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Notice of upcoming funding opportunity: CIHR Pan-Canadian Network for HIV/AIDS and STBBI Clinical Trials Research

This funding opportunity is now available on

ResearchNet

.

Introduction

CIHR is pleased to announce the launch of the CIHR Pan-Canadian Network for HIV/AIDS and STBBI Clinical Trials Research grant. The funding opportunity is led by the HIV/AIDS and STBBI Research Initiative with strategic leadership from the CIHR Institute of Infection and Immunity (III).

Overview

The purpose of the

CIHR Pan-Canadian Network for HIV/AIDS and STBBI Clinical Trials Research

funding opportunity is to support a single nationally coordinated, interdisciplinary research clinical trials network (the Network) for addressing STBBI, including HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV), chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and human papilloma virus (HPV). The Network is expected to establish research infrastructure (including resources and expertise) that facilitates the advancement of innovative, community-centred clinical trials research. This includes research to address STBBI in the context of co-morbidities, co-infections, and disparities in the health and well-being of key populations

Footnote

1

disproportionately affected by STBBI in Canada.

The Network should be positioned to collaborate with other leading clinical trials networks in Canada and abroad to advance equitable, inclusive, innovative, efficient and robust clinical trials. These partnerships should enable leveraging of resources and the mobilization of knowledge that can pivot for combatting emerging infectious disease outbreaks and other related public health crises with a focus on key populations.

Network Structure and Requirements

The CIHR Pan-Canadian Network for HIV/AIDS and STBBI Clinical Trials Research program is anticipated to be launched in two phases as distinct funding opportunities (see

schema for funding opportunity

). Phase 1 of this funding opportunity, will support the establishment of the Network key components including:

Interdisciplinary Clinical Trials Research Teams (with a minimum of 5 teams from different provinces and territories)

Community-Centred Knowledge Mobilization Hub

Governance

Phase 2 is anticipated to be launched pending internal approvals after the funded Network is awarded. It will provide funding to develop multiple platforms for interdisciplinary training and mentoring that will foster the approaches and skills necessary to address the emerging needs of clinical trials research for STBBI and related conditions.

The composition of

each

of the key components should demonstrate the Network's capacity to advance equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) and uphold Indigenous Rights (see the

Equity, diversity and inclusion resources

). Additionally, the Network should strive for a balance of research expertise in HIV and other STBBI beyond HIV and ensure inclusion of researchers with strong track records for STBBI research in leadership positions within the teams and in governance.

Research Areas

The Network must support the advancement of HIV/AIDS and STBBI clinical trials research aimed at prevention, treatment, and management of STBBI and related comorbidities to improve equitable outcomes in key populations affected by STBBI. The Network should therefore be positioned to advance clinical trials research in the following priority areas:

Integrated approaches

for addressing STBBI co-infections and co-morbidities;

Next-generation interventions

including but not limited to novel vaccines, multipurpose prevention technologies, long-acting injectable antivirals, and antibacterials;

Innovative technologies

that can strengthen monitoring and diagnosis including but not limited to artificial intelligence, applications, digital platforms, novel clinical trial designs and methodologies;

New and improved models of care

including culturally safe and holistic models of care, models based in Indigenous ways of knowing, interventions and approaches that promote sexual and reproductive health, and implementation science to enable scale up and adaptation of successful models in other care settings; and

Global Health

research that improves people's health in Canada and around the world to ensure clinical trials research is conducted in the spirit of decolonization.

Objectives

The specific objectives of this funding opportunity are to:

Strengthen capacity

for clinical trials research in STBBI by establishing a network with pan-Canadian governance that advances a diverse and inclusive leadership model and by leveraging partnerships with other Canadian and international clinical trial networks;

Advance a community-centered approach

to clinical trials research by ensuring meaningful engagement of community members and PWLLE throughout the entire research process, including in research priority-setting, leading to more relevant, applicable and timely solutions for populations at greatest risk of STBBI in Canada and abroad;

Mobilize knowledge

amongst decision makers, health practitioners, PWLLE, communities, industry, Indigenous communities and Canadian HIV/AIDS and STBBI researchers in Canada and abroad in both official languages to enhance, share and foster equitable benefit of evidence-based interventions;

Develop skills and methodology for the future

of clinical trial research by establishing the framework for an interdisciplinary training and mentoring network, baseline activities for training across the Teams and a vision and appropriate capacity to support expanded activities through the anticipated Phase 2 training and mentoring platforms;

Improve Health Equity

by advancing equitable access to participation in clinical trials with a focus on key populations, and by supporting clinical trials research and interventions that address and reduce the impact of stigma, racism, homophobia, transphobia, sexism and other forms of discrimination and systemically entrenched oppression;

Advance commitments towards Truth and Reconciliation

by upholding the rights and priorities of Indigenous Peoples, including through Indigenous-led research, respecting self-determination, and supporting distinction-based approaches.

Funds Available

The total amount available for this funding opportunity is anticipated to be $25,000,000, enough to fund one network grant up to a maximum amount of $5,000,000 per year for up to five years.

Anticipated Timelines

These timelines are estimates and subject to change

Launch: July 2023

Webinar: Mid-August 2023

Registration Deadline: September 2023

Strengthening Workshop: November 2023

Application Deadline: February 2024

Notice of Decision: May 2024

Funding Start Date: April 1, 2024

The official CIHR funding opportunity will be posted on

ResearchNet

in the coming weeks. For a full list of CIHR funding opportunities, please visit

ResearchNet

.

Contact Information

CIHR Contact Centre:

Telephone: 613-954-1968

Toll Free: 1-888-603-4178

Email:

support-soutien@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

Disclaimer

Disclaimer:

The information contained herein is anticipatory only and does not represent an official funding commitment by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. Accordingly, the information, contained herein may differ from the official funding opportunity that will be published on

ResearchNet

.

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Date modified:

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2023-06-26

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