In the last month, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research announced a "Strategic Training Program Grants" competition and will be accepting Letters of Intent from the research community for a July 15, 2001 deadline.
In a letter dated June 11, 2001 Dr. Alan Bernstein, President, CIHR, wrote to the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) inviting us to participate in this program. His letter clearly states that we (AHFMR) do not have to make an immediate commitment to this program, and it is our understanding that letters of intent will be reviewed on the basis of the objectives of the program. Quoting from Dr. Bernstein's letter, these are:
" to support the development of innovative, effective, and competitive transdisciplinary training programs in health research. The programs will disseminate best practices and curriculum materials, and encourage and enable highly motivated health researchers and educators to contribute to the evolution of health research. It will support excellence and be recognized for its ability to offer unique experiences or facilities that will attract the best applicants from Canada and abroad."
Some of you have contacted the Foundation already to determine whether we would be interested and able to support some portion of a Training Program grant proposal. The purpose of this letter is to outline the current Foundation position on this matter and provide the same information to all Alberta investigators who may wish to participate in such initiatives.
Current AHFMR Opportunities for trainee support
First, AHFMR remains committed to the support of competitive trainees in all areas of health research. At the present time, the Foundation is providing support to 200 undergraduate summer students, 210 full-time and part-time graduate students, 71 post-doctoral fellows, and 19 clinical fellows. Our current budget allocation to training exceeds the $4 million for this CIHR program announced by Dr. Bernstein in his letter to us.
Second, trainees attracted to Alberta through the CIHR Strategic Training Program grants would be eligible to apply for support through these AHFMR programs, and, if successful, their continued support by AHFMR would allow the CIHR contribution to be used for the support of additional trainees. Additionally, if competitive stipends are an issue, AHFMR does provide a contribution in circumstances where other agencies are providing the major award and the applicant has been successful in AHFMR competitions. The level of this incentive has just recently been increased from $5,000 to $7,000 per annum (read more...).
Striking a balance
Beyond these two available opportunities, AHFMR is prepared to consider a contribution to the support of some Alberta-based trainees supported through the Strategic Training Program Grants.
The nature and extent of that contribution will be dependent on the number and type of training grant proposals from Alberta that are successful in this CIHR competition. We will also be guided by our own program priorities, the advice of the Alberta scientific community, and our advisory committees on the relative balance of investment between our current competitive training awards and contribution to these new programs. We cannot simply do both, and a contribution to either will limit or reduce the support to the other. Further, we are unlikely to make a contribution to all successful CIHR Strategic Training Program Grant proposals, but only to those that are most likely to have a very significant impact on the development of health research in our province.
We need your input
We will be able to make a final determination of the nature and extent of our commitment when we know the number and nature of successful applications for the CIHR Strategic Training Program. We will try to make this determination as soon as possible. To that end, we would appreciate copies of any letters of intent and related correspondence and documentation that may have implications for AHFMR in the future. Prior knowledge of your plans will help the Foundation make informed decisions for the support of health research in our province.
Please feel free to use this letter in your planning, or in your submissions to CIHR.
