CIHR Team Grant: CEEHRC Phase II
Well-being, Health and Biomedical Discovery
Deadlines
Academic Unit: Inquire with Unit
Memorial Deadline: Thursday 10th, August 2017
External Deadline: Tuesday 15th, August 2017
Description
Phase 1: Letter of Intent Deadline: August 15, 2017
Phase 2: Full Application Deadline: February 6, 2018
This Funding Opportunity is a component of the second phase of the Canadian Epigenetics, Environment and Health Research Consortium (CEEHRC), which is a pan-Canadian initiative led by CIHR, with a number of dedicated funding opportunities planned over the next several years.
Decades of investment into the genetic basis of disease have led to revolutionary new insights around gene regulation, and the mechanisms through which gene and environment interactions may affect human health. Key to these is epigenetics – the study of changes in the regulation of gene activity and expression that are not dependent on gene sequence and that can be environmentally induced. Through the first phase of the CEEHRC initiative, and coordinated partnered international efforts, we have learned that many chronic and complex diseases are associated with persistent epigenetic changes. This second phase of the CEEHRC initiative seeks to extend these discoveries into the translational realm.
CEEHRC recognizes the importance of all levels of research in epigenetics, from individual cells to whole populations. Key to all approaches is a focus on collaborative research – namely, integrating different methodologies and disciplines aligned along health needs. This funding opportunity encourages the translation of research in epigenetics to health benefit, recognizing that this will ultimately require the participation of researchers across the full spectrum of health research, including biomedical, clinical, health systems and health policy, and population and public health.
The focus for this Team Grant funding opportunity is the exploration of gene-environment interactions where epigenetics may play a primary role. Environmental factors include, for example, exposure to chemical contaminants, dietary intake, and adverse or favorable social environments such as poverty, adverse childhood experiences, or nurturing and stimulating families.
Teams are encouraged to integrate sex and gender perspectives into their research, including where relevant Sex- and Gender-Based Analysis (SGBA). SGBA is an approach that systematically examines sex-based (biological) and gender-based (socio-cultural) differences, to promote rigorous science that is sensitive to sex and gender and has the potential to expand our understanding of health determinants for all people.
Funded teams are expected to work closely with previously launched CEEHRC coordinating projects, most especially the CEEHRC Consortium network and the Epigenomics Platform Centres.
The CEEHRC Initiative will provide funding for research projects that demonstrate evidence of a translational approach to the study of epigenetics and human health. It is expected that these team grants will involve a combination of human cohort studies and model systems, as appropriate, to respond to key questions in their respective fields (with an emphasis expected on translation for human studies).
Research Areas
Building off the first phase of CEEHRC, this funding opportunity seeks to support large-scale integrated teams in domains where research has now advanced to the point that a team-based approach would be well-placed to move forward with significant transformational impact. Examples include, among others, early life effects on the brain and mental health (including “social epigenetics”), inter- (and potentially trans-) generational inheritance through biological sex-specific mechanisms (including genomic imprinting and germ cell transmission), and modification and maintenance of epigenetics changes across the life-course (with relevance to chronic disease, and diseases of aging).
Funds Available
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 $7,500,000, enough to fund approximately 5 teams. This amount may increase if additional funding partners participate.
- The maximum amount per grant is $300,000 per year for up to 5 years for a total of $1,500,000 per grant.
For additional details on this program, visit CIHR’s website