Call for proposals for research teams: Human developmental biology – The Joint Canada-Israel Health Research Program Phase II (JCIHRP-II)

Phase II of the Joint Canada-Israel Health Research Program (the Program) seeks to support cutting-edge research in the biomedical sciences and global health. This third call for proposals under Phase II is directed toward applicants conducting research in the area of Human Developmental Biology while strengthening capacity in Canada, Israel and in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC).

The Program will support world-class research projects co-led by three principal investigators: one from Canada, one from Israel and one from an eligible LMIC (refer to Appendix A and IDRC website for the list of eligible countries). The teams will integrate researchers from all three geographies with the intention of strengthening scientific capacity, promoting collaboration, equitable partnerships, and scientific excellence in all its diversity. It is expected that the three principal investigators will work together on an integrated, and cohesive research project equitably contributing to and benefiting from their involvement in the project and the Program.

Research Areas

Understanding the biological mechanisms that shape human health from the earliest stages of life can inform prevention and treatment approaches for a range of health conditions. This third call for proposals under phase II of this Program will support research in Human Developmental Biology relevant to the overarching objectives of the funding opportunity, with a particular focus on investigating underlying biological mechanisms and impacts on global health.

Topics may include, but are not limited to, the following examples:

• Human Developmental Biology and its potential effects on human health across the lifespan
• Embryonic and physiological factors affecting development including in model systems
• Cell diversity and embryonic patterning
• Exploring the genetic and epigenetic factors affecting cognitive and behavioural development
• Developmental mechanisms of disease onset
• The molecular basis of cognitive development
• The influence of bacteria (including gut microbiota) and environmental factors on embryonic and child development
• The influence of infectious agents on human developmental biology including sexual differentiation
• Novel approaches to study human development and rare developmental syndromes
• Cellular transitions and plasticity
• Theory and modeling of human developmental biology

Exclusions

Studies, surveys, clinical trials, and work primarily aimed at informing public health policy are NOT eligible for funding through this opportunity. However, the use of randomization in basic biomedical research studies is accepted.

Considerations

• To support knowledge mobilization efforts, teams are required to establish a knowledge mobilization plan that includes:
  • at a minimum, an annual meeting/engagement of team members, partners, and other relevant stakeholders to share and mobilize knowledge in meaningful and culturally safe ways (e.g., virtual or face-to-face scientific workshop);
  • research capacity programs (e.g., student exchange, mentoring programs, joint teaching activities, summer school); and
  • activities promoting the use of research findings by decision makers and professionals in relevant scientific and government circles.
• Teams must include sex and gender considerations in their research design, including where relevant Sex- and Gender-Based Analysis (SGBA). SGBA is an analytical process that systematically examines sex-based (biological) and gender-based (socio-cultural) differences, to assess and understand how women, men, girls, boys and gender-diverse people are impacted by a given issue; ultimately, employing SGBA promotes rigorous science that has the potential to expand our understanding of health determinants for all people. It is strongly encouraged that an intersectional approach is taken, examining not just women, for example, but the diversity within this population group (e.g. racialized women, women with disabilities, Indigenous women, etc.). For guidance on how to integrate sex and gender in research studies, refer to: How to integrate sex and gender into research.
• Teams must consider equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in their proposed research design, consistent with CIHR’s position on EDI, available in the Tri Agency Statement on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and IDRC’s equality statement. An EDI analysis identifies factors that should be included in research design and processes. It identifies areas where proactive consideration of EDI must be implemented to ensure maximum impact. Such impact could include ensuring that the research is reproducible and not based on biased assumptions, and that the research design is reflective of the communities/populations studied.
• The Canadian and LMIC arms of the research teams are expected to collect, standardize, use, share and manage research data aligning with the Tri-Agency Research Data Management Policy and IDRC’s Open Data Statement of Principles Applicants are encouraged to include a plan for applying the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) to the data management strategy. To reflect and respect Indigenous data governance and data sovereignty, the CARE principles (Collective benefit, Authority to control, Responsibility and Ethics) for Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit and Métis) Data Governance¹, the First Nations Principles of OCAP® (Ownership, Control, Access and Possession)², or other relevant Indigenous data governance principles must be incorporated and are to take precedence over other data management policies or principles.

Funds Available

CIHR and partner(s) financial contributions are subject to availability of funds. Should CIHR or partner(s) funding levels not be available or decrease due to unforeseen circumstances, CIHR and partner(s) reserve the right to reduce, defer or suspend financial contributions to grants received as a result of this funding opportunity.

• The total amount available for this funding opportunity is CAD $7,390,000, enough to fund approximately 5 grants. This amount may increase if additional funding partners participate.
• The maximum amount per grant is up to CAD $500,000 for the principal investigator from Canada, up to CAD $500,000 for the principal investigator from the LMIC and up to CAD $478,000, depending on the exchange rate (up to NIS 1,200,000), for the principal investigator from Israel. These amounts are for a duration of 4 years, adding to a total of CAD $1,478,000 (subject to change based on the currency exchange rate) per project.
• The following partners will administer the funded grants:
  • ISF will administer funded grants to the institution of the Israeli applicant co-leading the team.
  • IDRC will administer funded grants to the institution of the Canadian applicant co-leading the team.
  • IDRC will administer funded grants to the institution of the LMIC applicant co-leading the team.

For more information on the appropriate use of funds, refer to Allowable Costs.

Objectives

Phase II of the Joint Canada-Israel Health Research Program is expected to:

• Advance research and discovery in biomedical sciences and global health;
• Encourage scientific collaboration and knowledge mobilization between Canadian, Israeli; and LMIC researchers and trainees
• Reinforce capacity in biomedical sciences and global health.

Eligibility

Eligibility to Apply

For an application to be eligible, all the requirements stated below must be met:

1. For administrative purposes only, the Nominated Principal Applicant must be the Canadian investigator co-leading the team.
   1. The Nominated Principal Applicant (NPA) must be an independent researcher, affiliated with a Canadian postsecondary institution and/or its affiliated institutions (including hospitals, research institutes and other non-profit organizations with a mandate for health research and/or knowledge mobilization).
   2. The NPA must have their substantive role in Canada for the duration of the requested grant term.
2. One Principal Applicant must be identified as the Israeli investigator co-leading the team.
3. One Principal Applicant must be identified as the LMIC investigator co-leading the team.
4. For the Canadian arm of the team, applications involving First Nations, Inuit, Métis and/or Urban Indigenous populations must include at least one participant who self-identifies as First Nations, Inuit, or Métis and/or who can demonstrate their experience of meaningful and culturally safe involvement with Indigenous Peoples in an Indigenous Health Research environment on the research team. At least one participant meeting this criterion must submit an « Other » attachment describing their experience working in an Indigenous Health Research environment.
5. For the LMIC arm of the team, if relevant, applications involving Indigenous communities from the eligible LMIC country must include at least one member who self-identifies as Indigenous or provide evidence of having meaningful and culturally safe involvement with Indigenous Peoples in an Indigenous Health research environment.
6. In your knowledge mobilization plan, as a minimum eligibility requirement, all proposals must support at least one of the following activities aimed at supporting capacity and scientific relationships:
   1. significant training opportunities such as scientific workshops, graduate training in low- and middle-income countries, Canada and Israel or summer schools benefiting researchers/trainees in eligible LMIC; and/or
   2. inclusion of trainees from LMIC, Canada and Israel in carrying out the research.

Notes:

• Each Canadian, Israeli, and LMIC investigator co-leading a team can only submit and/or participate in ONE application in the competition.
• Canadian, Israeli, and LMIC investigators co-leading a team are not eligible to hold a grant under this competition if they hold an active grant from Phase II of the JCIHRP at the funding start date for this funding opportunity.
• The Canadian, Israeli, and LMIC investigators co-leading a team are strongly encouraged to complete one of the sex- and gender-based analysis training modules available online through the CIHR Institute of Gender and Health and submit a certificate of completion. Applicants should select and complete the training module most applicable to their research project. Applicants are encouraged to review the « How to integrate sex and gender in research » section of the CIHR website.

Applications that do not meet the eligibility criteria outlined above will be withdrawn from the competition.

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