1. WCHRI Innovation Grants
The Art & Science of Grant Writing
Presented by
Dr. Geoff Ball & Dr. Alan Underhill
February 2, 2017

2. WCHRI Innovation Grant Program
Provides up to $50,000 in operating funds (over 24 months) to projects that will lead to improved health outcomes for women and/or children;
Proposed projects must adhere to WCHRI vision, mission and strategic roadmap;
Applications are reviewed by either the Applied Health Committee, chaired by Dr. Geoff Ball or by the Biomedical Committee, chaired by Dr. Alan Underhill;
Funding may not be used as bridge or top-up; scientific overlap (conceptual or budgetary) must be declared at the time of application

3. Since 2013, WCHRI has funded around 35% of Innovation applications.
WCHRI Innovation Grant Program
Application Outcomes
Since 2013, WCHRI has funded around 35% of Innovation applications.

4. Application type Biomedical -corresponds to CIHR Pillar 1.
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Biomedical
-corresponds to CIHR Pillar 1.
-committee is chaired by Dr. Alan Underhill.

5. Application type Applied Health
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Applied Health
-aligns with health systems services, clinical, or social, cultural, environmental & pop health themes.
-corresponds to CIHR Pillars 2,3, and 4.
Committee is chaired by Dr. Geoff Ball.

6. Recent results
2013: 20/48 (42%); 11/27 (41%) Biomed; 9/21 (43%) App Health
2014: 18/48 (37%); 12/31 (39%) Biomed; 6/17 (35%) App Health; 5/13 (39%) BCSC
2015: 21/59 (37%); 15/44 (34%) Biomed; 6/15 (40%) App Health
2016: 20/70 (29%); 11/46 (24%) Biomed; 9/24 (38%) App Health

7. Applicant Eligibility
must be WCHRI academic member
must hold a faculty appointment at the U of A
may submit one application per cycle
successful applicants may not apply the following year

8. Application Alignment
Applications must be:
directly related to women and/or children’s health and health outcomes
aligned to WCHRI vision, mission and strategic roadmap
meets WCHRI relevance criteria (able to hold funds)
Project relevance & vision, mission and strategic roadmap
High relevance to WCHRI
Moderate relevance to WCHRI
Low relevance to WCHRI

9. Moderate scientific merit
Application Alignment
Eligibility to hold WCHRI funds is based on:
Relevance to WCHRI
Scientific merit
Moderate relevance
High scientific merit
Eligible
High relevance
Low relevance and/or
Low scientific merit
Not Eligible
Moderate scientific merit

10. Letters of Collaboration
should clearly detail each collaborator’s role or contribution
must be signed by collaborator
NO additional letters of support should be included.

11. Consider Committee Composition
Committees are broadly composed
Do not expect an expert reviewer to be exactly in your field of research
Avoid jargon/ specific scientific language

12. Committee Review Criteria & Ratings
Application Evaluation Criteria
Evaluation Criteria for Reviewers
Percentage contribution to total reviewer score
Quality of Proposal
75%
Quality of Applicant
15%
Impact/KT
10%

13. Committee Review Criteria & Ratings
Committee Consensus Rating Scale
Committee Impression of Application Scientific Merit given Application Cohort
Rating Scale
Outstanding
Excellent
Very Good
Good
Needs Revision

14. The peer review process
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Grantsmanship can make the difference
the quality of science of applications in the 10% below the cut-off for funding is not significantly different from the 10% just above the cut-off.

15. Knowledge Translation Plan
Worth 10% of the total score
Detail:
anticipated outcomes and impact
knowledge users involvement
next steps (future grants, (pre-)clinical development, impacts on health policy)

16. Writing the Budget Make sure the budget is justified
Do not request items that are not allowed
Publication is an anticipated outcome - costs should be included!!!

17. Closing Comments Ask for clarification if necessary
You have some very good resources at this university – start with your colleagues or research mentor

18. WCHRI Can Help! Contact us at wcgrants.ualberta.ca
Further information on this program may be located on our website at: