CIHR – Catalyst Grant: Official Language Minority Communities in Health Research – Application
Well-being, Health and Biomedical Discovery
Deadlines
Academic Unit: Inquire with your unit
Memorial Deadline: Thursday 30th, September 2021
External Deadline: Tuesday 5th, October 2021
Description
This funding opportunity aims to support the development and vitality of the Official Language Minority Communities (OLMCs). Under the Government of Canada Official Language Act, the Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR) is committed to enhancing the vitality of the English and French linguistic minority communities in Canada, supporting and assisting their development, and fostering full recognition and use of both English and French in Canadian society. OLMC stakeholders1,2,3 have identified a lack of health data on OLMCs and the need to strengthen capacity and networking of OLMC health researchers, including young researchers and trainees, as well as ensure greater integration between the health and social services.
CIHR is committed to promoting the inclusion and advancement of groups underrepresented in science as one of the means to enhance excellence in research, training and knowledge mobilization. CIHR’s position on equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) is available in the Tri Agency Statement on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.
As part of CIHR’s Strategic Plan 2021-2031, Serving Canadians: Our Commitment to Organizational Excellence, we are committed to enhancing the vitality of the English and French linguistic minority communities in Canada and this funding opportunity is part of the action program to address the needs of OLMCs.
For the purposes of this funding opportunity, an OLMC is a population group for whom the mother-tongue or the language of choice is French or English in a province where this language is a minority (e.g., English-speaking communities living in Quebec, and French-speaking communities living in provinces and territories other than Quebec).
Background
CIHR previously had an OLMC Initiative which was sunset in 2012. During recent CIHR strategic planning consultations, members of OLMCs recommended that specific initiatives be pursued to help enhance capacity of researchers in this area.
This funding opportunity recognizes the unique challenges of conducting OLMC research and offers an opportunity to build capacity. Specifically, this funding opportunity is intended to build capacity to conduct research concerning better integration and access to health services in both official languages and in research relevant to the current issues faced in OLMCs; strengthen networking amongst researchers and organizations; and promote research and knowledge mobilization on approaches that can facilitate access to care for OLMCs. The OLMC Initiative aims at understanding the health issues of French- and English-speaking Canadians who live in communities where they are a minority.
In general, the CIHR Catalyst Grant Program is designed to support the:
- generation of preliminary observations, data or knowledge, or to facilitate team formation as a first step towards the pursuit of more comprehensive funding opportunities (e.g., operating grants, team grants) by researchers or teams of researchers; development and/or validation of new inventions, tools, methodologies, protocols, theoretical models or frameworks; planning and/or development activities of teams (multi-disciplinary, multi-sectoral, etc.) coming together to address health research priorities.
Research Areas
This funding opportunity will support projects relevant but not limited to the following research areas with a focus on OLMCs:
- Determinants of health
- Health service governance, management and delivery
- Language, culture and health – understanding of the effects of the minority linguistic and cultural experience on identity development and health
- Relationships between access to health services in one’s language of choice and quality of care
- Access to care
- Impacts of access to care for mental health
For research projects involving First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples: Appropriate consideration of Tri-Council Policy Statement 2: Chapter 9 – Research Involving the First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples of Canada, and demonstration of meaningful and culturally safe practices, plans and activities throughout the research project.
CIHR encourages researchers to submit their application in the official language of their choice. Researchers from OLMCs are encouraged to apply for this opportunity. Organizations working with or within OLMCs in Canada are encouraged to participate. Please refer to CIHR’s Policy Statement on Official Languages.
Additional information can be found at ResearchNet.