1. 2017 Research Trainee Competition
Rashmita Salvi | Manager, Research Competitions

2. Presentation Agenda About MSFHR Purpose of the Program
Eligibility Requirements
Supervisor(s)
Knowledge Translation (KT)
Partnerships
Award Amount and Duration
Incentive and Top-Up Funding
Key Competition Dates
How to Apply
Review Process
Evaluation Criteria
Contact Information
Q&A

3. About MSFHR
MSFHR empowers BC’s best and brightest health researchers to pursue world-class innovation.
Discover solutions to health challenges
Connect knowledge and action on provincial priorities
Engage partners to improve the research enterprise
MSFHR
Updated “Vision” with current Strategic Plan statement.

4. Purpose of the Program
The MSFHR Research Trainee Program is designed to attract, recognize, and support outstanding researchers who have completed a PhD, or are a health professional eligible for a fellowship (or equivalent) program.

5. Eligibility Requirements
Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and foreign nationals are eligible
Have a PhD OR be a health professional in active clinical service
Hold or be eligible to hold a post-doctoral fellowship at a BC university or research institution by the award start date and for the duration of the award
Not have held a PhD degree for more than 5 years OR have been a health professional in active clinical service for more than 10 years for the duration of the award
Not have held a previous MSFHR Post-Doctoral Fellowship Award

6. Eligibility Requirements – Cont’d
Conduct research in one of the four health research themes (biomedical, clinical, health services, or population health), with a clear link to human health.
Written commitment from supervisor to provide:
For PhD applicants, 75% protected research time (30 hrs/wk)
For health professionals, 50% protected research time (20 hrs/wk)
Reference letters from:
PhD supervisor
Expert in your field from outside of your host institution OR a mentor

7. Supervisor(s)
An applicant can have up to two supervisors with an academic appointment (assistant, associate, or full professor) at a BC university.
Co-supervisor can be an adjunct professor.
Primary supervisor agrees to:
Supervise the applicant’s research and provide the resources that are necessary for the successful completion of the research project including any KT activities.
Administer the research and travel allowance of the award recipient.
Respect the obligations described in the MSFHR Research Trainee Program guidelines and Conditions of Award.

8. Knowledge Translation (KT)
MSFHR requires applicants from all research themes to include appropriate KT activities in their research project.
KT must be embedded in research projects in one of two ways:
As components of a research project (e.g. research user engagement, research dissemination, and/or research uptake activities)
As the focus of the project (KT science: exploring the theories, mechanisms, concepts, and/or methods by which evidence is used in health care practice and policy)
RESEARCH
POLICY
PRACTICE
For KT-related inquiries, please contact:
Dr. Genevieve Creighton, Manager, Knowledge Translation |

9. Partnerships
MSFHR partners with other funders to build capacity and fill strategic gaps in health research in BC.
Applications that fulfill the funding criteria for both MSFHR and a partner organization are eligible for a partnered trainee award.
Process:
Applicants interested in partnered awards are encouraged to to register your interest for a partnered award and indicate how your research aligns with partner areas of interest.
MSFHR uses keywords provided by the partners to identify applications that may be relevant to and align with the partners’ area of interest.

10. Partnerships – Cont’d
Partners for the 2017 Research Trainee competition:
Pacific Alzheimer Research Foundation
Lotte and John Hecht Memorial Foundation
Parkinson Society BC
AllerGen
Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging (CCNA)
Additional partners are continually coming on board. Please visit our website regularly for the updated list and to learn more about our Partners’ research interests.   

11. Program Highlights Up to 3 years 30% 70% Research Each Trainee Award:
Themes
Each Trainee Award:
Up to 3 years
Biomedical
Clinical
Health
Services
Population
Stipend +
Research Allowance
Total Program Funding ($2,550,000 = ~20 awards)
Applicant
Allocated to projects addressing the five BC Health System Priorities* (in any of the four themes)
30%
allocated to all 4 research themes
70%
*see next slide

12. BC Health System Priorities
In keeping with MSFHR’s stated goal of being responsive to the BC health sector, 30 percent of the competition funding will be allocated to outstanding researchers conducting research in the five BC health system key priority areas:
Enhance access to effective primary health care
Services for seniors with complex medical conditions
Mental health / substance use care
Services for patients needing surgery
Rural and remote health care services

13. Award Amount and Duration
Years since degree
Stipend
Research/
travel allowance
< 3 (0 – 36 months)
$37,000
$4,500
3 – 5 (37 – 60 months)
$42,000
> 5 – 10 (61 – 120 months)
$47,000
Support for 1-3 years
Top-up and/or incentive funding available for successful applicants receiving external stipend awards
Start date may be deferred up to 12 months; deferral may affect award term

14. Top-up and Incentive Funding
Available for MSFHR post-doctoral fellows who hold other external stipend and research and travel awards:
An external award:
Is external to BC
Is granted through an open competition
Is peer-reviewed
Is 50 percent or more in value than the MSFHR award

15. Application Process
Feb. 6, 2017
11:59 p.m. PST
Mar. 6, 2017

16. Important Notes
Be aware of the internal deadlines and application process at your host institution
Communicate with your supervisor(s) and referees well in advance of your host institution internal deadline
Supervisor(s) and referees must have an MSFHR ApplyNet account to upload their forms and letters
Make sure you have the exact addresses of your supervisor(s) and referees that they used to create their accounts in MSFHR ApplyNet
Refer to the Research Trainee Instructions document when completing your online application

17. 2017 Research Trainee Competition: Key Dates
Stages in Competition Cycle
Target Date
Letter of Intent Deadline
February 6, :59 p.m. PST
Full Application Deadline
March 6, :59 p.m. PST
Peer Review Panel Meetings
May – June 2017
Funding Announcement
August 2017
Trainee Award Start Date
September 1, 2017

18. Letter of Intent Deadline: February 6, 2017
To start an LOI, log into MSFHR ApplyNet and click on the Research Trainee funding opportunity.
Sections of the LOI:
Contact information
Host Institution
Project Information
BC Health System Priorities
Theme and Keywords
Third Party information
Additional Information
Career Interruptions
MSFHR reviews Letters of Intent within two business days
Approval gives access to the Full Application

19. Full Application Deadline: March 6, 2017
List of Uploads for the Applicant:
MSFHR Abbreviated Version CCV (entire career)
Publications, Patents, Intellectual Property
Research Project (4 page)
Letter from Sponsor
Proof of Degree Completion
Sections of the FA:
Contact information
Host Institution
Project Information
BC Health System Priorities
Theme and Keywords
Third Party information
Additional Information
Career Interruptions
Uploads
Supervisors and 2 Referees must log into their own MSFHR ApplyNet accounts and complete their tasks prior to the host institution deadline
List of Uploads for the Supervisor:
MSFHR Full Version CCV (last 5 years)
Publications, Patents, Intellectual Property (last 5 years)

20. Review Process
Review panel members evaluate applications from the four research themes
Expertise of the primary and secondary reviewers is matched to the research project
Three main principles of peer review: confidentiality, integrity, and parity
Strict compliance with MSFHR conflict of interest guidelines

21. May be funded (min. score of 3.8)
Evaluation
Evaluation Criteria
Applications to the respective themes will be assessed against the indicated criteria and weightings below:
Criterion
BIOM
CLIN
HSR
POPH
PhD HP
Track record 40 30 35
Research project 50 45
Environment & Support 20 25
Rating Scale
Descriptor
Range
Outcome
Outstanding
4.5 – 4.9
May be funded (min. score of 3.8)
Excellent
4.0 – 4.4
Very good
3.5 – 3.9
Adequate
3.0 – 3.4
Not fundable
Less than adequate
0 – 2.9
To be considered for funding, the application must receive a minimum score of 3.8.

22. Questions and Contact Info
For questions regarding the application and submission process, please contact: Rashmita Salvi Manager, Research Competitions or Yuliya Shapova Coordinator, Research Competitions For more information about the MSFHR ApplyNet system or help with login information, please contact: MSFHR Help Desk