A New Collaboration for Clinical Research

There is a pressing need and an immense opportunity to strengthen clinical research in Canada and to ensure the timely translation of research results. Furthermore, a more robust clinical research enterprise will lead to improved health for Canadians, more effective health products and services, and a better health care system.

To address this opportunity, the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) are joining forces to support clinical research across the spectrum from translational research to clinical trials and observational studies. The evolving plan is that in early November 2005, the two agencies would jointly issue a Call for Proposals to apply for support of National/Regional Clinical Research Initiatives. There would be a single combined application and review process, and a joint decision would be made by the two agencies.

Although there could be different approaches to National/Regional Clinical Research Initiatives, this joint initiative would focus on the following:

• Clinical Research Centres: Nationally networked centres would be located within the health care system, supporting excellent clinical research, training, and the translation of knowledge. These centres would house a broad range of equipment, tools, and techniques, and bring together researchers and skilled technical personnel to conduct innovative clinical research across the continuum of care. Support would be provided for the costs of physical infrastructure through the CFI’s Research Hospital Fund. The CIHR would provide long-term operating costs, associated research training, and salary support for the clinician-researchers who would be mentors in the training environment.
• Clinical Research Platforms: These would include clinical trials methods centres and informatics and statistical cores, technology cores for high-throughput biological analyses, biobanks, and data repositories. The platforms would offer their services on a regional/national basis. Support would be provided for the costs of physical infrastructure and operating costs.

Tentative Timetable

Both the CFI and CIHR wish to maximize this opportunity to meet the evolving needs of the clinical research community. In early September, we would launch a draft Call for Proposals. There would be a four-week period of review and comment by the stakeholders. The CFI and CIHR would submit to the governing bodies of both agencies the revised Call for Proposals for final approval in October.

• Early November: Issue a joint Call for Proposals.
• Late February 2006: Submission of a Project Outline. This would be followed by a joint review by the CFI and the CIHR, including consultation with individual institutions, consideration of a variety of strategic approaches to maximize the opportunity for creation of national/regional clinical research infrastructure.
• Spring 2006: Invitation to selected individual and/or groups of institutions to submit full proposals
• December 2006: Deadline for full applications
• June 2007: Awards announced