Team Grants/ Emerging Team Grants - ResearchNet "Letter of Intent" Phase Instructions

How to Apply

To make sure you have access and permissions to the research application tools you'll need to apply with, refer to Before you begin.

To understand the general Letter of Intent process for Team Grant programs, refer to General Letter of Intent Process.

To list the components that make up a complete Letter of Intent (LOI) that are specific to this program, refer to A complete Letter of Intent consists of the following.

To get ResearchNet-specific information on a task-by-task basis, refer to Task Tips.

Before you begin

Make sure you have the following or click the links to register:

You should only have one ResearchNet account. If you have already accessed ResearchNet, do not register for a new account.

General Letter of Intent Process

  1. In ResearchNet, complete all tasks listed for your funding opportunity following the on-screen instructions in one of the official languages.
  2. Determine what signatures are needed for each part of your application. See the funding opportunity, and the CIHR Application Administration Guide.
  3. Print the Signature pages, found in ResearchNet needed for the funding opportunity.
  4. Offline, obtain signatures for all signature pages, and for any other material needing signatures.
  5. Scan the signature pages.
  6. Upload the signed signature pages to ResearchNet as part of your submission before the deadline date.
  7. Review the funding opportunity How to Apply section under the subsection entitled "Specific Instructions" and provide the additional information requested.
  8. Preview all components of your application in ResearchNet using the "Preview Application Materials" task to ensure that your Letter of Intent application is complete.
  9. Submit the completed electronic Letter of Intent to CIHR through ResearchNet by completing the "Consent and Submit Application" task on ResearchNet.
    Note: CIHR cannot legally accept your application until you complete this task.

  10. If you are experiencing technical difficulties with your account, or if you have any questions regarding the CIHR-specific content on ResearchNet, contact us Monday to Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

    support-soutien@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
    1-888-603-4178
    613-954-1968

A complete Letter of Intent consists of the following

  • Additional Information as stated in the funding opportunity How to Apply section under the subsection entitled "Specific Instructions."

Task Tips

These Task Tips are not a comprehensive list of information required to ensure completeness.

Task 1: Identify Participants

This task collects information on all participants involved in your research application. Consult Part 3 of the CIHR Application Administration Guide, for more information on applicant eligibility requirements. The name of the Nominated Principal Applicant must remain unchanged between the letter of intent and application.

New: Applicants will enter their Common CV Confirmation number in this task. This replaces the former requirement to upload a CCV .pdf file.

CIHR applicants must choose the Registration CV template. To produce a Registration CV template:

  1. Log in to the Common CV system: go to the CV menu and select Funding.
  2. In the Funding Source field, select CIHR from the dropdown and click next. Select the appropriate CV type and click next.
  3. Enter data and click on "Done." Validation is automatically performed and errors are displayed, if any. The validation rules follow the requirements set specifically by CIHR.
  4. Review the CV data online and via a preview of the PDF.
  5. When satisfied, record the confirmation number that is displayed with the status message and at the top of the CV PDF.
  6. Return to ResearchNet and enter this confirmation number under the Identify Participants Task. If you wish to make changes to your Common CV for a certain application, you must repeat the steps above and use the new confirmation number.

Note 1: During peak periods, there can be a delay between the time that you submit the CV and when ResearchNet is able to validate it. It is highly recommended that you submit your CV well in advance of the competition deadline.

Note 2: A CV is required for all participants, with the exception of collaborators.

Subtask: Attachments

All attachments must adhere to the guidelines for attachments on the Acceptable Application Formats and Attachments. Before preparing your proposal, please carefully review these instructions.

Upload Curriculum Vitae:

New: This document type will only be present if a Personal CV is required. A Personal CV is not created through the Common CV system and is only required by specific funding programs. It is uploaded directly to ResearchNet from your personal files. If a personal CV is required, the Common CV system should not be used.

See the "How to Apply" section of this funding opportunity for page limits and other specific instructions for the personal CV.

Uploading a Personal CV

  1. Click Browse (to the right of the applicable document type).
  2. Navigate to and select the appropriate PDF.
  3. Click "Attach" to upload the documents.

All documents must be in PDF format. The total size of the attached document(s) cannot exceed 30 MB.

Contribution Details

The following attachments provide more information on various applicant contributions.

New: All of the data fields in the following attachments can now be found in the renewed Common CV.

CIHR is taking a phased in approach to the submission of Contribution Details: applicants may use the renewed Common CV to enter their contribution data or may continue to use the following attachments. Only Career Interruption and Delays must be submitted through the renewed Common CV, under the Leaves of Absence section.

Phasing in the use of the renewed Common CV for Contributions will provide more time for some of the more labor-intensive fields (e.g. Publications). Therefore, none of the Contributions fields in the renewed Common CV will be mandatory (with the exception noted above). However, CIHR strongly encourages the applicant to enter data into at least 5 of the Contribution fields in the renewed Common CV (where possible), to familiarize themselves with the system.

Contributions Details - Most Significant Contributions
(with a Common CV, limit to one page; with a Knowledge User CV, limit to 6 pages)

WARNING - Trainees
This "Most significant contributions" section applies to researchers only and is not required for trainees.

Identify a maximum of five (5) contributions, with a maximum length of one page, that best highlight your contribution or activities in the field of research, defining the impact and relevance of each. A contribution is understood to be a publication, literary or artistic work, conference, patent or intellectual property right, contract or creative activity, commission, etc. Your complete description may include the organization, position or activity type and description, from and to dates, and the basis on which this contribution is significant (i.e. relevance, target community and impact).

Contributions Details - Activities and Contributions (limit to one page)

The activities and contributions defined in this section should include both academic and non-academic achievements, and their impacts.

Examples of entries follow. This is not necessarily a complete list, and is intended to provide guidance only.

  • Committee membership
  • For peer review committees, specify the year(s), the subject(s), and the funding organization
  • For thesis examination committees, indicate the author, title of thesis, and university
  • Consulting/contract activities
  • Research development
  • Research or technical reports
  • Supervisory experience (e.g. training of students)
  • Technology transfers (specify the nature of the activity and the target audience)
  • Involvement in public, private, or non-profit sector activities
  • Policy papers
  • Presentations as guest speaker (public or invited lectures)
  • Editorships (specify if editor-in-chief or member of the editorial team)
  • Evaluation of articles for scientific, literary or artistic journals (specify title of journal and the number of articles evaluated)
  • Knowledge translation/Dissemination activities
  • Trainees might also mention development of a graduate seminar program, journal club or similar activity

If some of these completed works do not seem to support the research theme of the team or centre to which you belong, provide the necessary explanations.

Contributions Details - Patents and Intellectual Property Rights (limit to one page)

This section should include details for patents and intellectual property rights for technology transfer, products, and services. Do not include publications in this section.

Descriptions might include the title, patents or intellectual property rights number and date, country(ies) of issue, the name of the inventors, as well as relevance or impact of the stated item.

Contributions Details - Publications List (no page limit)

List your most important publications and other research contributions over the past five years, according to the categories below. This is not necessarily a complete list, and is only intended to provide guidance. Categories can be added as needed. Use only items pertinent to the application. There is no limit to the number of pages you can use.

For Training or Salary Support Awards Candidates

  • Candidates for training awards or New Investigator awards should list all publications, not just those of the last five years
  • All candidates for training or salary support awards must, for each multi-authored publication, define their role in the publication and indicate their percent contribution to the team effort
  • Candidates for training awards, with or without publications, are invited to comment on environmental factors that affected their capacity to publish.
  • Candidates for salary support awards should, for multi-authored publications, underline the names of trainees whose work they supervised.

Contribution Details - Titles and Contributions (for supervisors only)

  • Attach a maximum of two pages listing the titles and contributions over the past 5 years that will serve the application best.

Categories

Use each applicable category as a different sub-title; maintain the same presentation order as shown below. In all instances, use the reference format for complete bibliographical notes of each original publication. Indicate the source of funding, if applicable.

  • Published refereed papers (original articles published in journals with editorial review)
  • Accepted or in press refereed papers (attach acceptance letters)
  • Submitted refereed papers
  • Published books and monographs (as author or editor)
  • Accepted or in press books and monographs
  • Submitted books and monographs
  • Published contributions to a collective work and book chapters (including chapters written on invitation or collective works derived from conferences or symposiums)
  • Accepted or in press contributions to a collective work and book chapters (including chapters written on invitation or collective works derived from conferences or symposiums)
  • Presentations as guest speaker (including conferences, presentations, demonstrations, workshops intended for a non-academic audience, according to the type of audience)
  • Published abstracts/number of notes (including name of journal, title of article, and date submitted)
  • Accepted or in press abstracts/number of notes (including name of journal, title of article, and date submitted)
  • Submitted abstracts (including name of journal, title of article, and date submitted)
  • Works including individual or collective literary or artistic works (e.g. novels, short stories, poetry, film, video, visual arts work, booklet, record, sound creation, book of artists, collection, exhibition catalogue, etc.)
  • Research reports or reports produced for the government
  • Articles in professional or cultural journals without review committee (including popularized texts)

Task 2: Enter Proposal Information

This task collects information related to your research project.

Project Title

Provide a title for your project (Maximum of 640 characters).

Lay Title

Provide a title for your project that is in a language clear to members of 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 your project in a way that is accessible to a lay audience. Be sure to indicate how your proposed research can improve personal health, the health of populations and/or the health delivery system. This information is used by CIHR to inform the public and Parliament about the valuable research supported through public funds.

Institution Paid

Institution that will administer the funds for your project. Consult Part 4 of the CIHR Application Administration Guide for Institutional Eligibility Requirements,.

Certification Requirements

If you are awarded a grant, the necessary certification requirements must be met in accordance with policies on ethical conduct of research. Relevant policies:

Note: Not all funding opportunities include or allow trials. The Clinical Trial and Randomized Controlled Trial questions below may or may not appear on your application - consult the funding opportunity for information regarding these questions. For further information on the trials policy, refer to the TCPS 2-2nd edition of Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans.

Is this a clinical trial?
Indicate if this application includes a clinical trial. For more information regarding clinical trials, please consult the CIHR Policy Guide – Requirements for Registration and Disclosure of Results from Clinical Trials.

Does this Application Contain a Randomized Controlled Trial?
Indicate if this application includes a randomized controlled trial. Refer to the funding opportunity on specific requirements for randomized controlled trials for the program to which you are applying.

In order to carry out the proposed research in this application, is an exemption from Health Canada under Section 56 of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act required? (Trainees are exempt and should answer No)
Indicate if your proposed research is such that an exemption from Health Canada under Section 56 of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) will be required. Consult the Department of Justice website for details regarding Section 56 of the CDSA and the Health Canada website for details regarding obtaining an exemption under Section 56 of the CDSA.

Does this application propose research involving Indigenous Peoples?
Indicate if your application proposes research involving Indigenous Peoples. This information will be used for statistical purposes only.

Are sex (biological) considerations taken into account in this study?
Indicate if sex (biological) considerations are taken into account in this study. For a guide to sex and gender based analysis, please consult the CIHR website.

Are gender (socio-cultural) considerations taken into account in this study?
Indicate if gender (socio-cultural) considerations are taken into account in this study. For a guide to sex and gender based analysis, please consult the CIHR website.

If YES, please describe how sex and/or gender considerations will be considered in your research design (limit of 2000 characters).

If NO, please explain why sex and/or gender are not applicable in your research design (limit of 2000 characters).

Indigenous Peoples

Applicants whose proposed research will involve Indigenous Peoples, please consult Ethics of Health Research Involving First Nations, Inuit and Métis People.

Containment Level

Definitions of Levels may be found in the Canadian Biosafety Standards and Guidelines.

Environmental Impact

CIHR must review proposals for potential impacts on the environment in accordance with the Impact Assessment Act.

Project Descriptors

Provide keywords to describe your research project, the techniques and the methodologies it will employ, and the areas of interest.

Areas of Research

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

Classification

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

Themes

Select a primary theme classification. Indicate additional theme classifications only if the substance of the grant application significantly overlaps more than one theme. Consult the definition of the four CIHR Themes in the Guidelines for the Eligibility of Applications Related to Health.

Suggested Institutes

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

Attachments

All attachments must adhere to the guidelines for attachments on the Acceptable Application Formats and Attachments. ResearchNet verifies the number of pages submitted for PDF attachments.

Task 3: Attach Other Application Materials

Upload any other application materials you wish to include with your application package. All documents must be in PDF format.

Task 4: Peer Review Administration

This task collects information used for the purpose of peer review administration and is not always required.

Suggested External Reviewers

Suggest Canadian and/or foreign reviewers that you feel have the expertise to review your application. CIHR reserves the right to make the final selection of external reviewers. You should not suggest reviewers in conflict of interest.

Reviewers to Exclude

Provide the names of individuals that you feel cannot provide an objective review of your application.

Future Committee Member Nominations

Nominate individuals that you feel would be an attribute to a particular peer review committee.

Suggested Committees

Suggest up to two peer review committees that you feel could review your application. Suggested committees must remain unchanged between registration and application. Only one committee will be selected. CIHR reserves the right to select the committee that it feels is the most appropriate. The final committee selected will not necessarily be your first or second choice.

Task 5: Print/Upload Signature Pages

Print the signature page PDF file which is found on ResearchNet.

  1. Obtain all required signatures.
  2. For applications that require partner signatures, signatures are captured in the Partnership Details PDF and should be uploaded in the Identify Application Partners task (Manage Attachments).
  3. Scan and upload the signed signature pages in the Print/Upload Signature Pages task in ResearchNet prior to submitting your application.

Task 6: Preview Application Materials

Review all components of your application. If a task is incomplete, you must provide the missing information to successfully submit your application.

Task 7: Manage Access (optional)

This task allows a Nominated Principal Applicant (NPA) to delegate access to a maximum of five [5] individuals to support the completion of application tasks.

How to delegate access:

  1. Ensure the delegate has a valid ResearchNet account/email address.
  2. Select the Manage Access task.
  3. Select the Add Access link.
  4. Complete the mandatory Email Address (ResearchNet account) and Last Name fields. Note, first name field is optional.
  5. Select Save or Save and Add Another User.

How to remove access:

  1. Access can be revoked at any time before eSubmission by selecting Delete.
  2. Once deleted, the individual will no longer be able to view the application.

A delegate's access does not carry through the various phases of a competition. The NPA will have the option to delegate access to individuals at each stage of a competition.

The NPA is encouraged to remove access from all delegates prior to completing the Consent and Submit task. Should access not be revoked prior to submission, the delegate will retain access to the application in their Completed Activities tab.

For more information, please see the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).

Task 8: Consent and Submit Application

Submit Application

You must review the terms listed and respond to the questions regarding consent in order to submit your application.

You must click Send to send your application to CIHR.

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