CIHR – Operating Grant: BHCIA: Knowledge Synthesis and Mobilization Grants – Application

Well-being, Health and Biomedical Discovery

Deadlines

Academic Unit: Inquire within unit

Memorial Deadline: Monday 19th, June 2023

External Deadline: Thursday 22nd, June 2023

Description

CIHR is launching this funding opportunity (FO) to support the development of knowledge syntheses, using an equity, diversity and inclusion lens, to assess the current state of knowledge and evidence base, and identify strengths and gaps in research areas related to the promotion of brain health and risk reduction for age-related cognitive impairment. This will include a specific focus on knowledge mobilization practices throughout the research process to increase the usefulness and uptake of findings to relevant stakeholders, including partners and knowledge users, as well as the creation of culturally appropriate, equitable and inclusive targeted knowledge mobilization (KM) products.

There are currently no disease-modifying therapeutics that delay the onset of cognitive impairment and dementia or that alter the disease course. In the absence of these treatments, pro-active interventions that reduce the risk of disease onset or delay its progression could have a profound effect on prevalence and severity of these disorders, with an enormous impact on public health.

In addition, higher rates of dementia for Indigenous Peoples compared to non-Indigenous Peoples have been reported¹. Recognizing that First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples lived/living experiences vary, relatively little is known about the distinctions-based impacts that dementia has in Indigenous populations and/or how to provide culturally appropriate care of those impacted.

Research Areas

This FO will support projects relevant to the objectives and any of the following research areas that include, but are not limited to:

• – Protective and modifiable risk factors and the role of cognitive reserve in promoting brain health in aging, including factors that contribute across the life course.
• – Mechanisms of resilience or cognitive reserve (see Additional Information) that can underlie healthy brain aging and/or mitigate risk for cognitive impairment.
• – Risk reduction in factors that contribute to the development of cognitive impairment: modifiable risk factors and interventions that can delay the onset or slow disease progression. These can include common risk factors with metabolic disorders, cardiovascular disease, rare diseases, other co-morbidities, sleep disturbances or inflammaging.
• – Differing pathophysiology underlying cognitive health, for example individuals with positive β-amyloid and/or tau biomarkers, but normal cognition, or individuals that revert from mild cognitive impairment to normal or near-normal cognitive function.
• – Genetic and epigenetic risks factors underlying neurodegeneration and cognitive decline.

Important Dates

Funding Sources

Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR)