Category Archives: Research News

TCPS 2 (2014) – Revisions for Public Consultation

In keeping with its mandate to ensure that the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans is a living document, the Panel on Research Ethics is proposing revisions to TCPS 2 (2014). These proposed revisions are the result, in large part, of the work of two sub-committees of the Panel. The Chapter 11 sub-committee was mandated to review the scope of Chapter 11 – Clinical Trials and to update its guidance. Assistance on the implication of the proposed broader scope was provided by a group of social sciences researchers whose work would be covered under the proposed revisions.

The Population and Public Health Research Advisory Committee (PPHRAC) was established by the Panel in response to comments received from public health and epidemiology researchers in the course of consultations on TCPS 2 in 2010. PPHRAC considered how the guidance in TCPS 2 could be enhanced or adapted to address ethics issues specific to population and public health research.

In addition to the proposals generated by these groups, the Panel is also presenting revisions based on requests for interpretation of TCPS 2 that it has received over the last two years. Finally, some of the proposed changes involved re-organizing parts of the guidance based on changes to Chapter 11. In particular, a number of provisions were moved to the earlier chapters of TCPS 2 where general guidance is provided. A guide to the recommendations is provided in Highlights of Changes.

Comment Submissions

To promote the transparency of this public engagement process, the Panel requests that you include your name and the following demographics with your submission:
1. Province or territory
2. Affiliation: university, hospital, college, community organization, other
3. Capacity in which you are submitting the comments: REB member, researcher, student, administration, research participant, representative of a group or organization.
4. Your main discipline: Behavioural Sciences, Biomedical, Engineering, Health Sciences, Humanities, Interdisciplinary, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, other.

All comments received (including identifiable information) will be posted to the Panel’s website after the closing of the comment period. If you do not wish to have your comments posted, please indicate that clearly at the beginning of your submission.

Please e-mail your comments by January 31, 2017 or mail them to:
E-mail: secretariat@rcr.ethics.gc.ca
Secretariat on Responsible Conduct of Research
16th Floor Mailroom
350 Albert Street
Ottawa, ON K1A 1H5

The TCPS was developed in 1998 by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), or “the Agencies,” to provide harmonized guidance on the ethical conduct of research involving humans. The Agencies formed the Panel in 2001 to interpret and promote the TCPS.

University Affairs Magazine Articles of Interest

Please find the following research-related articles featured in recent issues of University Affairs magazine:

“How research offices can help simplify your grant application process”  (Aug 2016 edition)

…and “Why the undergraduate years should include a research experience”  (Sept 2016 edition)

Canada Invests over $160 million in Research Funding for Social Sciences and Humanities

The Government of Canada announced that it will invest in over $160 million in research funding for the social sciences and humanities. Kirsty Duncan, Federal Minister of Science announced Friday in a press release that the investment will support roughly “1,150 social sciences and humanities research projects to build knowledge and foster collaboration in a wide range of disciplines.” The funding will be awarded through SSHRC Partnership Grants, Partnership Development Grants, Insight Grants and Insight Development Grants from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). “The investment in these research initiatives will help examine a diversity of issues that touch the everyday lives of Canadians, including employment, an aging population and immigration.”

See: Government of Canada invests more than $160 million in social sciences and humanities research

New Open-Access Social Science Research Archive

A team of sociologists and librarians in partnership with the Center for Open Science, will develop a new open-access archive for social science research. The archive, called SocArXiv, will let anyone upload, read and share academic papers, according to the announcement. The announcement comes less than two months after the publishing giant Elsevier said it had acquired the Social Science Research Network, a move many open-access advocates criticized.

Source: Inside Higher Ed (July 12, 2016)

For more information, visit SocArXiv.org. Follow SocArXiv on Twitter or Facebook.

Tri-Agency Statement of Principles: Digital Data Management

Canada’s three federal research granting agencies—the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and SSHRC—have adopted the Tri-Agency Statement of Principles on Digital Data Management as an important step towards strengthening research data management in Canada and maintaining Canada’s research excellence.

The Statement is the result of targeted community engagement, and will serve as the basis for the continuing work of the agencies on the renewal of their data management policies. It recognizes that different stakeholders in Canada’s research system have different roles and responsibilities, and that all parts of the system must work together in order to ensure that Canada maintains international best practices in the preservation, accessibility and reuse of research data.

What is the Tri-Agency Statement of Principles on Digital Data Management?

The Statement outlines the agencies’ overarching expectations for research data management and the roles of researchers, research institutions, research communities, and research funders in supporting data management. It complements and builds upon existing agency policies, and will serve as a guide to assist the research community in preparing for, and contributing to the development of, Tri-Agency data management requirements. The Statement itself does not include mandatory requirements.

Because the research data management environment continues to evolve, the agencies will continue stakeholder engagement and review and revise the Statement as appropriate.

Learn more about the tri-agency data management initiative, and read the Tri-Agency Statement of Principles on Digital Data Management, at science.gc.ca.

SSHRC Launches New Insight and Connection Achievement Reports

The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) has been developing a new approach to end-of-grant reporting that is more user-friendly. As part of this process, they have created a revised and more concise achievement report. This replaces the existing final research and activity reports.

The information provided in these reports is of great value to SSHRC as it is a vital input to future planning and strategy setting. It also allows SSHRC to:

  • promote social sciences and humanities research, and show how it contributes to a better future for Canada and the world;
  • demonstrate the impact and outcomes of the research it funds, and how the findings from this research are used to improve our quality of life, enrich cultural expression, and drive prosperity, equity and sustainability through innovation;
  • monitor the performance of its funding opportunities;
  • report to government; and
  • provide input for decision-making on and the evaluation of funding opportunities.

Beginning June 6th, 2016, new achievement reports will be available to Insight Development Grant and Connection Grant recipients. They will be in a survey format on Fluidsurveys, a secure web platform, and must be submitted within six months of the end of the grant period.

To demonstrate the impact of SSHRC-funded research, the information from the reports may be shared with Parliament, the research community and the public. SSHRC is committed to the protection of the personal information under its control. Refer to the attached Achievement Report Privacy Notice for more information on how SSHRC collects, uses and discloses personal information.

SSHRC will notify grant recipients when the reports are available on the SSHRC website.

If you have any questions or comments, contact corporate-performance@sshrc-crsh.gc.ca

Living Research Volume 6

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Brescia’s Living Research newsletter Volume 6 is now available and can be accessed online at Brescia Research. Living Research Vol. 6 features four faculty research profiles that reflect the variety of scholarship at Brescia. In this issue, you’ll find profiles of Dr. Jamie Seabrook, Food and Nutritional Sciences; Dr. James Doelman, English department; Dr. Marlene Janzen Le Ber, School of Leadership and Social Change; and Professor Colleen Sharen, Management and Organizational Studies.

Read more about Brescia Research at: http://brescia.uwo.ca/about/research/ 

Subscribe to Dialogue, SSHRC’s e-newsletter

Dialogue, SSHRC’s eNewsletter, brings you the latest news about SSHRC, its funding programs, and social sciences and humanities research in Canada.

To view previous editions and to subscribe to Dialogue,  go to: http://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/about-au_sujet/publications/dialogue-eng.aspx 

Become a CIHR Institute Advisory Board Member

Interested in becoming a CIHR Institute Advisory Board (IAB) Member? Now is your chance! The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is accepting applications online via ResearchNet, from December 11, 2015 to February 3, 2016.

Institutes Advisory Boards Member Application and Guidelines

CIHR is launching a recruitment campaign to fill up to 75 positions within the five new IABs. An open nominations process is the most appropriate and transparent way to attract the ideal mix of expertise for the new IABs.

Information on the selection criteria and composition of the new IABs is available under the IABs Selection Criteria.

Online applications can be submitted, via ResearchNet, from December 11, 2015 to February 3, 2016.

How to Apply to Become an IAB Member

To become an IAB member, candidates must submit a completed application using the ResearchNet system including a CIHR IAB CV created using the Canadian Common CV system.

To apply, you will need the following:

  1. ResearchNet account
  2. CIHR PIN
  3. Common CV account
  4. Common CV PIN/System Account – this is the same as your CIHR PIN

Step 1 – Creating a CIHR PIN and/or a ResearchNet Account

  • Access ResearchNet and use the “Register” link to request a new account.
  • If you don’t already have a CIHR PIN, sign in to your ResearchNet account. Once signed in, click on your name (top right of the screen) and select from the drop-down menu “Register for a CIHR PIN” and complete the form.
  • There will be a delay of approximately one working day to receive confirmation of your PIN.

Note: You will be required to validate your PIN on the Common CV system prior to submitting your CV. To validate your PIN/System Account chose the PIN option from the main menu and follow the instructions. For additional information, click on the “Register with CIHR” link.

Step 2 – Create a CIHR IAB CV

  • Login to your Common CV account.A new funding CV template named CIHR IAB has been created to capture the necessary IAB applicant information. This template is a scaled-down version of CIHR’s current Academic and Knowledge User CVs as it contains only the information required for the purpose of selecting IAB members.Note: It is not necessary to enter data in the Generic CV. Select the Funding CV named CIHR IAB (not the generic CV) to focus your efforts on providing the information required for applying to become an IAB member.
  • Complete and submit the CIHR IAB template.

Step 3 – Submit your completed application through ResearchNet

  • Login to your ResearchNet account.
  • Click on the ‘Get Involved’ menu located to the left of the screen and select from the drop-down menu ‘Institute Advisory Board (IAB) Membership’.
  • Review and complete your application.
  • Submit your application.
  • Once you have submitted your application you should receive an email confirming that your application was received.

Need Assistance?

For more information or assistance, please contact Gisèle Lacelle, Membership Advisor, Governance Secretariat, by telephone613-941-6177 or by e-mail, gisele.lacelle@cihr-irsc.gc.ca.

For technical and Common CV assistance, contact the CIHR Help Desk or by phone at 613-941-0068 between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm EST Monday to Friday.

“CCV Help” button is available from CIHR’s Home Page. Click on “CCV Help” link to access all information on the CCV for CIHR, including previous updates, training links, an FAQ and additional resources.

image source: jeltovski, morguefile

Government of Canada Announces Investments for the Humanities and Social Sciences Research

Investments in social sciences and humanities research will foster collaboration across sectors and create a strong basis for informed decision-making
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December 16, 2015 – Ottawa, Ontario—The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council

The Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science, today announced investments of more than $266 million for 2015-2016, supporting research and research training in the fields of social sciences and humanities.

The funded research projects, taking place at institutions across Canada, examine a variety of topics. For example:

  • With her Partnership Grant, York University’s Jennifer Jenson leads an international network of partners from industry and academia, examining the participation and visibility of women as both players and creators of digital games.
  • Betty Bastien from the University of Calgary is using her Insight Grant funding to develop culturally informed training practices for social services workers in Indigenous communities, with the goals of strengthening natural support systems, reducing levels of violence and improving general well-being.
  • The University of British Columbia’s Ildiko Kovacs will use Canada Graduate Scholarships doctoral funding, awarded under SSHRC’s Talent program, to engage Vancouver teens in developing youth-friendly recommendations for municipal transportation planning strategies.

The funds are administered by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) under its Talent Program, and its Partnership, Partnership Development, Insight and Insight Development Grants.

Quotes:

“Through investments like those announced today, the Government of Canada is demonstrating its commitment to science and research. These grants will contribute to building a strong social sciences and humanities research base in Canada while enriching knowledge and fostering partnerships.”

—The Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science

“By funding these research initiatives and large-scale partnerships, SSHRC is supporting research and talent that are central to quality of life and innovation, and to developing Canada’s future leaders in all sectors of society. These initiatives, many of them leveraging public, private and not-for-profit involvement and investment, will generate insights into pressing societal issues, ensuring a better future for Canada and the world.”

—Ted Hewitt, President, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council

image credit: morguefile