Collaborative Mental Health Research Fund. Application Guidelines

Transcription

1 Collaborative Mental Health Research Fund Application Guidelines

2 Background In May 2013, the Collaborative Mental Health Research Fund was established from matching contributing funds from the North Bay Regional Health Centre, the North Bay Regional Health Centre Foundation and the Sudbury/Manitoulin District Mental Health Fund Committee. These funds are to be used specifically to support new programs of regionally focussed, collaborative research within the mental health and addictions fields. Northeast Academic Health Sciences Network With growing investment in academic assets in Northern Ontario, in 2010 extensive consultative work with our local and regional partners regarding advancing the capacity for integrated academic healthcare, culminated in the formation of the Northeast Academic Health Sciences Network. This mutually collaborative network, comprised of over 15 member organizations from across the northeast, has an overarching purpose to mobilize shared healthcare, research and education assets to improve the health of Northern Ontarians. Part of this mandate includes fostering opportunities for building local and regional collaborative capacity in Page 2 of 12

3 research, teaching and clinical care. The Collaborative Mental Health Research Fund was therefore established to provide financial support to members of the Northeast Academic Health Sciences Network who are proposing research specifically focused on the continuum of complex mental health and addiction disorders. Objectives of the Collaborative Mental Health Research Fund are: To assist members of the Northeast Academic Health Sciences Network in developing research capacity; To stimulate and support research activity for identified areas of need for Northern Ontarians; To encourage members of the Northeast Academic Health Sciences Network to engage in collaborative research activities Priority Areas The Collaborative Mental Health Research Fund supports research that aligns with direct application to improving clinical care, health systems planning or population health within the fields of mental health and addictions. Applications submitted for funding must be scientifically sound and demonstrate how the proposed research aligns with the following identified priorities of the Northeast Academic Health Sciences Network: Research into Mental Health and Addictions, emphasizing collaboration among members of the Northeast Academic Health Sciences Network Supporting research that stimulates collaboration of care providers in creating innovative inter professional models of education and care delivery Supporting research that aims to improve mental health care coordination and transition along the entire continuum of care Page 3 of 12

4 Collaborative Mental Health Research Fund Grant Review Process Applying for funds from the Collaborative Mental Health Research Fund involves a three stage process: Principal Investigator (s) to Submit Application NBRHC Research Office will review application for completeness The application must include representation from a minimum of two member organizations of the Northeast Academic Health Sciences Network NBRHC Research Department will appoint additional reviewers as needed Application sent to Scientific Review Committee Funding Applications Reviewed and Score according to: (1)Scientific Merit (2) Potential Impact (3) Strength of Collaboration The review committee is made up of representatives from North East Academic Health Science Network Organizations Recommendation from Scientific Review Committee Sent to Research Awards Committee for Decision Successful Unsuccessful All applicants are informed of the results including reasons in writing. Notification of decision Sent to Principal Investigator (s) Obtain Research Ethics Board approval before commencing research FUNDS AWARDED Page 4 of 12

5 1) Application Submission: Applications must be submitted in full, including Curriculum Vitae of each investigator and signatures to: Research Department North Bay Regional Health Centre 50 College Drive, North Bay ON, P1B 5A4 Or Incomplete applications will not be processed. Organizations of the North East Academic Health Science Network 2) Scientific Review of Application Collaborative Mental Health Research Fund applications will be reviewed by the (CMHRF) Scientific Review Committee. The Scientific Review Committee: Reviews all applications for funding order to make recommendation to the CMHRF Research Awards Committee for approval or rejection; Forms its recommendations concerning the application on the basis of scientific/scholarly merit, the identified research priorities of the Northeast Academic Health Sciences Network, strength of collaboration, and other funding criteria provided annually by the Research Awards Committee. Page 5 of 12

6 3) Award Decisions The Collaborative Mental Health Research Fund Research Award Committee will consider recommendations from the Scientific Review Committee regarding all applications. Copies of reviewer s reports and scores and ranking are provided to applicants following the panel meetings. Every effort will be made to ensure confidentiality of each application. Eligibility Research teams comprised of employees or physicians who have privileges at any Northeast Academic Health Sciences Network organization are eligible to apply (receive salary support from). Teams must include representation from a minimum of two member organizations of the Northeast Academic Health Sciences Network. At least one of the Principal Investigators on each research team should ideally hold a Ph.D. or an MD, have formal research training and have demonstrated competence in the proposed area of research, including knowledge translation. The host institution must take full responsibility for the conduct of research being funded; this includes maintaining integrity in research and scholarship, full ethical review and surveillance and compliance with financial accounting and control. Page 6 of 12

7 Call for Proposals The formal call for proposals will commence each year in the summer with the application deadline closing in the fall. Funding Parameters Two research team grants per year to a maximum of $25,000 for each awarded grant. Other Funding Sources Full disclosure of other grants and or awards currently held or applied for that pertain to the application must be made at the time of the application. Criteria of Selection The selection of research projects to be awarded funding will be based on three major criteria: 1) Scientific/Scholarly Merit Scientific merit, originality, as well as the potential regional impact of the research project. 2) Identified Priorities The Collaborative Mental Health Research Fund supports projects that align with the identified priorities of the Northeast Academic Health Sciences Network (mental health and addictions, collaboration in interprofessional education and training and Page 7 of 12

8 enhancement of coordination and transition along the continuum of care). All applications must detail how investment in their research would enhance and expand knowledge in these priority areas. 3) Collaboration Projects should be multidisciplinary and involve collaboration from a minimum of two member organizations of the Northeast Academic Health Sciences Network. Other considerations may include Potential of the project for high impact and significance; Priority will be given to research teams who have not been funded in a previous year; New project proposals will receive priority over projects previously funded by the Collaborative Mental Health Research Fund; Tangible outcomes are expected (i.e., publication, presentation of research results at the annual NBRHC Research Conference); Soundness of the budget and precise budget justifications Compliance in Research It is the responsibility of the applicant(s) to secure the appropriate approval for the proposed research. Funds will not be released until all such approvals have been obtained. Financial Administration Collaborative Mental Health Research Fund awards will be made available to successful applicants in the form of a designated CMHRF research account through the institution of the principal investigator concerned, and must be used for the research project described in the application. Page 8 of 12

9 Any modifications to the initial approved budget must be submitted in writing to both the Scientific Review Committee and the North Bay Regional Health Centre Research Ethics Board (as applicable) before being implemented. The Scientific Review Committee and the North Bay Regional Health Centre Research Ethics Board will approve the proposed modifications, ensuring consistency with the original funding request. All award recipients are responsible for the use and management of the funds. Note: Failure to comply with reporting requirements may result in suspension of funding Eligible Expenses: The Collaborative Mental Health Research Fund is meant to support costs associated with the proposed program of research. Examples of such costs include: Hiring of research assistants; Research travel expenses within Ontario; Please refer to additional guidelines as stipulated in the NBRHC Travel, Education and Expense Reimbursement Policy ADM Fl 2; Costs related to publishing a journal article (no Retroactive Charges); Research supplies and materials ; Payment to research subjects; Payment for use of equipment and technology needed to carry out the research (i.e., rental of diagnostic imaging time) Other justifiable research expenses. Funds may not be used for the creation of new infrastructure, overhead costs, charitable donations or administration. Additional Expense Details: Travel: Limited to the lowest possible airfare and subsistence requests based on local rates of accommodation, meals and personal expenses. Travel expenses to meet other researchers or collaborators at conferences are Page 9 of 12

10 eligible, however conference expenses are not (i.e. registration fees). Please refer to the NBRHC Travel, Education and Expense Reimbursement Policy ADM Fl 2 for further information. Travel expenses cannot exceed $1,000. Ineligible expenses: Society membership dues or journal subscriptions Equipment over $5,000 Cellular phone charges Spouse travel expenses Entertainment or hospitality costs Projects Related to Commercial Financial Administration Interests The Collaborative Mental Health Research Fund will not fund projects whose primary purpose is the development or promotion of commercial interests. Successful Applicants Notification of funding: Applicants approved for funding will receive written notification, including a detailed description of all funding conditions. Successful applicants must notify the CMHRF electronically that they are accepting the offer within ten (10) business days of their receiving the result of their application electronically. Failure to comply with this may lead with withdrawal of the offer. A signed, hard copy of the acceptance letter must be faxed or mailed within the same timeframe. Page 10 of 12

11 Funding Agreement: A formal funding agreement detailing the terms and conditions governing the research award will be established between the Collaborative Mental Health Research Fund Research Award Committee and the Principal Investigator (s). General Commitments The general responsibilities of the award recipients, as outlined in the funding agreement, include: Complying with terms, conditions and obligations as outlined in the funding application. Ensure that expenditures charged to the research award account are in accordance with the approved budget. Comply with the policies and procedures of the North Bay Regional Health Centre Research Ethics Board. Recipients of the award must keep all related documentation for a period of 5 years after the final reporting and project completion date. Submit progress reports and a final report 60 days before the project completion date (timelines for these reports will be outlined in the funding agreement). At the completion of the award period the Principal Investigator (s) must provide a detailed financial account All public presentations of the research findings and all journal publications must be reported to the CMHRF so that the CMHRF can appropriately highlight the researcher and research. Research results are to be presented at the annual North Bay Regional Health Centre Research Conference and any other public presentations as requested by the North Bay Regional Health Centre. Page 11 of 12

12 Knowledge Translation Sharing research findings is an important priority of the Collaborative Mental Health Research Fund. All CMHRF award participants are now required to provide a Knowledge Dissemination Plan as a way of sharing the results of their research. Acknowledgement The Collaborative Mental Health Research Fund must be acknowledged as a source of financial support in all publications and presentations of the research findings. Page 12 of 12