one or more of its four strategic research priority areas.
• The CIHR Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health (CIHR-IHDCYH) will provide funding for applications that are relevant to the mandate of the Institute, which is to ensure the best start in life for all Canadians and the achievement of their potential for optimal growth and development. This broad mandate covers defined time periods and a wide range of issues pertaining to human development: pre-conception; fertilization; embryonic and fetal development; the health of the parents; and the health and development of infants, children and youth.
• The CIHR Institute of Indigenous Peoples' Health (CIHR-IIPH) fosters the advancement of a national health research agenda to improve and promote the health of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples in Canada, through research, knowledge mobilization and capacity building. The Institute's pursuit of research excellence is enhanced by respect for community research priorities and Indigenous knowledges, values and cultures. More information on the research priorities of CIHR-IIPH can be found on their website. For this funding opportunity, CIHR-IIPH seeks applicants who self-identify as Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit or Métis) or provide evidence of having meaningful and culturally safe involvement with Indigenous Peoples in order to:
  • Prioritize First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples and communities in leading their research agendas;
  • Promote cultural safety of and appropriate engagements by researchers working with Indigenous Peoples in meaningful ways to ensure that respectful relations are established;
  • Add value to the research and knowledge sharing through the use of Indigenous culturally relevant theoretical and conceptual frameworks, and Indigenous culturally appropriate research protocols, including Indigenous methodologies; and
  • Promote equity and development of trainees, researchers and knowledge users who are of Indigenous ancestry.
• The CIHR Institute of Infection and Immunity (CIHR-III) supports research and helps to build research capacity in the areas of infectious disease and the body's immune system. Through the Institute's programs, researchers address a wide range of health concerns related to infection and immunity including disease mechanisms, disease prevention and treatment, and health promotion through public policy. III will support applications that are relevant to its mandate.
• The CIHR Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis (CIHR-IMHA) will fund applications that are determined to be relevant to the general mandate and research priorities of CIHR-IMHA. CIHR-IMHA is mandated to provide research leadership to active living, mobility and the wide range of conditions related to bones, joints, muscles, connective tissues, skin as well as the mouth, teeth and craniofacial region. More information on the research priorities of CIHR-IMHA can be found on their website.
• The CIHR Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes (CIHR-INMD) will fund applications directly and primarily relevant to the CIHR-INMD mandate and strategic research priorities.
• The CIHR Institute of Population and Public Health (CIHR-IPPH) will fund applications aligned with the IPPH mandate and one or more of the four priority areas identified in the Transforming Public Health: IPPH Strategic Plan, 2022-2026.
• The Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR) will provide funding for applications that have a focus on patient-oriented research and patient engagement as one of the main areas of discussion within their Café Scientifique. There will be 13 SPOR-funded pools – one pool for each province and territory (P/T), where one application will be funded per pool. In alignment with the SPOR Patient Engagement Framework and SPOR Capacity Development Framework, proposals must:
  • Consider creative and inclusive approaches and venues to reach diverse audiences and bring the conversation to where the people are;
  • Increase awareness about the importance of the role of patients, People With Lived/Living Experience (PWLLE) and communities in determining health research priorities and empowering them as partners in the research process to ensure the knowledge generated is used to improve the health system and the health of people living in Canada; and
  • Increase awareness about the concept of integrated knowledge mobilization and integrating evidence into healthcare policy and practice.

Availability of funds

The total amount available for this funding opportunity is up to $776,000, enough to fund approximately 97 grants. This amount may increase if additional funding partners participate. Please note that applicants can apply to only one (1) pool. The maximum amount per grant is $6,000 for one (1) year.

Applications that demonstrate meaningful engagement and co-creation with knowledge users, patients, Indigenous communities and PWLLE will be eligible for an additional supplement of $2,000 per grant, to account for additional costs of co-creation and engagement. These additional costs should be reflected in the proposed budget, in order to be considered for the supplement.

Preliminary Application Details

Application requirements for the application process will be outlined in the Funding Opportunity details to come. The application process will comprise one step: Full Application. A short, standardized application template will be made available once the funding opportunity is launched.

Preliminary Review and Funding Decision Details

CIHR will be using a partial randomization approach for this FO so that all eligible applications have an equal opportunity, within their pool, to receive a grant. Using a partial randomization process can also reduce bias in the selection process and potentially increase diversity in funded applications. A relevance review process followed by an evaluation will be used for this competition, where applications must demonstrate all program requirements to receive a “Pass”. Applications that receive a “Pass” will be entered into a randomized selection process. A random order of eligible applications will be generated and funding will be offered up to the limit of the available funds.

Contact information

CIHR Contact Centre
For general inquiries please contact:
1-888-603-4178
support@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

Disclaimer

The information contained herein is anticipatory only and does not represent an official funding commitment by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. Accordingly, the information, contained herein may differ from the official funding opportunity that will be published on ResearchNet.

Date modified:

2022-12-23