BC Environmental and Occupational Health Research Network

MSFHR is seeking to commission the development of a Health Services Researcher Pathway.
NRAC has identified a need for a Health Services Researcher Pathway for BC that would articulate the necessary components of learning and development necessary for nursing health services research capacity development. Health services research needs the involvement of experienced and engaged nurses; however, there is currently no structured pathway to guide nurses interested in increasing their health research knowledge and competencies.

Medical tourism refers to situations where individuals travel to another country for the purpose of obtaining health care services, in some cases, combined with a vacation. This is distinct from individuals who receive emergency services while abroad on vacation, due to an unforeseen injury or disease. BC patients do travel to other countries to receive care, but there is no solid information on volumes. There is a long history of Canadians going to the US for specialty services or those with long waits. Canadians also travel to other countries to receive services which are experimental, or not legal in Canada.

The BCNRI Research Project program is aimed at building linkages and collaborations among academia, nurses and the broad health services practice and policy communities to develop, conduct and apply the findings of practice-relevant health services research that addresses one of three BCNRI priority areas:
• Nursing health human resources
• Practice relevant education
• Quality and safety of the practice (work) environment
There is sufficient funding for five to eight projects. Awards will be up to $100,000 per year for a maximum of two years to support research syntheses, research demonstrations, pilot/seed research, or research knowledge exchange projects.

The second BC Nursing Research Initiative (BCNRI) Research Project competition launches today. This program funds health services research that addresses issues related to the nursing practice environment, nursing education and related services and program initiatives. The Research Project program provides up to $100,000 per year for a maximum of two years years to support research syntheses, research demonstrations, pilot/seed research, or research knowledge exchange projects. This year there is sufficient funding for five to eight projects.

A new funding program in which researchers and community members develop practical solutions for societal problems has been launched by the Peter Wall Foundation and UBC. The Peter Wall Solutions Initiative (PWSI), supported by an initial $3 million contribution from the Peter Wall Endowment, will address issues in such areas as sustainability, health care delivery, poverty alleviation, economic policy, community wellness, diversity, and natural resources. Principal applicants must be UBC researchers, and the team must involve a partner from a community organization or end-user group to develop a measurable, research-based solution to a defined problem.

The MSFHR Career Investigator Program is designed to attract and foster the development of outstanding health researchers in British Columbia. The intent of the program is to allow researchers to initiate an independent research career, build a leading research program and expand their potential to make significant contributions to their field of research.
This competition will take applications for a revised scholar award only. The scholar award is now an eight-year award at an increased amount, with a rigorous review in year four to determine if recipients will receive the final four years of funding. MSFHR funding in years seven and eight declines to 50% and 25% respectively as host institutions assume responsibility for long-term funding of scholars.
LOI application deadline: January 28, 2011

The Health Services and Policy Research Support Network Partnership Program supports BC researchers in applying to peer-reviewed, national or international competitions that address BC health services and policy research priorities and require matching funding as a condition of funding. The HSPRSN Partnership Program provides matching funds of up to a maximum of $100,000 per successful application over the duration of the award term, provided the application meets the program criteria.

MSFHR is requesting proposals for an RFP to use a research synthesis approach to develop the knowledge required to inform decision makers (predominantly in British Columbia) charged with the implementation of Nurse Practitioners (NP) and Physician Assistant (PA) roles.

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.
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.

The Investigative Team Program will provide funding to support a research team focused on practice-relevant nursing health services research in the following BCNRI priority research area:
• Care Delivery: exploring innovations in health service delivery to better meet the needs of clients, nurses and the health system across the full spectrum of health services, with a focus on
o New models of health service delivery
o New models of staffing: defining the skill mix of nurses, or nurses working with other health professionals, for achieving optimum team composition in the delivery of safe, efficient and effective services.

Through the BCNRI Partnership Research Program, funding will be available to support applicants that are successful in national or international peer reviewed research team or operating grant competitions that require match/partner funding as a condition of award. To be eligible for consideration, applicants for partnership funding must demonstrate that:
• the research focus of the application meets the BCNRI goals of supporting practice-relevant nursing health services research within a BCNRI priority area outlined in V. Priority Areas of Research
• the proposed program/project supports collaboration among BC researchers and practitioners (policy or practice), and with researchers across Canada, so that BC may benefit and learn from investigators external to the province to advance nursing health services research within BC.

The Research Project Program is aimed at building linkages and collaborations among academia, nurses and the broad health services practice and policy communities to develop, conduct and apply the findings of practice-relevant health services research that addresses the BCNRI priority areas. The Research Project Program will provide funds to cover the direct operating costs of four types of research projects:
• Research Synthesis Projects;
• Research Demonstration Projects;
• Pilot/Seed Research Projects; or
• Research Knowledge Exchange Projects

The Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research is seeking proposals for the development of a health research econometric model and implementation plan to measure the economic impact of the Foundation’s health research funding. Information on the context, scope of the project, timeline, fees, etc. are detailed in the RFP document. Any individual or organization wishing to submit a proposal should confirm by email their intention to make a submission by July 6, 2009, 9:00 am PDT.