2018-2019 Foundation Grant competition: Summary of stage 1 results

(2018-12-19)

The stage 1 review process for the 2018-2019 Foundation Grant competition is now complete.

For this competition, 121 peer reviewers and 26 Competition Chairs volunteered their time and expertise. We would like to thank all of them for their dedication to high quality peer review and for making the Stage 1 peer review process run smoothly.

Applicants have now been notified of the status of their stage 1 application. Successful candidates have been invited to submit their stage 2 application by February 6, 2019. The overview of stage 1 results, based on career stage and gender, is provided below.

As noted in the Review Process for the Foundation Grant program, CIHR is committed to ensuring gender equity is observed as part of the stage 1 decisions. CIHR is therefore ensuring that the proportion of female applicants moving forward from stage 1 to stage 2 is equal to the proportion of female applicants to the competition. For the 2018-19 Foundation Grant competition, CIHR took corrective measures to ensure gender equity by inviting additional female applicants to stage 2.

Stage 1 peer review overview

  • Of the 216 applications received, 178 applicants have been invited to submit a stage 2 application.
  • Applicants have been invited to apply to stage 2 if:
    • the application had a minimum consolidated ranking of 25.00%; or
    • at least two reviewers ranked the application at or above the 36.28th percentile.*
  • There was no target success rate for stage 1. CIHR’s priority is fairness to applicants, especially in terms of organizing a fair peer review process for stage 2 within the current competition design.

*Reminder: In their Notification of Decision package, applicants receive their ranking by reviewer as deciles (not percentiles).

Stage 1 competition results

Number of applications submitted
Applicant Mid-Career Investigator** Senior Investigator** Total
Female 25 38 63
Male 47 106 153
Total 72 144 216
Percentage (%) of applications submitted
Applicant Mid-Career Investigator** Senior Investigator** Overall
Female 34.72% 26.39% 29.17%
Male 65.28% 73.61% 70.83%
Number of applicants invited to stage 2
Applicant Mid-Career Investigator** Senior Investigator** Overall
Female 17 35 52
Male 38 88 126
Total 55 123 178
Percentage (%) of applicants invited to stage 2
Applicant Mid-Career Investigator** Senior Investigator** Overall
Female 30.91% 28.46% 29.21%
Male 69.09% 71.54% 70.79%

**Career stage data is based on self-identification.

Mid career investigator: Any applicant who, at the time of registration, has assumed his/her independent academic position (e.g., faculty appointment) 5-15 years ago.

Senior investigator: Any applicant who, at the time of registration, has assumed his/her first independent academic position (e.g., faculty appointment) more than 15 years ago.

We look forward to working with reviewers for the next peer review stages. The anticipated Notice of Decision for the competition is July 16, 2019.

Please visit the Foundation Grant Program website if you have any questions, or contact support-soutien@cihr-irsc.gc.ca.

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