Health System Impact Fellowships (HSIF) program - Application Instructions

List all participants in the "Identify Participants" task. Consult the Eligibility section and ensure that all requirements are met for each participant.

• The Nominated Principal Applicant (the doctoral trainee or post-doctoral researcher);
• The Health System Supervisor (supervisor from the host health system organization – i.e., the Primary Supervisor); and,
• The Academic Supervisor (i.e., the Secondary Supervisor).

This task collects information on all participants (NPA and Supervisors) involved in your application. Provide the following information:

• a CIHR PIN.
• Contact information which will serve CIHR to communicate with applicants and supervisors if needed;
• Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Self-identification Questionnaire: The NPA and Supervisors must complete their questionnaire. For more information about how to complete the questionnaire, please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions and How-To Instructions.
• Citizenship (NPA only)
  • Provide supporting documentation in the "Proof of Citizenship" attachment (see "3. Attach Other Application Materials – Proof of Citizenship")

The Nominated Principal Applicant (NPA) is required to submit a tri-agency CV (TCV).

The Supervisors are not required to submit a TCV. Instead, the NPA is responsible for providing a narrative description of their research team's expertise and experience (see "3. Attach Other Application Materials – Team Expertise and Experience attachment").

TCVs must follow CIHR's formatting guidelines for attachments. The maximum length of TCV is 5 pages in English and 6 pages in French. Any content in excess of the page limit set for the language will be removed without further notice to the NPA.

Submit the TCV by uploading the completed document in the "Attachment" tab and selecting "Curriculum Vitae" as the Document Type in the dropdown menu.

Consult the tri-agency CV instructions and the tri-agency CV – frequently asked questions for assistance with completing the TCV template.

Note: As we gradually transition to the TCV, the system may continue to display references to the CCV.

Title

CIHR will identify the research project using the title. For this reason, applicants cannot edit their project title once the application is submitted.

Lay Title

Provide a title for the project that is in a language clear to the general public. Lay titles are used by CIHR to inform the public and Parliament about the valuable research supported through public funds.

Lay Abstract

Describe the project in a way that is accessible to a lay audience. Indicate how the proposed research can improve personal health, health of populations and/or health delivery systems. This information is used by CIHR to inform the public and Parliament about the valuable research supported through public funds.

Institution

Indicate the institution that will administer the award funds. This institution must be on the list of CIHR eligible institutions authorized to administer grant and award funds. Institutions or organizations seeking to become authorized to administer CIHR funds are encouraged to contact the Contact Centre in advance of submitting a funding application, to ensure their understanding of the eligibility review process and timelines. Consult the CIHR Application Administration Guide for more information.

Primary location where research will be conducted

Enter the name of the host health system organization. This can also be your institution paid, if it is on the list of CIHR eligible institutions authorized to administer grant and award funds.

• Important: If you are applying to a regional pool, the location of the host health system organization must correspond to it.

Certification Requirements

If the application is selected for funding, the necessary certification requirements must be met in accordance with policies on ethical conduct of research. Relevant policies:

• Agreement on the Administration of Agency Grants and Awards by Research Institutions
• CIHR Funding Policies

Does this application propose research involving Indigenous Peoples?

Indicate if the application proposes research involving Indigenous Peoples. This information will be used for statistical purposes only.

Applicants, whose proposed research will involve First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples, must follow the Application Instructions carefully as other attachments will be necessary.

Are sex (biological) and/or gender (socio-cultural) considerations taken into account in this study?

Indicate if sex (biological) and/or gender (socio-cultural) are taken or not into account in your research proposal (from its design to the analysis of the research findings). Please consult these resources on how to integrate sex and gender into research (limit of 2000 characters, including spaces).

If not considered, explain why sex and/or gender are not applicable to your research proposal.

Period of Support Requested

Indicate the period of support required (1 year for the doctoral stream or 2 years for the postdoctoral stream).

Descriptors

Provide keywords that describe the research project, the techniques and the methodologies it will employ, as well as the areas of interest.

Areas of Research

Select the areas of research that best describe the proposal from the list provided.

Classification

Select the classifications that best describe the proposal from the list provided.

Themes

Select a primary theme classification. Indicate additional theme classifications only if the substance of the application significantly overlaps more than one theme. Consult the definition of the four CIHR Themes on the CIHR website for more information.

Suggested Institutes (Categories)

Select a primary CIHR Institute whose research mandate is related to the application's research area(s) and objective(s). Additional Institutes should only be selected if the substance of the application significantly overlaps with the research mandate of more than one Institute.

Information provided in your application package must be self-contained.

Hyperlinks, including links to documents hosted on a Google drive (or other similar drives), must not be included in any attachments within the application. Reviewers will not be accessing any content hosted on such drives or linked outside the application. However, Digital Object Identifiers (DOI) to reference publications are permitted.

2.4.1 Research Proposal

The Research Proposal may be a maximum of 7.5 pages for English applications and a maximum of 9 pages for French applications. Any pages over the limit will be removed with no further notification to the NPA.

The project/program of work proposal (referred as "Research Proposal" in ResearchNet) must include the work plan table, references, charts, tables and figures. Follow the instructions detailed below in formatting your proposal.

The research proposal must include the following headings:

Motivation for Applying and Value-Add (approximately 1 page) (See Evaluation Criteria #4)

• Your motivation for applying, what you hope to achieve with your HSI award (your fellowship objectives), how it will strengthen your skills and advance your ability to achieve your career goals, how it will enrich your overall doctoral/post-doctoral training, and your rationale for the top three enriched core competencies identified for development.
• Why your host health system organization and academic institution are ideal training environments given your motivations for applying and your targeted enriched competencies for professional growth.

Relevant Accomplishments and Abilities (approximately 1 page) (See Evaluation Criteria #1)

• To complement the information available in your tri-agency CV, briefly highlight your top three professional and/or academic accomplishments/contributions and skills relevant to the HSI Program objectives (e.g., knowledge translation, policy development, publications, presentations, employment, specialized training, volunteer contributions, mentorship).
• For each, outline the significance, relevance and impact (e.g., influence on policy and practice, influence on direction of thought, use of research results by partners, health outcomes, societal outcomes, and distinctions-based, meaningful and culturally safe health research) of your contribution. Outline any contextual factors that may have impacted your progress and accomplishments.
• San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA): In line with DORA, applicants can highlight a broad range of contributions and impacts. For further guidance consult the Applicant resource: How to highlight your research contributions and impacts.

Training environment, supervision and mentorship plan (approximately 1 page) (See Evaluation Criteria #2)

Note: This section is to be completed primarily by your health system and academic supervisors, in collaboration with you, and must address Evaluation Criteria #2.

Describe:

• The environment the applicant will be working within, including virtual/remote environments (e.g., independently or within a team, engagement in internal and external meetings, access to data, connections to key partners and decision makers relevant to the projects, access to office space and supplies, etc.), the structures and processes in place to champion and support the embedded research and its impact on organizational decision-making, and how it is an equitable and inclusive training environment;
• The training, mentorship and professional development plan designed to accelerate the applicant's fellowship success and impact, professional growth, including the enriched core competencies the supervisors will help the applicant develop and implement (e.g., specific courses/workshops, training opportunities, experiential learning, conferences and meetings, creating a committee of health system and academic mentors, virtual/remote training opportunities), how a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion will be incorporated in the plan, and how the plan will support professional growth, the potential for career advancement, and a career pathway;
• The support (from both the organization and university) that will be provided to help the applicant accomplish the project/program of work (e.g., methods training, introductions to key partners and partners, access to required data and training on how to use) and its potential for impact within the organization;
• How the health system and academic supervisors will work together as a team to jointly train, mentor and supervise the trainee, and whether this collaboration builds on an existing relationship;
• How the supervisors' track record and expertise in health services and policy or related fields (e.g., health systems, population and public health, data science, epidemiology, health policy, service delivery, etc.), and roles within their respective organizations, will be leveraged to support the applicant's training, mentorship, professional development and project/program impact on organizational program/policy/practice decision-making.
• The anticipated strategies the host health system organization will use to achieve the HSI program objective that organizations "harness the benefits that research-trained individuals can bring for improved decision-making."
• For applications involving Indigenous Health Research: The extent to which the overall research team has the necessary knowledge, expertise and experience in Indigenous health research, and complementarity of expertise and synergistic potential to conduct Indigenous health research that is scientifically excellent, community-driven and culturally safe.
• For applications involving patient-oriented research and/or engagement with equity-denied communities: provide evidence of meaningful, safe and appropriate engagement experience with these communities.
• Demonstration of the host health system organization's commitment and academic supervisor to equity, diversity and inclusion.

Proposed Project/Program of Work Proposal (approximately 1 page) (See Evaluation Criteria #3)

• In collaboration with your health system supervisor and academic supervisor, outline the project/program of work you will undertake within your host health system organization in accordance with Evaluation Criteria #3.
• Work Plan Table (1 page max.)
  Include a one-page document detailing anticipated key activities, milestones and deliverables for the program of work within the host health system organization (embedded portion) and university (protected academic portion) (e.g., Gantt chart or other).
• References, Tables, Charts, Figures (1 page max.)
  Include up to one page of references, tables, charts and/or figures relevant to your proposal.

Attach two (2) letters of support, one (1) from the Health System Supervisor and one (1) from the Academic Supervisor. Supervisors are encouraged to review the Evaluation Criteria, upon which the applicant's proposal and letters of support will be assessed.

1. "Letter of Support - Health System Supervisor", must include:
   • The name of the Health System Supervisor, their role/position within the organization, and how they meet the requirement of a health system leader (an executive-level decision maker – i.e., an individual who makes decisions about, or influences, health policies/programs/practices and who is able to make use of the research to inform decision-making) within the organization (see Eligibility requirement #4), and how their organizational role allows them to champion and support the impact of the embedded research on organizational decision-making;
   • For applications involving Indigenous Health Research: The extent to which the overall research team has the necessary knowledge, expertise and experience in Indigenous health research, and complementarity of expertise and synergistic potential to conduct Indigenous health research that is scientifically excellent, community-driven and culturally safe.
   • For applications involving engagement with equity-denied communities, provide evidence of meaningful, safe and appropriate engagement experience with these communities.
   • The organization's impact goal and the anticipated impact and value the HSI awardee will bring to the organization (see Evaluation Criteria #3 and #4b);
   • The commitment to provide the fellow with a 1-year (for Stream A) or 2-year (for Stream B) experiential learning opportunity, including a commitment to engage with the applicant and their Academic Supervisor to develop a high-quality, relevant and feasible mentorship and professional development training plan, and a commitment to supporting the applicant's career advancement and longer-term career pathway;
   • Provision for the applicant to participate in professional development training that aligns with the enriched HSPR core competencies.
2. "Letter of Support - Academic Supervisor", must include:
   • The name of the Academic Supervisor, their academic position within the university, and their primary departmental affiliation;
   • Confirmation that the Academic Supervisor's research and expertise is in HSPR or relevant fields (e.g., departmental affiliation, relevant grants and awards);
   • For applications involving Indigenous Health Research, demonstration of the Academic Supervisor's capacity and track record to work and engage with Indigenous communities in a meaningful and culturally safe way.
   • For applications involving engagement with equity-denied communities, provide evidence of meaningful, safe and appropriate engagement experience with these communities.
   • The commitment to engage with the applicant and their Health System Supervisor to develop a high-quality, relevant and feasible mentorship and professional development training plan for the applicant, and a commitment to supporting the applicant's career advancement and longer-term career pathway;
   • Provision for the applicant to participate in professional development training that aligns with the enriched HSPR core competencies.

1. "Letter of Funding Confirmation NB or SK" – (Mandatory, if applicable) (Maximum 1 page)
   • Applicants with a New Brunswick host health system organization who wish to have the ResearchNB provide the 30% partner contribution must include a letter of funding confirmation from ResearchNB that attests that the applicant is eligible for the 30% contribution from ResearchNB. Please email researchservices@researchnb.ca to request this letter.
   • Applicants with a Saskatchewan host health system organization who wish to have SHRF provide the 30% partner contribution, or a portion thereof must include a letter of funding confirmation from SHRF that also attests that the applicant is eligible for SHRF funds (contact: Karen Tilsley).

• Attach the following documents, as applicable, under document type "Other" and label as indicated below in bold when uploading into ResearchNet.
  1. "FORM A - NPA [ PDF (196 KB) ]" – (Mandatory): Applicants must download and complete Form A - NPA and attach it as part of their application. The form must be signed by the NPA.
  2. "FORM B – Health System Supervisor [ PDF (155 KB) ]" – (Mandatory): Applicants must download and complete Form B - Health System Supervisor and attach it as part of their application. The form must be signed by the Health System Supervisor.
  3. "FORM C – Academic Supervisor [ PDF (143 KB) ]" – (Mandatory): Applicants must download and complete Form C - Academic Supervisor and attach it as part of their application. The form must be signed by the Academic Supervisor.
  4. "Team Expertise and Experience" – (Mandatory) (Maximum 2 pages in English and 2.5 pages in French)
     • Provide a narrative description of your research team's expertise and experience. Clearly demonstrate how your health system supervisor and academic supervisor's experience and expertise supports and complements the activities described in the Research Proposal. The information must be self-contained and include all relevant details.
  5. "SGBA + Certificate of Completion" – Mandatory (Maximum 1 page)
     • Applicant must complete the appropriate CIHR interactive module on Sex- and Gender-Based Analysis (SGBA) and Health Research that applies to the research project.
     • The module should take approximately 40 minutes to complete.
     • The certificate is issued as a protected document; however, in order to attach the document to the application, you must download an unprotected PDF copy, either by a screenshot or by scanning the document.
     • After completing the appropriate training module that applies to the research project, the NPA will receive a certificate of completion that you will save and upload here. The training module should take approximately 40 minutes to complete.
     • Note: The certificate was previously issued as a secured document. If the certificate is secured, to successfully append the document to the application, the NPA must upload an unsecured PDF copy. The certificate can be saved as an unsecured PDF by using print screen or by scanning the document.
  6. "EDI and Community Engagement Plan" – Mandatory (Maximum 1 page)
     • Outline the plan to integrate EDI considerations in the proposed project, including in community engagement (including patient-oriented research and/or with equity-denied communities such as gender-diverse people, communities impacted by racism, persons with disabilities, members of 2SLGBTQI+ communities, etc.)
  7. "Indigenous Health Research Cultural Safety (IHRCS) Form" [ PDF (646 KB) ] – (Mandatory, if applicable)
     • For applications involving First Nations, Inuit and/or Métis Peoples, the NPA must demonstrate meaningful and culturally safe engagement with Indigenous Peoples by describing how the NPA and both supervisors meet this requirement and addressing the following considerations:
       • Prioritize First Nations, Inuit and Metis 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 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.
  8. "Request for supplement for northern pool or international award" – (Optional, if applicable) (Maximum 1 page)
     • Applicants applying to the Northern pool or to an international host health system organization may be eligible for a $5000 supplement.
     • To be eligible, the applicant must provide an attestation signed by their host health system organization (e.g. Health System Supervisor) that they must complete the fellowship in-person (or primarily in person) within their health system organization in the northern/international region.

Task - "Transcripts" – (Mandatory for Stream A only)

• Doctoral applicants are required to provide the following documents, uploaded as one single PDF document under "Transcripts" in the "Attach Other Application Materials" task:
  • Official transcripts of the applicant's complete academic record to date (this includes all undergraduate and graduate studies, completed or ongoing). Instructions below must also be followed:
    • One copy of the legend (reverse of each transcript) must be included;
    • Transcripts printed from the applicant's personal institution account are not accepted.
    • Original copies of any uploaded transcripts must be retained since they may be requested by CIHR for verification purposes at any point in the process.