Interdisciplinary Team Grants (ITG)
Review Process
Overview
The ITG review process included the following:
- Administrative review of Letter of Intent (LOI) for eligibility
- ITG Advisory Committee review of LOIs
- Administrative review of full applications for completeness
- ITG Advisory Committee reverse site visits and review of full applications
- Decision by the Board of Trustees
- Implementation of the Interdisciplinary Team grants
Administrative Review
All applications were screened for eligibility and completeness. Eligibility criteria are listed on the AIHS website at http://www.ahfmr.ab.ca/grants/team_guidelines.php.
ITG Advisory Committee
Applications were evaluated by a multidisciplinary expert advisory committee, which included senior investigators from across Canada with excellent track records of either fostering or conducting interdisciplinary research and/or leading interdisciplinary research teams. The committee was broad-based with representation across all four research pillars.
Update for the 2008 competition:
An important dimension to the Letter of Intent (LOI) review process was added for the 2008 competition. In addition to evaluating the merits of the proposals from a scientific perspective, the committee also assessed the alignment of the proposed research programs with provincial goals and priorities. At the committee level this assessment was provided by two Alberta-based senior-level researchers and two government/policy representatives.
The 2008 ITG LOI Advisory Committee members were:
- Dr. Franco Vaccarino, University of Toronto (Chair)
- Dr. Brenda Andrews, Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology
- Dr. Shoukat Dedhar, University of British Columbia
- Dr. Tessa Gordon, University of Alberta
- Dr. Frans Leenen*, University of Ottawa
- Dr. Tom Oxland*, University of British Columbia
- Dr. Robert Petrella*, University of Western Ontario
- Dr. John Tyberg, University of Calgary
- Dr. John Wilkins, University of Manitoba
Government representatives:
- Ms. Lori Querengesser, Alberta Advanced Education and Technology
- Mr. Michael Harvey, Alberta Health and Wellness
Evaluation Criteria
General criteria for assessing applications are listed below. For details of each criterion, visit our website at http://www.ahfmr.ab.ca/grants/team_guidelines.php#review.
- Significance and Innovation
- Approach
- Investigators
- Environment
- Engagement with end-user group partners
LOI and Full Application
Selected LOI applicants were invited to submit a full application. The full application deadline was November 14, 2008.
Up to $10,000 was made available to each team to assist in the development of a full application. Access to these funds required a one-page written request identifying the anticipated use of funds.
Update for the 2008 Full Application Process:
For the teams selected to submit a full application, The application form was made available by the end of June 2008. The form included information about the terms and conditions of the team grant pertaining to timing and release of funds, as well as obligations of the grant recipients.
Also for the full application, external reviews from subject matter experts was collected on each team proposal. In addition, the committee conducted reverse site visits with team leaders. Both the reviews and the responses from the site visits was taken into consideration during the committee's deliberation on the applications.
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Pamela Valentine
Vice President, Research & Innovation
Alberta Innovates - Health Solutions
(780) 423-5727