MSFHR Initiative Announcements

Phase two of the BC Ethics Harmonization Initiative and three BC Nursing Research Initiative funding programs launch today.

MSFHR President and CEO Dr. John Challis is pleased to announce several new funding opportunities in two established areas: the BC Ethics Harmonization Initiative and the BC Nursing Research Initiative.

BC Ethics Harmonization Initiative: Request for proposal

As part of the BC Ethics Harmonization Initiative, MSFHR has issued a request for proposal (RFP) to develop a collaborative provincial human subject ethics review process in BC.  The RFP is based on recommendations arising from a November 2007 workshop involving wide representation from BC’s research ethics boards, institutional leaders and the research community.

“Throughout the first phase of this initiative there was  a clear message from many stakeholders that a coordinated approach to human subject ethics review would be of tremendous benefit to health researchers and their institutions, “ says Dr. Challis. “We are now taking action to improve the efficiency and capacity of research ethics boards, in the process providing BC with a significant competitive advantage.”
 
MSFHR invites one proposal from a team of BC organizations with research ethics boards; collectively these organizations must conduct at least 80 percent of human subject ethics reviews in BC.  Funding for this program is contingent on MSFHR receiving the $15 million pledged by the BC Government on or before April 15, 2010.

BC Nursing Research Initiative: Three new funding programs

The BC Nursing Research Initiative (BCNRI) has launched three new funding programs: Research Project; Partnership Research, and Investigative Team.  The programs reflect the mandate of the BCNRI, a research and capacity-building initiative supported by MSFHR with targeted funds, provided specifically for BCNRI, by the BC Ministry of Health Services.

“The BCNRI funding opportunities will encourage much-needed partnerships between researchers and practitioners to address practice relevant nursing health services research issues,” says Dr. Challis. “They will build on the recently launched nursing research facilitators program and the new nursing health services research network.”

The Research Project program provides up to $100,000 per year for a maximum of two years for research synthesis, research demonstration, pilot/seed research, or research knowledge exchange projects.  The Partnership Research program provides an up-to-$100,000 partner contribution for applicants successful in national or international peer reviewed competitions that require match/partner funding as a condition of the award.  Finally, the Investigative Team program provides up to $200,000 per year for four years for one team of researchers and practitioners to plan, develop and implement a program of research in the BCNRI priority area of care delivery.

For more information on the BC Ethics Harmonization Initiative, including the request for proposal, see Current Opportunities

For more information on the BCNRI funding programs, including the guidelines, see Current Opportunities