SUGGESTED LOI EC1 TEMPLATE Based on the CHRP Letter of Intent Reviewer Scoring Form EC2

SUGGESTED LOI[EC1] TEMPLATE based on the CHRP Letter of Intent Reviewer Scoring Form[EC2] and assessment criteria from past LOI reviews. [EC3]

OBJECTIVES:

NOVELTY:

SCIENTIFIC APPROACH/METHODS:[EC4]

INterdisciplinary Collaboration:[EC5]

Timeline/MIlestones/feasibility:[EC6]

Knowledge Translation/Partner Appropriateness:[EC7]

HQP Training:[EC8]

IMPACT:

[EC1]Task 3: Complete Summary of Research Proposal

Using the text box provided, state the objectives of the proposed research project and summarize the scientific approach, highlighting the novelty and expected significance of the work. Note that your summary cannot exceed one page. Ensure that you are using 12pt font and preview the text submitted to ensure that it has not been truncated. Refer to the CHRP Letter of Intent Reviewer Scoring Form that is used to score the Summary of Research proposal.

[EC2]

A) Research Proposal: 6 Points
Enter a score above, based on your assessment of the research project described in the Summary of Research Proposal. Focus on what you perceive to be the originality and impact of the proposal
1) Interdisciplinary Collaboration: 3 Points
Enter a score above, based on your assessment of the quality of the collaboration between the NSE and Health Sectors and the interdisciplinary nature of the research
2) Timeline/Milestones/Feasibility: 2 Points
Funding for CHRP projects can be for up to three years for defined projects with clear milestones. Enter a score above (0-2 Point), based on your assessment of the feasibility of the project within the timelines proposed in the Research Proposal Attachment. Refer to the Summary of Research Proposal, as needed, for more details regarding the project
3) Knowledge Translation Plan and Appropriateness of Partner: 6 Points
(Justification for non-Canadian partners will be assessed by program staff).
Consider the appropriateness of the Knowledge Translation Plan and the potential for uptake of the research results. Consider the capacity of the Knowledge/Technology User partner to apply the project results outside of the academic and research setting. It is appropriate to consider how much influence the partner has in terms of creating new products, policies or practices
4) Training Plan for Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP): 3 Points
Provide a score above based on your assessment of the training plan in terms of creating highly qualified personnel in collaborative and interdisciplinary research

[EC3]Quality of the research project, including:

• The novel aspects and originality of the project; clarity and scope of objectives;methodology (including experimental design) and feasibility.

Appropriateness of the team and management, including the team’s leadership and the integration of team members, including:

• The knowledge, expertise and experience of researchers; quality of, or potential for, contributions of the team members; complementarity and interdisciplinarity between the natural sciences or engineering and health sciences, and synergy of the team members’ expertise; appropriateness of the management of the project;

• co-ordination and integration of activities;

• contribution and time commitment of participants;

• clarity of the roles and responsibilities.

Knowledge translation and knowledge user engagement

The impact and potential for the translation of the research results into improved health for Canadians, more effective health services, and economic development must be demonstrated. This includes:

• The knowledge translation plan; the demonstrated level of knowledge/technology user engagement in the project; the anticipated impact of the proposed research on the health of Canadians; the importance of the proposed health issue; and the significance to the health care sector.

• Justification and the added benefits to Canada must be provided when applicants have been unable to develop a collaboration with a suitable Canadian-based knowledge/technology user organization.

Contributions to the training of highly qualified personnel in interdisciplinary research and to providing trainees with an understanding of the impact of the collaborative research on human health, including:

• The quality and extent of past and proposed contributions to collaborative training in the health context within the proposed project (e.g., opportunity for trainees to spend time in different laboratories or settings), and the training environment.

[EC4]

Research Proposal: 6 Points
Enter a score above, based on your assessment of the research project described in the Summary of Research Proposal. Focus on what you perceive to be the originality and impact of the proposal.

Quality of the research project, including:

• The novel aspects and originality of the project; clarity and scope of objectives;methodology (including experimental design) and feasibility.

[EC5]

Interdisciplinary Collaboration: 3 Points
Enter a score above, based on your assessment of the quality of the collaboration between the NSE and Health Sectors and the interdisciplinary nature of the research.

Appropriateness of the team and management, including the team’s leadership and the integration of team members, including:

• co-ordination and integration of activities;

• contribution and time commitment of participants;

• clarity of the roles and responsibilities.

[EC6]

Timeline/Milestones/Feasibility: 2 Points
Funding for CHRP projects can be for up to three years for defined projects with clear milestones. Enter a score above (0-2 Point), based on your assessment of the feasibility of the project within the timelines proposed in the Research Proposal Attachment. Refer to the Summary of Research Proposal, as needed, for more details regarding the project

[EC7]

Knowledge Translation Plan and Appropriateness of Partner: 6 Points
(Justification for non-Canadian partners will be assessed by program staff).*
Consider the appropriateness of the Knowledge Translation Plan and the potential for uptake of the research results. Consider the capacity of the Knowledge/Technology User partner to apply the project results outside of the academic and research setting. It is appropriate to consider how much influence the partner has in terms of creating new products, policies or practices

Knowledge translation and knowledge user engagement

Provide a concise profile (not more than 1/2 page) on the Principal Knowledge Technology User (only), describing the nature of its operations in Canada (e.g. manufacturing, commercial activities, services provided, health care decision-making, etc.). Note that reference to a website is not acceptable in lieu of the 1/2 page KT user profile. Upload as an "Other" document type.

My interpretation is that if a “non-Canadian partner” is chosen, that you will need to make a very strong case for why and how “new products, policies or practices outside of the academic and research setting” will bring economic benefit to Canada.

In the context of improved health for Canadians, the objectives of Collaborative Health Research Projects (CHRP) Initiative are to:

Translate research results to knowledge/technology users and other stakeholders;
Encourage the natural sciences or engineering and health research communities to collaborate and integrate their expertise;
Advance interdisciplinary research leading to knowledge and technologies with the potential to benefit Canada by improving the Canadian healthcare system and/or services and where appropriate lead to economic opportunities in Canada; and
Train highly qualified personnel in collaborative and interdisciplinary research of relevance to health, while preparing them for employment opportunities in the private, public or not for profit sectors

Eligibility of Partner(s):

Applications must include a partnership with at least one eligible, non-academic knowledge/technology user (KTU) organization with an expressed interest and demonstrable ability to use the end products of the research. The guidelines for partnership are:

One organization must be designated as the Principal KTU in the Letter of Intent (LOI). Other KTUs may be described in the LOI Knowledge Translation plan, as appropriate. KTUs can be from the private, public or voluntary sectors.
At both the LOI and full application stages, applicants must demonstrate the capacity of the Principal KTU organization to use the knowledge generated by providing relevant details in a Knowledge Translation plan. Failure to do so may result in withdrawal of the application. Activities focused on sharing the research findings or brokering relationships with stakeholders are not typically sufficient for the Principal KTU role.
The Principal KTU established at the Letter of Intent stage must be maintained in the full application; no change is permitted. Applicants may add additional KTU organizations to their full application.
The CHRP Initiative funding requires the Principal KTU to be Canadian. In the case of private sector organizations, this requires a Canadian-based company that carries out research and development (R&D) and/or produces goods or services within Canada, deriving the majority of its revenues from the sale of these goods or services and not from government aid.
If a collaboration with a suitable Canadian-based KTU organization is not possible, justification must be provided for collaborating with a non-Canadian organization. The justification must describe how the partnership will benefit the Canadian health care system/services and what economic benefits to Canada will result from the partnership (i.e. potential to strengthen Canada’s industrial base, generate wealth, create employment and/or influence Canadian public policy). Decisions will be made on a case by case basis.
Multinational organizations may be eligible if it is clear within the application that they have Canadian-based activities that meet the criteria above and if the funded activity leads to research results that will be exploited in Canada.
Applicant ownership of the partner organization is generally not permitted; exceptions can be made on a case-by-case basis if an arm’s length relationship between the applicants and partner organization can be demonstrated. Contact CIHR to inquire further.
Government research laboratories, foreign research institutions, venture capitalists, technology transfer offices, or potential investors are not eligible as the principal Knowledge/Technology User. Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE, CECR, BL-NCE, or their affiliated entities) are also not eligible. However, these entities can be included in addition to the principal KTU partner at the full application stage to broaden the impact of the Knowledge Translation plan.

Knowledge/technology user organization representatives:

The knowledge/technology user representative(s) must have the authority to represent their organization and may vary accordingly (e.g. chief scientific officer at a company, decision-maker at a hospital, provincial government policy-maker, etc.).
In cases where an individual could assume roles in the project as either a researcher applicant or a representative from the knowledge/technology user organization, the individual must choose the most appropriate function and may only assume one role in the application. Justification should be provided for the appropriateness of all knowledge/technology users included in the application.
Representatives from the knowledge/technology user organization(s) may be included in the application as participants in the role of Knowledge User applicant – to recognize their participation in the project.

For additional guidance regarding knowledge/technology users, please consult CHRP - Frequently Asked Questions.

[EC8]

Training Plan for Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP): 3 Points
Provide a score above based on your assessment of the training plan in terms of creating highly qualified personnel in collaborative and interdisciplinary research