2013-14 Departmental Performance Reports - Supplementary Information (Tables)

• Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy
• Details on Transfer Payment Programs
• Internal Audits and Evaluations

Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy

CIHR is considered a small department and is not subject to the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS). However, CIHR is subject to comply with the Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals, and is bound to the Policy on Green Procurement.

Greening Government Operations (GGO)

Green Procurement Targets

Strategic Environmental Assessment

During 2013–14 reporting cycle, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) considered the environmental effects of initiatives subject to the Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals, as part of its decision-making processes. As CIHR did not develop any initiatives that required a strategic environmental assessment, no related public statements were produced.

Details of Transfer Payment Programs (TPP)

• Grants for Research Projects and Personnel Support
• Tri-Agency: Canada Graduate Scholarships
• Tri-Agency: Networks of Centres of Excellence
• Institute Support Grants
• Tri-Agency: Canada Excellence Research Chairs
• Tri-Agency: Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research
• Tri-Agency: Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships
• Business-Led Networks of Centres of Excellence
• College and community innovation program
• Industrial research chairs for colleges

Name of Transfer Payment Program: Grants for Research Projects and Personnel Support (voted)

Start Date: October 2000

End Date: No end date

Description: The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) provides a wide array of funding programs under this transfer payment program. This includes grants that provide support for the direct costs of research projects, for the training of researchers, or for activities that support the translation of research findings. Other funding includes direct salary and stipend support to individual researchers/scientists and research trainees.

Strategic Outcome: A world-class health research enterprise that creates, disseminates and applies new knowledge across all areas of health research.

Results Achieved: CIHR invested a significant portion of its grants budget to fund all areas of health research. CIHR grants and awards helped maintain a strong and diverse health research base, programs continue to demonstrate strong application pressure and an increase in the average cost of research proposals resulted in a higher average grant payment per year.

In total, CIHR supported 13,132 researchers and trainees by funding 8,092 grants and awards, which represents a total of $854.1M in expenditures through the Grants for Research Projects and Personnel Support transfer payment program.

Programs: 1.1 – Health Knowledge; 1.2 – Health Researchers; 1.3 – Health Research Commercialization; 1.4 – Health and Health Services Advances

Comment(s) on Variance(s): Planned spending was approximately $14.2M lower than actual spending in 2013–14 due primarily to $14.0M in additional grant funding announced in Budget 2013 (and received via the Supplementary Estimates) to fund CIHR's Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research.

Audits Completed or Planned:

1. Audit of Applicant Feedback (completed March 2014);
2. Research Commercialization programs (to be completed 2014–15)^{Footnote 1}; and
3. Internal Audit Consulting Engagement: Research Reporting System (to be completed 2014–15).

Evaluation Completed or Planned:

1. Clinical Trials Network in HIV/AIDS Program (completed 2013–14);
2. Collaborative Health Research Partnerships Program (completed 2013–14);
3. Development Innovation Fund – Health (completed 2013–14);
4. Regenerative Medicine and Nanomedicine Initiative (completed 2013–14);
5. Pandemic Preparedness Strategic Research Initiative (completed 2013–14);
6. Knowledge Translation Programs (completed 2013–14);
7. Federal Initiative on HIV/AIDS (completed 2013–14);
8. Indirect Costs Program (NSERC/SSHRC) (completed 2013–14);
9. Commercialization Programs (to be completed 2014–15);
10. Institute Sponsored Initiatives (to be completed 2014–15);
11. Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (to be completed 2014–15);
12. Directed Grants Initiatives (to be completed 2014–15);
13. Canada HOPE Program (to be completed 2014–15);
14. Canada-China Joint Health Research Initiative (to be completed 2014–15);
15. Strategic Training in Health Research Initiative (to be completed 2014–15);
16. Drug Safety and Effectiveness Network (to be completed 2014–15);
17. Global Health Research Initiative (to be completed 2014–15); and
18. College and Community Innovation Program (to be completed 2017–18).

Engagement of applicants and recipients: CIHR engages applicants and recipients on an ongoing basis through various forms of social media, electronic newsletters, presentations, discussion forums and consultation processes.

Name of Transfer Payment Program: Tri-Agency: Canada Graduate Scholarships (voted)

Start Date: 2003

End Date: No end date

Description: This program is administered by CIHR, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). CIHR's portion of the Canada Graduate Scholarships (CGS) program provides financial support to develop future health researchers at both the masters and doctoral levels in all health related fields in Canada, providing them with an opportunity to gain research experience.

Strategic Outcome: A world-class health-research enterprise that creates, disseminates and applies new knowledge across all areas of health research.

Results Achieved: CIHR's ability to train, retain and sustain outstanding health researchers remains a key priority in its five-year strategic plan. In 2013–14, CIHR supported the learning and development of its health research trainees by awarding 166 new doctoral awards and 129 new master's awards through the CGS program. Overall, CIHR supported 482 doctoral awards and 130 master's awards through the CGS program in 2013–14.

Program: 1.2 – Health Researchers

Comments on Variances: The variance between 2013–14 Planned and Actual Spending of approximately $0.1M is negligible.

Audit Completed or Planned:

1. Internal Audit Consulting Engagement: Research Reporting System (to be completed 2014–15).

Evaluation Completed or Planned:

1. Canada Graduate Scholarships (CGS) Program (to be completed 2014–15).

Engagement of applicants and recipients: Applicants and recipients are engaged through communication with academic institutions and Tri-Agency or agency-specific electronic communication.

Name of Transfer Payment Program: Tri-Agency: Networks of Centres of Excellence (voted)

Start Date: 1997

End Date: No end date (Current Terms and Conditions will expire in September 2014)

Description: The Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE) program is a federal class grants program administered jointly by CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC, in partnership with Industry Canada. Networks are not-for-profit corporations with an established Board of Directors and are unique partnerships among the academic, private, public and not-for-profit sectors. These nation-wide, multidisciplinary and multi-sectoral partnerships connect excellent research with industrial know-how and strategic investment. Networks put in place well-defined strategies to transfer knowledge to users – ensuring that discoveries and technological advances are turned into social and economic benefits for all Canadians.

Strategic Outcome: A world-class health research enterprise that creates, disseminates and applies new knowledge across all areas of health research.

Results Achieved: In 2013–14, 22 recipients of ongoing, multi-year NCE awards received funds which helped them build structured networks, establish multi-sector partnerships, and commercialize health research findings. Through the NCE program, CIHR was able to help mobilize Canada's health research talent in the academic, private and public sectors and apply it to the task of developing the economy and improving the quality of life of Canadians.

Program: 1.3 – Health Research Commercialization

Comments on Variances: The difference noted between 2013–14 Planned and Actual Spending was negligible.

Audits Completed or Planned:

1. Research Commercialization programs (to be completed 2014–15; see footnote for Grants for Research Projects and Personnel Support); and
2. Internal Audit Consulting Engagement: Research Reporting System (to be completed 2014–15).

Evaluation Completed or Planned:

1. Review of Relevance and Effectiveness of the Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE) Program (completed 2013–14).

Engagement of applicants and recipients: Applicants and recipients are engaged through various meetings and events, as well as through the NCE website.

Name of Transfer Payment Program: Institute Supports Grants (voted)

Start Date: October 2000

End Date: No end date

Description: The Institute Support Grant program provides funding to select Canadian academic institutions, including universities and teaching hospitals, to assist them in hosting the 13 Institutes of CIHR. The Institutes help CIHR maintain strong ties to Canada's research communities and to understand their needs. Each CIHR-appointed Scientific Director is among the top scientists in his/her field. Institutes help CIHR define its strategic health research priorities and develop research partnerships with other interested parties in health research. Institutes also organize conferences, seminars and workshops, all with the goal of developing and disseminating health-related knowledge and best practices.

Strategic Outcome: A world-class health research enterprise that creates, disseminates and applies new knowledge across all areas of health research.

Results Achieved: In 2013–14, CIHR provided each of its 13 Institutes with a $1.0M grant to support institute operations, including the salaries of Scientific Directors, Institute Staff and other administrative expenses. Institute Support Grants also support activities that facilitate and develop national research networks linking the Institutes' respective research communities. For more information please visit their websites.

Program: 1.4 – Health and Health Services Advances

Comments on Variances: No variance was noted between 2013–14 Planned and Actual Spending.

Audit Completed or Planned:

1. Audit of the Governance and Administration of the Institute Support Grants Program (to be completed 2014–15).

Evaluation Completed or Planned:

1. Institute Support Grants Program (to be completed in 2014–15).

Engagement of applicants and recipients: CIHR engages applicants and recipients on an ongoing basis through various forms of social media, electronic newsletters, presentations, discussion forums and consultation processes. Scientific Directors are among the top scientists in their fields and maintain strong ties to Canada's research communities.

Name of Transfer Payment Program: Tri-Agency: Canada Excellence Research Chairs (voted)

Start Date: 2008

End Date: No end date

Description: The Canada Excellence Research Chairs program is administered by CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC and aims to support the development of a world-class workforce crucial to the innovation process, positioning Canada as a magnet for the world's top researchers and graduate students, and promoting the development and application of leading-edge knowledge.

Strategic Outcome: A world-class health research enterprise that creates, disseminates and applies new knowledge across all areas of health research.

Results Achieved: Through the Canada Excellence Research Chair program, CIHR contributed to building and maintaining world-class research by supporting Canadian universities in their efforts to build on Canada's growing reputation as a global leader in research and innovation. The CERC program supports research within the four priority areas identified in the federal Science and Technology Strategy; focusing on sub-priority areas such as regenerative medicine; neuroscience; health in an aging population; biomedical engineering and medical technologies that address issues of global importance and build on research areas where Canada has or should build a competitive advantage. In 2013–14, CIHR supported six chairs totalling $8.3M through the CERC program.

Program: 1.2 – Health Researchers

Comments on Variances: The variance between 2013–14 Planned and Actual Spending of approximately $0.1M is negligible.

Audit Completed or Planned:

1. Internal Audit Consulting Engagement: Research Reporting System (to be completed 2014–15).

Evaluation Completed or Planned:

1. Canada Excellence Research Chairs Program (to be completed 2014–15).

Engagement of applicants and recipients: Applicants and recipients are engaged through regular communication and the CERC website.

Name of Transfer Payment Program: Tri-Agency: Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research (voted)

Start Date: 2007

End Date: No end date

Description: The Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research is administered by CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC. CIHR's portion of Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research Tri-Agency class grant program supports the operation of commercialization and/or research centres that bring together people, services and infrastructure to position Canada at the forefront of breakthrough innovation in health and related life sciences and technologies.

Strategic Outcome: A world-class health research enterprise that creates, disseminates and applies new knowledge across all areas of health research.

Results Achieved: In 2013–14, CIHR supported Canadian universities in their efforts to build on Canada's growing reputation as a global leader in research and innovation by awarding two Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research awards to advance research and facilitate commercialization of technologies, products and services within the four priority areas identified in the federal Science and Technology Strategy. In 2013–14, CIHR invested $12.1M in six centres through the Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research.

Program: 1.3 – Health Research Commercialization

Comments on Variances: Planned spending is approximately $2.4M lower than actual spending for 2013–14 because program funding was only finalized among the three federal granting councils through the Supplementary Estimates once the CECR competition was completed.

Audits Completed or Planned:

1. Research Commercialization Programs (to be completed 2014–15; see footnote for Grants for Research Projects and Personnel Support); and
2. Internal Audit Consulting Engagement: Research Reporting System (to be completed 2014–15).

Evaluation Completed or Planned:

1. Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research Program (to be completed 2017–18).

Engagement of applicants and recipients: Applicants and recipients are engaged through various meetings, events and the CECR website.

Name of Transfer Payment Program: Tri-Agency: Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (voted)

Start Date: 2008

End Date: No end date (Current Terms and Conditions will expire in July 2014)

Description: The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships program is administered by CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC and is designed to attract and retain world-class doctoral students by offering them a significant financial award. This financial award assists students during their studies at Canadian universities. Vanier Scholars demonstrate leadership skills and a high standard of scholarly achievement in the social sciences and humanities, natural sciences and engineering, and health-related fields.

Strategic Outcome: A world-class health research enterprise that creates, disseminates and applies new knowledge across all areas of health research.

Results Achieved: Through the Vanier CGS Program, CIHR contributed to building world-class research capacity by attracting and retaining the best doctoral students, both nationally and internationally. CIHR funded 56 new Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship awards, 13 of these awards were given to international recipients proposing to do research in Canada. Overall, in 2013–14 CIHR supported 166 Vanier researchers, 30 of whom are foreign citizens.

Program: 1.2 – Health Researchers

Comments on Variances: The variance between 2013–14 Planned and Actual Spending of approximately $0.2M is negligible.

Audit Completed or Planned:

1. Internal Audit Consulting Engagement: Research Reporting System (to be completed 2014–15).

Evaluation Completed or Planned:

1. Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships Program (to be completed 2014–15).

Engagement of applicants and recipients: Applicants and recipients are engaged through communication with academic institutions and directed Tri-Agency or agency-specific electronic communication, as well as through the Vanier CGS website.

Name of Transfer Payment Program: Business-Led Networks of Centres of Excellence (voted)

Start Date: 2007

End Date: No end date

Description: The Business Led Networks of Centres of Excellence program aims to increase private sector investments in Canadian research, support training of skilled researchers, and accelerate the timeline involved in translating research into commercial products and services.

Strategic Outcome: A world-class health research enterprise that creates, disseminates and applies new knowledge across all areas of health research.

Results Achieved: Through the Business-Led Networks of Centres of Excellence program, CIHR contributed to mobilizing Canada's research talent in the academic, private, public and not-for-profit sectors and improving the health and the quality of life of Canadians. In 2013–14, CIHR invested $4.3M to support four networks through the BL-NCE program.

Program: 1.3 – Health Research Commercialization

Comments on Variances: Planned spending is approximately $2.6M lower than actual spending for 2013–14 because an additional program funding was received through the Supplementary Estimates after the most recent Business-Led Networks of Centres of Excellence competition was completed.

Audits Completed or Planned:

1. Research Commercialization Programs (to be completed 2014–15; see footnote for Grants for Research Projects and Personnel Support); and
2. Internal Audit Consulting Engagement: Research Reporting System (to be completed 2014–15).

Evaluation Completed or Planned:

1. Joint Evaluation of Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE) and Business-Led Networks of Centres of Excellence (BL-NCE) Programs (to be completed 2014–15).

Engagement of applicants and recipients: Applicants and recipients are engaged through various events as well as through the NCE website and the annual report, which is produced to demonstrate the achievements of this program.

Name of Transfer Payment Program: College and Community Innovation (voted)

Start Date: 2007

End Date: No End Date

Description: The College and Community Innovation program increases innovation at the community and/or regional level by enabling Canadian colleges to increase their capacity to work with local companies, particularly small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), in areas of natural sciences and engineering, social sciences and humanities, and/or health sciences. It supports applied research and collaborations that facilitate commercialization, as well as technology transfer, adaptation and adoption of new technologies, in areas of strategic importance to Canada.

Strategic Outcome: A world-class health research enterprise that creates, disseminates and applies new knowledge across all areas of health research.

Results Achieved: In 2013–14, CIHR supported two CCI grants to further innovation at the community and/or regional level by enabling Canadian colleges to increase their capacity to work with local companies, particularly small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), in areas of health.

Program: 1.3 – Health Research Commercialization

Comments on Variances: The variance between 2013–14 Planned and Actual Spending of approximately $0.1M is negligible.

Audit Completed or Planned:

1. Research Commercialization Programs (to be completed 2014–15; see footnote for Grants for Research Projects and Personnel Support).

Evaluation Completed or Planned:

1. College and Community Innovation Program (to be completed 2017–18).

Engagement of applicants and recipients: Applicants and recipients are engaged through the CCI website.

Name of Transfer Payment Program: Industrial Research Chairs for Colleges (voted)

Start Date: 2011

End Date: No End Date

Description: Industrial Research Chairs for Colleges (IRCC) Grants support Chair programs across the spectrum of natural and social sciences, engineering, humanities and/or health sciences fields. This initiative is part of the College and Community Innovation Program and is managed by NSERC and delivered in collaboration with CIHR and SSHRC. The result will be the development of new, or the significant enhancement of existing, applied research capacity in areas that meet local or regional socio-economic needs.

Strategic Outcome: A world-class health research enterprise that creates, disseminates and applies new knowledge across all areas of health research.

Results Achieved: In 2013–14, CIHR provided funding for one grant to support the development of longer-term, business-focused, applied research programs at college.

Program: 1.3 – Health Research Commercialization

Comments on Variances: No variance was noted between 2013–14 Planned and Actual Spending

Audit Completed or Planned:

1. Research Commercialization Programs (to be completed 2014–15; see footnote for Grants for Research Projects and Personnel Support).

Evaluation Completed or Planned:

1. College and Community Innovation Program (to be completed 2017–18).

Engagement of applicants and recipients: Applicants and recipients are engaged through the CCI website.

Internal Audits and Evaluations

A. All upcoming Internal Audits over the next two fiscal years

In accordance with Treasury Board Policy on Internal Audit, the Chief Audit Executive performs an annual risk assessment of the CIHR audit universe in order to produce the CIHR Risk-Based Audit Plan. The 2014–15 plan was updated in January/February 2014 and approved at the March 13, 2014 meeting of CIHR's Audit Committee. A full refresh of the three-year plan will be undertaken in 2014, covering 2015 through 2018.

Electronic Link to Internal Audit Plan – N/A

B. All upcoming Evaluations over the next three fiscal years

Evaluations Table

Date modified:

2014-11-05