Background
The McMaster Institute for Health Equity (MIHE) was established on July 1, 2019, to serve as a platform for interdisciplinary research and knowledge mobilization for researchers across different faculties. MIHE builds on McMaster’s historic and current strengths in inter-disciplinary health research, knowledge mobilization and community engagement to help deepen our understanding of health inequities and promote healthier and fairer societies.
Late last year, MIHE hosted an inaugural visioning workshop for McMaster faculty, who were invited to help establish research priorities, themes and activities for the new Institute. At this meeting, members engaged in small group and plenary brainstorming to identify a number potential theme areas for cross disciplinary, health-equity focused research. These areas included:
- Child health, development and resiliency
- Health inequities across the life course
- Disability and health inequities
- Environmental health equity
- Precarity/vulnerability
- Service equity/system navigation
- Social relations/informal supports
- Impacting policy
- Mental health
At this meeting, our members also identified the need for seed funding to assist with the development of these thematic research initiatives, to assess research opportunities and potential collaborations across departments and faculties.
This funding opportunity is a direct response to the visioning that took place at that inaugural meeting and is intended to seed interdisciplinary collaborations and projects around a research theme area.
Objectives:
- The objectives of this funding call are to fund proposals that can launch collaborative interdisciplinary research initiatives that will:
- Establish a potential research theme area that can inform a longer term (3-5 year) strategic research direction for MIHE and McMaster faculty
- Leverage funding opportunities from other granting organizations
- Develop a research agenda for MIHE that is informed by the needs, priorities and talents of faculty
Value
Up to five grants of up to $6,000 each
Eligibility
This opportunity is open to McMaster faculty who have a faculty appointment that is not time limited. Proposals must be interdisciplinary and include co-applicant(s) from at least 2 different faculties; proposals are strongly encouraged to include at least one junior faculty member.
Timeline ** UPDATED AS OF JULY 27TH**
- Applications are due by Friday, August 28
- Decisions will be made by Friday, September 4
- Funds will be available by September 14, 2020
- Research Report Due Friday, January 29
How to Apply (REVISED)
Application: Due Friday, August 28 Please send your application package to mihe@mcmaster.ca. Your application should contain:
- Short CV (2 pages) of the PI and co-applicants
- Project Description (maximum 1000 words, .pdf format) that contains:
- Description of the project and any co-applicants
- How this project will facilitate future interdisciplinary health equity research at McMaster and/or future funding applications
- Project Budget including budget justification
Adjudication
Peer-review by an interdisciplinary committee drawn from current McMaster faculty
Deliverables and Reporting
Research teams will be required to submit a research report by January 29, 2021 detailing progress so far and project next steps, including resources that are available or required.
Each successful group will also be asked to participate in a forum with MIHE members to present their projects in progress and their implications for developing future research, likely in late fall 2020