Canadian Arthritis Network - Today's Arthritis Research

2010 National Aboriginal Arthritis Research Initiative II (NAARI II) Grant Competition

OVERVIEW
REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS
APPLICATION FORMS AND GUIDELINES

OVERVIEW

National Aboriginal Arthritis Research Initiative II (NAARI II)

The Canadian Arthritis Network (CAN) conceived the National Aboriginal Arthritis Research Initiative (NAARI) as part of its strategic priorities aimed at vulnerable populations. The burden of rheumatic diseases in the Canadian aboriginal population is particularly great. Similar to the first NAARI initiative, the aim of NAARI II is to build research capacity and partnerships between researchers and members of aboriginal communities across Canada in the area of rheumatic diseases.

This research competition is open to (CIHR, SSHRC and NSERC) researchers who hold an appointment as an independent investigator at a Canadian institution that has been designated by the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR) as eligible to receive research funds. Applicants do not have to be Network Investigators with CAN. Successful applicants will become CAN Network Investigators.

Priority will be given to aboriginal health grants that fall within one or more strategic areas identified as relevant to NAARI and CAN's second cycle research areas in osteoarthritis (OA), inflammatory joint disease (IJD), and bioengineering for joint reconstruction (BIO). The priorities for this research initiative are:

Research on the pain of arthritis (e.g., genetic and molecular bases of pain, how pain is generated and how it relates to the pathology of arthritis; the impact, measurement and control of pain);
Research on early onset and progression of arthritis in aboriginal people (e.g., development and application of new imaging and biomarker technologies, the interplay of genetic/familial and environmental factors related to disease progression, tools and measures for identification of early disease and assessing its impact and ways to prevent further joint damage);
Development of new bio-reconstructive treatments and techniques for healing joint injuries and preventing onset/progression of early degenerative arthritis in aboriginal people;
Research on models of care and health care delivery for aboriginal people. Examples include access to care, non-pharmacologic care, gaps in care, evaluation of service delivery models (e.g., telehealth, client-centred care), health care provider education (e.g., communication, traditional medicine) and adherence to treatment.
Research on vulnerable populations and the social determinants of health in aboriginal individuals with rheumatic diseases (e.g., education, children and youth, low socioeconomic status, employment, culture, spirituality, support).
Research on KTE strategies that will efficiently and effectively translate new knowledge into relevant actionable messages targeted for users (e.g., aboriginal health promotion/awareness, health care professional awareness/guidelines, government).
Ethical considerations for research in indigenous populations (e.g., individual versus collective informed consent, therapeutic misconceptions).

NAARI II was officially announced following the International Symposium on Rheumatic Diseases in Indigenous North American Populations ...from Molecules to Communities, held on September 24^th & 25^th in Winnipeg, MB.

Two types of grants are offered for NAARI II:

NAARI II Pilot Grant
The NAARI II Pilot Grant provides one year funding to research proposals that focus on two or more of CAN's strategic research areas. Project proposals focus on the initial development of novel innovative research and partnerships between researchers and First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities.

Funding:

Up to $50,000 from CAN for one year

NAARI II Strategic Grants
NAARI II Strategic Grants provide funding for projects that focus on two or more of CAN's strategic research areas. Project proposals focus on the initial development of novel innovative research. Applications must include well-integrated, multi-institutional teams as well as clearly identified partners within an aboriginal community(ies). Funding is for up to two years.

Funding:

Up to $100,000/yr for two years with annual matching cash/in-kind contributions of $25,000/yr.

Project applications must include a 1:4 (partner$:CAN$) matching cash or meaningful in-kind partner contribution. For example, multi-institutional projects can request a maximum of $100,000 from CAN for each of two years with $25,000 (or more) partner cash and/or in-kind contributions per year (i.e. $125,000/per year for up to two years).

Deadlines: