Grants and Awards
Independent Investigator Awards Summary of Changes
Last Revised: April 20, 2007
This document provides a summary of important changes made to the policies and conditions that apply to most AHFMR independent investigators who are newly funded as a result of an application submitted in the September 2006 competition (i.e. awards implemented as of July 1, 2007) or later. They apply to awardees who are new to the AHFMR investigator award system (e.g. Population Health Investigators, Scholars, etc.) as well as those individuals who have successfully applied for support at the next level of AHFMR award (e.g. a Scholar who will now be supported as a Senior Scholar). Please refer to the detailed guidelines for additional information.
Not all of the changes apply to those who successfully applied for renewal of their AHFMR Clinical Investigator or Population Health Investigator awards in the September 2006 competition. For these individuals as well as for those holding ongoing AHFMR investigator awards as of July 1, 2007 please also refer to the guidelines.
1.0 Award Structure
- The Independent Establishment Grant program is no longer offered (see detailed guidelines item 1.1)
- All investigator awards have 7-year terms (1.2).
- Terminal awards are no longer available (1.2).
- The funds provided by AHFMR for independent investigator awards are pooled at the institutional level and used to support all AHFMR investigators collectively (1.3.1).
- Fixed monetary amounts are provided for each category of award (1.3.1).
- The amount of the AHFMR contribution to direct investigator support varies according to each category of award and will remain constant over the 7-year term of the award.
- The amount of the AFHMR award is not indicative of the investigator's salary; the salary is determined by their employment contract with the university (1.3.1).
- The Research Allowance is provided to all AHFMR Investigators (1.3.3)
- The amount of the Research Allowance has been increased to $35,000 for Population Health Investigators, Clinical Investigators and Scholars; $50,000 for Senior Scholars and Scientists; and, $20,000 for Senior Investigators (1.3.3).
2.0 Eligibility
- Applications for AHFMR investigator awards must be submitted within 24 months of the candidates' first appointment at an Alberta university (2.2).
- A minimum academic level must be in place for each category of award in order for the award to be implemented (2.5).
- If the required academic level is not attained by the implementation date of the award (i.e. July 1), then the offer of award will be withdrawn (2.5).
- AHFMR Scientists are required to devote the majority of their time to research activities (2.6)
- AHFMR Scientists are eligible to hold major administrative appointments (2.7).
- Individuals who are not commencing their first academic appointment must demonstrate that they have adequate peer-reviewed funding in place to conduct the research outlined in their application. The AHFMR offer of award may be withdrawn if this funding is not in place (2.8).
3.0 Application Process
- No major changes
4.0 Peer Review Process
- No major changes
5.0 Release of Competition Results
- No major changes
6.0 Joint Funding with other Investigator Awards (AHFMR Incentive Award)
- When an AHFMR investigator receives another personnel support award (e.g. CIHR New Investigator, Canada Research Chair), the entire value of this award will be subtracted from AHFMR's contribution to the institutional pool for that investigator's support (up to the maximum of the AHFMR contribution). The amount thus recovered by AHFMR will then be returned in its entirety to the individual's sponsoring institution, according to the following distribution and for the following specified uses:
- 25% university level - Office of the Vice-President Academic and Provost. These funds are to be added to the AHFMR funding pool managed by this office for direct AHFMR investigator support. In accordance with the defined uses of these pooled resources, the funds can be used for the purpose of offsetting salary support and benefits costs and renovation/relocation costs for currently supported AHFMR investigators and for specified research support as defined by AHFMR (6.4).
- 35% faculty level - Office of the Dean. These funds are to be used by the investigator's dean to enhance the research activities of the Faculty as a whole. The usage of the funds are as per guidelines defined by AHFMR (6.4).
- 40% investigator level. These funds will be added to the investigator's AHFMR Research Allowance account. The usage of the funds will be according to the guidelines for the AHFMR Research Allowance (6.4)
- As of July 1, 2007 the Foundation will no longer provide additional or separate funding for the recruitment, moving/relocation, or renovation costs associated with newly recruited AHFMR investigators. The funds provided by AHFMR via the AHFMR Incentive Award may be used for these purposes (6.4).
7.0 Commencement of Funding
- No major changes.
8.0 Employment Status
- No major changes.
9.0 Progress Reports
- A detailed progress report will be required in the fourth year of support. These reports will be peer reviewed and feedback will be provided to the AHFMR investigator and their sponsoring institution. Continuation of AHFMR funding will be contingent on a positive assessment of appropriate progress (9.2).
10.0 Intellectual Property Rights
- No major changes.
11.0 Maternity and Parental Leave
- The AHFMR contribution for the investigator's support will not be reduced during the maternity leave (11.7).
12.0 Sabbatical Leave
- The AHFMR contribution to the institution for the investigator award will not be reduced during the sabbatical leave (12.2).
- AHFMR will no longer provide direct support in the form of a research and travel allowance to the investigators taking sabbatical leaves (6.4; 12.3).
13.0 Communications
- No major changes.
14.0 Retirement
- Individuals who have held an AHFMR investigator awards for a minimum of 20 years are eligible to apply for AHFMR Senior Investigator Awards (14.4)
15.0 Termination of Award
- No major changes.