The Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) is a large, national, long-term study/platform that will follow approximately 50,000 men and women between the ages of 45 and 85 at study inclusion for at least 20 years. The CLSA collects information on the changing biological, medical, psychological, social, lifestyle and economic aspects of people's lives. These factors can be studied in order to understand how, individually and in combination, they have an impact in both maintaining health and in the development of disease and disability as people age. The ultimate aim of the CLSA is to find ways to improve the health of Canadians by better understanding the aging process and the factors that shape the way we age.
The CLSA expects to have newly available data for analysis for this competition including the following:
BASELINE
- Environmental Data:
- Air Quality, Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5 v3, data are available, new version), Smoke Exposure (PM2.5), Air Pollution Index, Neighborhood Noise, Canadian Marginalization Index, Climate Metrics, Local Climate Zone Ultraviolet
- Indigenous Identifiers
Follow Up1
- Cognition normative data:
- Cognitive norms and cognitive impairment indicators, Reliable change indicators (RCIs), Robust cognitive norms, Change in Cognitive Impairment from Baseline to First Follow-up
- Sample weights
- Medications
Follow Up2
- Physical Assessments:
- Standing Balance TUG, 4mWalk, Blood Pressure, Spirometry, Chair Rise, ECG, Grip Strength, Hearing, Hips Waist, Sitting Height, Tonometer, Vision Acuity, Digit Triplet Test
- Cognition:
- REYI, REYII, MAT, FAS, AFT, PMT, TMT, STROOP
Building upon a consultation process with Indigenous researchers that began in 2019, the CLSA has revised its data access process for the use of Indigenous-identified data and has made changes to how these projects are assessed. Since April 2023, existing CLSA data can be released with Indigenous identifiers.
Researchers may propose projects using CLSA data alone, or CLSA data plus other data sets/cohorts to enhance the scope of research questions that can be addressed. However, please note that no identifiable information on CLSA participants can be released to researchers. Applications that require identification of participants to link individual information to other data sets will not be eligible for funding.
The integration and consideration of and sex- and gender-based analysis (SGBA) is expected in all applications.
About Canadian Institutes of Health Research
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Better diagnose, treat, and even prevent disease;
Understand the complexities of health, including everything from basic cell biology to the social and environmental factors that can affect us;
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Canadian Institutes of Health Research Catalyst Grant: Analysis of CLSA Data
Aim and Benefits of Canadian Institutes of Health Research Catalyst Grant: Analysis of CLSA Data
The specific objective of this funding opportunity is:
- To catalyze and support research efforts of Canadian researchers to use the available CLSA data in order to better understand how biological, medical, psychological, social, lifestyle and/or economic aspects of people's lives have an impact on both maintaining health and the development of disease and disability as people age.
CIHR and partner(s) financial contributions for this initiative are subject to availability of funds. Should CIHR or partner(s) funding levels not be available or are decreased due to unforeseen circumstances, CIHR and partner(s) reserve the right to reduce, defer or suspend financial contributions to grants received as a result of this funding opportunity.
- The total amount available for this funding opportunity is $785,000, enough to fund approximately 11 grants. This amount may increase if additional funding partners participate. The maximum amount per grant is $70,000 for up to one year,
- Of this $ 785,000:
- $210,000 is available from the Institute of Aging to fund 3 applications on any research topic ('general pool').
- $70,000 is available to fund 1 application relevant to the IA Early Career Researcher pool.
- $70,000 is available to fund 1 application relevant to the IA CLSA Indigenous-identified data pool.
- $ 280,000 is available to fund 4 applications relevant to the IPPH Mandate pool.
- $70,000 is available to fund 1 application relevant the IPPH Early Career Researcher pool.
- $ 70,000 is available to fund 1 application relevant to the IMHA Mandate pool.
- $15,000 is available as a top-up funding from the Quebec Network for Research on Aging (RQRV) to the highest ranked and fundable application from an active RQRV member based in the Province of Quebec and is relevant with the theme of cell to societal aspects of aging.
Applications relevant to each research area pool will be funded top down in order of ranking. Applications will then be pooled together and funded top down in order of ranking under the general pool.
Requirements for Canadian Institutes of Health Research Catalyst Grant: Analysis of CLSA Data Qualification
For an application to be eligible, all the requirements stated below must be met:
- The Nominated Principal Applicant must be an independent researcher affiliated with Canadian postsecondary institution and/or its affiliated institutions (including hospitals, research institutes and other non-profit organizations with a mandate for health research and/or knowledge translation).
- The Nominated Principal Applicant must be an Early Career Researcher (ECR) to be eligible for ECR funding pools.
- The Nominated Principal Applicant must have their substantive role in Canada for the duration of the requested grant term.
- The Institution Paid must be authorized to administer CIHR funds by the application deadline (see List of CIHR Eligible Institutions).
- At the application stage, the Nominated Principal Applicant must have successfully completed one of the sex- and gender-based analysis training modules available online through the CIHR Institute of Gender and Health and submit a Certificate of Completion. Please select and complete the training module most applicable to your research project.
- Researchers who propose to use additional data sets to the CLSA will have to demonstrate that the data they want to use will be available and accessible at the time of the application.
- To be eligible for RQRV top-up funding, the Nominated Principal Applicant must be a member of the RQRV at an Institution Paid based in the Province of Quebec. For information on how to become a member of the RQRV, please refer to the RQRV Member Resources webpage.
Note: Researchers may apply only once to this competition as a Nominated Principal Applicant.
Before submitting an application to this funding opportunity, applicants should review the relevant policies and guidelines on the CIHR Funding Policies page to ensure understanding of their responsibilities and expectations.
Interview date, Process and Venue for Canadian Institutes of Health Research Catalyst Grant: Analysis of CLSA Data
The review process will consist of two stages.
- A CIHR peer review committee will evaluate the full applications. The committee will be created specifically for this funding opportunity. Committee members are selected based on suggestions from many sources including the institute(s)/branch(es) and partner(s), following the Conflict of Interest and Confidentiality Policy of the Federal Research Funding Organizations.
- After CIHR peer review, the CLSA Data and Biospecimen Request Application form and Checklist (see the How to Apply section) from the highest ranked applications in the fundable range will be assessed by the CLSA Data Curation Centre and the National Coordinating Centre to confirm that the data requested as part of the grant application is available. This committee will only have access to the CLSA Data and Biospecimen Request Application and will not have access to the application and nominative information. Should it be determined that the data requested is not available, and, therefore, the research is not feasible, that application will not be funded by CIHR.
CLSA Administrative Criteria
- The CLSA will administratively review the proposed projects for feasibility and to ensure that:
- The project includes a request for data that are collected as part of the CLSA.
- The project includes a request for data that are available for release at the time of the request.
- The project is feasible in relation to the effective sample size. This criterion also includes an assessment of the potential that cross tabulation of indirect identifiers may lead to identification.
- The project is in keeping with the conditions of the CLSA consent.
- All data requested are supported by the research question(s).
Evaluation Criteria
To support the strategic objectives of this funding opportunity, the following evaluation criteria will be used:
Research Approach
- Clarity of the research question and its relevance to the objectives of this funding opportunity.
- Clarity of rationale for the research approach and methodology, including the use of multiple data sets (if applicable).
- Appropriateness of the research design, methods, and analyses.
- Feasibility of the research approach.
- Anticipation of difficulties that may be encountered in the research and plans for management.
- Quality and appropriateness of the integration of sex, gender and other intersecting identity dimensions throughout the research proposal.
- Quality of the proposed research plan to include consideration of impact on different population subgroups (e.g., racialized populations, disadvantaged groups, etc.) and health equity.
- Potential for the research or derived data to add value to the current state of knowledge on a given topic.
- Extent of the role(s) and contribution(s) of all applicant partner(s) in advancing research objectives (if applicable).
- Proactive and meaningful consideration of partnership risks, including the extent of real and/or perceived conflict of interest and appropriateness of its management and mitigation (if applicable).
Applicant(s)
- Experience of the applicant(s) in the proposed area of research and with the proposed methodology.
Application Deadline
October 29, 2023
How to Apply
- The application process for this funding opportunity is comprised of two steps: Registration and Full Application
- To complete your Registration, follow the "Specific Instructions" listed below and where applicable, consult the Grants - Registration Guidelines. Note that a Registration must be submitted to be eligible to submit a Full Application.
- To complete your Full Application, follow the "Specific Instructions" listed below, and where applicable, consult the Grants – Application Guidelines.
- All participants listed, with the exception of Collaborators, are required to:
Specific instructions to complete your ResearchNet application
Step 1 – Registration:
Task: Identify Participants
- List all project participants in the "Identify Participants" task.
- All participants are required to submit a CIHR Registration CV (excluding collaborators) using the Canadian Common CV (CCV) interface.
Task: Complete Summary of Research Proposal
- Summarize your research proposal. Note that your summary cannot exceed one page.
Task: Complete Peer Review Administration Information (Optional)
- Suggest reviewers that have the expertise to review your application.
Task: Apply to Priority Announcement/Funding Pools (optional)
- Selecting a funding pool is optional. No selection is required to be eligible for IA funding in the general funding pool.
- Select the funding opportunity title under the "Priority Announcement/Funding Pool Title" drop-down list, then select the funding pool(s) / research area(s) under the "List of Relevant Research Areas" drop-down list.
- More than one funding pool can be selected (up to three).
Note: ECR IPPH applicants will not automatically be considered for the IPPH Mandate pool and must select both if wishing to be considered for funding under either.
Manage Access (optional)
- The Nominated Principal Applicant (NPA) can delegate access to a maximum of five individuals to support the completion of the application. Note: A delegate's access does not carry over from one stage of the competition to another (i.e., from the registration to the application stage). The NPA will need to delegate access at each stage of a competition. NPAs should revoke delegates' access prior to completing the Consent and Submit tasks if they do not want them to retain access to submitted applications via their Completed Activities tab. For more information, please see the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).
Step 2 – Full Application:
Task: Identify Participants
- List all participants in this task. Consult the Eligibility section and ensure that all requirements are met.
- All participants are required to submit a Biosketch CV (excluding collaborators) using the Canadian Common CV (CCV) interface.
Task: Enter Proposal Information
- The Research Proposal should clearly address the evaluation criteria.
- Research proposals written in French will be allowed to submit additional pages, in support of evidence demonstrating that French documents require approximately 20% more space than similar English documents. Therefore, to ensure equivalent space is given to Research proposals submitted in either official language, the following page limits will apply (not including tables, figures or references):
- 8 pages when the Research proposal is written in English
- 10 pages when the Research proposal is written in French
Note: For research proposals submitted in English, any pages over the 8-page limit will be removed with no further notification to the Nominated Principal Applicant.
- References, charts, tables, figures and photographs can be uploaded under "Attachments – Research Proposal Appendix".
Task: Complete Summary of Research Proposal
- Summarize your research proposal. Note that your summary cannot exceed one page.
Task: Enter Budget Information
- Complete the budget information and fully justify all budget items.
- Note: You may budget for data access fees as appropriate (see Allowable Costs for details of CLSA fees).
Task: Attach Other Application Materials
- Other – attach the following under "Other":
- Certificate of Completion for the sex- and gender-based analysis training module – label as "SGBA Certificate" (mandatory):
- After completing the appropriate training module that applies to your research project, you will receive a certificate of completion that you will save and upload here. The training module should take approximately 40 minutes to complete.
- N.B. The certificate was previously issued as a secured document. If your certificate is secured, to successfully append the document to your application, you must upload an unsecured PDF copy. The certificate can be saved as an unsecured PDF by using print screen or by scanning the document.
- Proof of access of non–CLSA data – label as "Proof of Access – Name of data set/cohort" (required if applicable):
- If your research proposes the use of additional data sets outside of the CLSA, provide documentation from each data set/cohort that the data requested is available and upload individually.
- Publication list (optional):
- A maximum listing of 10 publications from the past five years relevant to the proposal (1 page maximum).
- For projects using Indigenous-identified data: To request Indigenous-identified data, applicants need to describe how they intend to use Indigenous identifiers in their analyses and to demonstrate meaningful and respectful engagement with appropriate Indigenous group(s), people, organizations, and/or communities. Please note that a letter of support will be required from the Indigenous group(s) specified in the research proposal.
Task: Download Supplemental Application Information
- Complete and upload the anonymized CLSA Data Request Application.
Task: Complete Peer Review Administration Information (mandatory)
- Suggest reviewers that have the expertise to review your application.
Task: Apply to Priority Announcement/Funding Pools (optional)
- Selecting a funding pool is optional. No selection is required to be eligible for IA funding in the general funding pool.
- Select the funding opportunity title under the "Priority Announcement/Funding Pool Title" drop-down list, then select the funding pool(s) / research area(s) under the "List of Relevant Research Areas" drop-down list.
- More than one funding pool can be selected (up to three).
- Describe (in a half-page) how the research proposed will address the relevant research area.
- When selecting an Early Career Researcher pool, the NPA must indicate in the relevancy form they are eligible as an ECR.
Note: ECR IPPH applicants will not automatically be considered for the IPPH Mandate pool and must select both if wishing to be considered for funding under either.
Task: Print, Scan and Upload Signature Pages
- Required signatures:
- Signatures must be included for all applicants (except Collaborators), and individual(s) with signing authority from the Institution Paid.
- Original signatures are not required. The scanned signed signature pages and the Routing Slip must be uploaded in the Print/Upload Signature Pages task in ResearchNet prior to submitting your application.
Manage Access (optional)
- The Nominated Principal Applicant (NPA) can delegate access to a maximum of five individuals to support the completion of the application. Note: A delegate's access does not carry over from one stage of the competition to another (i.e., from the registration to the application stage). The NPA will need to delegate access at each stage of a competition. NPAs should revoke delegates' access prior to completing the Consent and Submit tasks if they do not want them to retain access to submitted applications via their Completed Activities tab. For more information, please see the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).
For all inquiries, please contact:
CIHR Contact Centre
Telephone: 613-954-1968
Toll Free: 1-888-603-4178
Email: [email protected]
