CIHR Project & Foundation Scheme Competitions

Updates on the Fall 2017 Project competition, future evolution of peer review, and changes to the Foundation Grant program
November 6, 2017

Dear colleagues,

Since CIHR announced the details for the Fall 2017 Project Grant competition in the July 10, 2017 email to the community, we have focused our efforts on delivering as high quality a competition as possible, given the very short time frame in which this had to be done. The main goal has been to obtain the best possible panelists, SOs and Chairs.  I am pleased to tell you that the community has been very, very responsive....Read More »

Please refer to the URS website for the latest updates:

• on the CIHR Foundation Sceme competition:  http://www.queensu.ca/urs/foundationscheme
• on the CIHR Project Scheme competition:  http://www.queensu.ca/urs/projectscheme

Mihran and Mary Basmajian Award for Excellence in Health Research

At the beginning of each calendar year nominations are invited from Department Heads, Schools Directors and Health Sciences faculty members for the Mihran and Mary Basmajian Award for Excellence in Biomedical/Health Research (the “Basmajian Award”).

The Basmajian Award was established by Dr. John Basmajian, former Head of the Department of Anatomy at Queen’s University, over four decades ago in honour and memory of his parents, Mihran and Mary Basmajian. The Award is given to full-time member or members of the Faculty of Health Sciences with a maximum of eight years of independent research experience, and who are judged to have made the most meritorious contributions to health research during the previous year or several years.

The Basmajian Award is the only award given by the Faculty of Health Sciences faculty that recognizes colleagues for their excellence in health research. The award consists of a bronze medal, an inscribed piece of silver plate, and a contribution to the recipient’s research funding in the amount of $5,000.  In addition to the above, an award presentation, public lecture and reception will be organized in the Fall for the recipient(s).

The deadline for the 2018/2019 Basmajian Award applications and nominations is Monday May 13, 2018.

Terms of Reference

The Basmajian Award is made annually according to the following terms of reference:

1. The award shall be made to a full-time faculty member (or two working as a team) of the Faculty of Health Sciences who as of December 31 of the previous year has a maximum of eight years of independent research experience (this could be eight consecutive years from the time of first academic appointment or eight years of total independent research) and who has made the most meritorious contributions to health research during the previous year or several years.
2. The person (or persons) shall be selected by the Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences on the recommendation of the Research Advisory Committee of the Faculty of Health Sciences.
3. If no suitable candidate should qualify in any year, the income shall be added to the capital.

Evaluation and Adjudication

Basmajian Award nominations are reviewed by the Research Advisory Committee and adjudicated on the following criteria:

1. Novelty and quality of the research program.
2. Research productivity, based on the quality of original research articles published in reputable peer-reviewed journals.
3. National/international recognition of the research program:
   a) peer-reviewed funding by external granting agencies;
   b) invited scientific presentations/review articles;
   c) collaborative research.
4. Quality of the research training program.

Nomination Package

Nominations may be made by any Department Head or any member of the Faculty of Health Sciences. It is recommended that the nomination come with the knowledge and support of the Department Head. The nomination package should include:

1. nomination letter.
2. an up-to-date cv:  Submit either the Common CV, using the CIHR Academic template (preferred), or the attached CVForm (2019).docx
3. no more than three letters of support: at least one external letter from someone knowledgeable in the nominee’s field of work, and no letters from former supervisors.
4. no more than three of the nominee's publications.

Additional Information will be removed from the package.

The nomination packages are to be addressed to:

Send one “original” set of documents to the address above, plus copies of documents in electronic (pdf/word) format by email to Gladys.Smith@queensu.ca.

Questions or concerns can be addressed to Gladys Smith by email, or by phone 613-533-6627.

The Faculty of Health Sciences’ Research Initiation Grants (RIGs) are normally valued at $30,000, and are available for new faculty members who have a minimum of 40% protected time for research.  RIGs are not available or offered to all new faculty members.

Faculty members with the following types of appointments are eligible:

• Tenure-track or renewable term appointments with Tenure
• Special Geographically Full-time appointments of three (3) years or longer
• Special Appointments (as defined in the prevailing Collective Agreement; currently Article 25.1.4.3 Collective Agreement 2011-2015) of three (3) years or longer

Clinical Department Heads make the request for the RIG on the Hospital Impact Form for new clinical appointees meeting the protected time criteria.  Directors in the School of Nursing and School of Rehabilitation Therapy, and Heads of basic science and health services departments make the request on the QUFA/Adjunct Appointment Routing Sheet.  Department Heads and School Directors may wish to consult with the Vice-Dean (Research) at the time of recruitment.  Departments within the School of Medicine, or the School of Nursing or School of Rehabilitation Therapy may wish to increase the value of the RIG using additional department or school funds.

If applicable, the availability of a RIG and the amount available will be communicated in the offer of appointment from the Provost/Vice-Principal Academic.

RIGs must be applied for, and are intended to provide start-up funding only.  They are not intended to replace applications to either internal or external research granting committees/agencies but rather, to provide funding, normally for up to four (4) years at the start of an appointment when grant monies have typically not begun to flow.  Investigators are responsible for securing external funding from relevant funding sources to support their research endeavours.

When the new faculty member has started employment, the Health Sciences Research office will send information on behalf of the Vice-Dean of Research.  This will include instructions on how to apply for the RIG and will provide a template and sample applications to use as guidelines.  RIG funding is made available subject to review and approval of the application.

RIG applications must be submitted within the first year of the new employee’s appointment.  Once the application has been reviewed and approved, it will be incumbent upon the faculty member to complete a TRAQ application (Tools for Research at Queen’s, an electronic research management system) and obtain the necessary approvals for the project, including all applicable ethics, biohazard and related certifications.  Upon receipt of the project’s financial account/chartfield information the employee must inform the FHS Research office so that the funding can be transferred into the project account.  All other policies and procedures set by the Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic) for Research Initiation Grants will apply.

RIG funding must be used within four years of being approved.  If the RIG is not applied for by the end of the first year of appointment, or the funding is not used within four years of the approval date, the offer of the RIG will be withdrawn in the case of no application, or the remaining funds will be withdrawn and redistributed in a manner proportional to the original source(s).

(Policy updated 14 June 2016 by G. Smith, FHS Research)