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Volume 1 Issue 5
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I
ssues and
P
eople
What are the implications of CIHR’s
funding changes for the oral health
research sector?
DC:
CIHR expects to fund about 114
Foundation Scheme grants across Canada in
all
of the health sciences—not a big number
considering the many people applying. But,
with the new peer-review process and a
College of Reviewers to facilitate access to
appropriate expertise, hopefully that’s going
to change things favourably for people
who may have relatively obscure projects,
research that is very specialized. In the past,
it’s been a problem to find people with the
expertise in oral health research to review
our grants.
RB:
As it is, very few oral health research
projects are being currently funded. For the
Project Scheme grants, it will depend on
whether the reviewers evaluating the oral
health research projects are experts in that
particular area. We need to be proactive in
making sure appropriate individuals are
nominated to be part of the College of
Reviewers.
What can be done to improve oral health
research funding in Canada?
DC:
Anything that raises the profile of the
research being done in dental schools is
helpful. A lot of people don’t understand that
the work being done is not strictly focused
on oral health; there is research related to
bone, pain, biomaterials, microbiology and all
of these overlap with different areas of overall
health. We are medical researchers whose
research includes the oral cavity. I think
that’s how we need to project ourselves to
Canadians and to the research community in
general.
RB:
I believe that the impact of oral health
on overall systemic health is becoming
clearer now. Oral-systemic health is
extremely important and we have to make
that link clear, not only to the funding
agencies but the public as well.
a
This interviewhasbeencondensedandedited.
Theviewsexpressedarethoseoftheauthorsanddonotnecessarilyreflectthe
opinionsorofficialpoliciesoftheCanadianDentalAssociation.
Implications:
WILLNEWCIHRFUNDING
SCHEMESAFFECTORALHEALTH
RESEARCH?
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the federal agency responsible for funding all health research
in Canada, is introducing dramatic changes to its funding system. Dr. Raj Bhullar, associate dean of research in the
University of Manitoba faculty of dentistry, and Dr. Dennis Cvitkovitch, associate dean of research at the University of
Toronto, talked with CDA about the implications of the new funding schemes for oral health research, a sector already
struggling with recruitment.
Under CIHR’s
Foundation Scheme
, Canadian health researchers will have access to larger grants of longer duration.
Each year, approximately 114 Foundation Scheme grants will support established leaders in health research. Grants
will range from $50,000 to $1.5 million a year and will be awarded in 5-year or 7-year durations, depending on the
investigator’s career stage. There will also be Project Scheme grants, which support specific projects. Over 900
Project Scheme
grants will be awarded annually, ranging from $25,000 to $750,000 with durations of 1–5 years.
A new peer-review process will match applications to reviewers with appropriate expertise, facilitated by a College
of Reviewers. The new funding schemes will be phased in between 2014–16.
Raj Bhullar
Dennis
Cvitkovitch
Two New CIHR Funding Schemes