CCS Data Transformation Grants

Principal applicants to this program must either:

• Hold a leadership position in a non-profit or governmental organization whose mandate includes cancer data or cancer care,
• Hold an academic appointment at an eligible Canadian host institution.

A Principal Applicant who meets the eligibility criteria, and a team with the appropriate expertise and experience, including with the proposed methodology, the evidence-based intervention (where relevant), and with the community being engaged, are eligible to apply. CCS encourages multidisciplinary teams to apply or coordinate submissions.

To achieve this goal, it is recommended that team members are drawn from the following categories to fill gaps in expertise and/or resources. An ideal team would include:

• Implementers and decision-makers (e.g. cancer agency and registry leaders and staff, healthcare administrators, community-based or other practitioners, policy makers) must be integrally involved from the outset of the project and must demonstrate their interest in, and commitment to, implementation (through cash or in-kind contributions, letters of support detailing relevance, value and use of findings)
• Patients/Survivors/Caregivers with lived experience
• Health professionals with experience collecting relevant data
• For applications involving First Nations, Inuit and Métis-governed data and data systems, the Principal applicant or co-Principal applicant must self-identify as Indigenous or engage (an) Indigenous Elder(s) or Knowledge Keeper(s) to provide evidence of meaningful and culturally safe engagement with Indigenous communities.
• Identified champions, when relevant, in each province or territory involved to streamline efficiency and support feasibility and implementation. Support from champions should be demonstrated through letters of support or participation as knowledge users on the team.

For-profit entities are not eligible to apply. If you have questions regarding eligibility contact research@cancer.ca.
Please review the application guide prior to submitting an application.
Contact research@cancer.ca with any questions.

CCS is committed to equity, diversity, inclusivity, and First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples rights. We strive to build inclusive and diverse capacity in the cancer research ecosystem through both policies and practices, and aim to equitably support applicants with diverse expertise, experiences and narratives.

We recognize that structural racism and discrimination exists in the research ecosystem, and as we move to examine and dismantle these practices, we seek to learn from the resilience, wisdom and diversity of other perspectives. We commit to examining biases, seeking inclusive solutions and acknowledging the discomfort that comes with systemic and structural change. We commit to advancing equity, diversity and inclusive practices and principles, including learning about and applying decolonizing and anti-racist approaches. We welcome and encourage eligible applicants of diverse backgrounds to apply for our funding opportunities and commit to diversity on our review panels.

Applications are strongly encouraged to demonstrate meaningful patient and stakeholder engagement in proposal development, implementation, and/or dissemination of findings. Engagement can mean many things, and all types of research can benefit from different perspectives. We have compiled resources on our website to help inform and guide the engagement process. These include a wide range of resources developed and offered by the CIHR Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR) support units, but also articles on engagement in different types of research. We recognize that patient and stakeholder engagement will look different for different types of research and encourage both broader forms of engagement (as part of an overall research or learning program/strategy) as well as creativity in devising engagement strategies.

CCS will coordinate an informational webinar with potential applicants to provide information on the competition and explore collaborations across jurisdictions and interested teams. To foster multidisciplinary and cross-jurisdictional collaboration, interested applicants will be able to introduce themselves and their project idea or priority of focus from the cancer data strategy that they wish to address within the project. Teams will be able to present a brief summary of their proposed project during the workshop for input and collaboration opportunities.

In alignment with the cancer data strategy, this workshop aims to connect teams and foster collaboration, ultimately driving collective action to support enhancement of the pan-Canadian cancer data ecosystem as well as support First Nations, Inuit and Métis-led initiatives to build capacity for improved cancer data through respectful relationships built on reciprocity and trust.

The expert review committee will be composed of a diverse (gender, geography, career stage, race) group of scientists, end users and patient/survivor/caregiver reviewers with expertise relevant to the submitted applications (see review criteria below for more information).

Projects will be scored using two sets of review criteria, scientific merit (SM) and Relevance & Potential Impact (RPI). Patient/Survivor/Caregiver reviewers will be included in the review process. All projects must score as fundable (>3.5) on both the SM and RPI scale and then projects will be ranked by the overall score. Please refer to the application guide and rating scales when preparing an application.

Abstract registration is non-competitive but mandatory to help inform the review panel composition. Principal Investigators and team members can submit any number of projects to this competition.

Abstract registration includes:

1. Applicant(s) and (known) team details (Principal Investigator (PI), Co-PIs, Co-Applicants, Additional Authors, Patients/Survivors/Caregivers, Implementers/Decision-makers, Collaborators, etc.)
2. Project title
3. A Technical Abstract that describes the rationale, objectives/aims, methods and anticipated results and potential impact of the project (4200 characters, spaces included)
4. A Public Summary that describes (in plain language understandable to a non-scientist) why this work is important (rationale); the goal or purpose of the project (objectives/aims); the project plan (methods); and the anticipated results and potential impact of the project (2000 characters, spaces included)
5. A Relevance Statement that clearly articulates how the project is relevant to the pan-Canadian Cancer Data Strategy’s vision to enhance the collection, integration and use of cancer data to improve cancer care and outcomes for all people in Canada. The progress to be made during the course of this grant, as well as next steps should the project be successful in achieving its aims should be described (including an estimated time frame to impact), as well as how this will be meaningful to people affected by or at risk of cancer (2500 characters, spaces included).
6. Keywords
7. Suggested reviewers

Please consult the abstract registration guide for additional details. Substantive changes that significantly alter the overall goals and aims of the proposal relative to the abstract registration are not permitted.

Please review the application guide prior to submitting your application for specific instructions. When preparing the full application, the following additional information is required:

1. Team member CVs or Letters of Support
2. Public summary
3. A relevance statement written in non-technical language.
4. A scientific technical abstract (and non-confidential abstract)
5. A detailed scientific proposal (21, 000 characters, spaces included) including overall goal and aims of the project, supporting evidence, methodology and analysis (including alternative approaches and mitigation of risks), anticipated results and potential impact of the project.
1. Overall goal and aim(s) of the project
2. Methodology and analysis (inclusion of sex, gender, and other dimensions of diversity (SGBA+) must be considered and included).A brief description of previous work done in the area of research may be included.
3. A description of the data management plan (how data will be collected, documented, protected, and shared, with consideration for the First Nations Principles of Ownership, Control, Access and Possession (OCAP) where relevant)
4. Risk and mitigation strategies related to feasibility of completing project, as well as future use of findings and/or next steps for scale-up or implementation for proof-of-concept pilot projects.
5. A description of how patient/survivor/caregiver and other relevant stakeholders will be engaged in the project as partners and if applicable, as participants.
6. If relevant, a description of broader implementation of the project for scaling up.
6. OPTIONAL: Attach and appropriately label figures, graphs, charts, and legends in PDF format (maximum of 1 page total. For the file name, please use the following format: [lastname_firstname-figures]
7. A description of knowledge translation and mobilization strategies (2000 characters, spaces included). Describe how the knowledge generated through these grants will be shared and/or mobilized, including details of steps you will take to facilitate scalability and sustainability of the projects. Activities beyond publications or presentations are strongly encouraged (e.g. through engagement of end-users early on to ensure utility). Public and/or patient engagement strategies (including co-design where appropriate) are encouraged. Equitable access to results should be considered (as relevant).
8. Key milestones & expected timelines (1 page). Clearly outline key activities and milestones for the project term, including timelines or target dates. Gantt chart format is recommended.
9. Evidence of access to any required data repositories (e.g., letter of permission, data sharing agreement) must be provided
10. Considerations regarding sex and/or gender and/or dimensions of diversity and their intersectionalities in the project design
11. Terms of reference Detailing the team members, including which member(s) of the project team will be responsible for which aspect of the project and a rationale for their inclusion in the project are required. Consideration of equity, diversity and inclusion principles in the composition of project team must be evident.
12. Budget: A detailed budget and justification providing rationale for the requested consumables, personnel, and equipment associated with the project. Details must include the number of personnel required to complete the work, a description of their experience and/or education level, and their time commitment to the project. Investigators will also be requested to indicate which provinces will receive funds from the project.

It is understood that applications may also be made to other agencies to provide support for grants/programs similar to those submitted to CCS. For this competition, duplicate applications submitted to CCS and other agencies will be accepted, but budgetary overlap will not be permitted at the funding stage.

Applicants are reminded to review the Eligibility and requirements section for details on scientific and financial reporting, funder acknowledgement, Canadian Cancer Society policies on open access and tobacco related funding.

All grant recipients must submit annual progress reports and statements of account throughout the grant (and 2 years post-grant for progress reports). For the 3-year implementation grants, Principal Investigators will need to show proof of achieving or significant progress toward milestones, as outlined in the Full Application and timelines, to be eligible for continued funding. Principal Investigators will be emailed instructions about completing the report in our online system (EGrAMs). Submission of these reports is mandatory. Failure to submit the required reports will result in the future installments of a grant being withheld.