Research Relationship Ignition Program

Overview

This funding opportunity will support researchers, in collaboration with patients and other knowledge users, to identify research priorities, plan a research project, advance pilot projects using a research co-production approach, develop knowledge mobilization projects and/or advance community knowledge and leadership in brain-heart health.

The maximum amount per project is $25,000 for one (1) year. The total amount available is $200,000, for up to eight (8) projects. Two awards are reserved for early career researchers.

Deadline to apply: December 18, 2024
Notification of funding decisions: February 17, 2025
Funding start date: March 1, 2025

The objective of this program is to foster the development of relationships between researchers and patients as well as other knowledge users for the purpose of co-producing B-H research and/or mobilizing research evidence. In line with BHI commitments to IDEAS (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility and Social Justice), the program aims to expand the diversity of voices meaningfully engaged, co-leading and benefiting from B-H research to include Indigenous people and underrepresented groups including racialized individuals; African, Caribbean, and Black individuals; persons with disabilities; women; and individuals from 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.

BHI defines patients as individuals with lived experiences with a health issue, informal caregivers (including family and friends) and/or individuals that are at risk of, or otherwise, affected by brain-heart conditions. Knowledge users are people, including representatives of communities and organizations who are likely to use research results to make informed decisions, or anybody who may benefit or be otherwise affected by research results. This can include, but is not limited to Indigenous leaders and communities, patients, health professionals, community-based organizations, health charities, health system leaders, policy-makers, and private sector organizations.

Within the Research Relationship Ignition Program, funding can be used to:

Enable researchers, patient partners and other knowledge users to conduct activities that support the identification of brain-heart issues and research priorities and/or plan a co-produced research project. Activities could include, for example, meetings of potential teams, consultations with partners and groups under-represented in research or public engagement activities.
Advance pilot projects using a research co-production approach with patient partners and other knowledge users to assess viability of the project and the partnership.
Support knowledge mobilization activities such as co-development of knowledge mobilization products, tools or events that support knowledge exchange with groups such as patients, health professionals, community organizations or policy-makers.
Support Indigenous-, patient-, or community-led groups to advance knowledge of brain-heart conditions and promote patient and community co-creation, leadership and benefit in research and dissemination.

Project eligibility

To be eligible, a project must:

Use a research co-production approach with patient partners.
Address the goals and deliverables of one or more BHI Foundations, Themes or Cross-Cutting Themes. Projects that are relevant to multiple Foundations, Themes and Cross-Cutting Themes are highly encouraged.
Be relevant to joint brain and heart health.

Applicant team eligibility

The proposed project must be co-led by:

Principal Applicant - Academic: A BHI Core Academic Member eligible to hold Tri-Council research funding.
Co-Principal Applicant – Patient Partner: a patient (as defined above) that is meaningfully involved in co-leading the project. Patient partners participating as a Co-Principal Applicant on one or more projects are considered BHI Core Partner Members.

NOTE: Individuals may submit only one (1) application as Principal Applicant or Co-Principal Applicant in this competition but may be a Co-Applicant on other applications. Early career researchers are encouraged to apply.

The project may also involve:

Co-Principal Applicant(s) – Knowledge Users (encouraged): a knowledge user, whether an individual or a named representative of an organization, that is meaningfully involved in co-leading the project. Knowledge users participating as a Co-Principal Applicant on one or more projects are considered BHI Core Partner Members.
Co-Applicant(s) - Academic: BHI Core Academic Members, BHI Associate Academic Members or those eligible for this membership category (includes researchers and research personnel from academic institutions in Canada or internationally), BHI Core or Associate Trainee Members or those eligible for these membership categories.
Co-Applicant(s) – Knowledge Users: Knowledge users participating as co-applicants are considered BHI Associate Partner Members.
Co-Applicant(s) – Patient Partners: patients participating as co-applicants are considered BHI Associate Partner Members.
Collaborator(s): individuals (from academia or from other sectors) who play an active role in the research and research-related activities but not involved in leading the research project. Collaborators are considered to be BHI Associate Partner Members or Associate Academic Members depending on their institution.

All applications will be reviewed for completeness and on-time submission. All complete applications will be reviewed by members of the BHI Scientific Council to verify relevance to BHI Foundations, Themes and/or Cross-Cutting Themes and joint brain-heart health. Relevant applications will be evaluated by a multidisciplinary peer review committee composed of researchers, health professionals, patients and other knowledge users. The review process will involve the following criteria:

Applicants

Suitability, diversity and strength of the research team, including the appropriateness of the leadership team’s expertise (including but not limited to scientific disciplines) and lived experience relevant to brain-heart health.
For projects involving First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples, the extent to which the team has the necessary knowledge, expertise, and experience to conduct events and activities in ways that are meaningful and culturally safe.
Nature and quality of the collaboration between the researcher(s), patient partner(s) and other knowledge users, including the thoughtfulness of strategies to manage power dynamics.

Relevance and quality of the project

Clarity of the project objective(s) and alignment of the proposed activities to:
- The goals and deliverables of one or more BHI Foundations, Themes or Cross-Cutting Themes. Preference will be given to projects that are relevant to more than one Foundation, Theme or Cross-Cutting Theme.
- Joint brain and heart health.
- The objective of the Research Relationship Ignition Program.
Clarity of the proposed activities and appropriateness for achieving intended outcomes.
Appropriateness of the approach to embedding IDEAS considerations into all stages of the project and extent to which the project supports the engagement of Indigenous peoples and groups underrepresented in science including but not limited to, women, racialized minorities, persons with disabilities and members of 2SLGBTQI+ communities.
For research projects involving First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples, appropriate consideration of TCPS 2 (2022) – Chapter 9: Research Involving the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples of Canada and demonstration of meaningful and culturally safe involvement practices, plans and activities throughout the research project.
Creative and authentic nature of the co-production and engagement approaches.
Feasibility of implementing the activities according to budget and timeline.

Deliverables and Expected Impact

Clarity of the product or deliverable that will result from the funding (i.e., meeting report, research priorities, grant application, etc.).
Potential of the project to address an important need or knowledge gap, catalyze new initiatives and develop new multi- and interdisciplinary collaborations among researchers, patients and other knowledge users (i.e. what this funding will ignite).
Extent to which the team members will gain from the proposed activities, particularly those from underrepresented groups.
Extent to which the team meaningfully includes relevant partners and the extent and appropriateness of their role(s) and contribution(s) (if applicable).
Clarity and appropriateness of the projects’ indicators of success, qualitative and/or quantitative as appropriate.

Prior to preparing the application, applicants must discuss their proposed project with the Lead(s) of the most relevant BHI Foundations, Themes and/or Cross-Cutting Themes to ensure it is aligned with the Scientific Strategy of the BHI and will contribute to the related goals and deliverables. Please contact Leads as early as possible.

Applicants must complete the online application form (including attachments) by 11:59 p.m. ET, December 18, 2024 (online application form to be available here by November 18, 2024). Applicants will be notified by email of the successful submission of their proposal.

Applicants are encouraged to review the resources available below related to Indigenous Engagement; Co-Production and Knowledge Mobilization; Patient Engagement; Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility and Social Justice (IDEAS); and the other BHI Cross-Cutting Themes as applications are developed.

The online application form will include the following sections:

Project details (e.g., title, applicants, keywords).
Plain language summary (maximum 200 words)
Contributions to BHI: Describe how the project and activities relate to joint brain-heart health, and how it will contribute to the goals, objectives and deliverables of one or more BHI Foundations, Themes or Cross-Cutting Themes (maximum 300 words).
Description of the team (maximum 500 words) including:
- the interdisciplinary nature of the team, including expertise of academics, patients and other knowledge users
- the complementary knowledge and skills of members and the role and contribution of each
- how IDEAS has been considered in team composition
- if relevant, the team’s relationship and experience with Indigenous communities and partners
- information on strategies that will be used to address power imbalances between academic, patients and other knowledge users, particularly from groups that are underrepresented in research
Description of the project (maximum 1500 words) including:
- purpose and objectives
- the co-production and patient engagement approach to be used throughout the project including how the project has been shaped by patients and other knowledge users and extent to which it responds to their needs
- methodology, approach and/or format of proposed activities and how they will lead to the anticipated outcomes (e.g., identification of research priorities, research proposal)
- the context and approach to embedding IDEAS throughout all phases of the project
- if relevant, the approach for involving First Nations, Inuit and Métis people and practices and plans into the project
Outputs and impact (maximum 300 words): Describe the nature of any partnerships, including cash or in-kind contributions. Describe how the project outcomes are expected to influence new research directions, future projects or strategies, and the possible future involvement of interested team members and partners. Include indicators of project success (qualitative and/or quantitative).
Milestones (maximum 200 words): Describe the overall timelines and major milestones of the project. The detailed milestone table in the budget module is also to be completed.

Include the following items as attachments with your application:

Project budget: Prepare a budget for the project, including the module for estimating costs associate with patient engagement (template to be provided here by November 18, 2024). Co-funding from partners is encouraged and must be included in the budget template, if applicable.
CVs: Provide a brief CV (5 pages or less) for all Principal Applicants and Co-Applicants (preferred format is the new Tri-Agency CV template)
Letters of Support (optional): Letters of support should include a specific description of cash or in-kind contributions from partners; a collaborators specific involvement in the project and/or how a partner intends to use the project outcomes. General letters of support for the team or project should not be included.
RE Form: Applicants from the University of Ottawa are required to include Request for Funds form (RE Form) completed and signed by all parties.